My husband is a woodworker. He made our kitchen cabinets. It took him 6 months to make the doors. I cleaned dust and dog hair off dishes and cookware for those 6 months. No open shelves for me.
Over the range microwaves are dangerous for us shorter in stature. Taking hot items out of a microwave that is above our shoulder height is difficult at the very least.
Perhaps because I'm a bit older, but the porcelain white farmhouse sink was in farmhouses I visited as a child. The old house I lived in, in the 70's had a huge porcelain sink with the draining board, and front apron farmhouse sink. My mother loved how large it was, but she complained about wanting to know whose idea was it to put such a dated sink in the house.
Yes, the kind I remember from really old rural houses were not set into counters, they'd be more of an all-in-one unit with the faucets and handles on the backsplash part and drainboards on the side. The big sink was not filled to do dishes - you used a smaller wash basin set inside for that. They were great for canning and for bathing dogs and small children.
@@elisabetk2595 I knew if I read far enough someone would put my thoughts down ;-) My grandmother's house was built turn of the century and had a huge sink in it too (not farm but small town) and yes, she used a wash basin in it to wash dishes and it was great when canning season came around! (no dogs and the kids were grown and loved the huge claw foot tub anyway!)
@Kiki. Ha, ha. I do have open shelves and three cats. Only one pays any attention to it, but she LOVED to squeeze in the smallest gap and go to sleep. 😱 I have learned to move the surrounding dishes and glasses to cover tempting nap spots as soon as I pull out a glass, etc. to use. I have also learned to unload dishwasher and put dishes away as soon as possible. Luckily for both of us, she has learned not to try to squeeze in there anymore and my dishes, etc, are now safe. My shelves are high enough that no fur drifts up there. Now we all are happy and Phrynee ignores the shelves. 👍👩🏻🎨😺😽😻
@ghee cappy My kids will open the fridge every half hour to see if there is something yummy to eat and close it disappointed yet again .... is this the same thing 😅🤣
I'm not a fan of open shelving, but if you do go with open shelves, I disagree with the host: You should put OFTEN-used items on them, to ensure they're washed regularly and don't collect dust. I like single-bowl, apron-front sinks because you can wash big items that often don't fit in the dishwasher, like baking sheets, serving platters, roasting pans, etc. Plus, I have short arms and they're easier for me to reach into. You can always keep a small plastic dishpan under the sink for when you want 2 basins. Lastly, the kitchen trend I dislike most is the eating bar or seating at the island. Honestly, I've NEVER sat at those, and I've never seen anyone else who does, either. Highly overrated IMO.
That's an interesting take! As far as the island with seating go's- it is the single most requested 'must have' in our design studio. I have put several into my clients houses and they are used every day. To each their own, right!
I agree an all three points. Regarding the bar/island seating, it may be because I'm European. As far as I can tell, this trend never really took off here, probably because people always eat at the kitchen table, so the island/bar stools are too redundant and since space is scarcer, no thanks.
I can't be the only one that hates kitchen islands with a single row of stools. This is obviously based around the idea of "cooking for your guests" but when our host and hostess was done cooking they sat with us and then all six people were sitting in a row like ducks, facing the wall and pile of dirty dishes.
It really depends on how you use your island. Most of the clients I work with are not doing this just for the entertainment aspect. From your description it would be rather odd. Though I have never been a dinner party like that...
Who sold that idea? I never bought into being a slave to the kitchen or having a home set up like a bar. I remember passing a neighbor’s house with a great room kitchen and she was always standing behind the bar or island serving, cooking or cleaning the dishes. No thanks! And I prepare at least two meals a day.
The original purpose of a kitchen desk goes back to 1950s homemakers, so they could plan their meals, grocery lists, and household duties and appointments.
Most old kitchen sinks were white porcelain, farmhouse or not. You may be too young to remember. I agree with most of these recommendations. But I find a kitchen desk a wonderful concept. I love the idea, I know I spent the better part of two decades having my kids do homework at a kitchen table while I was cooking dinner or doing laundry, in the room off the kitchen. I wanted them close, so I could supervise them. I would love to have had them separated in the kitchen one at the desk, type of thing, to reduce the bickering from being too close. A kitchen desk is so practical for my lifestyle. Every morning while having coffee, I'm at my kitchen table with a lap top, would much prefer a desk. If I can find the space, I will incorporate it into the design for my kitchen remodel for sure.
I do understand bickering kids doing homework together at the table! We go through that at our house as well. I think the key with kitchen desks is knowing how (and if) you would actually use it. I still see them included in designs without any real reason other than- 'there was space".
@@hsdesignstudio Having a sink that is right over your toes so you don't have to lean over to get into is much easier on your back. Granite counters with the sink set even further back are the worst - how do people even use those?
@@elisabetk2595 I can understand the benefits of an apron front sink. It's the porcelain farmhouse style that I (and many clients) have had poor experiences with, including one story of belt buckles scratching the front side from leaning against it. Like everything, these are just items to think about before including them in your own space. Some of these work great for many people.
