When you build or renovate a kitchen, you start with a finite amount of space and other limitations: plumbing, venting availability, and access to gas, for example. Once you’ve determined what you have to work with, you can choose a floor plan that will match your style and lifestyle, including the needs of family members who work in the kitchen, and the comfort of friends or others who will spend time there. The trick is to maximize the positives (such as a great view and natural light) and combine form with function.
HGTV.com has posted 10 popular kitchen floor plans. Examining their major features might help you make some decisions about your own kitchen space and design. (You can scroll through the photos on the site.)
If you have a closed-in rectangular space, you can consider the changes made in HGTV’s first floor plan. The designer removed a wall with cabinets to give the space a more open feel. In place of the wall, the kitchen now features an L-shaped extension of the kitchen counter, complete with an elegant countertop and bar stools. This simple change added counter space while providing a seating area for guests, or a quick breakfast nook for one or two family members.
The second design featured on HGTV uses integrated appliances for a seamless, contemporary look. Instead of glancing at the kitchen and seeing a stove, refrigerator, and other appliances, the eye is drawn to a consistent exterior that integrates cabinetry into appliance space. Our showrooms offer a number of appliance options that can be integrated into cabinetry in this way; feel free to ask about this option during your next visit.
The third featured design, by Steve Appolloni, reveals the importance of natural light. Here, Appolloni installed a skylight inside a vented soffit above the kitchen island to brighten the look of the entire kitchen.
The fourth floor plan uses a layout that emphasizes large windows, taking full advantage of the view. Then, the designer used colorful accents – subtly matching area rugs, chairs, and tile accents – to create an artistic, contemporary flair.
If your tastes run more toward minimalist function, the next featured kitchen includes a functional stainless steel island topped with Carrara marble. (See some of the countertop options we offer here). One interesting twist is the cork flooring, designed to soften the feel of the functional room.
If you’re looking for an all-purpose kitchen, you can take a few hints from the sixth floor plan featured, which provides space for a desk, television and ample seating – all inside the kitchen. Functional furnishings that match the exterior of the cabinetry will help you avoid a cluttered look.
Wall-to-wall windows are featured in the next floor plan, which focuses cooking appliances and seating toward the windows to take advantage of a breathtaking view. A large kitchen island with a sink adds both workspace and seating.
Remember that kitchen islands can be artistic as well as functional. The eighth floor plan featured by HGTV uses an island that provides seating and cooking space along with curved decorative shelving. Elegant and attractive!
If you love an old building but want to install a contemporary kitchen, check out the ninth kitchen layout featured on the site. By carefully planning around old wooden beams and ceilings, a pre-Civil War stone barn is transformed into a beautiful home (including a contemporary kitchen).
If you enjoy working with shapes to create something different, the final floor plan might be for you. The designer used repeating shapes to visually unite this unique kitchen, from the curve cut into the border between the tile floor and outer carpeting to the round glass table and curved legs on the bar stools.
Kitchen design options are endless, but these ten floor plans, and their special features, might kick-start your imagination as you design your own kitchen. Feel free to visit our showrooms for more ideas, or to contact our Atherton Appliance & Kitchens location to talk about our kitchen design services. We’ll be happy to help.
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