Custom Home Design – Kitchens & Baths - Part 4

In the previous Custom Home Design blog series we discussed providing the “must have” view if available from the public space, the great room, kitchen and perhaps less important, the dining room. The owner’s suite must also be included.

As soon as the home’s orientation has been determined, I like to discuss the homeowner’s wish list for the home’s hub, the kitchen. As the center of the home’s activity, it’s very important to get the details right. Questions like, is an L-Shape, U-Shape or galley kitchen preferred? Will there be a stand alone island? How many people must the island seat? Is the kitchen sink on the island with a view of the indoor/outdoor public space and if so, is the dishwasher adjacent on the left or right? Should the island be counter height or is a raised bar preferred? Should the island be deep enough to have storage on both sides? Should anything else be on the island, a trash compactor, microwave drawer or wine cooler, etc.? What is the preferred distance from the island to the opposite counter and surrounding egress?

U-shaped kitchen with eat-at-island and hidden corner pantry

Some prefer the kitchen sink on an outside wall below a window offering a view of the pool deck or the street. We’ve also designed several kitchens with the cooktop and hood on an exterior wall with two windows either side, like the great kitchen in the beautiful Boca Grande home pictured. Is the oven under the cooktop or a wall oven or both? How about the refrigerator, is it counter depth, shallower and wider? What are your storage needs, should the pantry be a walk-in? We’ll discuss the numbers of overhead cabinets and length of counter space desired. I ask a lot of questions about the kitchen since getting this space right can be the difference between happy and unhappy clients!

Sleek master bath with glass enclosed shower

The owner or master suite is right there at the top of the “must be perfect” list. I ask the dimensions of what the client is expecting. Sitting in the Wright Jenkins Home Design conference room, many clients aren’t exactly sure and must get back to me with dimensions of what they have been living with and then figure what they’d like to have in their next home.

For more information about the popularity of double master suites please see our blog.

Traditional-style closet by Clever Closet Company

In the next Part 5 of the Custom Home Design blog series, we’ll complete the discovery process.