If you're fans of the Kitchen Magic gnomes, you know that kitchen function is always our first priority when it comes to designing a remodel or renovation. The functional aspect of your kitchen design can come in many forms - and is applicable to multiple goals.
For some, accessibility and sociability are top priorities. Maybe your kitchen needs a softly lit, quiet corner for coffee or breakfast time, or your work-at-home life may lead you to design a small kitchen office space. Lately, we've been working with clients to design a kitchen that facilitates their weight loss and lifestyle goals.
Before you scoff, may we direct you to the "Syracuse Study," where experts used photographs of 200+ kitchens and analyzed them in relationship to the weight of the household's occupants. Among other things, researchers found that, "...women who had breakfast cereal sitting on their counters weighed 20-lbs more than their neighbors who didn’t, and those with soft drinks sitting out weighed 24 to 26-lbs more."
Yes! Your kitchen design can actually facilitate your commitment to a healthy diet and lifestyle in multiple ways. From providing easy-access to the fresh foods and countertop appliances you use the most for juicing, steaming or mixing - to out-of-reach storage for those snacks you should avoid - there are all kinds of ways a smart kitchen design can help you reach and maintain your target weight.
Here are a handful of tips:
Take cabinets up to the ceiling. Losing weight isn't the only benefit of this kitchen design tip; taking cabinets up to the ceiling optimizes storage options for a surprising amount of cabinet square footage. This technique, combined with innovative, customized storage options, may allow the removal of an entire bank of cabinets - opening up your kitchen design. Then, use that less-accessible storage area to house things you shouldn't access on a regular basis - like the deep-fat fryer, candy, fattening snacks, etc.
Keep food stored out of sight. The more visible food is, the more likely you are to eat it (like 20 - 26-pounds more of it!). Keep the bulk of your food items (especially snack-able favorites - stored out of sight. Reserve countertop space for fresh fruit only, so you're tempted by healthy sweets - rather than processed sweets - if and when the mood strikes. Reserve those open shelves for your most-used tea mugs, salad plates and other go-to kitchen items.
Go for a neutral - but not white - palette. It's true that white kitchens are consistently the most popular, time-honored tradition. However, experts find that white kitchens tend to inspire more eating, as do overly-dark or cluttered kitchens. Your best bet is to design a kitchen using warm, neutral colors and enough storage to keep kitchen surfaces clutter-free.
Design for efficient flow. You'll save money - and pounds - by designing a kitchen that invites you to cook healthy meals. The easier it is to move, maneuver and access your kitchen features, the more likely you are to use them. Think about how you use your kitchen - and how you would like to use your kitchen. Then work with a kitchen design-build team who will take it all into account in the re-design.
Think about placement. You are more inclined to have a hankering for the most visible foods. Therefore, keep healthy food and snack items in the front - and at eye level - in your pantry and fridge. Tuck less healthy stuff away in the back or in harder to reach spaces.
Ready to design a kitchen that facilitates your healthy lifestyle? Schedule a consultation with the Kitchen Magic team.