Kim Luong
Design Studio Manager

Meet Kim – our expert Design Studio Manager here to help guide you in designing the kitchen of your dreams. Continue reading as she provides the best tips and tricks for designing a functional and stylish kitchen you will love.

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s the place where our families gather and spend the most time creating memories together around food. That’s why your kitchen should be a welcoming and functional space, and reflect your personal style. Check out these three steps to help with designing, organizing, and entertaining in the kitchen of your dreams!

Step 1: design the look and feel

Bold Countertops

Looking to make your island the focal point of the room in your kitchen? You can do this by adding a pop of colour or pattern to your island countertop to create an aesthetically pleasing statement. This non-traditional design helps bring the room to life and can highlight your unique style and personality.

Canopy Hoods

Historically, the idea of a canopy hood and range stems from the hearth – a fireplace in your kitchen used for heating and cooking. Through the modern age, the hearth moved to living areas and the range and canopy hoods became the place to cook your meal. However, the idea of the hearth still remains, with your canopy hood and range aspiring to be the natural focal point of the kitchen. A canopy hood can offer an intimate experience and a unique decorative style. So why not chose a distinctive piece for your kitchen? When you’re cooking for your family and friends, watch as they gather around to tell captivating stories and make new memories around food. 

Bold Cabinets 

Are you craving a burst of colour but still want a timeless kitchen? A popular option when wanting to choose a bold cabinet is a stately navy blue cabinet. You can pair your navy cabinet with layers of spring green or chartreuse through décor elements in your kitchen for a bold but timeless look.

Bold Flooring 

Want to make a first impression when you first enter your home? Hallways and entryways are among the most popular places to add bold flooring to your home. Uniquely patterned floors will bring a pop of wow as you enter. 

Step 2: equip to cook & entertain

Dual Ovens 

Having the right appliances in your kitchen is a key ingredient to making your recipes superb! Dual ovens make meal preparation a breeze because it allows you to cook multiple dishes at different temperatures! Plus, it is more energy-efficient than a traditional oven! The top oven often integrates microwave functions as well, eliminating the need for another appliance.

Wall Oven 

Wall oven units are a fantastic flexible solution for your kitchen! If you’re in a hurry, you can prepare dishes quickly! Plus, it can make handling hot food much easier with no need to bend over.

Built-in Griddles 

A built-in griddle appliance is convenient and ideal when cooking for a crowd as they have a large surface area to entertain all night!

Step 3: maximize storage and organization

Waste Bin Pullouts

A built-in waste bin under your sink for your compost, garbage, and recycling is an effective trash system to ensure that the movement of waste is as smooth and effective as possible.

Pullout Pantry

Are you spending too much time searching for the Paprika? A pullout pantry is great for conveniently organizing your spices for cooking your favourite meals.

• A lazy Susan is a great storage solution to keep things organized in the fridge, pantry, corner cabinets or even on the countertop to store away those everyday used items and shorten the search!  
• You don’t have to let valuable space go to waste! LeMans shelving system combines a sleek, modern design with easy access to blind corner cabinets that are often underutilized. 

 

Increasing Upper Cabinets 

Increasing the upper cabinets to the ceiling is a great way to fill that empty space and extend your existing cabinets. This adds value to your home because it adds more storage in your kitchen and is an easy way to make the space appear larger and more open.

Island Storage 

A kitchen island is perfect for those who love to entertain, and it holds additional storage! Plus, building a little storage nook at the back of the island is great for décor and a spot to store your go-to cookbooks! 

Your Design Studio Experience

Setting a budget for your upgrades and additional organization tools is essential as you start planning for your Materials & Finishes Appointment and gathering inspiration for what you want your home to look like. At the Activa Design Studio, we offer high-end features and finishes that come standard for you to choose from and upgraded options to take your home to the next level. Setting a budget will allow our team members to present options that fit this. The Design Studio is an exciting experience, but we want to ensure you stay within what you can afford. You can learn more tips on preparing for your visit in our Design Studio Selection blog.

We can’t wait to meet you for your Materials & Finshes Appointment at the Activa Design Studio, and we hope you are as excited as we are! While you’re there, we encourage you to take pictures during your appointment. You can even tag @builtbyactiva on Instagram or Facebook to be featured on our page. See you there!