Homeowners the Upper Valley spend months, if not longer, researching options to create the kitchen of their dreams. This research is invaluable because it provides insights into what is most important and also enables a professional designer to curate information, desires, wants and must-haves to develop a design and specification that enables homeowners the Upper Valley to have it all.
We encourage homeowners the Upper Valley to think big when they envision the kitchen of their dreams. In every product category, there can be tradeoffs based on performance, functionality and price. However, there may not be a need to compromise. Here are several ideas to help you think bigger.
Quartz is the number one preference for kitchen countertops the Upper Valley and for many good reasons. Quartz looks comparable to granite and marble however, it is not porous and won’t stain, making it easy to maintain and clean. There are an almost limitless number of colors, patterns and finishes available. With quartz, you can even incorporate veins in interesting patterns to resemble marble and natural stone. Typical quartz slabs are the same thickness as granite, 3cm. However, quartz is heavier than granite and much stronger, allowing for larger tops and longer overhangs.
Attention to detail is essential to creating a dream kitchen. To get exactly the look, feel and functionality that you want, gravitate to custom cabinets. As the name suggest, custom cabinets provide a blank canvas to get whatever size, wood type, color and finish that you desire. Most custom cabinets are built to order on a project-by-project basis. If you plan to stay in your home for an extended period of time, custom cabinets will provide multiple returns on your investment.
Custom cabinets also provide a blank canvas for appliance selection because the cabinets will be constructed to fit whatever size refrigerator, range, oven, dishwasher, wine fridge or other appliance that you want. This will allow for a clean and cohesive look in your kitchen and account for the variation in depth among appliance manufactures that often can result in a counter depth appliance exceeding the depth of the countertop.
Speaking of appliances, a welcome new trend favored by homeowners the Upper Valley is a drawer dishwasher that is more environmentally efficient, easier to use and provide more flexibility. You don’t use as much water or energy because you can wash one drawer while the second drawer stays idle. It’s a great feature for everyday life and dinner parties and family gatherings.
Multifunctional ovens are another investment that provide multiple returns. Today’s multifunctional ovens offer different cooking systems that deliver healthier meals by maintaining more nutrients in the foods being cooked and make cooking easier and more uniform. Ask your designer about the benefits offered by ovens with convention, steam, air frying and conventional functionality.
Invest in a deep and wide sink, especially if you enjoy cooking and entertaining. Larger single bowls have been dominating the primary sink market. Today’s homeowners the Upper Valley like the ability to place dishes, pots and pans, and large trays into the sink simultaneously. These sinks make it easy to lay a large tray or pan flat in the bottom of the sink to be able to soak, making them easier to clean. Most of these sinks are large and rectangular, ranging from 28” to 36” wide and 10″ deep. Similar to cabinets, you can order a custom sink to fit any space or size that you desire.
The most used appliance in the home is the kitchen faucet. Once you have experienced the joy and ease of using a smart faucet you will never return to a conventional model. Smart kitchen faucets can activate the flow of water through touch or voice command, which is a welcome feature of home bakers who want to rinse hands covered in dough.
A secret to designing a great kitchen is to account for your storage needs and desires in the initial planning phase. A storage plan will address how often you cook, entertain and hold gatherings. A great kitchen must not only look out of this world, it also must incorporate the best functionality that meets your needs.
What other features do you want in the kitchen of your dreams? Give us a call at 603-448-9700 or make an appointment to visit our showroom at 105 Hanover Street, Lebanon, NH and let us show you how you can have it all!
