8 Kitchen Design Mistakes to Avoid--BYHYU 025

For most families, the kitchen is the most important room in the entire house.  It’s not only a functional family space, but it serves as the central area for entertaining, as well. Today we’ll talk about 8 mistakes to avoid when designing and organizing your kitchen.  Next week, we’ll have another kitchen-centered lesson when I give an overview of what to look for when choosing kitchen cabinets.

​As always, though, let’s start with our Pro Term.

The Pro Term is Engineered Wood.


Engineered wood is a wood product that’s manufactured to precise standards by binding together wood strands, fibers and/or veneers with adhesives. Binding those elements together produces a larger structural unit that’s stronger and stiffer than the sum of its parts.


In contrast to engineered wood, traditional, solid wood or dimensional lumber, is wood in which each board is made of a single piece of wood. It’s the wood that you see when you go to a lumber yard.  Dimensional lumber is limited to smaller depths and lengths since its size is dependent on the size of the tree cut to make them. 


Engineered wood is sometimes used instead of dimensional lumber because engineered wood is lighter, but stronger than solid wood and it’s able handle greater loads, or pressures, over longer spans.


One of the biggest advantages of engineered wood is its consistency.  Because it's made from dry materials using specific manufacturing standards, engineered wood doesn’t usually shrink, warp, buckle or twist.  For this reason, engineered wood is not only used for structural elements of a house, but also as an alternative to solid hardwood flooring.


Some examples of engineered wood include plywood, MDF, OSB, particle board, and some structural beams and joists.  Pop quiz:  What are joists?  We talked about joists in episode 16, which was an overview of advanced framing.  Well, joists are a group of structural members arranged in parallel that are designed to support the floor or ceiling.


So our Pro Term is engineered wood, a manufactured wood product that’s made of wood fibers, wood strands and wood veneers bound together with adhesives.



Ok, let’s move on to this week’s lesson, 8 kitchen design mistakes to avoid. 


Mistake #1: Treating the kitchen work triangle as if it’s passe’


Listen, I know that discussing the kitchen work triangle seems very 1995, but, don’t be fooled, that work triangle is still an important concept in kitchen design. The kitchen triangle links 3 key areas in the kitchen— the sink, stove and refrigerator. The National Kitchen and Bath Association defines the kitchen work triangle by imaginary straight lines drawn from the center of the sink, to the center of the stove, to the center of the refrigerator, then back to the sink again. There should be unobstructed access to and from all three of those key areas.



Whether you have an L-shaped, galley, U-shaped or center island kitchen, the sum of all the legs of the kitchen triangle should be between 13 and 26 feet. If the work triangle is less than 13 feet, people in the kitchen will be bumping into each other and if the triangle is greater than 26 feet, you’ll be taking lots of steps during food prep and cooking, making your time in the kitchen inefficient and tiring.



Designers suggest that kitchen walkways be 42 inches for a one-cook kitchen or 48 inches for a kitchen with more than one cook. But, go to open houses and model homes and try different distances out.  It’s not a standard recommendation, but you might even consider making your main walkway up to 60 inches wide if you regularly entertain or have a large family with several people helping out in the kitchen. My advice, as always, is to use the recommendations as a guide, then adjust according to what works best for your family and your lifestyle.



Mistake #2:  Having cabinets, drawers and doors that open into other things.  


If you’ve got two drawers, for example, that can’t both be opened at the same time, tweak your plans, so that won’t be a source of frustration for you when working in your kitchen. Along the same lines, be certain that the refrigerator door doesn’t open into a wall.  In my last house the refrigerator door opened into a wall.  Granted, it’s not the end of the world, but it is annoying.  Your  refrigerator door should open freely, towards the main part of the kitchen—where you'll doing most of your prep and cooking.




When looking at your kitchen design, imagine opening every single door and drawer at the same time. If there’s anything touching, do some rearranging and if you can’t figure out a solution, talk to a kitchen designer or your cabinet maker or chat with folks in the cabinet section of Lowe’s or Home Depot.



Mistake #3:  Not considering the noise level of your dishwasher.


Older dishwashers, which many of us have in our current homes, are significantly louder than standard models today.  Models from 10 years ago averaged about 60 decibels.  That’s a little louder than a normal conversation in a quiet room so those older dishwashers usually compete with your kitchen conversations and the television.



Today’s quiet dishwasher models range of 40-45 decibels, which will be slightly noticeable, but the noise won’t force anyone to talk louder. So if you want a quiet dishwasher, your target is 45 decibels or less.


Quieter models may cost a few hundred dollars more than standard dishwashers, but for most of us, it’s money well spent, especially if your kitchen is open to other living areas or if you and your family and guests spend a lot of time in and around the kitchen. 