1. Open Shelves: I’d rather spend my time cooking than cleaning! NOT going to happen in my new kitchen!! 2. Pot racks: I miss mine, but it was another greasy/dusty catcher … but I preferred having my pots UP. I would love a solution for my cast iron pans. In my next kitchen renovation, toe kick drawers again! I really liked having them in the last house. 3. Apron front sink? Don’t care - but one deep sink is what I want again. 4. I’d love one of those red refrigerators - in my FUN room…but not in the kitchen. 5. Backsplash to the bottom of the cabinet? GREAT idea and a no-brainer!
The couple times in my past that I had a pot rack in a small kitchen, I liked it a lot but they never got dusty or greasy because I cooked all the time. I too like a deep sink and will have this in my next kitchen, the front bib takes up too much of my precious under sink space. That said if I were to do a front bib I would do something eye catching like hammered copper for example.
@@jessiec1194 That sounds lovely! I wish I had a picture …. How many pieces were you able to hang? Not including the Dutch oven pans, I think I would need to hang 7…
@@jessiec1194 I have a little kitchen (10'9"x7'9"), galley style, and I often find myself spilling over and using the top of the Speed Queens in the laundry room as prep space. If I don't use the particular pot or pan frequently, I plan some space in the laundry room cabinets for them.
Coming from the food service industry, I like the idea of open shelving, but only in households that use many dishes or have multiple cooks on a regular basis. It's easier to grab things and eliminates a cabinet door potentially being in someone's way, but glass doors are a better option for most people who want an open look. As for the microwave, I've never had a kitchen large enough for anything other than an over-the-range, but honestly don't mind the look. I'd only do something else if I had a wall oven to combine it with.
I totally agree with you! I'm building a house, open shelving is only for my pottery collection, all blue, such as large bowls, tea pots and planters...just a few things I never use, just collected and got for decor. But closed glass uppers for my nicer glasses etc I do use...so no dust. I love all downer drawers for all my everyday stuff (and microwave in the island, hate the ones over the stove. ) Thanks for all the advice!
I had an over the stove microwave but watching my wife try to juggle a bowl of hot food with no room at the busy stove area gave me the "Herbie jeebies " Relocated it before she ended up scalding herself! Also got rid of our dust catchers (open shelves) and replaced them with deep cupboards for plenty of storage.
Just left a house that didn’t have cabinet pulls or knobs and it drove me crazy for 8 years!!! I broke so many fingernails trying to open them!! We rented so I couldn’t do anything about it. Pulls were a must-have when we built our new home.
Farm house sink: the farm house sink was a thing a while ago when there were large families so it would get a lot of use. It would get dinged up and abused to the point that it had to be replaced. Since its not built into the countertop it would simply just slide out so another could be installed. Thats why they are the way they are! Totally agree with you that it should go the way of the dodo unless you have a farmhouse!
I get the used and abused part, and even the easily replaceable part. The part of 'farmhouse' I never understood is it wasn't actually in any of the farmhouses of people I knew haha! However, it has been pointed out that the term pre dates the setup of internal plumbing in our homes where at that time, the sink was large and could be filled with plenty of water. Where I am sure it was then used and abused! I'm also going to assume at that time stainless steel might have been quite expensive when compared to more mass produced porcelain. Either way, we had one in our kitchen when we purchased the home and it was in horrible shape. It showed every mark, scratch, and scrape imaginable. They may not all be that way, but I have yet to see one that still looks great in a kitchen that actually gets used.
We have two open shelves for our coffee bar area. That’s it. We use it for our mugs and coffee accessories (moka pot, canisters, etc). I could never have any more than that! Everything else we hid because I just don’t like seeing clutter.
This is my feeling too. However, I have had some clients that have made me rethink open shelving due to various health issues. So there is a time and place for them.
I dare say there's a place for knobless cabinets: Small kitchens. Especially if you have to go through the kitchen to get to other parts of the house. Even more so if you have children. Better knobless cabinets than constant bruises. The knock- or push-to-open ones are a real pain, though, so if you have to go without knobs, go with those aluminium strip handles that are flush with the door or with custom recessed handles. And always remember to clean regularly whatever handles or knobs you have.
I don't know why you say you will regret knobless cabinets the first time you need something while cooking. Push to open cabinets pop open enough to grab the whole edge to open a drawer or cabinet. Much easier to grab and easier to clean than some ornate pull handle if you had "gunk" on your hand.
Agree with most things you said. Kitchen desk is horrible. Ripped mine out and replaced with bookshelfs with microwave built in. The only thing you said that I disagree with is no microwave at all. No, that is not a good idea.
Right on! BTW- not all kitchens have room for a table...( Like mine, your older home probably makes up for lack of storage space in the kitchen with under-used space elsewhere- cellar, back porch, ...lobster pot doesn't need kitchen accommodation! )
I’m curious about what appears to be an outlet right behind you.., placed on the outside of the wall (instead of installed in the walk like most outlets) with a stainless steel conduit - also outside the wall when the electricity should’ve been run inside the wall. Was that an oversight during your design? It looks like you placed that kitchen outlet after your wall and tile were already complete.
