Kelly's Kitchen Sync

A reader asks: A cooktop or range in the corner?

I am working on a kitchen remodel and saw the idea of placing a cooktop or slide in range in a corner in a book. This appeals to me. Are there specific problems with this? Things to consider? Any suggestions or input would be very much appreciated. - Ann

It's a good question. I've certainly designed kitchens with the range and cooktop in the corner -- you're right, they're lovely --  but I don't do very many because they take a bit more room (and design thought)  than most people think.

Let's see if we can talk it through:

One challenge is the amount of space they take up -- certainly not a problem if your kitchen is large, but not a great use of space if you have a smaller kitchen. Here's why - a 30" cooktop takes approximately 45-48" of wall space both ways. That's just the 30" cooktop - a 36" will take about 51-54". That's a lot of space, which not many kitchens have.

BASE CABINETS

• More space is required with a professional cooktop where the controls are at the front of the unit instead of on top.  Here's why - see how the unit protrudes past the cabinet and countertop face?

 

If your installation details aren't designed to the nth degree, the controls will provide a lovely stopper or door destroyer when you open the cabinets on either side of the cooktop. This is where fillers or spacers added between the cabinets on either side of the unit and the cabinet are necessary.

• It's not that you can't push the cooktop tight to the back corner, but look what happens with the cabinets and counters on either side. And here's the secret: there's no space savings for the base cabinets -- the overall spacing  of a 30" cooktop/45" of wall space both ways --  will still be the same. The only difference is the length of the back wall.

Sunday Blog Links

There are some interesting blogs and blog posts lately I wanted to share:

• Peggy notes on her Kitchen-Exchange blog that Vetrazzo, the maker of recycled glass countertops, is having an inventory clearance sale this weekend. Ends today.

• Cheryl over at Kitchen Details and Design has a gorgeous bath remodel to share. I love her designs; I'm going to ask her if she can adopt me! ;) Note the size and proportion of the mirror - perfect!

• We're not done with Julia Child's kitchen just yet: Kitchen + Bath Business has Ready, Set, Remodel! where kitchen designers from around the U.S. discuss how they might remodel Julia's kitchen. (Also discovered via Kitchen-Exchange.)

• You may be surprised to know that many appliances are made by the same manufacturers. Paul over at Kitchen and Residential Design shows you Who Makes What.  My mother, who studied the manuals front to back, says you get what you pay for. "Even the screws are better quality in a higher line." There you go.

• For every distressing contractor story, there are ten stories about honorable craftspeople proud of their trade - you just never hear about them. A new forum called Remodel Crazy is trying to change that. Created by veteran contractors, it has articles, answers, and a whole lot of tongue-in-cheek fun. Have a D-I-Y question? Ask in the forums.

Enjoy!

Two Designers Tackle Episode 2 of HGTV Design Star

A few weeks ago, Susan Serra of The Kitchen Designer posted her disquiet with Episode 2 -  Dueling Kitchens from HGTV’s Design Star. The post is here.

Out in the blogosphere, it stirred up a bit of controversy amongst professional designers, as you’ll see in the comments. The problem wasn’t with the Design Stars themselves, but rather the slant of the show and the final results.  Before you know it, one of the Design Star challengers, Jason Champion, chimed in with his two cents.

In the fallout, a stellar opportunity to let everybody shine through good design didn’t happen.

What happens when two designers get together

So in one of our discussion, one of us said, “Why don’t we show our readers the kitchen designer aspect and what it could have been?” and a flurry of tweets, emails, and phone calls later, a whole lot of work on our days off was born. 

We decided to each design one of the kitchens: the Warm Modern for me and the Moroccan for Susan. Before we start, let me just say that Susan came up with a gorgeous design for the Moroccan.

It’s always fun sharing ideas with other designers, especially someone as talented as Susan. With a couple of careful placements, she added pieces more in keeping with the thematic richness, and actually lessened the heaviness of the room. That’s not easy.  (Translation: I wish I’d thought of it.) I bet if she hadn't been so busy, she could have put together some material selections that would've made your jaw drop.

But first, since you’re here (or if you came over from Susan’s blog), welcome to the re-design tour of  the HGTV's Design Star Warm Modern kitchen. Grab yer coffee; this is a lengthy post.

Designer Grab Bars

Since I'm working on a bathroom right now, let's talk grab bars.

I know. Those of you who believe grab bars are for your parents and grandparents, let's see if I can show you what a good idea grab bars are. What if you just broke your leg skiing? Or your daughter pulled her knee skateboarding?  Or you have an inner ear problem and are going through a dizzy spell? Recreational boaters, you know how unsteady you are on dry land after a week or two out on the ocean.

In my mind, it's far worse to slip in the shower and grab for the glass or the shower curtain. And where you have water and soap, you have potentially harmful conditions.

But I know what you're thinking. When I say grab bars, you think of something institutional and heavy like this:

(Photo: Seachrome Grab Bars )

I might point out that once they're in the bathroom, you won't even notice them, but for those of you who aren't convinced, you might like to know grab bars are undergoing a subtle change.

They now have a bit of style, like these from Great Grabz and Moen: