Dream Kitchen

[Natasha]

Originally posted by Beth:
When we bought our current house, I had to give up my huge island and incredible counter space. I probably won't be able to get that back here, but we do hope to update appliances and make a few changes. That had me thinking, what would be in your dream kitchen. I have to pick up a kid, so I'll post my ideas later.

Basically something that looks like it's out of Country Living magazine. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Seriously, definitely an island and tons of counter space. It would have to be a nice, bright room, and, of course, quite large. Old-fashioned wooden table and chairs in one corner, or at least a cute bistro-style table and chairs/stools. Maybe even a skylight? Huge fridge (see Cookgirl's thread about $$ spent on food http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif ), and I won't even get into the rest of the appliances. A pretty shelf right in the kitchen to hold my favorite cookbooks. I have to stop now - I can't stand it! I have some of these features in my current kitchen, but not all ... one must always have something to dream about, right? I know I'll also keep "upgrading" my dream kitchen as I read everyone else's posts.

Great topic, BTW!

Hey, is CL having any more dream kitchen contests? Does anyone know?



[This message has been edited by Natasha (edited 07-20-2000).]

[CATHIEA]

Oh Beth, this topic makes me so sad. I have never, ever, ever had a kitchen with even reasonable shelving and counterspace. We bought our current home because it had 2 large closets in the master bedroom (well, a gal needs space for shoes), but it has the world's smallest, most inconvenient kitchen. We've been in our house for 10 years now and still haven't remodeled the kitchen. Part of the delay is I know it will cost a fortune, but because of the location of the kitchen relative to the downstairs bath and some closets, I figure the most new space I will get out of a remodel is 4 more feet of counter (which, come to think of it, more than doubles what I have now!). I dream of counters tall enough for me to work comfortably and long enough to put out a cookbook and all my ingredients next to the preparation area. Lighting under cabinets so I can read a recipe or see if the chicken is done would be nice too. Oooh, and let's not forget the maid.
CathieA

[lindrusso]

This is too funny - I was going to post this very same topic. I dream about it all the time and lust after kitchens shown on HGTV!

We just redid our little kitchen - maple cabinets, navy laminate countertops and a Pergo floor with a maple shade. We installed new white appliances - except for the dishwasher - the old one was still in good shape. It's not my dream kitchen, but it's heaps better than the dark brown, drab cabinets, the white countertop and the old, ugly vinyl floor.

Mostly my dream kitchen would have more space, more space, more space!! I actually have adequate (you can never have too much)counter space (compared to my first apartment which consisted of counterspace about the length of a toaster oven!), but not enough cabinets.

I dream of granite countertops with different work areas - maybe a marble inset for pastry making. One cook I know suggested making the insert removable to chill it to keep the pastry cool - good idea to file away for later.

I dream of cherry cabinets in a light, airy kitchen or maybe a nice maple. The kitchen would open up into the living area (as mine does now) so that I would not be isolated while I cook.

My dream floor is still up in the air. I like hardwood, but it's not very practical. I guess I'd go with natural tile - something slate-like, in a nice brick tone??

I dream of two wall ovens for cookie baking and holiday cooking.

I dream of stainless steel appliances and a well-made, gas cooktop with one of those retractable vents.

I dream of an extra utility sink to wash veggies or large pots.

I dream of a pantry to fill with staples. And to store all the canned veggies from my garden (but first I'd have to learn to can!).

I dream of a freezer (but I guess I wouldn't have that in the kitchen unless it was REALLY big )to store all the nice basil leaves, other herbs and fruit-on-sale that I'm now freezing.

I dream of a small space in the kitchen where I can have my computer set up to access my recipes on Mastercook.

I dream of a temperature-controlled area to store wines. Maybe just off the kitchen in a little bar area??

Most of all I dream of more space. More cabinets and a nice breakfast nook as well - preferably one that sits more than 4 at a time!

Not too much to ask is it???!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by lindrusso (edited 07-20-2000).]

[Laura B]

I design my future kitchen in my mind all of the time. I want a full Viking kitchen in stainless steel finish with a HUGE fridge, granite counters, tons of space. A large island. Light colored cabinets and lots of windows/good lighting. A huge walk-in pantry (I have two small cabinets for food now plus one and a half for spices/baking stuff). Also, there must be bookshelves and a small desk area. I would love a butler's pantry between the kitchen and dining room. That doesn't seem like a lot to wish for, does it? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[Danielle]

Ahhh...to dream....Right now we live in an apartment, so I think about this all the time. I want a dishwasher (I'm the dishwasher right now, and it bites), lots of counter space, an island, one of those thingys you can hang pots and pans from above the island, windows, cupboards with glass doors, a large pantry for food, lots of cupboard space, and stainless steel professional-type appliances.

