House Plan Blog

You’ve decided it’s time to update and freshen up your kitchen. Remodeling your kitchen doesn’t have to be a daunting experience as long as you keep a few of these tips in mind.

Understand The Kitchen Triangle

The kitchen triangle takes into consideration the position of the stove, refrigerator and sink to have free access to use each workstation. Each place should be within easy access to the other for quick cooking, yet spaced out far enough where if multiple people are in the kitchen that everyone isn't bumping or tripping over each other. The stove, sink and refrigerator should be less than 20 feet away from each other but more than ten feet in proximity to give enough space.

Maximize The Space With Enough Storage and Counter Space

For some reason, a person will have tons of counter space but few cabinets to store their items, or tons of cabinets but a very little counter to prepare food. You don't have to compromise on either storage space or counters. Consider cabinets that reach up to the ceiling for added storage and an island when you need more counter space.

Have Enough Strong Lighting

Lighting is essential to ensure a safe working environment to prevent accidents. Countertops, sinks and stoves should have enough lighting to prepare and cook food safely. Natural lighting from windows can brighten up the space during the day. Yet when the sun goes down, the kitchen can look like a dungeon. Consider a mixture of lighting sources that combine natural light with artificial lighting such as overhead lights, pendant lights and under cabinet lights.

Factor In The Plumbing

Plumbing can ruin the perfect kitchen design every time. You have the ideas and the perfect design in mind as you order all the materials. Then later you realize that the setup won't work because of where the plumbing is located for the sink and dishwasher. Always think about the plumbing in the early stages of the kitchen design. If you have to move the pipes, you can get the plumber in early to place in new lines and then consider the placement of the other work stations in the room.

Perhaps the two biggest tips for people designing a kitchen is to develop a budget and stick to it no matter what. Many kitchen designs fail because a person doesn't consider the budget, as they go over it by large amounts for small aspects of the kitchen workspace. This problem can make the room look mismatched with high-end luxuries mixed in with cheap materials.

When considering building a new home, one consideration is the number of stories they should build. People need to make sure that they have enough room to accommodate their family, yet not too large a house that could be costly to maintain. Choices boil down to either a single story ranch style house or a two story home.

Ranch style houses have been a popular floor plan for decades, as all the rooms are located on a single level. There may be a second story bonus room, or storage space.

Two story homes have become the traditional homes to build. Bedrooms and bathrooms may be located on the second level while the kitchen, living room, and dining room are located on the main floor.

Which Home To Build?

When debating on the type of house to build, consider the benefits and disadvantages each type offers.

Lot Size

Lot size will play a factor when building a ranch style house. With all the rooms are located on a single story, is your building lot large enough to accommodate this? You could find there is little outdoor space left to enjoy on the lot if you wish to have a front or back yard. It’s possible that a two story homes could fit on your building lot with enough space to have ample room for a nice front yard, a play area for kids and entertaining in the back, or both.

Mobility and Stairs

People with mobility issues may find a two story home difficult to navigate the stairs. While there are mobility devices available, sometimes the single floor in a ranch style house makes moving around easier as one can reach each room with only a few steps. Families with young children may also consider a ranch style house to prevent the possibility of a children falling down the stairs.

It comes down to your personal choices on the floor plan style to select. Both a ranch style house and a two story home can make great living arrangements for you. Consider each design and select the one that is better for your lifestyle.

Older people are no longer being regulated to nursing and assisted living homes when they no longer want to live on their own. For many aging baby boomers, they are living with their adult children in their own places commonly referred to as Granny Flats.

Granny Flats, also known as Mother-in-Law Additions or Secondary Suites, are additions added to the main living space that allow older people a place to live and be close to their families. These additions can be built directly onto the home, or a builder can convert a garage into an apartment for the older relative. The flats usually have a master bedroom and a bathroom for the relative. Yet they can also be equipped with kitchens, living rooms and separate entrances.

Kingsley 30-184

Cities across the country will have different restrictions for Granny Flats. Granny Flats may be a minimum of 400 square feet to a maximum of 800 square feet depending on the location and lot size. Other restrictions may involve lot size, height of the addition and number of permitted rooms.

The best way to consider if a Granny Flat would make the perfect place for your relative is to decide on what they will need to live there comfortably, and what changes you will have to incorporate for wheel chair accessibility and other mobility factors. Most people who have Granny Flats constructed have relatives who are self-sufficient enough to take care of themselves. If the elderly relative will need medical care and other needs, the addition will have to be designed to accommodate them as this factor can lead to higher building costs. You also must decide whether your family can handle seeing each other on a daily basis.

Lastly, you need to take into account your older relatives wishes. Having them involved in the decisions with the design, layout and even paint colors of the Granny Flats allows them to feel excited about moving in and welcome to have a place that is their own home that is close to their family.

Older people are living longer lives, enjoying their golden years while wishing they were closer to their families. People may consider a Granny Flat for their relatives so they can be close to their family and have the support they need from their loved ones for the remainder of their lives. Just plan ahead to ensure the addition meets all building requirements, and have your relatives involved in the process so they can be happy with the decision of moving in with you.