Home Decor

Your Favorite Kitchen Features

by:
January 24, 2015

There are so many great conversations on the Hotline -- it's hard to choose a favorite. But we'll be doing it, once a week, to spread the wealth of our community's knowledge -- and to keep the conversation going.

Today: Your must-haves for a renovated kitchen.

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January is the month for new dreams. New Year, new you. We want it for ourselves, and we want it for our space. Maybe it’s a little re-organizing that your kitchen wants. Maybe your spices need an overhaul. Redoing your kitchen can be one of the highlights of your year -- how often do you get to make the space you already spend the most time in into the one you never want to leave?

For TobiT this was the question of the hour, adding: "We have youngish kids, a busy schedule, a conservative budget, and overall NOT a pristine household. We rarely entertain these days, but I'm hoping to do more, as I love a casual dinner with friends." As usual, you all came through with the features you love (and the ones you wish you had) in your kitchens.

Oven

Must-haves:

  • SexyLAMBCHOPx likes deep drawers to keep countertops free of appliances.
  • Drbabs suggests planning for a tall cabinet with vertical dividers for easy storage of cutting boards, cookie sheets, and cooling racks.
  • A deep, farmhouse-style sink is an essential kitchen feature for a number of Food52ers.
  • Fat Tony votes for wide countertops, saying it was the best feature he added during his own kitchen renovation.
  • Petitbleu favors a high-quality butcher block countertop, saying: “Being able to treat your chopping surface as a work surface might change your life. At least, now that we’ve experienced it, we’re never going back to normal cutting boards.”

The extras:

  • Nutcakes suggests having dedicated pull-out drawers for trash and recycling.
  • As the mother of a toddler, ktr wishes for soft, self-closing drawers, explaining: "My son loves to help but he also loves to close doors and drawers with gusto!"
  • Consider doubling up: Pegeen is a fan of a second refrigerator or freezer and SeaJambon loves having a double oven (a preference echoed by many of you).
  • Melusine enjoys having a warming drawer and a touch faucet.
  • Keg72 likes the idea of adding extra storage space with toe-kick drawers.

Best advice:

  • Mickle advises: "Spend more now on quality appliances; you won't regret it and it will be cost-effective in the long run."
  • SeaJambon says: "How you use your kitchen should dictate the design and where you spend your money."
  • JAC echoes the importance of a plan: "Keep in mind that more than any other room in the house, in the kitchen function must lead form. A beautiful kitchen that doesn't function well is just exasperating!" -- something we can all agree on.

What is your favorite kitchen feature? Tell us in the comments or join in the conversation over on the Hotline!

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See what other Food52 readers are saying.

  • Sherri Cain
    Sherri Cain
  • M Travis
    M Travis
  • Lynda Kochevar
    Lynda Kochevar
  • rachaelmr
    rachaelmr
  • Mary
    Mary
Mei Chin

Written by: Mei Chin

Let's have dinner sometime. There will be champagne and ice cream for sure; everything else is up in the air.

6 Comments

Sherri C. February 26, 2015
All my bottom cubboards are deep drawers with slow close quite feature, deep under counter double sink with granite counters.it is great NOT having to put hot plates down on counters.i am glad we went with the one touch sensor faucet, great when you have gook on your hands.I was not going to
get it and my hubby surprised me with it.the under & over cabinet LED low voltage lighting is awesome,no hot bulbs.I hate seeing garbage cans & pop
cans so one bottom cabinet hosts those things plus room for extra garbage
bags & paper towel.the lazy susan is different than most with both doors closing together and swinging around with alot LESS dead space behind. The tall pantry with pull out shelves is awesome.This is truely dream kitchen for me a Galley kitchen with a small Ĺ shape snack bar at end.I can fit 2 stools at the end which is where we eat usually or make out bills there.We also added a small stationary window there for extra natural sunlight & a small pendent light for at nite and this also has a led light in it.this kitchen is surely a pleasure never thought I would have anything this nice, thanks hubby.
 
M T. January 29, 2015
I'm so glad I insisted on an extra deep sink when we were renovating.
The next best decision was to put in Marmoleum/linoleum floor rather than slate or stone. Bamboo was also considered.
If you spend as much time in the kitchen as I do, you want a floor with a bit of cushion--your lower back will thank you in the long run.
 
Lynda K. January 26, 2015
Two of the best features in my kitchen are 36" deep stainless farm sink and undercabinet lighting. I strongly suggest that anyone considering a kitchen reno, hire a kitchen designer. Worth. Every. Penny.
 
rachaelmr January 26, 2015
I'm on the five year plan because we need a total overhaul on the kitchen in the house we just bought. We're moving the sink, the stove, all of it to the other side of the room, opening up the ceiling for open beams, new sink, cabinets, counters. The works. Dreams include paperstone counters, butcher block island, wolf oven, smeg fridge, over the oven pot filler, breakfast nook and new flooring...thanks for all the inspiration and ideas!
 
Mary January 26, 2015
When we renovated our kitchen we splurged in few items that made a huge difference: (1) a lower pull out cabinet for spices, (2) an extra deep sink -one bowl- enough for xlarge pots and pans (3) touch faucet (4) a double oven stove - we did not have space for double oven or counter oven- .
 
Girl I. January 24, 2015
I am just about to begin kitchen renovations next month, with a new (Bub) on the way and this little wishlist has me so inspired. Can't wait to add in some of the features as described. Thanks!