Good catch! It is an outlet, and it was entirely intentional. Thanks for asking about this instead of just criticizing! All of our kitchen outlets are done with exposed conduit for two main reasons. The first, our home is designed around a mix of industrial and classic farmhouse style designs. My wife and I like the industrial style often associated with loft style condos, however we also quite like the coziness and hominess of farmhouse style. The exposed conduit gives us a touch of that industrial design. It is definitely not for everyone (and I know that). The second, we are in a 100+ year old original farmhouse and the exterior walls are a mix of cement and lathe and plaster. I did not want to go through the process of removing all of this on the exterior walls to run electrical for 3 outlets (we have a small kitchen by todays standards). My wife and I don't plan to ever sell this property. When we are no longer happy with the current state, our home will ultimately be a tear down unfortunately. It has hit a point where any more substantial renovations aren't worth the cost versus rebuilding (in my neighbourhood that is). Hopefully that answers your question!
We are about to build a house. I want a double oven in my kitchen. I do a lot of cooking, including baking. It would be nice to be able to cook something that requires 425 temp, for example, and cook something at 350 at the same time. So a double oven is my biggest kitchen must have.
I so agree with your list! I have never understood the desk in the kitchen and did not add that when we redesigned ours! I do have the microwave above the cooktop because that was the only way to get a vent (two story house). Open shelves are a thing I have never wanted. Our house is really old (built in 1896!) and our kitchen walls are original beaded board; I opted for the one row of tiles for the backsplash. Big mistake! While the tile is easy to clean, that beaded board is not!! For a while my pots and pans hung on the brick chimney wall (before remodeling) but are now safely tucked away in a drawer. Thanks for these tips! You now have a new subscriber ❤️
I think a lot of these assume that you have a large kitchen and aren't space constrained. I agree with the open-shelving concerns, but in my kitchen, I was able to effectively do an OTR microwave by picking a low-profile model that also vents much better than the previous model it replaced (it also opens up the space above the range). For pot racks, again, at my old place, I used wall mounted rails with hooks--I didn't have an option to store them in a cabinet--in my new place I can store them below the counter.
I think it is important to remember that every kitchen is unique and function should always reign supreme over aesthetics. It sounds like you found the best solutions for your spaces, and that's perfect!
Coming from the food service industry, I like the idea of open shelving, but only in households that use many dishes or have multiple cooks on a regular basis. It's easier to grab things and eliminates a cabinet door potentially being in someone's way, but glass doors are a better option for most people who want an open look. As for the microwave, I've never had a kitchen large enough for anything other than an over-the-range, but honestly don't mind the look. I'd only do something different if I had a wall oven to combine it with.
The sink... depending on your age and where you grew up. My grand mother had a large porcelain sink with a pump at one end. Newfoundland in my area didn’t have electricity till 1960.
A year ago, I tore out my wall to wall cabinets. They were greasy and dark. I have a make-do kitchen for the time being. Just de-greased everything and it wasn't worse than the previous situation.
Interestingly, many designers advise against stainless appliances… Everyone’s tastes are different, don’t rely on someone else’s interpretation of what they prefer to tell you what’s right or wrong
No...I love my stainless steel kitchen sink....very clean & easy. Most of the people I know have stainless steel sinks in NZ...as well as stainless steel laundry tubs.
I think stainless steel sinks are dependent on how hard the water is in your area. My mom was constantly complaining about the deposits from their hard water, ours isn't so bad here.
Stainless steel: the Harvest Gold of the 2020s. I guess stainless is all right, but stay away from black stainless. The first scratch will tell you why. I'm going bold for countertop appliance colors, but black porcelain for the cooktop. One look at a stainless surface discolored by heat will tell you why.
My mom really disliked the stainless steel - said it reminded her of hospital operating rooms or people wanting their kitchen to look like they were all commercial/restaurant chefs! (two of her careers (jobs) were waitress and then ob/gyn nurse) That being said, I'm just boring I guess - I like white appliances.
@@clwest3538 I have a galley space with walls that just can't be changed, though I'm trying to budget for widening the doors so I can get appliances in and out without pulling the doors off the hinges. I have been buying my appliances on eBay, mostly Bosch and Thermador, and most of what I've found are stainless with no porcelain or painted options. I did find a handsome hammered copper sink and oiled bronze faucet that will look great with the blue pearl granite countertops, and I found a scratch-and-dent (neither scratch nor dent are visible from the cook's point of view) black porcelain cooktop, but other than that all I can find are stainless.
@@clwest3538 Some years ago my state of residence built a new crime lab. The consulting engineering company I worked for at the time did the third-party inspections for that facility. I still remember the stainless steel autopsy tables with INSINKERATOR disposals in the drains under each table [SHUDDER]. That's why I don't want any horizontal stainless steel surface in my house. I am, however, installing an INSINKERATOR disposal, a top-of-the-line one-horsepower unit with extra sound insulation.
Good video! The only one I disagree with as a personal preference is no handles on my cabinetry. All my kitchen cabinets are above the waist, and below are drawers (also pull out without handles)
Sometimes you don't NEED to put the OTR microwave over the range. Put it somewhere where others can access it without bothering the cooktop area, like over a counter. Plus you get automatic counter lighting. Bonus!
Pot racks come from the idea of a commercial kitchen, along with stainless everything. Ugh. I don't want to live in a restaurant. And since no one would ever confuse me with a pro chef, I won't do any stainless.
I’m distracted by your Bosch dishwasher. How are you liking it? Does it clean well, does it dry well? Two racks or three racks? Adjustable rack heights? What series is it, 100, 300, 800? As you might have guess, I am buying a dishwasher.
