Where do you start when remodeling the heart of your home, the kitchen? There are many things to think about before you start the remodeling process. Knowing what you want and having everything planned ahead of time will save you time, stress, and money. Within the planning phase you should have picked out general styling and “look and feel” of your new kitchen Before you get started you should have an idea of the basic layout, materials, and selection of appliances you will need and affordable budget to begin.

Remodeling your kitchen from the ground up, countertops, flooring, appliances, paint, and more, may be what is needed. If remodeling your kitchen in full then there are some basic steps to take. After gutting the whole kitchen, start with the elements that make a kitchen. Countertops and cabinets should be installed first; after this is complete a fresh coat of paint or adding any backsplashes would be ideal. The last step is flooring, last thing you want is someone dripping fresh paint on your new kitchen flooring.

For some homeowners, only adding some color and décor is all that is needed. Even making the simplest changes will make a big difference in how your new kitchen looks. Add a fresh coat of paint, some new decorations, or new hardware for your cabinets will do the trick as well. Don’t stop there; new window treatments or new kitchen appliances can make a kitchen look brand new as well, stainless steel is a popular choice. If you remodel your whole kitchen or just a few elements in your kitchen, make it work for you and make sure you get the appeal you desire.

Designing your kitchen with your family in mind calls for specific planning, the planning process of one with kids and one without children may differ dramatically. Remodeling your kitchen to be a family-friendly modern kitchen must take into account what your family need currently is at this time in your life. Do your children like to help cook or are your children the type that run in and out the kitchen quickly between their sport activities? No matter how your children use the kitchen, there is a way to include your children in your kitchen remodeling plans.

Safety comes first when designing your kitchen around what your family needs. Does your child like to cook with you? A great addition to your kitchen for the little one that desires chef-like responsibilities would be a modern island built away from the stove so that your child has room to work in a safe manner. If you don’t have the space for a kitchen island making one counter space, far away from your stove, lower than the others helping your child to work safely in their own cooking space. Lower counter top will give them more comfortable and enjoyable working surface.

More kitchen safety, place knives out of reach and make sure your water temperature is lower than 120 degrees F. Another great addition to your modern kitchen would be buying a cold to touch induction cook top. Make sure you install child proof locks where needed. Many appliances have child proof capabilities already.

Most families use microwave ovens but microwaves are usually in the worst positions to begin with. Most homes have microwaves close to the oven, even above the stove. The best location for a microwave oven for the family-friendly kitchen is away from the stove and within reach of your child. A below-countertop microwave, drawer type, is safer and more functional. It is hard for a child to safely reach above the stove, especially while food is on the stove. Staying safe and making your kitchen work for you is the idea when making a family friendly kitchen.

A beautiful kitchen

Today’s kitchen is of great importance providing families’ structure, showing our loved ones our cultures traditions, and providing each a feeling of comfort. Today my husband and I are able to show our children what are parents taught us hoping our children will take the lessons and comforting moments with them when they have their own families to share these great glories with.

My husband is from the south and he takes great pride in this. His family taught me their cooking traditions, such as collard greens, sweet potato pie, macaroni, fried chicken like no other can cook, and much more. In spending time in the kitchen I can incorporate the traditional food we cook when I was a young girl with the foods that comfort my husband. Doing so has proven to provide valuable time for my young ones in the kitchen, either be it we are making a big breakfast or peeling our collard greens for a true treat. Spending this quality time together is important, not only do I enjoy it, but they will be able to pass on these great recipes to their children.

Besides cooking together we are eating together, my father has a saying, “Families that eat together stay together.” I believe that a family eating together does provide substance in a family. When I was a young girl we ate together as a family, now that I have my own family I try to incorporate this. At times my family hasn’t eaten together and I notice the unity has changed for the better since we have incorporated this in our routine.

Remember, to teach your children the dishes of your families glory and to eat together. Today’s kitchen is of great importance provided a families ties like no other. So again, as my father would say, eat together and keep the family together creating the unity we all need and should pass down from generation to generation.

I’ve previously blogged about big changes seen in American kitchens and the world of kitchen design. This is a subject that definitely deserves attention. One of these major changes is the increasing importance of the kitchen within the home. Call it a part of a back to basics movement, but the fact is the kitchen is becoming the hub of family activities. Like in times past when families would gather in the warmth of the kitchen, today the kitchen is being re-imagined with that same idea in mind. We see this trend firsthand at Today’s Kitchens, where we’ve been creating upscale kitchens for two decades. Today many clients having their kitchens renovated are asking for more space, and they want to incorporate more uses for the kitchen than simply a room to prepare food. Some want to bring the dining room and the family room into the kitchen area. We’re seeing this trend reflected in the offerings of the kitchen and cabinet design companies we represent, like Wm. Ohs, Varenna, Signature Custom Cabinetry and Dutch Made. Their newly introduced lines feature expansive surfaces and more cabinet options, both ideal for creating a larger, more inviting space. If you’re considering updating your kitchen, explore some of the ways you can incorporate this new style in your home. Stop by our showrooms in Stamford, Connecticut and Hartsdale, New York, and talk to our kitchen design specialists.

It’s true what they say about inner beauty being as important as outer appearance – at least in the design trends of today’s most up-to-date kitchens. While the beautiful craftsmanship of the custom cabinets, professional appliances, and natural stone countertops get the largest portion of the praise, there’s no doubt that what’s going on beneath the surface it is what really makes these kitchens beautiful to those who live with them. For today’s kitchens are all about efficient space utilization and easy access. Regardless of the size of the kitchen, today’s designs put function first. That means all space – enclosed or open – is considered usable storage, and providing access to all cabinet contents is a design imperative. So if you haven’t poked around a few of these state of the art kitchens, you’d be surprised at some of the innovative solutions they feature. The options for incorporating devices that can ensure a kitchen is well organized and maximize storage space and access are virtually unlimited. These are exciting design features, and if you’re building or renovating a kitchen, you should take time to look into these options. At Today’s Kitchens, with showrooms in Stamford, Connecticut and Hartsdale, New York, these innovations have been a big hit in kitchens we’ve recently installed in New York City and Fairfield, Westchester and Rockland Counties.