Ultra quiet dishwashers have noise levels at 39 decibels or less.  


Below is a link to a helpful article which compares the decibels and prices of some popular quiet dishwashers. 

http://blog.yaleappliance.com/bid/90427/Quietest-Dishwasher-By-Decibel-Rating-Reviews-Prices




Mistake #4: Designing your kitchen with bottom cabinets.


I’m not saying you shouldn’t have bottom cabinetry, just not bottom cabinets.  How many times have you gotten on your hands and knees trying to see what was in the back of your bottom cabinets?  For me, it’s been too many times, so why not forgo bottom cabinets all together?  You can design all of your bottom cabinetry with full extension drawers. Or if you like the look of  bottom cabinet doors, put pull-out shelves behind those cabinet doors.  Bottom drawers are far more convenient than low, deep, dark cabinets.



Mistake #5:  Choosing a wimpy range hood.


You don’t have to have a huge, industrial type hood over your range, but choose one with some power to take warm, moist, greasy, smelly air outside.


Moisture in the kitchen can cause big problems, so you should do whatever can to get rid of steam as quickly and efficiently as possible.   For that reason, it’s recommended that range hoods be 6 inches wider than the cooking area (that’s 3 inches on each side of the range).


Inexpensive ventilation systems, like those found in over the range microwave ovens, simply recirculate stale air, instead of removing it.  A good ventilation system will improve your indoor air quality and remove odors, moisture and airborne particles before they travel to your cabinets, appliances, countertops and to other rooms.


The best ventilation systems use fans to take stale air through ductwork to the outdoors.  If your range is not along an outside wall, ducts can be run through cabinets, walls or the ceiling to route the kitchen fumes to the outside.  Use the largest, smooth-walled metal ducting that fits. And use short duct runs with minimal bending to maximize airflow.  Install a wall or roof cap outside of the house to prevent back drafts.


Finally, avoid downdraft hoods.  Downdraft hoods ventilate by pulling cooking fumes and smoke downward instead of sucking smoke and steam upward.  According to Consumer Reports, downdraft hoods have been unimpressive when tested.



Mistake #6:   Going light on lighting.


Think about it, the kitchen is where you’ll be working with very sharp objects and very hot appliances, so you want there to be plenty of light.  Too often people think that installing one single overhead light in the center of the kitchen is enough.  But, it’s not.  Ideally, the kitchen should have 3 types of lightening— general lighting, task lighting and accent lighting.



Kitchens typically have an overhead light fixture or recessed lighting for general lighting.  Task lighting is where many kitchens fall short.  Lighting should be added wherever the main kitchen tasks are performed, including prep areas, the sink and the stove.



Recessed lighting can be used not only for general lighting, but for some task lighting, as well.  Other examples of task lighting are pendants over your island and strip or rope lightening beneath upper cabinets so that countertops are well lit.



Accent lighting adds visual interest and drama, but, it’s the layer of lighting that’s not really essential. So, if you have a tighter budget, this is the lighting layer that can be eliminated.   Accent lighting can be added inside glass cabinets to highlight special dishes or in the toe kick area of lower cabinets and around the bottom of your kitchen island.  Accent lighting is more for beauty than for function.



Specify the locations of your lighting fixtures on your house plans before construction begins to ensure that your electrician installs adequate wiring in the right areas.



Mistake #7:   Insufficient trash disposal.   


It used to be that one single trash can or trash compacter was adequate.  However, as more and more regions are encouraging and requiring recycling, one trash can just won’t cut it.  Today’s trash disposal might include a garbage disposal in the main sink, a central trash can for miscellaneous trash and a recycling station that includes bins for some or all of the following:  glass, plastic, metal, paper and composting. Installing built-in, pull out bins in your kitchen or mudroom is really convenient, if you have the space.  




Mistake #8:  Choosing the wrong flooring.


What’s the wrong flooring for your kitchen?  Flooring that doesn’t function well for your lifestyle and habits.  While hardwood flooring may be a perfect floor for some, ceramic tile might be a better choice for others.  Let’s briefly talk about the pros and cons of different types of flooring.

1.  Hardwood Flooring.  The advantages of hardwood flooring are that it’s a classic, timeless choice that will likely never go out of style.  Wood gives and is slightly cushy, which causes less foot and leg fatigue if you spend a lot of time standing in the kitchen. Hardwood flooring works well in living areas and the kitchen, so it’s a good choice if you have an open concept house and want unified flooring that flows one area to another.



