A Balancing Act in the Kitchen

Appliances are a major driving force when it comes to kitchen design, according to Residential Design & Build magazine. Because appliances can determine the storage and flow of a kitchen, appliance selection is a critical part of the overall design.

So, where to begin? “To guarantee the right appliances are chosen, it is pertinent that a designer knows what is important to his client,” an article entitled “The Kitchen’s Balancing Act,” proclaims.

“’If something is a ritual for a client, then I’ll focus on it,’ says Stewart Davis, AIA, design director, CG&S Design/Build, Austin, Texas. “If they make coffee every morning, or drink a glass of wine at night, then we need to respond to that [lifestyle]. If those things are celebrated, thought about and carefully placed, then it responds to the clients’ lifestyle and is a successful design.”

What are the daily rituals that are most important to you in the kitchen, and what are the appliances that you can’t live without? How many cooks will be working in the kitchen? As the article maintains, “Good kitchen design requires creating harmony between appliances and storage — without affecting traffic flow.”