#10 Modern Kitchen Design Updates - Design Milk

Although National Home Remodeling Month is over, we re still exploring ways to update and modernize your home.  Let s visit the heart of the home and talk about modern kitchen design upgrades that will make a big impact.

I ll be honest. I strongly dislike cooking. And chopping. And slicing and dicing, frying, broiling and sautéing. But I can tell you from experience, having a kitchen you love makes cooking so much more tolerable. And if you already love cooking and your kitchen, you probably never want to leave.

Every kitchen is made up of the same essentials, but design is what sets it apart. Whether you re looking to build new, remodel, or just update a few minor details, we ve put together 10 ways you can modernize your kitchen. We even talked to a few kitchen design experts to offer their opinion on the best ways to upgrade. Put all of them together for the ultimate modern kitchen overhaul.

But first, what make a kitchen modern?  Susan Serra, CKD. believes that current modern kitchen design increasingly places functional and aesthetic elements on equal footing. The interplay of new and interesting products and materials is more open to personal expression than ever before. Modern means change that is designed into the kitchen. I do not want to see the same kitchen design year after year. I want the decorative layer designed from the outset to be able to change as my mood changes.

Lisa Wilson-Wirth, CKD, President Design Principal of Wilson-Wirth Design. says Modern can mean many things to different homeowners. It could mean a European style cabinet, which is frameless, with a design program featuring strong horizontal elements in cabinetry and recessed (integrated) handle profiles, but this also could be a design program featuring more traditional cabinets employed with modern finishes and materials. And while it is a beautiful space to look at and enjoy, a modern kitchen addresses functionality by providing a custom tailored cooking set-up to meet the unique needs of its users designed by work zone. It should also encourage and support their goals for healthy eating and overall wellness.

1. Toss The Triangle for a Functional Floorplan

Before you do anything, consider your floorplan first! If you re remodeling, think about what you can improve upon with the existing layout. Serra explains today, there s a different, yet important approach to designing the kitchen floorplan that includes analyzing your lifestyle situation and then planning for an adequate and comfortable space.

Figure out what s functional for you—modern doesn t have to mean form over function. The traditional triangle of sink, fridge, cooktop/oven doesn t work for everyone, so figure out how you move around the space and work from there. If you can t change the layout or you have a small budget, don t fret! In my previous kitchen. we didn t have a choice as to where most major things were located, and we had to work with the existing layout. Instead we added functional cabinetry and storage, making improvements where we could.

Schiffini Italian kitchen manufacturer s new showroom in Zurich, Switzerland