How to Design a Kitchen That Still Feels Right Ten Years Later

Opening a cupboard door in a kitchen that is 10 years old will normally give you an idea about how the space has performed since it was installed. Did the Kitchen evolve alongside the people who use it? Or did it develop against them?. Most of the time, the difference is not based on budget. It generally boils down to a few key decisions made before laying tile that continue to pay dividends today.

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First, Determine Your Actual Cooking Style (Not What You Want To Be)

Watch how you behave in your present kitchen for a full week. Note where you position yourself in the kitchen, note which items you access at least two times, and note where the garbage ends up by accident. Although your tastes may have changed since the design phase of your new kitchen, if your existing kitchen was designed around your actual cooking habits, then your new kitchen will be just as functional in 5-7 Years. If your design phase was influenced solely by magazine layouts, then those layouts need to stay in fashion for as long as you wish to have functionality.

Select Materials That Improve Over Time (Not Trends)

Trendy finishes are quick to move from season to season, colour to colour; however, materials such as solid wood, brushed metal, and honed stone are slow to fade. These types of Materials typically become smoother with use rather than exhibiting signs of aging. The honed quality of a stone benchtops specifically seems to perform exceptionally well under a year’s worth of food scrapes and scorch marks. When comparing an item that looks great on delivery versus an item that improves greatly with repeated use, choose the latter.

Limit The Colour Scheme & Allow Texture To Speak For The Space.

Colour schemes can date much quicker than any other feature of a kitchen. This is largely due to the fact that colour trends follow a cycle. Because cabinetry is not easily updated, there are many kitchens that end up looking outdated from day one. Neutral does not have to imply cold. Light warm white colours, soft greys, and muted green tones allow you to introduce colourful elements into the space via inexpensive components, i.e., tea towels, rugs, vases, etc. By doing so, you will limit the amount of money spent on updating the cabinets when they eventually do become dated.

Organise Storage Based On Usage Patterns, Not Aesthetics

You see beautiful photos of open shelving and think “that would work great”, until you realise that this type of shelving becomes cluttered within weeks for most families. Before deciding on a storage method strictly based on aesthetics, determine what needs to remain hidden from view and what should remain visible. The best storage solutions are typically unattractive yet extremely functional, which is exactly why we love these designs!

Allow Lighting To Take On Much More Responsibility

Regardless of how many fixtures are hung from the ceiling, a singular overhead fixture will always seem somewhat incomplete. Instead, layer your lighting. Install task lighting above your countertops, install a secondary lighting source for evening hours, and begin to adapt your lighting system to fit your usage patterns as opposed to forcing your usage patterns to fit the lighting system.