Good kitchen design takes into account planning guidelines to ensure your space is functional and your family is safe. Our qualified designers know those guidelines in and out.
There are many small milestones that we celebrate in our kids’ lives that fall in between baby’s first steps and all those birthday parties. Sometimes, these milestones are ones that make our own lives easier. Buckling their own seatbelt. Combing their own hair. Tying their own shoes. It’s truly the little things.
When our daughter was just tall enough to peek over the edge of the countertops, we began including her when making meals. When she grew another foot, we gave her the green light to make certain foods on her own. She was excited to start using the stove, toaster, and microwave.
One of her favorite meals was macaroni and cheese and she was ready to make it on her own. It was easy enough for her to remember. First, boil some noodles. Second, add some butter and milk. Finish by stirring in the cheese and voilà, she was on her way to her first Michelin star.
Easy as 1-2-3, right? Wrong.
Yellow macaroni and yellow cabinets
What she failed to remember on her maiden voyage to Noodle Town was to turn the burner off after she moved the pot to the sink.
The radiating heat from the red-hot burner eventually yellowed our white shaker inset cabinets that sit mere inches away from the cooktop.
While we avoided a fire, we were left with a sickly-looking cabinet and a hard lesson in the importance of kitchen planning standards. Our cabinets are simply too close to our cooktop.
The importance of kitchen design
When my wife and I built our dream home eight years ago, we sourced our own farmhouse-inspired cabinets. What was missing from the purchase process was a qualified designer. No one ensured that our kitchen design was laid out in a safe way that met all local and state codes.
The NKBA recommends at least 12 inches on one side of a cooking surface and 15 inches on the other. Our kitchen configuration falls far below those recommendations.
Guidelines are in place to help ensure your kitchen is both efficient to use and safe for you and your family. Good planning practices take into consideration the needs of a range of users. Professional designers pride themselves on following these recommendations while laying out your dream kitchen.
Kitchen design is like a Rubik’s Cube
Designing and planning a kitchen can be a bit like working with a Rubik’s Cube. You have to puzzle together lots of pieces to find the right combination. MasterBrand products are made to order. It’s crucial that rooms are laid out properly, measured meticulously, and that orders are placed correctly.
Our dealers know our products, their flexibility, and their limitations. We feel that this expertise is integral to the success of your project.
Are you ready to design your dream kitchen?
Find a MasterBrand kitchen and bath designer near you by visiting https://www.masterbrand.com/dealer-locator.
Disclaimer: Always check local, state, and national building codes as well as appliance installation specifications that apply to your design and follow those guidelines.
