Pretty much, all of us have dreamt at some point of having the perfect, huge kitchen, to bring out the master chef within us, or simply to impress others. The truth is that the kitchen is the heart of our home for many reasons. We pass through it every day, this is where you cook for your loved ones and yourself, and where you’ll catch up with your family during breakfast or dinner. So it’s only natural to want to get your kitchen right so you can enjoy it. But here’s the thing: how to design it and what to choose in it, isn’t so simple…

Open plan or what?

In the past, kitchens used to be separate rooms so to isolate smells from cooking (ah, that fishy smell and cauliflower) and hide away any mess while or after cooking. It’s worth saying that the Greek housewives in 60s and 70s considered having the kitchen separate from rest of the house as a given. Few years later, the kitchen was partially opened with a pass-through, and what was missing was a waiter on the other side to pass the plates to. In recent years, the open-plan kitchen has been a trend, and builders have been sighing for every wall they had to knock down during renovations. Of course, fashion goes round in circles, and lately, the trend of having a kitchen as separated room is coming back. There are pros and cons in each option, but my dear, you need to consider what is more important for you.

The open-plan kitchen has the advantage of not isolating the cook and expanding the shared space where family and friends gather, but on the other hand, smells, noise, and heat travel everywhere. The advantages of a closed kitchen were already mentioned above, while its main disadvantage is that it makes you somewhat antisocial, and you can’t hear the gossip from the living room crew. There is another option between these three that we’ve been seeing more in recent years. Glass doors with a metal frame, which, when left open, create the open-plan feel, but when closed for privacy, still give the same feeling of openness through the glass. Personally, it’s a solution I would prefer in my own space if the layout allows it.

Flooring

Once you’ve decided between an open or closed kitchen or something in between, and assuming the layout of your existing home allows for one or the other choice, you then need to decide on the flooring and later the layout. As for the floor, there’s a golden rule that remains timeless: you must choose a durable material for the floor. This could create a complication in an open-plan design because either the same floor will extend into the living room, or you’ll have to cleverly separate it from the rest of the house without it looking out of place. Of course, the issue of cost and the fact that changing the floor can be a significant alteration also needs to be considered. But what materials are considered durable? Ceramic tiles suitable for floors, industrial floors like polished concrete, or if you want the warmth of wood, you need solid hardwood, stone floors like slate or limestone, and even vinyl and laminate. Each of these has pros and cons, which won’t be analyzed here because we’d be up all night, but among them, you already have many options that will satisfy your cravings and fit your budget. One tip I once heard from an architect that shook my being was that the busier the floor is visually, the more practical it is, as it hides marks and dirt, which you will have more often in the kitchen than anywhere else. See what we learn? Forget minimal and clean looks—go for a floor that gives an epileptic shock, but at least you’ll be safe from the mess!

Layout

Some experts also say that after choosing the floor, the kitchen countertop should be selected accordingly to match, but before we get to that, let’s look at the layout. Do you want an island in the middle, which I love this look, or on the side like a pass-through? Or just kitchen cabinets laid out in L or other shapes.

There are countless combinations, and experts like architects, decorators, or even the knowledgeable staff at kitchen stores (who are often qualified designers) can advise you and suggest various plans. In each layout, we typically try to follow the work triangle, which brings ergonomics into the design, and it’s an imaginary triangle between the fridge, oven, and sink. Of course, what triangle and nonsense if your kitchen is all in one line? In that case, no matter how you imagine it, it’s still a line; you’re just trying to maintain a reasonable distance between them. If you google it, you’ll easily find the ideal distances depending on the shape of the kitchen, but I wouldn’t waste too much time studying them, as experts always take them into account, and your kitchen will definitely not have the same exact dimensions as the examples you find online. Just take a quick look to get an idea.

Island, anyone?

An island definitely gives a luxury feel to a kitchen but also requires a lot of space, so no matter how much you long for it, it won’t fit in a small kitchen. On the island, you’ll definitely add storage with cabinets or drawers, which, if they’re deep and have double layers, are quite practical because you can see what you store in there more easily. But you can sacrifice some storage space by adding seats, either as bar stools or, if you have more space, extending the island into a table with chairs. Also, the island can have just a countertop or a sink or a hob, or both if it is a large island, as the sink and hob need to be a certain distance apart. You’ll need to ensure that if you place the sink in the middle of the room, the plumbing can handle it — basically, you’ll have to dig the floor, and the plumber should know about it before starting work. And if you place your hob there, you’ll need to ensure you have an installation for a hood. Otherwise, give up a kidney for a hob with a built-in hood, which can easily cost ten times more than a simple built-in hob. Whatever you decide to do, if you can have an island with seating, it will bring you closer to your family, as all family members can gather there while someone is cooking. Also, let’s be realistic… in a modern world, where you eat on the go while posting on Instagram, you will definitely need your bar stools.

Countertops

Once you’ve finished the layout and decided whether or not you’ll have an island (I won’t mention it again because you might sue me for how many times you’ve read it), what next? We choose the material and color for the countertop and the cabinets, of course. There are so many materials available, and let’s not even get into the colors, because you can choose among countless options. As I mentioned earlier, some designers advise that you choose your countertop, depending on the floor. Here, we will present which materials are suitable since the countertop sees heavy use.

