Good design starts with good function. If the location of walls, windows or other structural elements don’t make sense in a room, good design can make the room beautiful but it won’t substantially change how the room is used. Think about modern kitchens -- trying to get a modern day kitchen with its appliance, storage and seating requirements into the same space that a kitchen from even just a few decades ago once occupied is challenging. Older kitchens can be narrow or boxy with lots of doors leading to other spaces in the home. They typically don’t have much counterspace for food prep or kid’s homework or drop zones, pet stations and home message centers.
The Existing Kitchen Area
The Kitchen Plan
An optimally functioning kitchen might require that walls, doors and windows be moved to allow for a separate pantry, mudroom and/or powder room as well as an island. How people move through the house and enter the kitchen might need to be reconfigured to minimize bottlenecks and allow for two cooks to maneuver. In some homes, you might be able to steal some space from adjoining rooms, closets and hallways, and in others, an addition might be contemplated.
The Kitchen “Before”
The Kitchen “After” From the Same Location
Kitchens aren’t the only room that might present a challenge. How do you create functional space for a primary bathroom and walk-in closet? Or carve out a home office or two? What about a laundry room or exercise room? On a typical project, we work through several iterations of room layouts with our client, in conjunction with an architect, structural engineer or general contractor, to find a solution that will work from both a lifestyle and budget perspective. Only then do we proceed with honing in on the design elements.