Haha- I don't even know the model. Base level is what I know for sure. Our dishwasher died our first Christmas eve in the house (house full of people) and we just went out and bought the first thing we could afford at the time. Had it coming on 9ish years now and have had no problems at all with it (knock on wood). That being said, if I was renovating now, I would spend a little more. Something with a solid stainless steel tub all the way around and a nicer/cleaner looking door. I have always had good success with Bosch, Miele, and Blomberg dishwashers. I also like models that have a catch pan underneath with a water sensor in case something ever happens.
@@hsdesignstudio Haha, thanks for the information. I think it is a series 100 since it doesn't have a stainless steel tub. Good to know even Bosch's entry level dishwashers are good. I'm between Bosch and blomberg. Blomberg pricing is just really good, but I dont hear much about them and only Bosch which you will pay for.
@@vc6478 Yea- it's a stainless tub, but not all the way around. I have used Blomberg dishwashers a few times in rentals, reno projects, etc, and quite like them. They aren't as prevalent as Bosch. I have also never had a single problem with a Bosch dishwasher.
@@hsdesignstudio Good to know. Like I mentioned you can't find any reviews about blomberg dishwashers even though the pricing is great compared to Bosch. Both brands seem to have comparable models with same features. If you were going to buy a new one today what brand would you buy?
@@vc6478 Hmm that's tough, and it would depend a bit on the situation. If it was my own renovation (my house), it would be Bosch or Miele. More likely Bosch because it is easier to find at the price point. Miele sales tend to only happen once or twice a year at appliance specific stores. If it was a client renovation and the budget was there, it would be Bosch. If the budget was tighter, we would have a discussion about Blomberg because of the price point.
I took down 1 pair of cabinet doors cause I have a galley kitchen and I banged my head, ouch!!!! I hang pans in order not to take up valuable real estate, did I mention the galley kitchen? Instead of a kitchen desk, how about a kitchen table?
You have obviously never lived in a small apartment or condo in a city. To say microwaves with filter is out and pot racks are not a good idea speaks to your lack of appreciation of apartment or city living. You should make that distinction in your videos. Kitchen make overs do happen in small spaces with limited storage also.
Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! I lived in a condo in the city for 2 years- small condo and small kitchen. I didn't have either and never needed either. In fact I still have a rather small kitchen in my home (by today's standards). However, each person is different and the goal is to provide everyone with some food for thought, not make everyone agree. Our spaces are personal and they should be unique to what we like, even if someone else disagrees.
My realtor convinced me to get a microwave/hood vent combo before putting my place on the market and insisted I pack up the microwave I had been using on the counter. I did it but wasn’t sure if it would make that much of a difference - but oh wow! I loved using it in the time it took my place to sell - not sure I could go back to ever having it on the counter and even though the house I was selling had a lot of counter space, getting the microwave off the counter seemed to triple it !
@@katherinekelly5380 We bought our house with the microwave/filter over the cooktop arrangement. There’s no place to relocate it without losing valuable counter space, & I can’t spare the cabinetry to install it there and lose the storage space. Sometimes it just is what it is.
@@annemurphy9339 fair enough - if you ever have the chance to replace the hood fan with a microwave/hood fan, jump at the chance, you won’t regret it, it’s a fantastic way to gain counter space with out losing any cupboard space I couldn’t believe how great it was/is
I’m right in the middle of renovating my kitchen. I have no choice but to put the microwave over the stove because my kitchen is very small. It works out fine because we’re tall anyway. As for the rest of your no-no’s not incorporating any of these.
I disagree on subway tile. It may not be trendy, but it will always have a place in kitchen design. I see it everyday working with clients, it's not going anywhere.
@@hsdesignstudio in practice however, it's very hard to keep hygienic; you'd need to steam it constantly to keep the grout free from pathogens, grease... I believe food safety is a primary concern in a kitchen 👍 and it should be designed accordingly
@@sct4040 granite slab; Kerlite (look it up: fantastic material and dirt cheap for that it is); large format tiles (less grout to take care of); yeah some sort of stainless but it has to be smart..these are just some ideas
1. Open shelving isn't as awful for things that ARE used so often they can't get dirty. As much as I dislike them, that's the only decent use for them. 2. OTR microwaves are super important in small kitchens, and "going without a microwave" is just dumb. Subway tile is going to be severely dated soon. The subway tile of 2000s looks nothing like the subway tile of the 1920s. Desks in the kitchen were heavily used from the 1920s through 1980s. They were ended by the computer. I don't know why you "can't imagine what they were for." They haven't been seen much since 2000, though.
Hey Sebastien- would you mind being a little more specific? I am trying to play around with sound quality a little more and am curious what didn't work for you. Thanks in advance.
@@hsdesignstudio either you have a bad mic or you are too far from it so it sounds just like you are recording from a toilet. Also when you add music breaks it's much louder than your talking voice so I noticed it even more. And one more thing, remove auto-focus on your camera.
@@xzgun100 It's a Rode mic, so I'm going to assume it's not that. I'll play around with it's location and maybe that will clean up the recording. Thanks again.
