Remodeling Your Kitchen? Don’t Do These 2 Things

Kitchen Islands.  It may sound like heresy, but major kitchen designers are all saying the same thing: don’t put in an island in your kitchen.  But isn’t the island sort of ultimate #kitchengoals?  Well, maybe not so much anymore.

“They’re bulky and often don’t provide adequate storage space; plus, they’re very easy to bump into in the middle of the night,” says Diana Blaszkiewicz, an associate with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in Washington, DC. It appears her clients increasingly want to get off the island trend, and she’s happy to oblige.  In lieu of an island, situate the dining table closer to the kitchen, Blaszkiewicz recommends, or use modular, moveable storage instead.

Built-In Microwaves over the Stove. Certain residential features are the brainchildren of home builders—not interior designers. Such is the story of microwaves situated above cooktops.  “It was never a good design choice,” Cummings says. “Microwaves are so ugly, to put it bluntly.”

The microwave-over-the-range setup is not even functional, says Doug Lewis, a kitchen and bath remodeler in Richmond, VA. The combo’s popularity is driven entirely by the need to economize space—and it sacrifices the ventilation capabilities of a full-size hood vent (as opposed to the scrawny item built into the bottom of over-range microwaves). “With those, you’re maybe getting 25% venting function,” Lewis says. “Plus, it’s just an awkward height for younger or shorter people to use. Ever tried to reach over your head to get hot soup out of the microwave? Not good.”

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Photocredit: Breadmaker / Shutterstock.com

So what’s a space-starved homeowner to do? Undercounter microwaves are gaining popularity, Lewis says, and a growing number of cabinet manufacturers offer designs that accommodate them. You can also mount your microwave under upper cabinets while still preserving that precious counter space.  Any kitchen designer would be delighted to help you find the perfect – out of the way- spot to house your unsightly friend.

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Photo Credit: Breadmaker / Shutterstock.com