Oven Profiling

Before designing that perfect kitchen, the appliances, especially the cooking units must be chosen. Sounds easy, but unless you know the lifestyle, budget and decor of your client, your choices are overwhelming and confusing, to say the least. There certainly is no room for error.

I am very familiar with the appliances I have reviewed, and had fun profiling the consumer to fit each one. You can use this guide or not, but if you do, let me know if you agree.

TurboChef Wall oven offers high speed convection that cooks food up to 15 times faster than a conventional oven by combining bursts of microwave heat with convection heat blown up to 60 miles per hour, transferring heat into the food quickly and evenly through dozens of holes in the top and bottom of the oven. With hundreds of pre-programmed recipes, this oven not only looks great, but makes it easy to prepare a gourmet dinner in under 10 minutes. The curved, hearth-shaped upper oven is available in stainless steel as well as six exciting colors.

Consumer Profile:
The TurboChef oven caters to time-crunched, design-conscious consumers who crave gourmet meals but do not always have time to prepare them. They enjoy having friends frequently gather in their high tech home for group cooking. Money is not an issue. Quality, technology and performance are foremost on their shopping list.. The Escalade is one the family vehicles, big screen TV’s are a must and their children are active in sports.

Gagganeu’s 24” Lift Oven with automatic elevating glass ceramic base opens with the push of a button, lowering directly from the oven to the countertop. With no door to open, the heat remains in the oven cavity resulting in a minimum of heat loss. Eleven heating methods including convection are featured in this fully integrated oven, in addition to automatic temperature recommendation and precise electronic temperature control. The Lift Oven can be installed with or without wall cabinets flanked on each side since the oven is totally encased in stainless steel.
The height of the oven installation can be determined by the height of the consumer…higher for a taller person or even lower than standard for a more petite user. Note: If lower application is used, the countertop below the oven must be lower than 36” above the floor. This oven is ideal as an auxiliary oven in a butler’s pantry, for a small kitchen with limited space or for an ADA compliant design.

Consumer Profile:
The seasoned, professional couple who enjoy cooking but not too often. They have downsized from their suburban ranch to an urban, contemporary loft without clutter. They hang out at the museums and the theater enjoying quiet times together. They traded in their SUV for a Miata..

Sharp Insight Range offers a 30” ceramic glass cook top with a warming zone, a microwave drawer that opens with the touch of a button and an oven with true European Convection with a third heating element and fan that circulates the heat for even baking. The door remains closed with convection broiling helping meats to brown while sealing in juices. The microwave’s sensor technology eliminates guesswork when cooking or reheating foods. Easy access to the microwave makes it ideal for young children, and vertically challenged and special needs adults. This range answers the age-old question, “where do I put the microwave?” Practical and very stylish, the Insight is attractive to any budget. Available in black, white and stainless steel.

Consumer Profile:
Retired consumer thinking of maintenance-free living for the future. Downsized and de-cluttered the home; enjoys cooking easy, quick meals, leisurely reads and watches TV, takes life easy. The Prius is the car of choice.

Light Up Your Life

We’ve come a long way since good old Thomas Edison invented that utilitarian light bulb way back in 1879, making our lives easier, safer and glitzier, too. Hmmm, a word he might never have thought of in describing his incredible invention.

The elements of interior design include cabinetry, flooring, tile, plumbing fixtures and the like. But lighting, from task to mood, has jumped into the forefront of importance over the last several years.

As designers, it is our responsibility to fill the space with light and to use the light and its fixtures as an integral part of a room’s design. This critical design element adds drama and elegance. For years, lighting manufacturers have continually produced a plethora of fixtures for designers to incorporate into their designs for every room in the home. Now, in the spirit of “green living”, they are including energy-saving product-benefits into all of them.

Light layering - ambient, task and accent lighting used together – provides the room with more dimension, depth and visual interest. The first layer of light is general — or ambient — light. It is an overall wash of light that making the room safe to walk through. This layer can have a subtle, quiet presence through the use of recessed cans. Or, it can be an impressive statement by using chandeliers.

Task lighting – light’s second layer - provides the kind of intense light required to perform tasks like reading or cooking. It can be under-cabinet lighting or simple pendants immediately above the work area giving brighter, more direct light to the space.

The third layer of light is accent, or mood, lighting. Accent lights generate interest and insert a bit of excitement to the room. Generally, accent lighting should cast at least five times more light to an area or object than the existing light of the room. Rope lighting placed above crown molding to accentuate architectural features is an example of accent lighting.

Today, standard 6” cans or down lighting are being replaced by mini pendants, both fixed and on movable tracks, for many areas of the home. Placing these lights over an island or vanity sink not only brightens up the workspace, but also adds color, texture and interest to the décor.

