How Design Professionals in Livonia & Clarkston Create Custom Kitchens

Kitchen design Apr 25

Every family is unique, with its own rewards, challenges, and requirements. Whether it’s getting the kids fed and out the door to soccer practice, or relaxing around the table with good friends and good wine on game night, a family’s kitchen is center stage for many daily activities. And while some Livonia or Clarkston homeowners may find a “stock” kitchen suitable to meet the everyday challenges of family life, others find that a more customized solution is the best way to meet their needs. A kitchen designed with family schedules, activities, and abilities in mind is one that will provide comfort and ease for many years to come. Here are just some of the fabulous customized possibilities for homeowners seeking the kitchen of their dreams. 

For Families with Children 

As any parent knows, kids have their own unique set of needs and schedules. Customizing a kitchen to meet those is an ideal way to make life easier for busy parents and kids alike. 

• Walk-In Pantry

 A well-stocked walk-in pantry provides easy access to breakfast items, lunchtime favorites, and after-school snacks. Making it easy for kids to help themselves to convenient, healthy food will help ensure that they make healthy choices for every meal and snack. A kitchen remodeling professional in Clarkston can design a kitchen remodeling plan that creates walk-in pantry space or other convenient food storage areas, such as built-in wall shelving. 

• Kitchen Island

 Kitchen islands can not only provide extra countertop and storage space, but also extra seating in the center of the kitchen that can be used both for quick breakfasts and as a place for kids to do after-school homework. As a breakfast stop, kitchen islands make it easy for parents to talk to kids about school schedules, lunches, or permission slips while kids grab a quick bite to eat before heading out for the day. As a homework center, islands allow younger children to do homework in proximity to a parent or caregiver in the event they need assistance, while parents answer questions and monitor progress as they prepare dinner or wash dishes. A kitchen remodeling professional in Livonia can design a plan that allows for island installation or creates extra space on the end of an existing counter for a small breakfast bar or seating area. 

• Countertops

 Countertops are the most frequently used part of every kitchen, so it makes sense to replace worn-out counters with durable, kid-friendly materials that work. A non-porous stone such as marble, granite, or quartz, or a metal or composite surface will allow counters to stand up to repeated use and cleaning. Many newer countertop materials are both scratch- and stain-resistant, and their beauty will create a focal point as well as provide superior function for years to come. Multi-level countertops and kitchen islands typically feature two different counter heights built into one area, and provide an ideal space for kids to help out or study in the kitchen. Two distinct counter heights mean that parents can prepare food and kids can do homework nearby, while maintaining separate spaces. 

• Anti-Scald Faucets

 Anti-scald faucets prevent bursts of too-hot water from emerging from the kitchen tap by using an internal thermometer or pressure to regulate the hot water flow. As small children may not be able to properly adjust water temperature before turning on the faucet, this feature can be especially important. 

• Time Saving Appliances

 Many parents can attest that there never seem to be enough hours in the day. But many of the latest technologically advanced kitchen appliances save time in addition to saving money and the environment, and can be added to a kitchen remodeling plan by a professional in Clarkston. Newer dishwashers feature power wash cycles that quickly and efficiently handle the heaviest soil, cleaning and sanitizing in less time than it would take to hand-wash or pre-wash items. And, power wash cycles contribute to water conservation efforts by reducing water usage to nearly half the levels used by older dishwashers. Technologically advanced ovens allow busy parents to preheat the oven from the next room using an app, and feature other advancements that allow for delayed cooking and delayed self-cleaning. For Singles and Working Couples Homeowners who like to relax with friends over drinks can take advantage of a couple of unique design features centered around beverage and storage. 

• Under counter Beverage Centers

 For homeowners who love to entertain, or for those who just enjoy drinks that have been chilled to the perfect temperature, an under counter mini-bar or beverage center is a luxury that helps pay for itself. Under counter beverage centers consist of small refrigerators built specifically to keep cold drinks at an ideal chilled temperature. But because they’re smaller than standard refrigerators, these beverage centers use less energy to chill drinks. Some beverage centers even feature an alert that sounds if cold air is escaping through an open fridge door, or if the temperature inside the beverage center is rising. Other beverage centers feature dual-zone temperature control, which allows for customization of two separate chilling zones to accommodate different beverage temperatures and save energy at the same time. 

• Wine Storage

 Intelligently designed storage space is essential for any kitchen, but never more so than when the product being stored is wine. A wine cooler or wine rack integrated into a kitchen island or under a counter adds a luxurious feel while providing ease of access. For the true wine enthusiast, a wine-storage wall in a kitchen area can be an aesthetically pleasing focal point that shows off an extensive wine collection. A kitchen remodeling professional in Livonia can help design wine storage that either blends seamlessly into kitchen decor or becomes the focal point of the room. For Senior Homeowners Seniors and older homeowners may face unique mobility or access challenges. Seniors may find that waist-level storage, rounded countertop corners, and wide, easy-to-navigate hallways and corridors facilitate greater functionality even as mobility decreases, allowing them to comfortably remain in a family home. An experienced design professional is best-suited to meet the challenge of remodeling a space to meet mobility needs. Homeowners should seek a designer capable of providing several top-quality designs from which to choose, and ideally, 3-D modeling of designs, to allow homeowners to “walk through” a virtual version of the remodeled space to ensure that it meets their unique needs before making a final decision. A kitchen remodeling professional serving Livonia and Clarkston can discuss unique family needs and preferences with homeowners to make sure that they’re incorporated into the design plan.