kitchen designer

What makes a kosher kitchen? It’s the way the kitchen is used and maintained, rather than the design or materials, although some materials may be preferable. Ritual Jewish law and practice dictates separation of meat from dairy, and this extends to having entirely distinct sets of dishes, silver, cutlery, cookware, sinks, appliances and countertop areas. During the week of Passover dishes are changed again, and it’s clear to see that observant Jews – particularly those with sufficient space – are in the market for additional cabinetry, as well as all of the other accessories that make a kitchen convenient and appealing. In the real world not every home is large enough to accommodate doubling or tripling of the kitchen space, nor is every customer wealthy enough to handle such a large investment. Those with severely modest means may have to box up Passover tableware and utensils and store them in closets for the other 51 weeks of the year. Sometimes a double sink will have to stand in for two separate units (even a single sink can be permissible, provided it is not of porous material and is properly cleaned before switching from meat to dairy or vise versa). A single dishwasher also may be acceptable to some authorities provided it has a stainless steel interior and the racks are changed depending on what dishes are being washed. Under the circumstances, it’s obvious that any kosher customer with the means id going to want to make their kitchen as large and as workable as possible. Other clients may also want large, easy to use kitchens and more than one dishwasher or sink, but for the kosher observant, it is almost a necessity. One of the more significant differences between a kosher and non-kosher kitchen is that most conventional kitchens are predicted on an invisible work triangle defined by the placement of one sink, one refrigerator and one range. In a kosher kitchen we have two overlapping triangles and, ideally, two sinks, two refrigerators and two ranges. There is more to designing a kosher kitchen than just adding extra appliances. Our Urban Homes designers have designed many kosher kitchens, and as with conventional designs, we realize that the ability to make every inch of space count is a highly valued skill. Accordingly, our designers advise customers to:  

• Eliminate soffits and run cabinets all the way up to the ceiling. Use “magic corner” wire basket drawers to open up dead corners and facilitate cleaning in those corners. 
• Recommend appliances that feature a Sabbath mode. With refrigerators, for example, this means a unit that allows the automatic fan to be turned off from Friday sundown to Saturday night (or to stay in a constant “on” position), thus releasing the residents of a household from inadvertently causing initiation of power usage during the Sabbath period when such activity is prohibited.
• Recommend stainless steel sinks and steel or granite countertops and work surfaces for customers who can’t or won’t have fully discrete areas for meat and dairy. Make sure that the material is a pure granite or stone. Sometimes they are really composites and cannot be kashered. These surfaces can be used for both, provided that they are thoroughly cleaned and that boiling water is poured on them in between meat and dairy operations. 

  According to Star-K, which provides kosher certification, wood may also be kashered as stainless steel if it has a smooth surface and no cracks. Kosher law does not, however, allow kashering of plastic or materials with plastic components. When it comes to choosing appliances, whether the kitchen can accommodate two sets or not, it is important to keep kosher belief in mind. Case in point, according to Star-K, kashering a glass, Corning, halogen or electric smoothtop range can be a difficult process, as it is hard to kasher the area surrounding the actual burners. On a gas range the cast iron or metal grates upon which the pots sit may be inserted into the oven after they have been thoroughly cleaned. The grates can then be kashered simultaneously with the oven, making this and easier process (and possibly a better choice) for the homeowner. Of course, if there are any questions that arise during the design of kosher kitchen, we suggest that customers should be encouraged to ask for rabbinic guidance.

Nothing is more disruptive in a family’s lifestyle than a major kitchen renovation project. Most family members spend a great deal of their time at home in the kitchen. This important room is used to prepare meals, for informal eating, and as a casual gathering place for family and friends. People soon realize how important the room is when its torn apart during renovations, even the simple task of making a cup of coffee becomes a major undertaking without a kitchen. It is therefore critically important that tear out and new installation are coordinated during the design phase to minimize down time. If you want a real life definition of angry, tell your family that the kitchen will be down another week because you forgot to order something or your dimensions were wrong and you have to re-build a cabinet.