A fun way of providing light in hallways, stairways and baths is to use wall sconces in lieu of ceiling fixtures or stair step lighting. These fixtures can compliment the design of the home with color and texture.


Did you know that…

Using dimmers on incandescent bulbs increase its life and decreases the energy used?

The newest compact fluorescents (CFLs) don’t flicker and hum, and are dimmable, and provide a warmer color temperature than in the past. Visit earth911.org to learn how to dispose of these bulbs properly.

If every American home exchanged the 5 most-used bulbs with energy star-qualified bulbs, 1 trillion pounds of greenhouse gases would be kept out of the air providing a savings of $6 billion in energy.


Americans have saved $16 billion on the energy bills in 2007 with the help of Energy Star.

Aging in Place

Most Baby Boomers (those people born between 1946 and 1964) would like to age in their own home; maintaining the social connections and personal and professional relationships they have built over the years. The phrase “aging in place” is now a common term used to describe this desire and implies using products, services and conveniences that will allow this huge segment of the population to remain content in their long-time home as their circumstances change. To "age in place" successfully requires planning for physical, mental, and psychological changes that accompany aging.

It is estimated that there will be 834,000 centenarians in the year 2050 compared to only 70,000 today. We are living longer, healthier and more enjoyable lives and baby boomers, the most affluent consumer group ever to exist, are making use of their numbers and success. Boomers run the economy, make decisions that influence products and services, and certainly play an important role in running the country.

When we, as designers/contractors, build or remodel a space for anyone over 40, be it the client, or a parent who may visit or live in the home of the client, we should include items that emphasize safety, ease of use and independence. Specifying low maintenance items and a clutter-free environment using stylish products, rather than institutional looking ones, is a necessity.

Let’s start with the flooring throughout the home, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. Flat tile with a non-skid finish and minimum width grout joints are preferred over carpet for maintenance as well as the ease of using a walker, wheel chair or scooter. Choose a tile that is of medium color and pattern so when items are dropped on the floor, they can easily be seen. A second choice would be laminate wood for those who feel tile is too hard or uncomfortable to walk on.

Doorways should be 36” wide with offset hinges on the doors and levered door handles instead of knobs. There should be no thresholds at the doorways to eliminate the chance of tripping.

Switches and outlets are better-placed in a more narrow band, higher off the floor at the bottom and closer to it at the top. Consider electric outlets at 18” instead of the usual 12” and easy touch light switches at 42” instead of the usual 48” to accommodate limited mobility and access to these from a seated position. Strobe light or vibrator-assisted smoke and burglar alarms as well as programmable thermostats for heating and cooling. should be used.

As vision deteriorates with age, using contrasting colors with matte finishes on flooring and walls help to compensate for the loss of depth perception. Color borders around the perimeter edge of the countertops would also help distinguish this surface from the floor. All areas of the home should be well lite. Increase the number of incandescent lights and add task lighting over work areas where possible.

Bathrooms are very precious to our self-preservation and independence, so making them attractive as well as safe is an important goal. I feel strongly about replacing the tub with a shower. Tubs can be difficult and dangerous to get in and out of at any age. The curb-free shower, with a bench, a hand held showerhead and a soap niche at a height reachable from a sitting position, makes the daily shower a pleasant experience, not a difficult task.

Pressure balanced shower controls should be placed 30” above the floor easily accessible from the outside of the shower. A shower curtain makes more sense than a glass door in this situation.
Non-skid grab bars should be set at a useful and comfortable height in the shower, by the toilet and by the entry door of the room. These bars are set either horizontally or at an angle, depending on arm strength.

Kitchens designed for easy access to all items in the base cabinets include large drawers that can be utilized for storing glasses and dishes as well as cooking utensils and food. Pull out trash bins, tray dividers, dishwasher drawers and a microwave drawer, just to name a few items, make it much easier and more efficient to work in the kitchen.

Flat panel doors of laminate or wood, single lever faucets, engineered stone countertops, tile backsplashes and undermount sinks are a few items suggested for easy maintenance.

Baby boomers are quite an independent bunch! They will go down in history for doing what they want to do, where, how and when they want to do it. They will work and play to the end, they just have to do it a little slower!

Got Refrigerators?

Writing about refrigeration in today’s busy kitchen was my first thought, but then I realized that the kitchen is only one of the many places that this appliance can be found. It is commonplace in most projects to see refrigerators in the wet bar, master bedroom morning bars, the garage work spaces, the guest rooms, home theaters, media rooms, home offices, exercise rooms and craft rooms and, of course, the outside kitchens. The choices are plentiful, but for the sake of simplicity, today’s kitchen will be the focus.