But right now, I'd settle for the dishwasher. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Beth H]

Definitely an island, walk-in pantry, utility sink, wine cooler, and, most important, a double wall oven. I'd love the kitchen to open into a family room so that the cook wouldn't be working separately all the time. Corian or granite countertops, viking stove, and the list goes on! We re-did the kitchen in our current house to update it, but it still lacks most of my "dream" features.

[Vanessa]

Yes we all dream of that kitchen!
I would definitely love a BIG kitchen, many cabinets and a room next to it (closet type but large) to put in there the gadgets
I would like enough counter space so friends can feel welcome to join in cooking. It seems like people like to be around kitchens during parties so I would have the rec room nearby. Yes all the appliances and I would invest in a freezer. I would not like wood floors that is a no no but tiles that can be washed. Bright, maybe a white kitchen and with some kind of view (maybe of a garden)....They say dreams can come true....

[lorilei]

On this day in time, I'm making do with an apartment kitchen (dishwasher: yes. space: no.) And I do dream of the day I have my own kitchen.

At this point, a kitchen that is MINE would be a dream http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

But, if I might take the liberty of dreaming further... definitely a big open space of a kitchen, lots of counterspace, and many of th things you've mentioned above.

I'd love ceramic tile on the floors and a big brick oven http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Corian countertops and a wrought iron pot rack.

I'd also get those copper All-Clad pans I've been lusting after http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Ohioan]

What I want -- need! -- is a six-burner stove. Some nights, four burners are simply not enough. Oh, and of course it must be a gas range, for the wok.

And a wall oven. And lots and lots of cabinet space for pots.

But most of all, the six-burner gas range. Sigh.

[Pat]

You ladies have about covered it. I lust after more space, more counter space, more cabinets, a work area with a desk for the computer and shelves for the cookbooks, lots of windows, a LARGE walk-in pantry, another walk-in pantry for storing appliances, a larger refrigerator. I bought the biggest one I could find and put my old one in the basement. That has helped, but I get tired of running up and down those steps. Lazy, I guess. I also have a second stove in the basement so a second oven upstairs would be nice. I also want my kitchen to open up into a living area because I want to be in the thick of things and not stuck in another room.

[RunnerKim]

My mom is in the process of re-designing her kitchen and I'm just living vicariously through her as I'm still renting.

I'd definitely want 2 sinks as my husband and I always seem to be "fighting" for sink access. A marble counter area at the perfect height for kneading. I also want easy access to pots and pans - I hate digging around in the cupboard. And what I'd absolutely cherish would be a wood burning pizza oven!

Kim

[BarbaraL]

More space, more space! A second sink, so one's clean and empty for washing food; the other can hold the dirty dishes! Enough room and counter space so that someone fixing a snack or getting a drink doesn't disrupt my fixing the meal! Enough room so that there's plenty of space to hang out (why is it that, at parties, everyone winds up in the kitchen)?

[Beth]

When we bought our current house, I had to give up my huge island and incredible counter space. I probably won't be able to get that back here, but we do hope to update appliances and make a few changes. That had me thinking, what would be in your dream kitchen. I have to pick up a kid, so I'll post my ideas later.

[Beth]

Maybe it's a sign: I came back to post my dreams and the computer froze up and ate them!

Since then I saw a pictue in Southern Living of a house with a butler's pantry with a sink and a dishwasher. Now a second dishwasher, a prep sink and a butler's pantry, yes, but in the butler's pantry? I don't know.

Most of my ideas are pretty much like those posted. I would add more outlets. I would go with maple or cherry cabinets, solid surface countertops, at least one area of granite (island?), six gas burner cooktop, double ovens and a huge fridge, 2 dishwashers on either side of a large sink with a second prep sink elsewhere, a walk-in pantry and more cabinets than I could fill. The house, but not necessarily the kitchen, would have a wine cooler.

I'm still trying to come up with clever, but sensible ways to improve the function of this kitchen everyone thinks LOOKs so great (kitchen, breakfast and family all open together with red brick fireplace and 14 ft ceilings).

Of course, my dishwasher is dying (i.e., a drying rack on steroids run only to get water out of the bottom) and the cooktop never had more than 2 burners (the other side is a grill that won't cook), so we're going to have to get our ideas together and do something! When the kids are back in school, I think I may talk to some kitchen planners for ideas.

Meanwhile, tomorrow's lottery is $30 million. That ought to take care of it.....Well, the question was a DREAM kitchen! Fun dreaming with you!

[CathyPA]

Beth,

Is your stove a Jenair? I too have burners only on right and grill on left. My grill cooks, but it's a major pain to clean. I fixed tuna steaks the other night and had a devil of a time cleaning the grill racks. Soaked them and still http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/mad.gif couldn't get the residue off.

When we bought the stove the grill came with it, the extra burners were optional. My husband wanted to save money and thought we should wait and see how the grill worked out. Sales person said we could put pots on it if we needed extra burners- well sure, if you're not planning to eat any time soon!
Needless to say, after the other night I am going to buy the other burners, that's what I most often need anyway. We'll stick to grilling outside. So much for saving money.

