The Kitchen Connection

Modern, Contemporary and Traditional Cabinetry, Countertops and Accessories

Did you know that on a daily basis...

you make 30 trips to and from the table
there are 50 separate activities performed in each kitchen zone
different appliances are used 30 times
doors and drawers are opened and closed over 80 times

The most important work area in the kitchen
Every kitchen has a main work area. This area should usually be located between the Cleaning zone and the Cooking zone. The majority of your time in the kitchen will take place at the sink or the range, in between the two is the best place for preparation.

How to choose a kitchen sink

Every kitchen needs a sink and faucet. When it comes to cabinets and countertops, style is very important but when it comes to sinks, it's all about function.

When recommending a sink I ask the client how they plan to use the sink. For example, if you wash all your dishes except large pots and pans in the dishwasher, I recommend a large single bowl sink. If you do not have a dishwasher then go for a double bowl sink instead.

For our clients that select granite, solid surface or engineered stone countertops, I always recommend an under mount sink not only for the style but also they are easier to keep clean.

Faucet function is another issue you’ll want to consider. Pull-out spray and pull-down faucets give you much greater utility for cleaning big pots or reaching a large work area; just be sure that the spout reaches adequately into the sink.

Pull-out spray faucets feature great mobility and don't require a separate sidespray. Durable hoses eliminate twisting during operation. The sprayhead fits into the palm of your hand and offers stream-to-spray adjustment with the touch of a button.

Pull-down spray faucets offer all the features of a pullout faucet, but with additional reach and height.

There’s much to consider when choosing a kitchen sink and faucet. By taking the time to consider your options and think carefully before choosing, you’ll feel confident about your choice for many years to come.

How to select a wood species

Alder is a wood that has just recently come into favor as cabinet material. It has very little grain, is very pale, and accepts stains easily, so it can be colored any shade you'd like. It is stunning!
Birch is the least-expensive option in cabinet materials, and it's the material most commonly used in stock cabinets. It's usually quite pale, but may vary in porosity, so if you stain it, you may not get color quite as uniform as you'd like.
Cherry wood has been used in upscale kitchens for decades. It has a very smooth, uniform grain and looks very elegant. It can be stained many shades, but the most common is a deep brown-red.
Ebony is a very dark, almost black, wood with a noticeable black grain. It can make your kitchen feel very exotic, but it is quite expensive.
Hickory is another option. It's a very hard wood that holds up well. It has a pronounced straight grain and is most at home in country kitchens.
Maple is the number one choice for kitchen cabinets presently. It has a smooth, fine grain that accepts color well, so it can blend right in with your kitchen, no matter what the style.
Mahogany is gaining in popularity as a cabinet material choice. It's very dark, with a straight grain, so it fits in best with formal kitchens.
Oak has traditionally been the most popular choice for kitchen cabinetry and it's easy to see why. It has a coarse texture that can be made more pronounced with a dark stain, or lessened with a lighter stain. It's very durable and doesn't expand with humidity as much as other woods.
Pine is a fairly inexpensive choice for cabinets. It is light-colored and accepts stain well. It has a definite grain, possibly even with a few knots to give it character, so it's best suited to less formal kitchens.
The final choice in kitchen cabinetry wood is walnut. Walnut is very dark, although not as dark as ebony. It has an open grain, which means the texture that occurs naturally in the wood is very apparent. Walnut is usually more expensive and can only be obtained through custom cabinet makers.

How to Plan for Zones

The best laid out kitchens take into consideration the five zones:

Consumables Zone where items are consumed on a daily basis such as cereal and bread
Non-Consumables Zone such as dishes and glasses
Cleaning Zone for detergents, cleaning agents, trash cans...
Preparation Zone which is the main zone where knives, cutting boards, mixing bowls, can opener etc are kept
Cooking Zone where pots and pans and baking sheets are stored.

How to choose cabinets

Selecting cabinetry for your home is not an easy job. There are so many door styles, wood species, stain colors and options and configurations no wonder it is confusing. But keep in mind that the cabinetry is typically 70% of the cost of the kitchen so take the time to make sure you are going to receive a return on your investment and most importantly, have a budget.

The first question I ask my clients is how do you use your kitchen. Are you an avid baker? A gourmet chef? or a busy professional who survives by microwave. How you use your kitchen helps us to determine the layout, how much storage you need, countertop space etc.

In choosing a cabinet style, I recommend my clients bring in several photos of kitchens they like. I also listen carefully as they describe their style. You would be surprised what you can pick up!

There are many different styles of cabinets, but most are categorized by door design. One common type is the slab door. This consists of a single, smooth door which covers the entire front of the cabinet. If you like a clean, uncluttered look, this is the design for you. ANother is the raised panel door. These doors have a wood frame which is glued over the top of the door. It may or may not have a decorative edge routed into the frame. Raised panel doors tend to fit in best in formal, elegant kitchens. The last style is the recessed panel door. In this style, a panel is fitted behind the frame portion of the cabinet door. These types of cabinets reflect a country style. If the frame in front of the panel is divided into two sections, it will look more Mission-style than country. You may also choose from doors with a curved arch or cathedral arch at the top of the frame.

Once you have a style in mind, the next decision is what material to use. Wood is durable and comes in a variety of colors and finishes, and can be painted any color in the rainbow. However, it can warp over time, and probably will expand and contract with the humidity levels in your kitchen. With the wooden slides that were formerly used to open and close drawers, this created problems because the drawers had a tendency to stick with high humidity. However, most drawers now use either ball-bearing slides or track-and-roller slides, so this problem has been eliminated. Metal cabinets are usually made of stainless steel. These cabinets fit in best in very contemporary kitchens, although you can moderate this by pairing them with wood cabinets. Stainless steel cabinets are very durable and easy to clean, but they show fingerprints and scratches very readily. Stainless is more expensive than wood, but you can select cabinets that are framed with plywood, but have stainless steel doors. The least expensive option is laminate. These cabinets are formed with multiple layers of kraft paper (that's right - just like paper grocery bags!), a decorative paper layer, then a plastic sealant. All of these layers are bonded to each other under very high pressure. The advantage of laminate cabinets, besides their price, is that they can be purchased in nearly any color. The disadvantage is that they can be chipped, and this damage is nearly impossible to repair because the color is only one layer deep.

Most importantly, insist on construction that can support heavy cookware and withstand countless openings, bumps and spills. Drawers with dovetailed joints are stronger than stapled ones. Doors with fitted mortised corners are sturdier than non-interlocking butt joints. Also look for 3/4-inch-thick (2 cm) face frames.

Look for drawers that extend completely and are equipped with self-closing glides rated to hold 75 lb. (35 kg). Well-made drawers boast 1/2- to 3/4-inch (1.2 to 2 cm) sides with dovetailed or doweled joints and a strong bottom that's glued into grooves. The strongest shelves are 3/4-inch (2 cm) plywood.