Built-in, free-standing or counter depth? Bottom freezer, side-by-side, or separate refrigerator and freezer units? Under counter refrigerators, beverage storage units and ice makers for task areas? The choices are endless, but ultimately they will depend on the design and function of the space, the market value of the home and the budget of the project.

From a designer’s viewpoint, the built-in refrigerator is favored for the upper-end remodel or new construction kitchen. Stainless Steel is one appliance finish that, I dare say, is here to stay, but camouflaging large appliances with integrated cabinet fronts seems to be the preferred choice. Hardware companies have listened to the designers’ pleas for more interesting heavy-duty pulls to compliment and match the cabinet hardware giving a furniture look or, in a contemporary setting, a more integrated look to these appliances. Of course, on the other end of the spectrum, using a

refrigerator with a glass front draws attention to the unit by making it look institutional or “commercial-like”. This might even be considered “green” since the end user can locate the food without opening the door, hence, retaining more cold air when the door is opened lesser amount of time.

Separate refrigerator and freezer towers have grown in popularity, especially since they are now offered in widths of 18” to 36” by 66” to 84” in height and 24” in depth. Using any combination of these refrigerator/freezer units now makes it possible to have a totally integrated wall of climate controlled storage.

The work triangle - the distance between the main sink, cook top and refrigerator - is often the criteria used in standard kitchen layouts. Larger kitchens can be designed with several triangles for specific task areas by incorporating an under counter refrigerator unit with a secondary sink. Beverage centers should also have ice makers and wine storage units. The multi-task kitchen is very important to the gourmet cook or the family with duel cooks. Convenience is the justification for adding efficient work areas necessary for the busy family of today.

Apart from the use, location, budget and aesthetics of the refrigerators, energy efficiency and the effects of global warming is on the minds of the majority of homeowners. Many of the appliances are computerized for efficiency and maintenance, so chose carefully for that next project.

What is a CKD

Many people are familiar with the term “Certified Kitchen Designer” but few know exactly what we do and why we do it. As industry professionals, we are qualified by education and experience to design the most functional and aesthetically pleasing space taking into consideration the efficiency, cost and mechanical installation unique to that space. We are able to supervise the physical development of a project using industry standards showing the latest in design and technologies. The application for certification is based on experience, education and ability. Once the certification is awarded by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), continuing education courses are required to maintain the designation. In addition, the CKD must adhere to a strict code of professional and moral conduct in business.

The builder who realizes that the kitchen is the focus of today’s home offers the services of a kitchen designer to his/her client. Being well-versed in the newest trends in appliances, cabinetry, countertops, flooring, plumbing and lighting, as well as the functional design of the space, the CKD adds value to the project. Knowing the importance of the placement of each appliance to the relationship of use, the requirements of space, work zones, and storage considerations will make the kitchen function as the hub of the family environment.

Involving the kitchen designer early in the project, usually at the preliminary stage, is essential to the project, but more important, to the budget. The red-lined preliminary plans calling out the placement of the utilities are integrated into the final working drawings. Having to move the sink locations after the slab is poured is costly so it should be avoided, if possible.

The plan starts with the function of the space. Will this be a one or two cook kitchen, will the kitchen be used for entertaining, how many people in the family, does everyone eat at one time, etc. The list of questions goes on and on because the more the designer knows about the needs of the family, the more functional the space will be.

Storage is an important concern of every homeowner. We never have enough storage and the more storage we have, the more stuff we collect (but that’s another column). Manufacturers have introduced storage drawers for glassware and dishes, pull out spice units behind fluted columns and single and double pull out trash units to name a few. The designer and homeowner should work closely to plan the placement of “the tools of the cook” to make the kitchen organized and fun to work in. A key rule is to place the items at first or last use. Store the dishware & glasses at the eating area or near the dishwasher. The triangle, or a variation of, is still important for efficiency. Small triangle areas can work well in a large kitchen by incorporating the second sink or adding refrigerator drawers.

Your appliance choices are the basis for the kitchen design and should be chosen with the consideration of space in the kitchen, functionality and budget. Will that 48” free-standing professional gas range overwhelm the space, will it be used or just look pretty, and finally, does it fit into the budget. Compromising might be a solution here. Professional-looking ranges are available in 30” and 36” widths, which might be more proportional to the rest of the kitchen, and might also allow the homeowner to splurge on a warming drawer or a heavy-duty ventilation hood.