[Beth]

CathyPA, the current cooktop is GE, eletric, builder's grade garbage. Same for the dishwasher. But other than that, I have no strong feelings on the subject.

I had a Jennair once before, thought it would be to-die-for, and hated the cleaning and the bother. Went back to grilling outdoors.

Last house had a 4 burner Dacor with large, continuous grates. We loved it and are favoring Dacor this time around. I've been looking at their 4,5 and 6 burner models. I don't really have the room I would want for 6 burners, and can't decide if 5 burners is worth having smaller grates. I found the 4 grates large enought to hold large pots without putting the other half of the stove out of commission was usually sufficient. Whatever we pick, we have to have a downdraft because the cooktop is in the island and there is nothing over it.

Laden, you're brave to go with glass door on the refrigerator. I could never do that.

Question: Anyone out there bought a new dishwasher recently? What kind do you have and how do you like it? When this GE died, our home warranty gave us the repair cost (about $200) toward replacing a 9 yr old unit. I thought we'd probably spend $4-500 for a better dishwasher and be happy. We're finding that's our minimum now, and my husband is quite enamored with a Bosch unit around $1000. My mom has a Jennair she loves, and it is very quiet. I guess I'm wondering whether the jump up is worth it, both in terms of quiet and cleaning features....probably in that order.

[laden]

I dream about my "future" kitchen all the time. It has granite counter tops with an island in the middle. It is very open to the connecting room(s). It has a breakfast bar with high stools so people can sit and visit while we cook.

Double ovens (at least one convection) are a must with a huge refrigerator with glass doors. Hardwood floors (I have them in my kitchen now and love the look and feel)

I'd definitely have a gas cooktop (four burners and a grill)

There would be plenty of room for a computer and a place to spread out several cookbooks and drink coffee.

Oh well....maybe someday.

[karen w]

My husband and I built our dream home 2yrs ago, and I always blame him for our kitchen...but I love all the space. You see due to specific things he wanted in the front half of the house we had nothing to fill up the back of the house except a kitchen. So that's what we did. It's definitely not the gourmet professional kitchens you see on TV, but it's got lots of space. We did have some budget limitations too since it required a lot of cabinets, and that's what is so costly. We stuck with a light oak, and since we had 9' ceilings in such a large room, we did crown moulding with cabinets. Definitely go with white appliances. They show the fingerprints less. Also we got a very good price on granite countertops by going directly to granite dealers instead of through kitchen cabinetry stores. It was half the price, and that included installation! The other things I wanted(and love) are a big walk in pantry and my island(2 tiered 9'x4'). I find it amazing, though. I never thought I could fill such a big kitchen, but trust me it's easy. The more space you have the more clutter you make!

[Nicole]

I guess I have 2 thoughts to share...
First, Beth, in your quest for a new dishwasher, I can strongly recommend the Bosch. Although it is expensive, if you are looking for quiet, this is the dishwasher to buy. My mom just got her dream kitchen (pretty much a nice combination of what has been described on this board) and she went for the Bosch after much debating. She had a Kitchen Aid but hated it (kinda quite, but not really, and cleaned ok, but not always the greatest). She didn't get any good feedback on the Asko, even though it is supposed to be rated as quiet. When I went to visit and saw/ heard the dishwasher, honestly, it is SO quiet, you don't know its even on. She is also happier with the way it dries and cleans (no yucky water on the top of the glasses when it is done, and yes, the wine glasses fit)(the cycle also happens to be shorter than the kitchen aid - go figure).

Second, to everyone - I just wanted to say, dreams do come true. As I mentioned, my Mom got her kitchen...she had to wait 35 years for it, but she finally got it...and says it was worth waiting for. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[JeanneW]

Beth, you described my dream kitchen perfectly. Golden cherry cabinets solid surface countertops (and sink!) granite on the island. Walk-in pantry is a must! Sigh....maybe someday.

[cookgirl]

I dream of a kitchen where my husband can be at the counter on one side of the kitchen, and I can be at the the stove, and our backs are not touching!!!! Imagine what happens if I go for the oven door at the same time he attempts to open up one of the lower cabinets on his side of the kitchen.
Apartment dwellin can be disastrous!

Oh, and about the dream kitchen thingy: (Not that I should know this, because I shouldn't be looking at building a kitchen for a house I don't own!)

I read that Cooking Light is having their Dream kitchen thing, but that it doesn't start until Jan???(I think. I'll try to find it again)

[Natasha]

Originally posted by Natasha:

Hey, is CL having any more dream kitchen contests? Does anyone know? [/b]

So - DOES anyone know? (besides Maelynn and Lisa, of course). I'm planning some fairly small-scale renos in the kitchen but would love to make major ones (as we all would!). Esp. since I saw all those beautiful kitchens in this month's Country Living mag....