4 Questions to Ask when Designing Your Kitchen Layout - Custom Kitchen Design 2012

Raleigh New Home Kitchen Design - What to Think About for your Kitchen in 2012

What kitchen design will suite your lifestyle? Here are the top four questions you should be able to answer when building your new kitchen.

1. How much time will you spend in the kitchen?

Kitchens are opening up, increasing in size, and becoming central hang out areas.

If you will be perfoming multiple functions while in the kitchen, like cooking, entertaining, and helping with homework, an open floor plan concept can be ideal.

2. How many people will share the space?

And how many cooks are in the house? If you're concerned about bumping elbows, consider separate cook and prep areas, with additional usable counter space.

An island or peninsula kitchen can help by providing distinct work areas.

If you have kids consider adding an eating bar, which can be used as a play or homework area, within eyesight of the cook.

3. Where will your traffic flow?

How many enterances to you want (or need) for your kitchen?

Do you want an open kitchen design, with free-flow traffic? Or do you want a kitchen with more direct paths between rooms?

Consider the counter and/or island layout to know how effectively traffic can flow within the kitchen.

4. Is universal design or accessibility important to you?

Universal design and accessible features are popular additions for Raleigh new homes.

For a universal design kitchen, consider including features like planned work centers, staging or landing areas, single lever faucets, pulls on cabinets, roll out shelves, open or visible storage (glass doors on cabinetry), and extra lighting throughout.

For an accessible kitchen, consider including features like reduced height countertops, built-in range countertops with front controls and knee space below, pull-out shelving, accessible electric outlets and switches, roll-under kitchen sinks.

Watch the 30 second videos below

to see how kitchen floor plans can be transformed to fit your needs (and personality).

The Worthington 30 Second Video - Designing an Extra Large Island Kitchen

The Gershwin 30 Second Video - Designing a Peninsula Island Kitchen

Read about other custom home kitchen design trends and features:

Kitchen Tile Backsplash - Pictures of Backsplash Designs

Base Cabinet Storage - Top 5 Kitchen Base Cabinet Options

Custom Home Kitchens - Examples of 2012 Kitchen Design Trends

Island Kitchens - Photos of Island Kitchens

What is the Best Kitchen Countertop Material? (Part 1)

What is the Best Kitchen Countertop Material? (Part 2)