Living for years with a dysfunctional kitchen can really make you think about your kitchen wish list. So, when you get your opportunity for a kitchen remodel, you’ll want to ensure it’s a well thought out investment for your lifestyle today as well as in the future.

The adage is that a good kitchen remodel starts with the right layout, which is often referred to as the “kitchen triangle.” The idea behind this triangle is to create a three-point workflow to optimize the path for the cook between the sink, refrigerator, and the range. This design layout is particularly relevant to tighter kitchens, more common in older homes. While it’s still a smart idea to keep those three elements close together, present day homes often have larger kitchens and they are used for a multitude of purposes or zones – such as charging devices, doing homework and/or an entertainment area, and more. We suggest considering these uses and have your remodeling team design a kitchen with work zones that your family needs for the most effective function of today’s high-use space. Make sure you have a landing spot (for groceries, mail, etc.) on the counter, so that food preparation and cooking can still occur when these items are present. This small detail can be a huge win in a kitchen remodel.

Beyond considering work zones in the kitchen, implementing wide walkways around the kitchen can be a huge improvement for kitchen flow if space allows. Often the most crowded room when socializing, wide kitchen walkways can provide sufficient space for cooking without the challenge of dodging guests. Similarly, select a large island with around 14 inches of overhang of the countertop to allow space for bar stools. This will undoubtedly create your favorite daily informal seating spot. During dinner parties, bar seating is great for guests to comfortably chat with you while you are meal prepping and is also a great spot for helping kids with homework. There is such a thing as a too large island though – you don’t want it to dominate the room or make regular cleaning a struggle.

We love deep drawers over traditional lower cabinets as they’re great for easily seeing and accessing stored items, ideal for both daily use as well as a good universal design choice. Other specialty cabinets we recommend are enclosed trash and recycling receptacles – easy to reach but out of sight and no smell. In addition, we think it is important for clients to implement specialty storage needs based on their lifestyle – such as spice cabinets, sheet pan and cutting board slots, appliance garages, coffee bar, and many more.

With every good kitchen remodel comes beautiful new appliances. We find that the level of investment in those appliances usually reflects how important certain features, like a preference for double ovens, 6-burner ranges, ice machine, etc., are to a client. A beverage refrigerator or wine frig are a high value addition to a kitchen during a remodel and offer benefits to the homeowner in terms of freed up main refrigeration space, easy entertaining, and optimal temperatures for favored beverages. A coffee bar may be a great spot to place a wine or beverage refrigerator, creating an overall beverage center.

We love high quality and beautiful materials for kitchen remodels but try to steer our busy clients to selections that require minimal maintenance. Quartz countertops for instance are non-porous and offer a multitude of color choices, while avoiding the regular sealing requirement of granite. Similarly, consider personalized solutions like a pot filler over the stove for easy cooking, or a dedicated hot water tap for tea drinkers or pour over coffee enthusiasts. These small, but valuable kitchen upgrades can be huge boons to everyday life.

Finally, do not underestimate the value of a good lighting plan. A combination of overhead or ambient lights, pendants over the island, and task lighting – often mounted under cabinets – is ideal for everyday chopping and food preparation. We also love toe kick lighting, both attractive and functional for lower cabinets, while accent lighting inside upper cabinets are great for highlighting special dishes you want to feature.

No matter which elements you choose, be sure your kitchen design is personalized to what will make your kitchen function best for your family.