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Best choices were extra tall cabinets, microwave on built in shelf on short cabinet, and Viking range.  Only major regret is the warming drawyer which is a waste.

2:55 PM 02/12/2012 | 0 Votes

trash and recycling containers in a slide out base cabinet.

4:36 PM 02/12/2012 | 0 Votes

Hi bedstuytownhouse
 I a contractor that specializes in kitchen renovations, all aspects of the kitchen flooring,lighting,counter-tops,appliances and more. when your ready to start I would love to be apart of your project I have great ideas, for you. thanks  Ecoslivings@gmail.
 

10:07 PM 02/12/2012 | 0 Votes

agree -- slide-out trash, ditch the warming oven. Fridge with freezer on the bottom. Wonderful great center island.

11:50 PM 02/12/2012 | 0 Votes

Best purchase, add a deck off the kitchen. Nothing beats a walk out off the kitchen on the parlor floor.

7:56 AM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

If you cook: Garbage disposals on main sink and prep sink; don't go too small on the second sink. 6-burner commercial style stove properly vented to the outside. Center island with plugs for small appliances.

10:11 AM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

Best decisions: yes, a deck off of the kitchen, large built in cabinet in the space between the two windows (turned one window into a door for deck), pantry in the closet on the garden side, with microwave inside on shelf. Fridge in closet on other side. Love not having upper cabinets by stove and island with storage space on front side.

Regrets, sub zero fridge that has needed service three times.

10:12 AM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

Awesome.  Thanks everyone for your input.

10:18 AM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

Things we're glad we did:
1. Glass doors on some upper cabinets
2. Open shelving, not cabinets on the back wall.
3. Not going $$ overboard on appliances.
4. Deck outside kitchen (but the extension as there already in our case).
5, Not going crazy on cabinetry doodads -- live in your kitchen before deciding permanent home for spices, trays, etc. Don't lock into spice drawer, etc.
6. Ample aisle space, if doing a island -- for opening oven, d/w etc and for several people to work.
7. Knee space for counter seating.

Also, about 3 years ago, this site ran a series on parlor floor kitchens, with about 8 or 9 examples, including floor plans and pics. You should search the archives and look at those for ideas.

10:42 AM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

1) Stainless steel counter top next to stove was the best thing we did from a functional day to day perspective
2) You can never have too much cabinet space - uppers should go to the ceiling.
3) Northland refrigerator 
4) Vent-a-Hood 
5) White marble counters, but you'll need to stay strong as everyone tells you how much maintenance they are
6) Pull out drawers for heavy pots
7) Radiant floors
8) Agree about the deck.
 

12:39 PM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

Base cabinets should be drawers only.  It is more $$$ but it makes life much easier.  Make one a thin pulout spice rack.
Plumb the fridge for ice and water. 
If you have room, a second sink.  It is hard to keep elbowing for position.

1:33 PM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

some cooks, this one anyway, while I have installed slide out recycling bins...go for three or four for recycling, not just two...still prefer a freestanding garbage can with foot pedal rather than a slide out for garbage.  foot pedal is easier to use when cooking when hands are not free.  also I do not like open garbage, which under counter ones often are, rather prefer a tight fitting lid, to keep smells in, to not make cupboard smelly, especially important if cupboards are made of wood not melemine, and to not entice mice, flies, etc... I like to design in floor space for this garbage can, whether under a counter in a nook, with enough space above for the lid to open fully and then some, or standing on floor with no counter above.  when not planned in when planning out lower cabinets, sometimes no spot is left for such a trash can other than in the middle of the space, so plan space for it if you prefer the foot pedal kind, or the similarly functioning touchless hand sensing kind. 

1:36 PM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

....otherwise, the placement of the trash can can be awkward.

1:38 PM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

Love floors with give underfoot...wood my favorite, followed by cork.  Besides the hardness of tile, I hate cleaning the grout lines in a kitchen.

1:40 PM 02/13/2012 | 1 Votes

Hate microwaves at eye or hip level...do not want to bend or squat, or have to reach up to get stuff, which can be heavy, in and out.  somewhere around upper torso level, from counter height on up, is easiest to use.  same could be said for other ovens, if space does not limit choices.  l also like microwaves off to side somewhere, so I am not standing right near them in my usual working spot when they are on...actually, I hate them and live without one, but when I am cooking where there is one, those are my preferences.

1:51 PM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

Also, hate laundry in kitchen...to me, cooking and clean clothing do not mix well.  having them in a room off to the side is ok.

1:53 PM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

do not let anyone build in wine storage racks near heat, like the oft seen above fridge rack...nowhere near fridge or stove or sun from window is best.  ditto with spices...not in direct sunlight if open rack, and not near heat source, like the oft seen next to or above stove, even if in a pull out shelf or drawer.  some foods need to be protected from heat and light to keep their flavor.

1:59 PM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

best choices:
-recessing a regular sized fridge into wall behind it so it's counter depth....who wants to see the sides of a fridge sticking out into the room?
-open shelves on one wall instead of cabinets
-microwave above the stove and not on the countertop
-cork floors
-double height cabinets
-led under cabinet lighting
-vertical storage above the fridge for sheet pans, cutting boards etc.

best & worst all at the same time?:
- cork floors - if you subfloor isnt as smooth as glass every tiny little lump or dip will show.
- pullout garbage/recycling- as much as i love not haveing a garbage can sitting out on my floor it does get a little
annoying when you have to open a drawer 20 times a day...sometimes with dirty hands.

