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Jkath Design Build + Reinvent / Cabinet Shop  / 10 Must-Haves for Designing a New Kitchen
Quartz Backsplash, Pot Filler, Range, Oversized Hood

10 Must-Haves for Designing a New Kitchen

Kitchens are the heart and hardest working room in our homes. It’s more than a space to cook and eat. We gather, pre, celebrate, work, and relax in this space so it makes sense why this room is regarded as the highest value of the home. You deserve to have a kitchen that optimally works best for you and your family. Here are our 10 must-haves when designing a new kitchen.

Custom mushroom color cabinetry with white oak island and large black windows over sink

1. Custom Cabinetry

Of course, we’re going to start with custom cabinetry as a high-priority must-have for your new kitchen. Custom cabinetry is an investment that can ultimately last 50+ years due to the high-quality craftsmanship. Read our breakdown comparing custom and pre-fabricated cabinetry. Custom cabinetry gives freedom for personalized storage solutions for all cookware, small appliances and kitchen gadgets, food storage, and the infamous junk drawer. All of these customizations will fit perfectly in your space down to 1/8″ to eliminate wasted space.

Range hood alcove with 48 inch range and polished gold pot filler over quartz backsplash, custom cabinetry and alcove niches

2. Integrated Appliances

Integrated, or built-in, appliances sit flush to the cabinetry and can either be finished with custom cabinetry panels or stainless steel fronts. In addition to achieving an elevated look, integrated refrigerators are a real space saver as they are the same depth as the cabinetry and don’t impede the kitchen walkways. Of course, integrated refrigerators run at a more premium price compared to freestanding or counter-depth refrigerators, but when budget allows it is definitely the way to go.

Colonial kitchen design with walnut island and light blue custom cabinetry with vintage lighting and semi-flush mounts over island, integrated built-in appliances, farmhouse apron sink

3. Functional Work Triangle

The function is number one in kitchens. The work triangle is the spatial relationship between the refrigerator, sink, prep space, and range. Think of how you travel throughout your kitchen through the cooking process: taking produce from the refrigerator, cleaning in the sink, prepping on the countertop, cooking on the range, cleaning up, and storage for leftovers. Or popcorn in the pantry to the microwave, just as important. Making this a functional process will make cooking so much more enjoyable.

Modern grey and white kitchen with walnut floating shelves

4. Statement Range Hood

Statement range hoods are a must-have when designing a new kitchen. Range hoods add personality to the kitchen design while serving the function of keeping the air cleaner from cooking odors, oils, and the occasional smoke from flowing into the indoor air. While putting a microwave over the range is a space saver, a beautiful range hood is much prettier to look at.

Custom red elm cabinetry with white alcove range hood and reclaimed wood band, quartz backsplash and brass pot filler

5. Hidden Garbage & Recycling

Incorporating a garbage and recycling rollout cabinet is a must-have when designing a kitchen. It’s an obvious aesthetic improvement to not see a bin sitting out in your space, and will also prevent odors from traveling. For pet owners and families with small children, cabinet garbage and recycling prevent many messes.

Bonus: add compost and laundry bins for linen napkins and dish towels.

Custom green kitchen cabinetry in Tudor style home with white apron front sink, polished nickel hardware, and wood windows

6. Pantry

One of our most requested must-haves in a kitchen remodel is a functional pantry with tons of storage. We often incorporate pantries into the cabinetry layout. We love the opportunity when we can design a beautiful mini room for food and small appliance storage.

Bold floral wallpaper in custom pantry

7. Zones

Creating zones is helpful to create a functional kitchen. Some common zones we’ve incorporated in the past include a coffee, smoothie, wine bar, space for small appliances, and a drop zone. Dedicating zones allow multiple people to utilize the kitchen.

Custom pantry cabinet with bifold doors, with walnut veneer backing for a coffee station, mini beverage refrigerator and microwave

8. Fashionable & Task Lighting

There are three types of lighting and they should all be considered in kitchen design: ambient, task, and accent. Ambient is the overall lighting to light up the space. This can be accomplished with pendants, chandeliers, and recessed lighting. Task lighting emphasizes an area for functionality such as the kitchen sink, under cabinets, and island pendants. Accent lighting focuses on a specific point of interest or aesthetics, such as non-task wall sconces.

Custom cabinetry with white oak lower cabinets and white upper cabinets with a white fishscale backsplash tile and floating shelves with black sconce, range in peninsula

9. Stylish Cabinet Hardware

In the grand scheme of designing a kitchen, cabinet hardware can be an afterthought. Here is your sign to not forget it! Hardware is as much of the design as choosing the right cabinet colors to get the right shape and finish. Quality of material, finish, and design leaves cabinet hardware on a pricing spectrum.

Custom alder pantry hutch with sliding reeded glass doors and burnished unlacquered brass hardware

10. Personality

Unless you have immediate plans to move, design your kitchen for you, not to appeal to the masses. Incorporate your family’s personality into the design by using colors and materials you connect with. Giving a kitchen personality can also be achieved by designing to the home’s architectural style. In the Princeton Colonial project we tailored the kitchen design to the home’s Colonial architectural style while incorporating light blue cabinetry and playful wallpaper the homeowner loved. Find the perfect cabinet door style for your home.

Custom blue kitchen cabinetry with walnut island quartz countertops, vintage lighting, wallpaper and open shelf details

Thanks for following along. Sharing a few recent projects we think you might like:

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