Since the art of cooking has become a social thing, more homeowners are choosing appliances with the professional look. Entertaining has moved into the kitchen and the guests join in the preparation of the meals. That old saying, “ an average cook can be a gourmet cook with professional appliances” is actually true. All the appliance distributors offer cooking classes so the homeowner can try before they buy. If the homeowner has never used a steamer or a warming drawer before, they should be encouraged to attend the classes.

Needless to say, I’ve only touched on the tasks of the Certified Kitchen Designer. Speaking from experience, when working with my clients on remodeling or new construction designs, I definitely do become an integral part of the project. I have many projects that do not end at the kitchen, but continue into baths, laundry rooms, entertainment centers and home offices. My focus is to work on the complete project and give the client his/her dream home and stay within the parameters of the budget.

Part V - Surviving your remodel project

You have probably heard all the horror stories about remodeling, and now that you have decided to go forward with your project, here are some tips to help you be prepared.

1. It's always going to take longer than you thought. Do not schedule to host a wedding at your home a week after the project completion date. It's not going to happen.

2. The project will probably cost more than you thought. Things change and so do our ideas as the project is progressing. Give yourself a 10% slush just for incidentals.

3. Make sure the project area is sealed off so the dirt and noises are isolated from the rest of the house. Remember that dust has a way of finding every corner of your house.

4. Establish time frames for the workers to arrive and leave your home. Be reasonable. If the baby sleeps between 10 am and noon, you might want to change the nap schedule or your project won't get finished.

5. Set up a temporary kitchen in the bathroom, laundry room or even patio, if weather permits. Now is not the time to cook gourmet. A refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker and sink are all that you will need. You will appreciate the finished project even more.

6. If your contractor tells you that a firm decision or an actual item is needed by a certain time, give it to him. This is one of the main causes for time and cost overruns.

7. Be nice to everyone working at your home. Treat them hospitably...their work will reflect how they were treated.

8. Communication is very important so if there are 2 homeowners, only 1 should be designated as the primary contact with the builder. Conflicting decisions can slow down the project.

9. If you have scheduled a vacation or called out of town, make yourself available to the contractor via phone or email. Things will come up and decisions must be made.

10. Insist that the jobsite be swept every day, inside and out, and trash hauled away regularly.

11. Now is not the time to learn how to be a contractor, you will just be in the way. Stay out of the job site area during the work hours.

12. Praise is a great tool; everyone likes to hear that appreciation for their efforts.

13. Remember, there is light at the end of the tunnel, be patient and take pictures.

14. You will be enjoying your new space before you know it.

Part IV - Getting the work done!

Finding the right contractor to work with you on your project will be a challenge but if you follow these steps, the outcome will be very rewarding.

As remodeling is big business, there are contractors who specialize in everything from replacing windows to whole-house remodels. One of the best ways to find a contractor is to get referrals from your friends or neighbors who have just completed projects that are similar to yours.
Before you call the contractors, check with your local licensing department to see if they are a licensed, bonded and insured contractor, if your state requires this. Check to see if they are in good standing with the department. Ask your friends and family to tell you honestly what they liked best and least about the contractor, are they happy with the outcome, and would they use them again. These answers definitely will let you know if it would be wise to interview the contractor.


Plan to interview 3 contractors in your home and ask them how they would approach the project. The contractor's response will give you their work ethic and what you can expect while the work is being done. You also what to know if they offer architectural services as well as plumbing and electrical. Will this contract include all of the finish materials for the project or do you, as the homeowner, supply cabinets, sinks, light fixtures, etc? Does the contractor have company crews or is the work sub-contracted out? Will there be a project supervisor on the site?

One of the more important issues is how the contractor deals with change orders. As you may know, the less change orders you have, the more "in budget" your project will be. Hence, the reason for working with a designer at the beginning of the project is to have more control over the project.
By doing your homework, you and the designer indicate on the drawings, what cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, flooring, etc. you want. The contractor than bids the project with these specified items. There is no reason for change orders in these areas, unless of course, you change your mind.

Changes can be costly if the items have been ordered and restocking fee is charged or if the changes effect labor (adding more outlets or re-routing plumbing, as examples). Most contractors add a percentage to cover the change order which typically includes time for paperwork and possibly interruption of the job schedule.

A change order may be necessary to cover any unforeseen items, as noted in his contract, during a remodel. This is common because you don't know what is in the ceiling or behind the walls until you remove the drywall. This is definitely a legitimate change order, but only if the contractor explains the issues to you and gives you a cost in writing before the work is starts. The less surprises, the better.

In addition to work, experience and reputation, it is very important to mesh personalities. Remember that you will have people in your home from early in the morning to late afternoon on an almost steady basis until the project is complete.