Here’s what’s on my list:

• Quartz: highly scratch/stain/heat-resistant, available in a variety of colors but quite expensive.
• Granite: also highly durable and heat-resistant, antibacterial, available in a variety of colors, but more affordable than quartz, doesn’t agree with harsh cleaners or wire brushes.
• Marble: can match the price of quartz, variety of colors, but each piece is unique, stains and scratches easily, and needs special cleaners.
• Corian: acrylic material, variety of colors, more affordable than granite, highly durable, and doesn’t dull or discolor, but scratches easily and isn’t as heat-resistant as the others.
• Ceramic: matte or glossy finish, can reach the price of quartz or marble, heat and moisture-resistant, but can be scratched.
• Minerva: synthetic like Corian but more affordable, silky finish, variety of colors.
• Wood: antibacterial, more affordable than other natural materials, but requires maintenance every two years.
• Laminate: the cheapest solution, with various designs, moisture-resistant, antibacterial, but can peel, burn, or melt if you put something hot on it.

Now think about what’s more important to you and act accordingly. Anyhow, all of the above are safe choices.

Cabinets

As for the color of the cabinets, I’d say go with whatever makes you happy and don’t stick to the norm. But keep in mind that if you use bold colors, it’s a good idea for the floor and countertop to be more neutral, in contrast to the earlier advice on busy patterns. Also, if you have an open-plan kitchen, it’s a good idea to have continuity in the colors you choose between the kitchen and the living room.

Depending on the layout, the expert will give you a plan for whether you’ll have base, wall and high cabinets or a combination of some of these. Often, if we have enough storage, we might have few or none of wall cabinets and instead use shelves, which weigh less on the space, but prepare yourself for cleaning and dusting. High cabinets look beautiful and are practical because they utilize all the space for storage, but I would personally use them in combination with upper and lower cabinets. Using high cabinets everywhere will give an imposing but, in my opinion, too harsh result.

Cabinets can be made from plywood to MDF and many other materials. Glass can give a unique look to the facade. Be careful, though, as glass requires everything to be tidy or it will be exposed.

Deep drawers instead of simple base cabinets, as we mentioned earlier, are extremely helpful, especially for pots—they’re just what you need for easier access without breaking your back. You’ll also find accessories that make it easier to store items like spices, small bottles, and so on.

Splashback

You may have endless choices for splashback, but you need to be very careful. By now, you’ve chosen everything else, and if the tiles, colored glass, or whatever else you choose doesn’t match the rest, it’s easy to end up with a tacky kitchen, as my mom would say. So, be careful – you may opt for texture but don’t overdo it with colors and patterns, unless everything else is really neutral. If all the previous features we discussed are bold, here you should definitely go for something subtle. Also, it could be an extension of the countertop material to avoid mixing too many different features.

Kitchen Appliances

There is a wide range of brands for all budgets, and you need to consider whether you’d like some of them to be free-standing or built-in. Personally, I have mixed feelings about the fridge because if it’s nice design, like Smeg or an impressive French door fridge, you’d want to display it. But if it’s dull, concealing it might be a good idea. As for the dishwasher, as well as the washing machine and dryer if you have them in the kitchen, I’m very clear: you definitely don’t need to display those. However, if the latter two are in a laundry room, you have my approval to do whatever you like with them.

Other cool kitchen appliances include wine coolers with dual zones to keep all types of wine at the perfect temperature for wine lovers.

Lighting

Having the right lighting is very important in a kitchen. Keep in mind that you need strong general lighting for the space and task lighting for counters, shelves, or areas that are used the most. Also, consider the aesthetic of the lighting. Pendant lights above an island, recessed lights under cabinets, and task lighting under the shelves are popular choices.

General Tips

Opt for smart solutions, like installing built-in ovens at eye level (if your budget allows), so you don’t have to strain to bend over. For those who cook often and host dinners, having two ovens will make things much easier, even for keeping food warm for your testa who are always late. There are also multifunctional ovens that can work as both a regular oven and a microwave, and others that even have an air fry function. It’s definitely a luxury to have and doesn’t come cheap, but this way, you won’t need two extra appliances.

No storage space will ever be enough, so make sure to utilize every inch of the room. Even if you think you don’t have much to store and the space seems ample, over time it’s definitely going to build up. With this in mind, prefer pull-out pantry drawers that can fit all your goodies and, most importantly, you can find them easily. From my experience, I’d suggest avoiding a pull out larder unit, because over time they sag due to the weight on the mechanism. Instead, opt for drawers in a fixed cabinet.

Other storage areas you should consider are spice racks if you want them to be handy. Shelves for cookbooks can be useful too, because who wants to search the whole library to find them? And the most important tip of the day… if you don’t have a pantry or a laundry room nearby, at least create a high cupboard without any shelves in it to hide all the tall items., like vacuum cleaners, mops, buckets (they’re not tall but go with mops, what can you do), and ironing boards. What’s the point in creating your dream kitchen and leaving the broom out in plain sight.

Don’t skimp on power outlets. And if you have an island (oops, I said it again), place outlets there too — they won’t go to waste. Think of all the iPhones, tablets, and air fryers you may want to charge…

If you have space for a double sink, consider using the one side for the dish drainer, especially if you have an open-plan kitchen, because it’s not chic, darling, to leave your washed dishes for all your guests to see.

Finally… Conclusion

In conclusion, how to design a kitchen is not a simple task, ladies and gentlemen, and certainly cannot be covered in a single article. In other words, we might need to revisit this topic again and again until we get it right. It’s totally worth it because that’s where we having dinners, with our loved ones, relax, catch up after a tough day and have fun. The kitchen is the heart of the home, so it should be treated accordingly. My advice would be to combine practical tips with whatever you love to have in your kitchen, and you’ll have the kitchen of your dreams. Easy peasy!

Until next time!!!

Design geek in Athens