Mick de Guilo’s 11 Things Every Kitchen Should Have
Christine Pittel writes for House Beautiful about the 11 Essential Things Every Kitchen Should Have according to designer Mick de Guilo. Its a nice whimsical list that is worth investigating further. De Guilio makes design interesting by pairing disparate materials in a cohesive manner. So, it is interesting to consider what he deems are the essentials of a good kitchen design.
His first three essentials are natural light, comfort, and visual texture. Natural light is by far one of the most underrated elements to producing an inviting kitchen. With the right natural light treatment you can dramatically alter the way a kitchen is perceived. To add a level of comfort he suggests incorporating soft seating, a TV, or a fireplace. Some element that relaxes the overall feel of the kitchen as a cold and solely functional setting. Lastly he likes to use a mixture woods, materials, patterns to personalize the space.
Stainless Steel is his fourth must. He enjoys it’s “organic quality” as it ages over time. I disagree somewhat with this essential. Though stainless steel can be a nice addition to the right kitchen, it is not always the right choice for some kitchens. In fact, I find stainless steel to add a clinical quality to some kitchens.
Essentials five and six are the island and a great sink. Islands are fairly common in today’s kitchens, and is almost worthy of it’s own blog post! In fact, according to a National Home Builders Association survey 80% of home buyers consider a kitchen island desirable or essential. Sinks are part of the work triangle and as such are definitely key components in a kitchen. A great sink that is functional, well-placed, aesthetically pleasing, and durable is essential.
Essentials seven and eight are integrated refrigeration and high-performance appliances. These will accent any well thought out kitchen. I agree that placing panels on integrated refrigeration can help to hide that unseemly huge box. This is especially true in today’s age of size matters most attitude towards refrigeration.
The last three essentials: a hook, a kitchen designer, and ice cream are truly a requirement in a great kitchen design!
For further consideration:
Kitchens have become home centerpieces
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