As someone who learned to love cooking at an early age, the kitchen is the most important room in my home. Like any true foodie, I could cook in almost any kitchen -- but I'd rather cook in a user-friendly kitchen that has all my favorite features. For me, there are a number of design elements that I simply can't do without. Whether it's the right equipment or layout, these are features that make my cooking experience easier and more enjoyable.
A pot rack
I originally added a pot rack to my kitchen because the room is quite small. The pot rack gave me ample room to store pots and pans, which cleared up cabinet space. However, it's now become a must-have element for me. I don't care if I move into a home that has a huge kitchen, I'll want to incorporate a pot rack. Each evening when I'm cooking, I lay out all my ingredients on the stove and reach up and grab the pots and pans I need. I don't have to worry about digging for that much-needed pan.
Organizational tools
Organization is another key to an efficient kitchen. I like having everything in its own place so that I don't have to search for something. One must-have when it comes to organizational tools is a spice rack. For me, a kitchen is not complete without one. There are many different styles to choose from, but I prefer the old-school hanging rack. It makes it easy to display and find the spices I need. Something I love to do is stand in front of the spice rack and draw inspiration for the night's meal from the different types of spices. Though I don't have one yet, I've been meaning to add a magnetic knife bar to my kitchen. The bar would make my knives part of the kitchen decor while also allowing me to quickly and easily grab one without injury. An added benefit of magnetic knife bars: Blades won't dull as quickly as they do when bumping around in a drawer with other utensils.
An area to plan
Another important feature in my kitchen is a place to plan. I like to have a designated place where I can sit down, plan menus, lay out cookbooks, and set up my laptop to easily read recipes. I chose a convenient spot where I don't have to worry about spills and splatters from cooking. Because I keep so many recipes on my computer, it's nice to bring my laptop into the kitchen and read recipes without having to run back and forth from the kitchen to the living room.
A triangular layout
There is something I learned in a design course many years ago that I swear by: the triangular layout. What this means is that the refrigerator, stove, and sink are laid out in such a way that they form a triangle. This makes it easy to move from one area to another.
Customization
There are so many great design elements to choose from when designing a kitchen. It should be inspired by the habits and preferences of the foodie. Personally, I plan for my next kitchen to have a specified baking area where I can quickly find the ingredients I need, store cookbooks, and incorporate a marble slab for rolling out dough to keep it cool.
