The most rewarding part of designing kitchens is customizing the design to fit the individual needs of each client. Interior design is about creating beautiful spaces, certainly. But more importantly, it is about creating spaces that work well and improve the quality of life of the clients. The kitchen is truly the heart of the home, so why not create yours to be as personal as possible? Why not include some special features?
At the start of each project, I spend a good amount of time talking to the clients. I ask them to tell me what works and what doesn’t work; what they like and what they don’t like about their current kitchen.
In my designs, not only do I tackle the most common complaints about not enough storage and not enough counter space, often I am also given wish lists of very personal touches that I need to incorporate. In one kitchen, for example, the client had a beautiful handmade wooden cutting board she wanted to display. So we designed the island specifically so she could have this important wish list item. This client is an avid quilter who often hosts quilting sessions in the large adjacent dining space. Just for her, the island also features bookshelves to house her quilting books, and cabinets for supplies that are easily accessible from the workspace.
Another client wanted to incorporate a prayer corner in her kitchen— she described to me what she wanted to display there, and we designed her cabinets accordingly. She wanted a combination of open shelves and glass cabinets, so she could display and store her religious items. I was happy to oblige.
In another project, the homeowner had a set of beautiful leaded glass panels from her original kitchen that she really wanted to incorporate into her new kitchen. She got her wish with a custom-designed cabinet made to fit these panels.
Many clients ask for serving areas, wine bars, and small work spaces for laptops. Others ask for special cabinets for pet food, designated drawers for phone chargers and bookshelves for favorite cookbooks. One avid baker I worked with asked for an island topped with a marble slab, knowing that is the preferred surface for baking. Knowing yourself and how you use your kitchen helps me design it specially for you.
One project currently under construction is a kitchen designed for a client who loves everything French, and travels to France once a year. She asked me to design a “French-inspired” kitchen just for her. When it is complete, this kitchen will feature Toile wallpaper, a lovely French chandelier, marble-look quartz counters (more practical than real marble), and dark hardwood floors. She’s excited and so am I— I will share the photos when we are done!
