When planning your kitchen, think ahead!

Let's face it, when planning a kitchen turns into a finished kitchen, there are usually some things that you would have done differently. In my case, I made some unwise choices when designing the kitchen in our current home, back in 2000. My choice for the location of the large sink was at the window, where traditionally they are located. What I realized soon after using our kitchen is that everyone tends to gather at the island, where our small sink was located. Having the main sink in the island is extremely efficient with the bonus of facing your guests while doing last minute prep or cleanup. Fast forward 23 years, we are doing a complete kitchen remodel, and the large prep sink is now in the island, and a much smaller sink is at the window. Both will have dishwashers adjacent to the sinks. I am looking forward to being a part of the fun at the island!

I will list some things that are often overlooked when planning a kitchen - even by some kitchen design professionals.

• Make sure you look at your floor plan and imagine the doors being open on all appliances. The most common mistake I see is having a dishwasher in the path from the eating area to the sink. The general rule for the dishwasher location is to make sure the open dishwasher door is not in the way of frequent travel. Secondly, if possible, the dishwasher is most comfortable on the left for right handed users and on the right for left handed users. I know that sounds a bit backwards, right? To understand, simply imaging holding a dish to rinse or scrub it prior to placing it in the dishwasher. Right handed people always hold the dish in the left hand, which happens to be adjacent to a dishwasher on the left side of the sink. This location should always be overlooked in favor of a traffic pattern issue. Do the same visual test on oven doors, microwave doors, refrigerator and freezer doors. 

• Make sure you have plenty if aisle space between working areas. Unless your kitchen is very small and you have only one user in the kitchen, I favor at least 45" of space between countertops. All too often, floorplan drawings show dimensions on plans without considering countertop overhang. Most countertops have an overhang of roughly 1 1/2". So, if your plan shows 42" of walkway between the island and the cabinetry on a wall, you are really only getting 39" of space!

•  More often, it takes years to discover that some choice made years ago is now going to require an expensive fix. The best example, that I see regularly, is investing in a kitchen sink without doing a great deal of research. I have cared for hundreds of our past customers that called with damaged sinks that were discontinued. The only solution for most people, is to replace all of the countertops and often backsplashes - unless they happen to find us. Either way, the cost is relatively high. It would be far less costly, down the road, to select a sink that will last decades (or generations, in our case). The question you might have at this point is how do you know which sinks will last? My go-to source is often Houzz.com. They have a plethora of valuable, first hand, experiences regarding just about all kinds and brands of sinks. If you will indulge me a bit and allow me to generalize, these are some of the sink materials that seem to have the most negative comments. 1. Fireclay Sinks  2. Cast Iron Sinks  3. Synthetic Granite Sinks, Soapstone Sinks and other stone sinks. From what I have read, you have to be fairly lucky to have anyone of these types of sinks for a long time without issues. For the most part, that leaves metal sinks as the most durable. So, what differentiates different companies and their metal sinks? Again, look at Houzz.com. You will see positive and negative reviews about just about every brand of sink, except a Rachiele sink. As best I can tell, there has never been a poor or negative review about our sinks. Please check for yourself and let me know if I am mistaken!

• Lighting is critically important. Most kitchens I see are not properly lit. It is far better to have more light than necessary than not enough. Dimmer switches can take care of the first concern. Make sure you are not working in your shadow - especially at the sink(s) or cooking area. The brightest light should be directly overhead and, or, in front of you - never coming from behind. Consider task lighting and under-cabinet and over cabinet lighting if possible. 

•  Not all countertop materials are created equal, and some come with issues that are often overlooked. While I'm not an expert on porcelain tops, I've been informed that they are relatively thin and have thick edges created by mitering two thinner pieces together. Such mitered edges are more susceptible to chipping compared to rounded or beveled edges. In fact, any material—be it stone or synthetic—with a nearly 90-degree edge is likely to experience chipping at some point. Best practice here is to listen to your countertop fabricator. 

• Exhaust fan air movement is often overlooked. Make sure your fan system is powerful enough to pull smoke, odors, and grease particles up into the filter. Just as I suggested in lighting, more is better!

• Trash and recycle storage is often set next to the sink. One huge advantage of a custom sink by Rachiele is that most of our sinks allow full size dual trash pullouts under the sink. The benefit is quite significant. Without question, the sink area is the most used area in a kitchen, and if a dishwasher is on one side and trash storage is on the other side of the sink, there is no good storage where it is most needed!

In conclusion, designing a kitchen is far more than just selecting pretty finishes and nifty gadgets—it's about creating a functional space that accommodates your lifestyle. Your kitchen should facilitate the workflow, offer adequate storage, and be a pleasure to spend time in. As someone who has been in the kitchen design industry for many years and experienced my own share of design regrets, I've learned that the devil really is in the details.

One of the most important elements of any kitchen remodel is thoughtful planning. Ensure your layout allows for easy movement, especially when appliances are open. Pay attention to countertop overhang when calculating walkways, and consider the ergonomics of your dishwasher's placement relative to your dominant hand.

The next crucial aspect is durability—choosing materials and fixtures that will stand the test of time, not just aesthetically but also functionally. Do your research; utilize reliable sources like Houzz.com to read reviews and customer experiences. 

Lastly, if you're in doubt, always seek the advice of professionals and previous homeowners who have been in your shoes before. Make informed decisions, and you're more likely to enjoy a kitchen that's as beautiful as it is practical for years to come. After all, the kitchen is the heart of the home—make sure it's a strong one.