I disagree about pot racks. Bcuz I love pot racks and the look of pots hanging. And why people like them. They like the look of hanging pots. I don’t like white cabinets but a lot of people do. To each their own.
saying open shelving can add warmth to a space is a null argument because wooden or warm-toned cabinets would do the same and have much more potential for adding warmth than a few rows of narrow shelves
Totally disagree about open shelves and everyday dishes. If you’re using them every day they don’t have a chance to get dusty unless you have way too many dishes or badly need an air filter! Anything used everyday is getting washed everyday.
I agree with all *except*...open shelving. Before over-done, trendy Gucci kitchens became the default in the US (a terrible first-world problem), upper cabinets were considered unnecessary and obtrusive. Anybody who is partnered with a person who is 5'0" or thus, understands that upper cabinets are almost completely useless. I've renovated 15 homes and eliminated the upper cabinets every time, and every renter I have thanks me for the easily-accessible open shelves and the uncommon feeling of spaciousness they have in the kitchen. Open shelves are not a trend, they are a long-standing design element that will be popular well after we're gone.
Agree tp disagree, but it looks like you have found a good niche! Out of hundreds of clients, open shelves are never a priority. They are a take it or leave it item for some, and a downright negative for others. Very few ask to have significant open shelving in place. I would be interested to see how your renovated homes sell, and what a potential buyer who intends to live there long term may say (pure curiosity, not a judgement in any way).
@@hsdesignstudio - i’m 5 foot one and when we do our kitchen remodel we’ll be removing all of our upper cabinets. I currently have a galley kitchen one side will go to an island with lower cabinets facing both sides - the other side will get windows on a dark wall where cabinets were. It’s just completely not functional for someone my height to have these giant cabinets on the wall
I don’t care for the great room or large kitchen for the same reason open shelving isn’t a great concept. I can’t image grease covering my draperies or crystal pieces. Oh wait! New trends discourage fine furnishings.
Why do people think there's no dust inside kitchen cabinets? Dust is literally everywhere in your home. Unless you're sawing and doing woodshop projects in your kitchen, the stuff on your open shelves aren't going to get any dustier than the items inside your cupboards. When I was a kid my Mom had a china cabinet, and once a month we had to dust the items inside the cabinet because things that don't get used every day collect dust no matter where you put them. Feel free to hide your clutter inside cabinets but don't fool yourself that it's not collecting dust
I can quite definitely say the inside of my kitchen cabinets do not coat in dusk like the any of the shelves I have in my house. We have to dust the random shelves weekly, not the inside of the cabinets.
We've had flat cabinets and cupboards and drawers for 35 years and have no problem opening them because the edges are beveled so you can get a grip with your fingers, even when wet.
I think you are right haha! Every one I have seen (we also had one in the house when we bought it) has been in terrible shape- scratched and stained beyond cleaning. In my experience they just don't seem to hold up to everyday kitchen use.
Why do we want to hang pots? Because they are loud and inconvenient in a drawer or cupboard, because bending over is challenging for the disabled, because they don't get scratched when they're hanging.
I disagree with almost everything you have suggested. There are appropriate uses of all these things and a good design can support all of these options. It's about thorough design.
Yes good design is key with anything, I agree! That is much harder done than most folks think. The goal of this is in no way to make everyone agree. These are just common complaints and issues I hear from clients all the time.
That's awesome! Ultimately, this is just my personal preference and opinion. However, the goal with any design is to give/get exactly what you want and works for you 👍
@@hsdesignstudio I can't be doing with those little fiddly stainless steel jobbies! Always so small and divided into a middle- and a half-sized bowl - I feed ravenous hoards, so need big pots and a big pot washer :) Also I live on a farm in rural Devon in England, so farmhouse kitchen is literally my thing!
Under the counter is not the only option mentioned, there are several others. However, I do have several clients who have opted to go without due to kitchen size and limitations. Taking up valuable countertop space is not a design choice, but a functionality choice. If you have room for it, there is no issue. Many of today's smaller kitchens do not use countertop microwaves.
That's an interesting point. We really don't see them much where I live. I wonder if it is more climate specific and they are still popular in warm/humid climates?
Talk about avoiding That tile backsplash behind you is ugly looks old and dirty and the center part behind stove is too small. It should be width of stove , start avoiding that before you give advice.
I think it will always look dirty as it is dark grey pattern on a light grey background right next to white tile - pretty much an oops in my book too And it does look under sized
@@katherinekelly5380 The grey shows no grease and it's an easily cleanable ceramic tile- so big plus in my book behind a range. As for width, that could be your personal taste (which is fine), but I think ~1" shy of the stove width is perfect, especially when it involves full tiles with no cuts. In addition, we love that the grey ties in with our quartz countertops. To each their own, right 👍
Not open shelves like he was talking about - but I have a little one over my 'coffee' station that holds my daily travel mug and my home mug. As far as pets, I have 4 dogs and never had issues with my tiny one use shelf ;-D
My husband is a woodworker. He made our kitchen cabinets. It took him 6 months to make the doors. I cleaned dust and dog hair off dishes and cookware for those 6 months. No open shelves for me.
Over the range microwaves are dangerous for us shorter in stature. Taking hot items out of a microwave that is above our shoulder height is difficult at the very least.
