THEY'RE BIG, BEAUTIFUL AND NOT JUST FOR COOKING ANYMORE
No matter how comfortable we make the rest of our homes, it seems everyone always ends up spending most of their time in the kitchen. "Life happens in the kitchen -don't miss it" -has become this year's slogan for Kitchen & Bath Design in Newport Beach, said owner and certified kitchen designer Gary White.
His company has experienced a surge in business since September, setting a 24-year company record in December. White attributes low interest rates and a continuing cocooning trend to the increase in home remodeling.
"People are sacrificing their trips to Europe and concentrating on their homes," he said.
Remodeling most often starts in the kitchen and more money is invested in this room than any other part of the house, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association.
Financially that's a good plan, because kitchen and bath remodels return the greatest value at resale. A survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors and Remodeling magazine found that a minor kitchen remodel- refinishing cabinets, replacing appliances with more energy-efficient ones, installing laminate countertops and resilient flooring -will recoup 88 percent of the cost when the home sells. A major remodel returns 81 percent of the cost. That's because a major overhaul seems to reflect the homeowner's tastes more than needs, according to the report.
LARGE AND LAVISH
Small boxed-in kitchens are giving way to vast, open spaces. The kitchen experts at Jenn-Air, the appliance manufacturer, say the trend is toward large and lavish kitchens with open designs that allow the cook to interact with others in the Gome. Today, more than ever, kitchen designs are influenced by the way a family lives. White said his company has been ripping down walls for clients in order to create large multi-use kitchen areas or great rooms. Combining the family room and kitchen opens a large space where families can be together and entertain. "Kitchens aren't just for cooking anymore," he said.
Dorothy Ralphs of Huntington Harbour tried to keep people out of the kitchen for 30 years and finally gave up. "No matter how I tried to fix up the living room, everyone was always in the kitchen," she said. Dorothy and her husband, Boris, entertain frequently. "I wanted to be able to talk to my friends and not be cut off from them," she said. In their 1970s townhouse, "the kitchen was cut off from the rest of the house. It wasn't originally designed for entertaining," Dorothy Ralphs said "And it didn't have any windows. I wanted a kitchen that was light and bright."
In their recent remodel, the Ralphs chose to remove a wall to expand the dining room and open the kitchen space. "Now I have a view of the water from the kitchen and I can see all my guests," she Said. Dorothy Ralphs planned her own kitchen by using a computer at Home Depot. There she purchased prefabricated cabinets that were delivered unassembled. A contractor was then hired for the installation. A center island with a granite counter top was added to the design. And for entertaining ease, the couple installed two dishwashers and a six-burner stove.
MEN WANT MORE POWER
White, the kitchen designer, remembers when the man of the house would make an appearance only to approve the remodeling budget. Otherwise, White worked strictly with the wife in designing the space.
"Now, I always work with couples," he said. "In many cases, men are the dominant food provider." Commercial-style appliances are "male-driven," White said. Just like men want more horse- power in their cars, "they want meaner, badder ranges," he said. Never mind that they can achieve the same performance with less Btu. When White designed kitchens for professional chefs, they didn't choose the commercial appliances, he said.
Although the stainless-steel appliances, faucets and accent finishes are still in vogue, hammered and brushed metals like bronze and copper are gaining in popularity. Some manufacturers are also showing appliances in bright colors. "I think we will be seeing more of that," White said. "Colors can be more compatible with some kitchen designs."
Even sinks are going high tech with gadgets and accessories that make them more of a food- prep station than a place for mere dishwashing. For example, the Chandler Corian Drainboard Sink, available at EXPO Design Centers, accommodates large pots and pans with its extra deep bowls and steep convex sides. Choose a right or left-handed drainboard, which functions as an extra workspace.
Many stylish kitchens are also equipped with a kettle filler -wall-mounted, double-jointed swing spout built in over the stove. Kettle fillers eliminate lugging a full pot from sink to stove.
Other features like wok burners and built-in espresso coffee machines help customize a kitchen to fit a family's particular tastes.