They say the kitchen is the heart of the home. If you love to cook and want to take your kitchen to the next level, a chef’s kitchen is ideal. Following are some tips for getting one.
Countertops
Chefs need lots of counter space to prep food. If you don’t have sufficient counter space, this is one of the first areas you are going to want to tackle. If you’re unsure about how to maximize the space in your current kitchen, a professional kitchen contractor can help you construct plans for your remodel.
If you’re remodeling on a budget, there are plenty of newer laminate countertop options to choose from that can look as good as popular, more expensive options like granite.
Professional-Grade Appliances
A real chef’s kitchen has appliances that can take a lot of wear and tear. They are usually larger, more heavy duty and of course, are easy to clean. After all, chefs like to spend their time cooking, not cleaning.
While stainless steel obviously comes to mind when you think of a chef’s kitchen, again, there are less expensive options that can do the job in plain white. You can dress up plain white appliances to look like higher grade stainless steel by using appliance paint.
Some specific appliances you might want to choose are:
- A six-burner stove with a double oven
- A warming drawer
- Combo refrigerator/freezer with expansive storage drawers
- Under-counter beverage centers for storing wine, drink mixers and the like
- A fully equipped coffee center (eg, espresso machine and built-in coffee maker)
Kitchen Cabinets
As cabinets are the “face” of the kitchen, you want to make sure that these are updated to match your newly upgraded chef’s kitchen.
A budget-friendly option is to reface existing cabinets or paint them.
Chef Prep Tip: It’s a good idea to install a second sink somewhere in the kitchen (eg, in an island or a separate serving station). This way, as the primary chef, you can always have a sink to yourself to prepare food.
Photo Credit: rory.ramsden@btopenworld.com