Perhaps because I'm a bit older, but the porcelain white farmhouse sink was in farmhouses I visited as a child. The old house I lived in, in the 70's had a huge porcelain sink with the draining board, and front apron farmhouse sink. My mother loved how large it was, but she complained about wanting to know whose idea was it to put such a dated sink in the house.
Yes, the kind I remember from really old rural houses were not set into counters, they'd be more of an all-in-one unit with the faucets and handles on the backsplash part and drainboards on the side. The big sink was not filled to do dishes - you used a smaller wash basin set inside for that. They were great for canning and for bathing dogs and small children.
@@elisabetk2595 I knew if I read far enough someone would put my thoughts down ;-) My grandmother's house was built turn of the century and had a huge sink in it too (not farm but small town) and yes, she used a wash basin in it to wash dishes and it was great when canning season came around! (no dogs and the kids were grown and loved the huge claw foot tub anyway!)
I am going to assume that people that like open shelving do not own any cats.
@Kiki. Ha, ha. I do have open shelves and three cats. Only one pays any attention to it, but she LOVED to squeeze in the smallest gap and go to sleep. 😱 I have learned to move the surrounding dishes and glasses to cover tempting nap spots as soon as I pull out a glass, etc. to use. I have also learned to unload dishwasher and put dishes away as soon as possible. Luckily for both of us, she has learned not to try to squeeze in there anymore and my dishes, etc, are now safe. My shelves are high enough that no fur drifts up there. Now we all are happy and Phrynee ignores the shelves. 👍👩🏻🎨😺😽😻
@ghee cappy My kids will open the fridge every half hour to see if there is something yummy to eat and close it disappointed yet again .... is this the same thing 😅🤣
Totally agree. We just completed a full gut kitchen remodel, and avoided all on your list.
I'm not a fan of open shelving, but if you do go with open shelves, I disagree with the host: You should put OFTEN-used items on them, to ensure they're washed regularly and don't collect dust. I like single-bowl, apron-front sinks because you can wash big items that often don't fit in the dishwasher, like baking sheets, serving platters, roasting pans, etc. Plus, I have short arms and they're easier for me to reach into. You can always keep a small plastic dishpan under the sink for when you want 2 basins. Lastly, the kitchen trend I dislike most is the eating bar or seating at the island. Honestly, I've NEVER sat at those, and I've never seen anyone else who does, either. Highly overrated IMO.
It’s like you read my mind. This is exactly what I was thinking!
That's an interesting take! As far as the island with seating go's- it is the single most requested 'must have' in our design studio. I have put several into my clients houses and they are used every day. To each their own, right!
I agree with you about everything except seating at the island. It’s literally my go to seat at home and at others homes.
Island seating is used most heavily by people with kids age 8 plus.
I agree an all three points. Regarding the bar/island seating, it may be because I'm European. As far as I can tell, this trend never really took off here, probably because people always eat at the kitchen table, so the island/bar stools are too redundant and since space is scarcer, no thanks.
I can't be the only one that hates kitchen islands with a single row of stools. This is obviously based around the idea of "cooking for your guests" but when our host and hostess was done cooking they sat with us and then all six people were sitting in a row like ducks, facing the wall and pile of dirty dishes.
It really depends on how you use your island. Most of the clients I work with are not doing this just for the entertainment aspect. From your description it would be rather odd. Though I have never been a dinner party like that...
It works for breakfast, sending the kids off to school in the morning.
Who sold that idea? I never bought into being a slave to the kitchen or having a home set up like a bar. I remember passing a neighbor’s house with a great room kitchen and she was always standing behind the bar or island serving, cooking or cleaning the dishes. No thanks! And I prepare at least two meals a day.
The original purpose of a kitchen desk goes back to 1950s homemakers, so they could plan their meals, grocery lists, and household duties and appointments.
Not just the 1950's! For hundreds of years the head cook in the big house had a kitchen desk
Home economists!
Its also where the phone was😀
Most old kitchen sinks were white porcelain, farmhouse or not. You may be too young to remember. I agree with most of these recommendations. But I find a kitchen desk a wonderful concept. I love the idea, I know I spent the better part of two decades having my kids do homework at a kitchen table while I was cooking dinner or doing laundry, in the room off the kitchen. I wanted them close, so I could supervise them. I would love to have had them separated in the kitchen one at the desk, type of thing, to reduce the bickering from being too close. A kitchen desk is so practical for my lifestyle. Every morning while having coffee, I'm at my kitchen table with a lap top, would much prefer a desk. If I can find the space, I will incorporate it into the design for my kitchen remodel for sure.
I do understand bickering kids doing homework together at the table! We go through that at our house as well. I think the key with kitchen desks is knowing how (and if) you would actually use it. I still see them included in designs without any real reason other than- 'there was space".
A large sink is always a good thing! Steel or porcelain are great materials for a sink.
Large sinks are great, no argument here! It's the type, I will sometimes take issue with 👍
granite sinks are the best.
@@hsdesignstudio Having a sink that is right over your toes so you don't have to lean over to get into is much easier on your back. Granite counters with the sink set even further back are the worst - how do people even use those?
@@elisabetk2595 I can understand the benefits of an apron front sink. It's the porcelain farmhouse style that I (and many clients) have had poor experiences with, including one story of belt buckles scratching the front side from leaning against it. Like everything, these are just items to think about before including them in your own space. Some of these work great for many people.