2:06 PM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

For this recent kitchen renovator, slopefarm, above, made most sensible suggestions.  If you love wine, install an undercounter, two-zone, 24 bottle wine fridge.  And, look at reputable consumer review sites before purchasing expensive appliances.  You can purchase a highly-rated LG two-door fridge with a bottom-drawer freezer for one-third of the cost of a Sub-zero or a Viking.  Save that money...or use it for another purpose.  Consider radiant heat under your floor...nice to come down to a warm kitchen in the winter.  Put a pair of Bose or other quality speakers in your ceiling.

2:55 PM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

unless it's a walk-in pantry, shallow depth pantry way more useful than the deep ones - ie the stuff in the back gets little love and risk expiring before used/consumed.  LED lights (for under counter, around toe kick,...) are killer.  for the lazy bumpkins, the appliance garage roller gate setup is real nice to keep counter with unclutter look

3:38 PM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

Thank you SO much for all of the wonderful ideas/suggestions and keep them coming!!!

7:40 PM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

We are mostly using our kitchen the way it came, so I don't have a huge amount to add, but here goes:
*Definitely agree do not locate the washer in the kitchen if you can help it. We did, it looked awful, and we have just moved it to the pantry, where it looks great and runs quietly. The rental apt still has one in the kitchen, the only place possible, and it actually looks pretty good there since it's in a line of appliances.
*We used Marmoleum flooring, but I sometimes wonder if we should have refinished the existing wood floor instead. It would look nice, and would have cost a fraction of the Marmoleum ($150 vs. $1800), plus it would hide the dirt (or would that be bad?).
*Lighting is important. You need task lighting such as over the stove and sink, as well as mood lighting. A friend of mine dislikes all ceiling lights, preferring sconces and lamps because they are more flattering. You can locate sconces over the sink, on the walls, and even in shelves. We have two pendant lights over the sink in addition to others.
*If you have original features, such as a dish cupboard or other built-ins, I would keep them. (We did.) You can add drawer runners, shelf paper, and paint the insides a fun color to enhance a dish cupboard.
*My sister has an espresso maker built into the wall, and I have to say it's more of a novelty than anything and not a must-have. I do, however, cherish my tea kettle :)
*I wish we had a 36- or 40-inch stove, but we can only fit a 30-inch stove in our fireplace. I would love to be able to use three or four big pans at once.

9:40 PM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

We got some wire baskets and an enamel pail from Brook Farm and Etsy to hold our recyling -- works great and looks nice.

9:48 PM 02/13/2012 | 0 Votes

I like wide cooktop. I like gas cooktop with extra large burner and simmering one. Oven should be electric because it better controls temperature and can be used to keep things worm. If you really into cooking you might consider double oven. You should have vent for cooktop and oven.
My dishwasher also always supper busy. So something fast and big is helpful. And large/deep single bowl sink - the large the better.
I am not a big fan of expencive apliances. I also do not like spice racks or drowers with curved out slots for each implement or miticulously matched cookware - all of the signs that nobody really cooks there.
I do not like shelfs for wine bottles. Especially near cooktop. It should be stored somewhere in the celar. On the other side you might want some rack to hang wine glasses.
I also do not like fridges with the water dispencers outside - look a bit tacky.

12:12 AM 02/14/2012 | 1 Votes

We had a spice rack made and attached to the inside of the pantry door. It runs almost the length of the door and also holds vitamins, medications etc. Totally agree with Brokelin regarding the microwave and garbage. Having a microwave at the same height as your face pretty dangerous.

11:00 AM 02/14/2012 | 0 Votes

Unlike the rest of the people who responded, I am NOT a cook.  Nevertheless, I've just redone my small kitchen and have some suggestions that might make a larger kitchen more efficient.
Frige:  I have a Conserv fridge (aka vestfrost; aka eco-fridge) bought used from a neighbor over 10 years ago and LOVE it.  It's 79" tall - don't be fooled by shorter models!  I don't know if they are still available but I think another brand makes something similar.
-Microwave & oven:  there is a microwave drawer that may solve the problem on where to put it where it's out of the way.  Also, I lived for a five years using only a Kenmore combo microwave and convection that cooked everything I needed.  It's great choice for when you don't need a large oven and doesn't get the room as hot.  It might be a good choice instead of double ovens.  I just got a side-opening oven and find it much more convenient than the typical door (but I still won't use it much as I have the smaller combo microwave/convection).
Cooktop:  even if you get a professional range, if you have the space and budget, consider getting a 2-burner induction cooktop.  It could be near the range, or somewhere else, and can be placed vertical or horizontal and near the front or back of the counter.  I used a portable 1 burner induction cooktop for a year and a half and just had a 2 burner cooktop installed.  LOVE induction. Unless you're cooking mega meals everyday, the little cooktop will generate less heat and use less energy and depending on your design, may be located more conveniently than the range.
Pantry:  I had a tall pantry recessed between studs on one wall.  That wall happened to be "double can" deep so it really holds a lot and doesn't take up any room in the kitchen except for less than 1" for the door.  (This was in a drywall wall, not a plaster wall.)
Good luck and have fun with your kitchen install!
 

8:14 PM 02/15/2012 | 0 Votes