Most experts agree that a kitchen renovation project will return almost 100% on investment when the property is sold. Surveys by the real estate industry show that a kitchen is one, if not the most, important feature with potential purchasers. Real estate agents have told me that the quality of the kitchen often makes or breaks the sale.

Kitchen design is very subjective, there are few hard and fast rules. A feature or layout that is perfect for one person is far from perfect for another. The issue of lifestyle and how it revolves around the kitchen is very unique to each family. In most cases, the family, usually the prime user of the kitchen space will have very definite ideas on what is needed and what the end result has to be to meet their needs. Often they have been looking through magazines, drawing rough floor plans, measuring, and dreaming about their ideal kitchen for quite some time.

During the initial look at your existing kitchen, research all of the information about new products and features on the market. Ask yourself questions about your requirements and put ideas on paper. Combine your notes and rough drawings along with accurate measurements and attempt to come up with two or three floor plans. I don’t normally try to radically alter anything that will change a major feature that is important to me or my family; however, I will look at alternatives if I see something that is unsafe or very poorly designed. Try to incorporate the most important desires in alternative plans.

There are a few issues you should address during your initial look at the kitchen. Ask questions so that you understand all the needs. Consultants call it a needs analysis study, and although I don’t go in for fancy titles, I think the term applies in this case.
Discuss the existing kitchen space and layout with all the primary users of the kitchen in your household, listing the good and bad points of the design. Investigate the traffic patterns in and through the kitchen. Analyze the day to day meal preparation tasks. Try to formulate a “normal” daily meal preparation routine. Questions should be asked about your family’s desire to do more in the kitchen. Is there a hobby or area of interest, such as baking, that you would like to do more of if the added space or facilities were available.

Do you feel that a lot of walking or movement is necessary during meal preparation? Ask whether or not cleaning up after meals seems to be a monumental task. You may not solve that problem, but it may be reduced by simple layout changes. You or your family might want to entertain more in the kitchen, and formally in the dining room, if the kitchen space and functionality of the room could be improved upon.

Discuss your family’s wish list. If space or money was no object, what would you like to have in your dream kitchen? Discuss topics such as lighting, both area and task illumination, kitchen seating needs, as well as appliance upgrade needs. There are other areas that can be discussed which may surface during your investigation. I’ve found being a good listener and asking many questions to be the best approach.

Kitchen design is a difficult process because everyone’s needs and desires are different. I’ve designed and built cabinets and workspaces for kitchen renovation projects that I wouldn’t have in my own personal kitchen and I’m sure the reverse is true. Kitchen design is based on very personal and individual tastes.

Two design “rules” that seem to true in every case deal with color and illumination. Light color or natural wood cabinets tend to brighten and visually enlarge a space. Improved general and task lighting always enhances the project. Older kitchens seemed to have dark cabinets and poor illumination which gave you the impression you were in a cave. Yesterday’s kitchen was simply a place to prepare the meal, clean up and leave the room. Today’s lifestyle is very much focused on the kitchen as a gathering place for a wide and varied number of activities, the room has to be bright, seem large, be functional, and adapt to many of those activities. Take your time and investigate all the alternatives as the planning stage is a very important process of any kitchen renovation project.

There are many styles of kitchen layouts including the L Kitchen, galley, U shaped and Island style, which can present many human traffic problems. However most kitchen designers agree that the sum of all the legs in a work triangle in any style of kitchen, being the triangle formed by distances between the fridge to the stove to the sink and back to the fridge, not be less than ten feet and not greater than twenty-five feet. If the sum of the legs in the work triangle is too small, people will be tripping over each other and if too large, food preparation could be a very tiring task. I analyze this work pattern each time I design a kitchen layout and it’s proven to be a valuable exercise.

If you feel intimidated by the kitchen design process you may want to investigate the possibility enrolling in design courses that are offered by some community colleges in your area. Investigate the possibility of seminars offered by local, provincial, state, and federal trade associations. There is a national Kitchen and Bath Association, listed in the phone book of most large cities that may have information.