Going with hammered copper.
1. Open Shelves: I’d rather spend my time cooking than cleaning! NOT going to happen in my new kitchen!! 2. Pot racks: I miss mine, but it was another greasy/dusty catcher … but I preferred having my pots UP. I would love a solution for my cast iron pans. In my next kitchen renovation, toe kick drawers again! I really liked having them in the last house. 3. Apron front sink? Don’t care - but one deep sink is what I want again. 4. I’d love one of those red refrigerators - in my FUN room…but not in the kitchen. 5. Backsplash to the bottom of the cabinet? GREAT idea and a no-brainer!
Yes! Deep sink - fill, empty, clean, lobster pot!
The couple times in my past that I had a pot rack in a small kitchen, I liked it a lot but they never got dusty or greasy because I cooked all the time. I too like a deep sink and will have this in my next kitchen, the front bib takes up too much of my precious under sink space. That said if I were to do a front bib I would do something eye catching like hammered copper for example.
I have a little kitchen island style table and my cast iron lives hanging from it. It's a 50/50 between easy access and dust collecting.
@@jessiec1194 That sounds lovely! I wish I had a picture …. How many pieces were you able to hang? Not including the Dutch oven pans, I think I would need to hang 7…
@@jessiec1194 I have a little kitchen (10'9"x7'9"), galley style, and I often find myself spilling over and using the top of the Speed Queens in the laundry room as prep space. If I don't use the particular pot or pan frequently, I plan some space in the laundry room cabinets for them.
No way would I ever have open shelving. Grease dust yuck. I loathe over the oven microwave, I’d much rather have a real hood.
YESSS!!
yes!
Coming from the food service industry, I like the idea of open shelving, but only in households that use many dishes or have multiple cooks on a regular basis. It's easier to grab things and eliminates a cabinet door potentially being in someone's way, but glass doors are a better option for most people who want an open look. As for the microwave, I've never had a kitchen large enough for anything other than an over-the-range, but honestly don't mind the look. I'd only do something else if I had a wall oven to combine it with.
How about SUBWAY TILES ANYWHERE except subways?
We didn’t have an apron farmhouse sink at my grandparents home but they definitely had a large white porcelain sink when I was a child.
I totally agree with you! I'm building a house, open shelving is only for my pottery collection, all blue, such as large bowls, tea pots and planters...just a few things I never use, just collected and got for decor. But closed glass uppers for my nicer glasses etc I do use...so no dust. I love all downer drawers for all my everyday stuff (and microwave in the island, hate the ones over the stove. ) Thanks for all the advice!
I had an over the stove microwave but watching my wife try to juggle a bowl of hot food with no room at the busy stove area gave me the "Herbie jeebies " Relocated it before she ended up scalding herself!
Also got rid of our dust catchers (open shelves) and replaced them with deep cupboards for plenty of storage.
As someone who is 5 ft tall, I can't even see into most microwaves above a stove. Our microwave is on the counter where it belongs.
Sometimes there is no choice. I just stand on tiptoes cause I am only 5 ft too. My kitchen is too small
Or splurge on an in-drawer microwave!
@@lynnhayes2363 At a $1,000 premium, you are correct! Spurge indeed!
Ours is in a purpose built, bench height, void in the cabinetry. It works very well.
@Kevin McCormack Each to their own. I use mine at least a couple times/day to make coffee.
Just left a house that didn’t have cabinet pulls or knobs and it drove me crazy for 8 years!!! I broke so many fingernails trying to open them!! We rented so I couldn’t do anything about it. Pulls were a must-have when we built our new home.
Ouch! Not even the built in style pulls? Or push to open? Just slab doors?!
Farm house sink: the farm house sink was a thing a while ago when there were large families so it would get a lot of use. It would get dinged up and abused to the point that it had to be replaced. Since its not built into the countertop it would simply just slide out so another could be installed. Thats why they are the way they are! Totally agree with you that it should go the way of the dodo unless you have a farmhouse!
I get the used and abused part, and even the easily replaceable part. The part of 'farmhouse' I never understood is it wasn't actually in any of the farmhouses of people I knew haha! However, it has been pointed out that the term pre dates the setup of internal plumbing in our homes where at that time, the sink was large and could be filled with plenty of water. Where I am sure it was then used and abused! I'm also going to assume at that time stainless steel might have been quite expensive when compared to more mass produced porcelain. Either way, we had one in our kitchen when we purchased the home and it was in horrible shape. It showed every mark, scratch, and scrape imaginable. They may not all be that way, but I have yet to see one that still looks great in a kitchen that actually gets used.
We have two open shelves for our coffee bar area. That’s it. We use it for our mugs and coffee accessories (moka pot, canisters, etc). I could never have any more than that! Everything else we hid because I just don’t like seeing clutter.
This is my feeling too. However, I have had some clients that have made me rethink open shelving due to various health issues. So there is a time and place for them.
I need a kitchen desk for my husband in our next kitchen. He uses it a lot. I just don’t want it to look outdated
The big porcelain sinks go back to manor house sculleries.
Thank you for the info- I'll have to look more into this. From the comments, these porcelain sinks seem to have quite a varied history.
