Home Design: Maximize Your Kitchen Space

The kitchen has always been the heart of the home, and now more than ever it serves as the central gathering point and typically one of the most heavily used rooms. In what ways can you maximize this area? How can you help ensure that your kitchen or dining space is both functional and appealing? Here are some top tips.

Kitchen Islands

Kitchen islands help to enhance a kitchen in a number of ways. Not only do kitchen islands help define a kitchen space, they also serve as additional work and dining surfaces. For many families, the desire is to create numerous dining experiences, from casual to seated and formal dining. Kitchen islands allow you to add bar stools and create a bar-style dining experience.

Extendable Tables

Designers love using extendable dining tables because of the flexibility they provide. Gone are the days of complicated table leafs that have to be removed. Instead many furniture manufacturers are making dining tables that with simple lift and slide features, i.e. a base table that can expand and extend depending on needs and the occasion.

Eat-in Kitchens

For many in the market for a new home, eat-in kitchens often have wide appeal, especially for families with young children. Eat-in kitchens tend to be more casual but need to be highly functional. When creating the ideal eat-in experience, ask yourself whether the table be round or rectangle, or if the table should be expandable. Materials are also important. Glass tables create a sense of lightness, while solid services such as wood provide weight. Have an odd-shaped space? Consider a round table, as they tend to allow for increased visual flow. Depending on your space, benches or banquettes may also work as well.

Lighting (Chandeliers)

Chandeliers and lighting is an important part of any dining experience. A beautiful chandelier can define the dining area while also adding an aesthetically appealing design element that can make a bold design statement.

Mirrors and Artwork

Mirrors and artwork are like the icing on the cake. They help add a finishing touch to a space and shouldn’t be overlooked in kitchen and dining spaces.

Color Schemes

Looking for a timeless color scheme in your kitchen or dining space? White, taupe and gray are great selections. Want more color? Yellow, red, orange and even green help to perk up a space in a warm and welcoming way.

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at www.cathyhobbs.com.

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