Kitchen design is a very important function, so much so that there is a Certified Kitchen Designer certification program. These individuals that are certified usually specialize in this area exclusively which illustrates how vast the kitchen renovation field has become. There is a good living to be made with a great deal of satisfaction in the kitchen renovation field. However, like all specialized trades, knowledge comes from learning and the greatest teacher is experience. Read books (I buy and read every book I see on kitchen cabinetmaking and design), attend seminar and training programs, and analyze every kitchen you come across for ideas and techniques.

There are certain accepted standards associated with kitchen cabinetmaking. Counter height, space allowance between base and upper cabinets, cabinet depth, as well as the space required for refrigerators and stoves.

These dimensions are not cast in stone but are generally accepted in the industry particularly by accessory and appliance manufacturers. The width of the majority of stoves is thirty inches and most refrigerators require thirty-three inches for proper installation. Normally, a thirty-one inch space is designed into the plan for stove installation. This gives us one half inch on each side of the stove so that it can be easily removed and replaced during cleaning or repair.

Refrigerators are not quite as standard as stoves but a good rule of thumb is to allow thirty-three inches for this appliance. The norm on most fridges is approximately thirty-two inches; however, check the existing appliance, or the one you plan to buy, before building. I was a little embarrassed on one occasion when an off standard fridge would not fit in the thirty-three inch space that I allowed between base cabinets. This situation is rare but it’s a reminder that you cannot take sizes for granted.

Kitchen design is one of the most critical components in a renovation project. Take your time, investigate all the options, and the end result will most probably meet all your expectations.

Modern kitchen web site is a web site with the latest information on modern and contemporary  Kitchen and Bath designNew York kitchens and bathrooms information for guiding  with your New York, New Jersey  Home Renovations including remodeling, design, upgrades; custom built. Professional New York kitchen and bathroom experts with the knowledge and expertise in remodeling kitchens and bathroom..  

The most important part of any remodeling project is making sure you don’t go over your budget. Doing so can lead to settling for unexpected options, disagreements with contractors and worst case, an unfinished room. Follow these steps below to make sure you get the most for your money!

• Make sure you visit a showroom and see exactly what you are buying and check out the quality for yourself.
• It is recommended to have a retailer visit your home before accepting a quote for the design and installation of the room. Once they have completed a survey, you should get a full quote for the project.
• Most deposits don’t exceed more than 50% of the total contract value. Try to get a written schedule of payments upfront so there are no misunderstandings along the way.
• It’s best to wait until all your goods are delivered before you pay in full. Companies that ask you to make a full payment ahead of delivery have your money – but you don’t have your appliances. 
• Be aware of everything in a written contract before you sign it. Some ‘Terms and Conditions’ have expensive cancellation fines.

Ok, now you know your kitchen or bathroom needs remodeling, but you still don’t know where to begin! It may seem like the list of things-to-do is endless, but don’t worry, just follow the steps below and take our advice. You’ll be on your way in no time!

1.      Decide What You Want

• What is the main purpose of remodeling your room? To add extra space, upgrade the kitchen/bathroom, improve security, make changes for health reasons, or just to improve your living space
• What are your options? Is there room to expand into the back/front yard or is there enough room to redesign using the existing floor space?
• What are your priorities? Figure out what you what to change the most, and what can you keep or just update
• Get input from all members of your household – find out their needs and wants
• Consider short-term and long-term implications of your renovation decisions (Will you have more/any children, how long you plan to live in this house, will your choices increase/decrease its resale value?)

2.      Collect Ideas and Information

• Read magazines and books to get an idea of the ‘look’ you want
• Make a clip book of all the pictures and ideas that represent your taste and style
• Watch related television shows and record episodes you particularly like
• Visit home shows and manufacturer/supplier showrooms
• Talk to relatives, friends and co-workers that have renovated. What have they learned, what would they recommend

3.      Determine Your Budget

• Break down your priorities and figure out what you are willing to spend the most money on
• What’s the total amount you are willing to spend?
• How much can/are you willing to borrow?