Your kitchen is one of the most important areas of your home, and for someone who loves to cook, having a functional workspace can make all the difference. A kitchen should not only be large enough to move around in but should have all the necessary features to allow you to cook with ease and entertain guests or loved ones. Whether you are looking to downsize to a condo in Miami, or to buy a large home in Atlanta, making sure your kitchen has all the necessary amenities is a must. To help you know what to look for when searching for your next, or first, home we asked notable experts in the field to share their tips on the features that are the most important to have in a kitchen.
1. Counter space
Look for a kitchen that has lots of counter space. You will want enough workspace so that your whole family can make meals together. Kitchen features like countertops and paint color can easily be swapped out, but adding counter space typically calls for a major remodel. –Katy Bowen, Culinary Health Education for Families
2. Multiple outlets
When looking at houses and the new kitchens, keep functionality in mind. Having multiple outlets in the kitchen to aid in prep work is important! Especially if you use things like stand/hand mixers or slow cookers/instant pots often. –Serene Herrera, House of Yumm
3. Open floor plan
Look for a kitchen layout that seamlessly blends the cooking and entertaining areas so that everyone can be part of the experience, and ideally with a layout where the cooking can be done facing the entertaining areas. A lot of our Private Chef customers love to talk and learn from the chef as he or she is preparing the meal – and this is a lot harder if the orientation of the stovetop and prep areas in the kitchen means the chef needs to have their back to guests. –Table at Home
4. Storage space
Over the past year, my home kitchen has become a test kitchen for all sorts of recipes and baking adventures. But any time you add yet another cooking appliance like an Instant Pot, AirFryer, or a legit mixer for baking, you need more storage space to keep these pieces neatly tucked away. I always look for a kitchen with generous cabinet space and a large pantry to store my growing list of cooking gadgets. –Brett Lindenberg, Founder of FoodTruckEmpire
5. High-quality appliances
As a personal chef, I love to walk into a client’s kitchen and see a deep sink with a pull-down faucet, plenty of counter space for prepping, a 6 burner stove, and a double oven. I’m all smiles knowing I’ll be able to prepare multiple dishes without having to sacrifice precious time. These features are integral to smooth meal preparation and cleanup which is critical to the success of my business as well as the satisfaction of my clients. –Chef Julie, Julie’s Homecooking
6. Ample space next to the cooktop
As a professional chef, as soon as I enter a new kitchen space, I look to see if there is ample space next to the cooktop. Enough space to set up my cutting board, bowls, and any other utensils I plan on using. I find having space next to the cooktop significantly improves efficiency in the kitchen while reducing extra time traveling to and from the cooktop. – Kristen Madison, Kale Personal Chef Services
7. Easily accessible cupboards
We at Chefs For Seniors believe that the very best kitchens have cupboards that make cooking equipment accessible and within reach. Also important is to have washable surfaces and a hood vent that exhausts externally. Having cooked for thousands of seniors across the county, Chefs For Seniors values a kitchen that is designed for interaction and recommends an open kitchen that allows you to engage with family and friends while cooking, like our chefs, are able to do with our senior clients. –Nathan Allman, Chefs For Seniors
8. Drawers or appliance garages
Frequent cooking and baking means your large kitchen tools — blender, stand mixer, sheet pans, multi-cooker, or food processor need to be stored somewhere where they can easily be reached. When possible, opt for drawers or appliance garages versus deep cabinets to keep these items more accessible. And consider quick-access hidden spots for smaller items like compost bins or coffee pod recycling for clutter-free countertops. –The Smart Slow Cooker
9. A large kitchen island
A large island attracts people and I love that. With gatherings at home, people will congregate around the island and connections take place. An island is more than a place to prep for meals. It’s a place to connect with those you love. –Audrey Barron, Gaia Chef
10. Bright lighting
There are many great floor layouts and brands of appliances out there, but one thing I always look for is vivid, bright lighting. When I’m working on a new dish, plating something beautiful or getting ready for the holidays I really want to see all the tiny details and make sure they really come together. Save the mood lighting for the dining room. –Tiny Spoon Chef
11. High-end gas stovetop
Gas provides greater temperature control and quickly and evenly distributes heat. Look for gas stoves that have large, spaced-out burners to fit multiple pans at one time, and avoid models with temperature controls on the top surface close to the burners as the heat from the burners could cause damage. –Atlanta Personal Chef Service
12. Good bones
The most important features to look for are surfaces, storage, and appliance placement. Two nice surfaces, one to keep things that you are cooking and a second separate area for prep. Chefs love usable space where you can quickly find what you have for food, equipment, and utensils. –Chef Mike
13. A range on your kitchen island
Here is an idea to explore for your next kitchen, have your range installed on your kitchen island. This way, the island acts as your stage and the next time you throw a dinner party your guests will admire your skills, or the skills of your personal chef while having a glass of wine and taking a cooking class. –Miummium
14. A knife rack and block
Having a place to store and sharpen your knives shows respect for the knives. Knives thrown in a drawer may damage your knives and could be dangerous. A sharpening stone adequate for the type of knives you use most often is also critical. Having expensive knives without the ability to properly maintain them is like having a Lamborghini and never changing the oil! –David Buchanan, Chefs Resources
15. Efficient, professional appliances
The most important things in a kitchen are efficient professional appliances, like a 6 gas burner stove and eye level oven. Also, a multi-functional kitchen island is a must. I can’t live without a large sink where my large pots can fit! As a luxury item a hot water filler in my stove area. –Clarissa LIenza, Homecooking Therapy
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