Coolest Kitchen Feature?

My mother's kitchen has a grinder of some sort in the sink so all the little residue on the plates when they are rinsed off gets grinded down and disposed of. It was pretty cool. Expresso machine is a great thing to have if you don't already have one.

 

A homebuilder friend gave me two recommendations, which I have now used on 2 houses we built. Put in 2 dishwashers instead of one. With 4 kids, and entertaining a lot, that advise was worth it's weight in gold. Went one high end, and one lower end for the occasional use.

He also said to can the trash compactor, and put an icemaker in the kitchen instead of the bar. It is there where you will use it the most, and for parties, we keep an ice bucket in the bar.

 

IIRC, when 40 or 50 years ago scientists and engineers first considered home use of computers, the only thing they could think of was to install one in the kitchen for a recipe database!

I could imagine that a screen in the kitchen would get dirty pretty quickly...

 

A garbage disposal.

 

Part of the reason for suggesting a flip-down monitor. Another option would be to recess one into the counter top and cover with plexiglass, but you'd give up storage space beneath the counter doing that.

 

I don't know about Canada, but there was no such thing as a "garbage disposal" when I was in the UK (until about 15 years back) - Don't know about today, but they did seem to be a uniquely American thing.....

A buddy of mine bought one (and the requisite 240v -> 110v xformer) for installation back in the UK years ago - It was quite the party piece!

OT - The other thing I remember (but could be wrong) is my first exposure to "wire nuts" happened after I moved to the States.... Anyone know if you can now buy wire nuts in the UK? [Europe?]

Cheers,
Ian

 

Non-granite counters. I had granite once and hated the fact that you have to be delicate when setting down glass. Everything placed on my granite caused a loud noise. I hated it!

I want one!

 

Not much with a flat panel though - "Angle" it forward a little, under non-reflective glass (?)

 

It wouldn't be a huge issue, if planned for ahead of time, but you'd still lose some. Biggest drawback to recessing one into the counter top would be aesthetics for me.

 

+1

Do you want your counter tops "glowing" like a bar in Vegas?..... If done "right", it could kind of cool, but I prefer the "flip down" concept in all seriousness,

Cheers,
Ian

 

Yeah baby! Grilled steak (any cut), Hawaiian chicken, blackened grouper, seared thick s&s pork chops, etc. is all that. Indoor grill tops my list (not George Forman). Not something for low budget tho.

 

Have your cabinet makers put a small (2-3") moulding on the underside of the cabinets...it makes it really easy to install and hide under cabinet lighting. LED's look very nice, they cast a soothing blue glow.

In floor heat can be accompished with generic sized electric mats so you only have to heat where you would normally stand/work not the entire floor in the kitchen...will require an electrician to run a dedicated 30amp circuit but not a big deal.

Upgrade all the hinges/slides for the drawers and doors to the ones that will not allow them to be slammed...they close quickly to about an inch of being closed then control the final inch for a soft shut. Very handy with kids.

Having a stainless vent over the range is beautiful as well...required venting out the roof though but certainly worth it for the look.

N.

 

I know the beer tap is out but this would be pretty cool. I have a bar gun I am going to install in my bar when I am finished building it. This I think would be cool for a kichen. Even if not a big soda drinker it is still great for different juices too.

http://www.wunderbar.com/products/beverage/soft-drink/mini-tower

 

Uro is the cabinet maker. Or at least he was last time. He does very, very nice work!

 

a floor level vacuum intake. great for quick sweep ups. just flip open and sweep the dirt in. under counter slide out trash can.

 

I have the flip down TV and it's awesome for the kitchen. Another nice item (Since you will have the walls out) is an above-range faucet.
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Pete, I didn't know you were gay.

_____


UroTrash - you, of all people have got to have a proper indoor Barbeque setup, man! Smoke that meat! School these boys!

 

RATS! Did Lamour talk to you?


DOC! Another cool item is a double convection oven. About $4K and worth it when cooking for company.

 

shoot, I just want a dishwasher. I need to redo my kitchen in a major way.

 

Agreed. Also I'd suggest a sink in the island. Makes things easier. Only other thing I can add is a wine cooler if your into wine, and some lighting under an island on the sitting side

 

Okay...you are gonna do the garbage disposal, but step it up just a touch and get the larger HP one. I know it sounds funny, but they are really quiet! HUGE difference IMO! I am not 100%, but it seems like the good one was a 1.5 HP disposal...your contractor should know. The sweep floor vac is a great option as well.


Also, a Nana wall system close to the kitchen if possible, as it is nice to open the whole wall for entertaining and fresh air while cooking.

http://www.nanawalls.com/NanaWeb/Root/default.aspx

Dishwasher on either side of the sink is the best route to go as well...

Good luck, and we want pic's!

RK

 

I talked to an electrician about these. He said that the containers in them are small so he puts a shop vac in the attic or a closet somewhere with the hose going to the kitchen and puts in the intake plate and kick switch wired to the shop vac. Then you get more power and don't have to empty it all the time. I thought it was a good idea but don't know if the vacuum strength would hold up over a long stretch of hose.

 

Most people I have met that have these systems do not use them. In stead, they use the 'ol portable vaccume, as it does a better job!

 

Glad to hear she likes the ideas (You actually let her review this board?). If you like your 'own time' of peace and quiet around the house, then make sure you install every possible cool kitchen item as possible. The more she likes her new kitchen, the more time she will spend there and will be out of your hair