What Your Favorite Coffee Shop Can Teach You about Kitchen Design

In modern society, few places have grown in popularity as much as the coffee shop. They come in all shapes and sizes, and are popping up all over the place. Whether you prefer the coziness of an independent coffee shop, the clean efficiency of a commercial caf?, or you are simply smitten with your local diner, each of these can give homeowners some helpful tips on remodeling their own kitchens.

Inspiration from Independent Coffee Shops
Local, independently owned coffee houses offer some of the funkiest, most unique settings of any business. Cozy (sometimes to the point of cramped), these small cafes are generally a direct expression of the folks who run them. If you plan on staying in your home for many years to come, having a kitchen setting that is designed specifically for you will not only give your home some color, but will also aid you in cooking, entertaining, and cleaning up. Custom kitchen design is a process that you and your contractor will work together on, but getting what you want will be difficult if you don?t have a clear way to express it. Before talking to the folks who will be doing the work, know what your priorities are. If you do a lot of baking, a separate oven placed at waist level can be a lifesaver. If wine is your passion, having a temperature controlled storage area for your bottles might be an excellent addition. If you take the time to make a list of your must-haves, as well as a few extras that would be nice if budget and logistics permit, there?s a much better chance that your contractor will be able to create the kitchen you?ve always wanted.

Commercial Coffeehouses
One of the nice things about a chain store is the fact that no matter which one you go to, you can probably find your way around pretty easily. Though they might lack the individuality of an independent coffee shop, commercial cafes can give you some pretty helpful tips if you are planning a remodel to increase your property?s market value. When it comes time to sell a house, too much individuality can actually be a drawback. Since nobody?s tastes are exactly alike, a kitchen planned with universal appeal will often be more attractive to prospective buyers than one designed specifically for your household. Much like a commercial coffeehouse, a kitchen designed with efficiency and high quality, but few surprises, can be a big selling point.

Learning from Your Local Diner
Though coffee shops are all the rage, American diners have become a staple that are nearly iconic. Designed with efficiency in mind, the average residential kitchen can learn a lot from a diner. In spaces that are often cramped enough to truly earn the title ?hole-in-the-wall,? the diner design is still efficient enough to feed many people comfortably at the same time. The best thing homeowners can steal from diners and bring to their own remodels is layout. With plenty of space to work and prep food, easy access to pots, pans, spices, and cooking utensils, and plenty of storage space, to boot, cooking and cleaning a diner is far les of a chore than it is in most residential kitchens. To bring this concept home, examine your current kitchen and imagine where things should be and compare them to where they are. If spices and oils are difficult to access, a Lazy Susan might fix the problem; if pots and pans are always cluttered, hanging storage might be the answer. If counter space is scarce, adding an island might give you some much needed workspace. Remember, kitchen contractors can do some amazing things, but to have a successful remodel, planning is the key!