A Chef's Guide to Kitchen Design

What is the number one thing top restaurant chefs will tell you they must have in their work and home kitchens? Adequate counter space. The more the better and as uncluttered as possible. When it comes to material for home counters, some chefs prefer wood or butcher block counter tops. Others like marble because it’s great for working with pie dough. And some favor granite because it works well for making pasta and bread (Just be sure to always use a cutting board when chopping on granite.)

But whatever the surface preference, the chefs agree that open, uncluttered work space is essential to efficient food preparation. Of course, keep the small appliances you use most front and center – your coffee maker, mixer, blender and toaster, for example.

If your kitchen is on the small side, that doesn’t mean you can’t design a really great room with ample work space. Starting with what you have, you and your kitchen designer can create a wonderful end product. In fact, some chefs say, a smaller U-shaped or galley kitchen can be ideal because everything you need will be within easy reach.  And accessibility is a primary rule of a smooth-running kitchen operation. If something is hidden away or hard to get out, you are probably not going to use it.

Plan at the outset to keep many of the tools, utensils and implements right at hand (even if you don’t know ahead of time precisely what you will require for any given meal). Pot racks will help keep your most-used pots and pans at your fingertips. Be sure to design-in shelves, nooks, hooks, extra sink and faucets, receptacles for trash and adequate power outlets. Something as simple as longer drawer handles can also be helpful, since they can double as towel holders when needed.

Open shelves and wider cabinets make it easier to grab right the bowls and dishes quickly. Consider keeping dinner plates, glassware and cooking non-essentials in cabinets near your dining areas – away from the primary food prep and cooking stations.  Don’t put in upper cabinets that can’t be easily reached, unless you intend them just for storage.

Functionality in a beautiful setting can be yours if you think like a chef when planning your kitchen makeover.