Kitchens: Everyone has one, but what is done with it and what is expected of it varies wildly from person to person.

For some, the kitchen is a refuge; a place to claim refuge from the marauding offspring while sipping champagne and creating culinary delights.

For others, it’s the modern equivalent of the prehistoric bonfire: a gathering place to eat meat, insult each other, and find out why Beaver is failing science.

It is no longer just for cooking, cleaning and having a drink until late at night, the kitchen has been transformed into a super room, suitable for entertaining, dining and everyday life.

If your idea of ​​a flawless kitchen is the latest, then this first sage tip applies to you:

Gib’s Rule of Kitchen Design No. 1:

“You don’t just cook in it”:

It is no longer just for cooking, cleaning and having a drink until late at night, the kitchen has been transformed into a super room, suitable for entertaining, dining and everyday life.

With this in mind, ask yourself: What will you and your family do in your kitchen?

Will you entertain yourself? If so, some of your uneducated guests will no doubt arrive early chewing their bite out of display cases. Come in – the island! Instead of them drooling like you’re covered in beans yourself, you can take them to the cleverly located island that has a convenient ledge complete with stylish stools and a variety of tasty hors d’oeuvres. This way, you can work the range from the safe side of town while they drink their Chianti, chat with you, and stay off the road.

If you live in your kitchen, you can combine it with the dining room / living room to achieve that urban and modern loft style that elegant and fashionable people love so much. Add in a comfortable loveseat and a TV in one corner so that when your recipe fails miserably, you just need to kick back on the couch, change the channel, and let the Food Network come to the rescue.

Just be sure to remember that the overall layout should allow traffic to pass through each corridor without the danger of the pointy corners of the counter rubbing against the cars. If you and your partner can’t make a turn, the hallway is too narrow.

Gib’s Rule of Kitchen Design No. 2:

“You can’t have enough storage space.”

Do you remember the last time you moved? Okay, maybe it’s a fog of pain, curses, and alcohol, but I’m sure of one thing: you had 150 times more stuff than you thought. You may be losing sleep not knowing where to put Grandma’s kettle only to find that the fondue set and oyster forks are crying out for shelter.

Varied storage will be your salvation: different size drawers, hidden pull-outs, cabinets with adjustable shelves, the list goes on. If you depend on large open spaces to solve all your storage problems, remember this: there was a reason the plate got away with the spoon.

The latest trend is to display your belongings, restaurant style, adding character to your kitchen. This is great if, like me, you’re showcasing your priceless Faberge egg collection, but less so if half-eaten Doritos and pizza boxes are your idea of ​​”lifestyle.” And since life without junk food is nothing more than a homeless game, hidden storage is a must.

This storage need not be limited to fixed cabinets; You can greatly benefit from the European trend for freestanding cabinets. These cabinets are complete furniture – they are sturdy, provide a unique aesthetic effect, and can be moved when small children and pets are left behind. They also give you much more freedom to modify your kitchen at a later date with the added benefit of taking it with you when you move. Oh, those Europeans are so smart.

Gib’s Rule of Kitchen Design No. 3:

“Triangles suck”

The classic design rule for kitchens of yesteryear was the “work triangle.” From Henry VIII to Betty Crocker, the ideal situation seemed to be ease of movement from the refrigerator to the prep area to the stove. Like most commercial propaganda, this relied on little more than lining the pockets of cabinetmakers. This outdated system has now been shelved for ideas that are better suited to our happy new world.

The latest design revolution is inspired by professional kitchens. The area is divided into stations, each based on a specific function. You define each station and its purpose: mincing, cooking, baking, and preparing meat are common candidates. If you have a “cake frosting” station, you clearly have too much free time.

Multiple sinks, different countertop materials, the proper placement of appliances (say five times faster), and task lighting all come together to outline separate areas of the kitchen for certain tasks. And these things dear ones, we will cover in the very near future.

Stay tuned for more Gib-gab. The sequel to this series has you enlightening the masses on your choice of appliances, countertops, flooring, and lighting.