Are you satisfied with the explanations to your questions? Is the contractor reachable by phone at reasonable times? Will the contractor be on the job every day or pop in once a week? What is the expected completion schedule?

It's time to now decide whom will get your contract. Price will be one of the deciding factors, but all the bids should come in fairly close, and if not, determine why. Pick your contractor wisely. Remember, this is your project! You are paying the bills!

Part III - Planning your remodeling project!

You're remodeling project is underway. You have decided to remodel your kitchen, you have the money in hand, so now what?

Hopefully, you have decided to work with a kitchen designer, even better, a Certified Kitchen Designer. Finding a CKD is easier than you think. The National Kitchen & Bath Association www.nkba.org has a service on line for consumers who need a designer, or you can google a certified kitchen designer in your area. Set up a complimentary interview to review the scope of the project the the designer.

 

It is wise to check references, look at the designer's portfolio and ask questions about fees and services provided. The designer will ask for your thoughts and ideas and any pictures you have collected from magazines. She will also ask about your wishes and desires as well as your lifestyle and budget. It is very important to communicate with the designer. Give your honest opinion everything from the floor plan to the materials suggested, i.e. cabinets, countertops, appliances, etc. Once you have decided on the designer, be prepared do some homework.

The plan is greatly dependent on the size and quantity of the appliances. The designer does not need to know the brands of the appliances before the preliminary floor plan is done but knowing what appliances you would like and the size of the appliance is necessary. Visit an appliance showroom (possibly with your designer) and ask questions about appliances you may not have thought about using. A warming drawer is one of the best kept secrets in kitchens, and yet, the homeowners who have them would not give them up. Think about 2 dishwashers if you are having 2 sinks in your kitchen and check out the newest in technology like the microwave in a drawer, a dishwasher in a drawer and a refrigerator in a drawer.

The preliminary floor plan will show placement of cabinets and appliances and should give you a pretty good feel for what the basic kitchen will look like. The drawing is now ready to be red-lined which means that any necessary corrections, additions or deletions will be made with a red pen. Once the preliminary design is approved, your designer will include all the changes and complete the working drawing showing electric & plumbing, cabinetry & appliances and lighting.

Now you are ready for the next step!

Part II - How much will you spend on your remodel project?

Remodeling has become the number one priority on everyone's "to-do" list. It can cover a weekend project to paint the living room or the15 month project to knocking down most of the existing walls and starting over. Whatever your pleasure, you must start with a plan.


Walking through model homes or perusing through design magazines is the fun part most people enjoy and, yes, it helps to stir your imagination, but one of the first things that has to be decided is the budget. Without a budget, unless, of course, you just won the lottery, there will be no project.

Here are a few points to ponder. How much could you spend and how much will you spend.
How much could you spend depends on what you can afford. Home improvement loans, equity loans, family loans...this is your borrowing power. Whatever the number, this is the amount you could spend and this is the amount you have to pay back.

How much you would spend depends on what you want to invest in your home. Do you plan to stay in your home for 5 years, a lifetime, or remodel and sell? You definitely want to research your neighborhood for homes that have just sold. How do these homes compare to yours and what, if any, remodeling was done. Did they have more square footage by adding rooms, did they remodel the kitchen or bath or did they sell the original house with no improvements? Remodeling kitchens and bathrooms, according to published statistics, have the greatest return on your investment, so do your homework and plan wisely.

Part I - Remodeling your kitchen - where do you start -

Are you remodeling because the kitchen is not working for you, or because you want to sell your home and the kitchen is an eye sore, or is it because your friend just had her kitchen remodeled and it's to die for, so you want one, too?

Whatever the reason, do it! Great kitchens are the "in" thing!  Every one would like a "magazine-quality" kitchen. No matter the reason or the budget, now is the time to do it.

Remodeling can be an overwhelming task, but if you have a plan and follow it, you will be amazed at the results.

Let's talk about the first step. The reason! ... and be honest! Why are you remodeling ? If it is for resale, you can't have an emotion in the design and the finishes. You have to check out what's in your neighborhood so you don't overspend on your investment. If everyone has a mid-line range and free-standing refrigerator than you don't want to include a 48" free-standing pro range and built-in refrigerator. Just those 2 times can set you back $17,000. But on the other hand, if everyone in your neighborhood has 2 dishwshers, a warming drawer and every bell and whistle available, you have to do what the Jones' do!

If your reason for remodeling is to update or get that kitchen "to die for", then your plan will be the same except for the emotional part. This will be your dream kitchen!

Everyone knows that the kitchen and the master bath sell the house, so no matter what your reason for remodeling, think ahead. Eventually, you will sell your home. With that in mind, start your plan. Of course, this will be my next posting.