The main disadvantage of hardwood flooring is potential water damage that can occur with spills and leaks in the kitchen.  For that reason, some experts do not recommend solid hardwood flooring in the kitchen.  One way to decrease chances of some potential water and moisture damage to hardwood flooring is to choose engineered wood flooring.  Engineered wood flooring is usually a veneer of real wood backed by layers of plywood. It’s more stable and less susceptible to expansion and contraction caused by changes in humidity and temperature.



2. Vinyl flooring.  If you haven’t looked at todays’s vinyl flooring, go take a look.  A lot of it is really attractive.  Some vinyl flooring looks very much like real hard wood or stone, but there are also many other colors and patterns to choose from. Vinyl flooring is easy on the wallet, easy to install, easy to maintain, and easy on the feet and legs since it too is cushy.  In fact, it is one of the softest flooring options, which is great if you cook a lot or if you’re on the clumsy side.  Dishes are less likely to break if dropped on vinyl flooring.  Vinyl is water proof and stain proof.


One downside of vinyl is the seams. The standard width for vinyl flooring is 12 feet, so if your kitchen is wider than that, you’ll definitely have seams.  Seams are not just an aesthetic annoyance.  Seams can allow damaging moisture to get to the subfloor.  Another disadvantage of vinyl flooring is that its wear layer, which resists scratches and scuff marks, will eventually wear off.  The best brands of vinyl guarantee the wear layer for 10 to15 years.


3.  Porcelain and Ceramic Tile.  Most tile is made of clay or other naturally occurring materials.  Porcelain tile is a version of ceramic tile that is denser, less porous and more expensive than standard ceramic tile. Both ceramic and porcelain tile are low maintenance, extremely durable, stain resistant, and water resistant. Tile, especially porcelain tile, can look like very much like natural stone and wood, but is much more affordable.



Disadvantages of tile are that it can be very slippery, if not designated as slip-resistant and it’s extremely hard.  Since tile is not cushy, it can be hard on the feet and legs if you spend a lot of time standing in the kitchen and dishes usually shatter if dropped on tile.



4.  Cork flooring.  Cork flooring is made from tree bark that’s harvested every 8 to 10 years, so it’s a sustainable choice. It’s softer that wood or tile, so its easy on the legs and feet, it’s slip resistant, and moisture resistant.



A disadvantage to cork is that it requires regular maintenance.  Cork floors need to be resealed every 3-4 years to help guard against scratches and to help prevent moisture from penetrating the seams between tiles.   Since cork is so soft, it can dent with normal activity.


With those pro and cons in mind, choose flooring for your kitchen that best fits your habits and lifestyle.



So, in summary, those 8 kitchen mistakes to avoid were…

Mistake #1: Treating the kitchen work triangle as if it’s passe’
Mistake #2: Having cabinets, drawers and doors that open into other things.
Mistake #3:  Not considering the noise level of your dishwasher.
Mistake #4: Designing your kitchen with bottom cabinets.
Mistake #5:  Choosing a wimpy range hood.
Mistake #6:   Going light on lighting.
Mistake #7:   Insufficient trash disposal and
Mistake #8:  Choosing the wrong flooring for you habits and lifestyle.




Alright, up next is our quiz.


QUIZ

1. Which of the following is not an example of engineered wood?

A. Oriented strand board (OSB)
B. Plywood
C. Medium density fiberboard (MDF)
D. Dimensional lumber




The answer is D.  Dimensional lumber is made of a solid, single piece of wood.  Engineered wood is a wood product that is manufactured to precise standards by binding together wood strands, fibers, or veneers with adhesives.  



2. An efficient and effective ventilation system should vent kitchen fumes and moisture to:

A. the mudroom
B. other areas of the kitchen
C. the outdoors
D. open areas of the house.



The answer is C— to the outdoors.  Although there are some ventilation systems that simply filter cooking fumes and recirculate the air to the kitchen, they’re not very effective.  If at all possible, your range hood should take stale kitchen air outside.



3. True or false.  Accent lighting is the most essential type of lighting to include in your kitchen.


The answer is false.  Accent lighting is mainly for visual interest and drama. It’s very nice to include in your kitchen if your budget allows. General lighting, which illuminates the overall kitchen area, and task lighting, which should be placed over the stove, the sink and prep areas, are much more important than accent lighting.



Thanks for joining me again.  If you know someone who’s planning on building their own home, you can share this episode with them by email, Facebook or Twitter.  



Please remember that the purpose of this podcast is simply to educate and inform.  It is not a substitute for professional advice.  The information that you hear is based the only on the opinions, research and experiences of my guests and myself.  That information might be incomplete and it’s subject to change, so it may not apply to your project. In addition, Building codes and requirements vary from region to region, so always consult a professional about specific recommendations for your home.