Agree with you I always fiend the microwave about the range wrong
I dare say there's a place for knobless cabinets: Small kitchens. Especially if you have to go through the kitchen to get to other parts of the house. Even more so if you have children. Better knobless cabinets than constant bruises. The knock- or push-to-open ones are a real pain, though, so if you have to go without knobs, go with those aluminium strip handles that are flush with the door or with custom recessed handles. And always remember to clean regularly whatever handles or knobs you have.
I agree that knobs are potentially bruising and can catch clothing. Think about getting either C-shaped handles or Integrated handles.
I just want handles that dont catch on my clothing as I speed past.
Agree with everything except knobless cabinetry :)
Same !!!
In the UK we never ever put our microwaves above cookers. It only 🇺🇸. Bad idea. We have ous mostly on worktop
I don't know why you say you will regret knobless cabinets the first time you need something while cooking. Push to open cabinets pop open enough to grab the whole edge to open a drawer or cabinet. Much easier to grab and easier to clean than some ornate pull handle if you had "gunk" on your hand.
Can be cheaper than all that hardware too!
@@hooksx not really, Blum Tip-on hardware for doors and drawers cost more than knobs and pulls.
Hate subway tiles makes me feel like I am in a bus stop..
Agree with most things you said. Kitchen desk is horrible. Ripped mine out and replaced with bookshelfs with microwave built in. The only thing you said that I disagree with is no microwave at all. No, that is not a good idea.
Right on! BTW- not all kitchens have room for a table...( Like mine, your older home probably makes up for lack of storage space in the kitchen with under-used space elsewhere- cellar, back porch, ...lobster pot doesn't need kitchen accommodation! )
I’m curious about what appears to be an outlet right behind you.., placed on the outside of the wall (instead of installed in the walk like most outlets) with a stainless steel conduit - also outside the wall when the electricity should’ve been run inside the wall. Was that an oversight during your design? It looks like you placed that kitchen outlet after your wall and tile were already complete.
Good catch! It is an outlet, and it was entirely intentional. Thanks for asking about this instead of just criticizing! All of our kitchen outlets are done with exposed conduit for two main reasons. The first, our home is designed around a mix of industrial and classic farmhouse style designs. My wife and I like the industrial style often associated with loft style condos, however we also quite like the coziness and hominess of farmhouse style. The exposed conduit gives us a touch of that industrial design. It is definitely not for everyone (and I know that). The second, we are in a 100+ year old original farmhouse and the exterior walls are a mix of cement and lathe and plaster. I did not want to go through the process of removing all of this on the exterior walls to run electrical for 3 outlets (we have a small kitchen by todays standards). My wife and I don't plan to ever sell this property. When we are no longer happy with the current state, our home will ultimately be a tear down unfortunately. It has hit a point where any more substantial renovations aren't worth the cost versus rebuilding (in my neighbourhood that is). Hopefully that answers your question!
We are about to build a house. I want a double oven in my kitchen. I do a lot of cooking, including baking. It would be nice to be able to cook something that requires 425 temp, for example, and cook something at 350 at the same time. So a double oven is my biggest kitchen must have.
That’s a great reason for a double oven. I know there are times my wife and I wish we could do that as well.
I would prefer glass doors for hanging cabinets than open shelves. I do agree on the microwave wholeheartedly
I so agree with your list! I have never understood the desk in the kitchen and did not add that when we redesigned ours! I do have the microwave above the cooktop because that was the only way to get a vent (two story house). Open shelves are a thing I have never wanted. Our house is really old (built in 1896!) and our kitchen walls are original beaded board; I opted for the one row of tiles for the backsplash. Big mistake! While the tile is easy to clean, that beaded board is not!! For a while my pots and pans hung on the brick chimney wall (before remodeling) but are now safely tucked away in a drawer. Thanks for these tips! You now have a new subscriber ❤️
Welcome to the community!
Yesssss! We're in the market for a home. Soooo many kitchen desks 🤦♀️
I think a lot of these assume that you have a large kitchen and aren't space constrained. I agree with the open-shelving concerns, but in my kitchen, I was able to effectively do an OTR microwave by picking a low-profile model that also vents much better than the previous model it replaced (it also opens up the space above the range). For pot racks, again, at my old place, I used wall mounted rails with hooks--I didn't have an option to store them in a cabinet--in my new place I can store them below the counter.
I think it is important to remember that every kitchen is unique and function should always reign supreme over aesthetics. It sounds like you found the best solutions for your spaces, and that's perfect!
Yes, over the range microwave is dangerous with spills and burns.
Stumbled across your channel when searching for soapstone maintenance. Cool channel I am subscribed
Thanks! Welcome to the community 👍
Coming from the food service industry, I like the idea of open shelving, but only in households that use many dishes or have multiple cooks on a regular basis. It's easier to grab things and eliminates a cabinet door potentially being in someone's way, but glass doors are a better option for most people who want an open look. As for the microwave, I've never had a kitchen large enough for anything other than an over-the-range, but honestly don't mind the look. I'd only do something different if I had a wall oven to combine it with.
Outstanding! I agree on all points.
The sink... depending on your age and where you grew up. My grand mother had a large porcelain sink with a pump at one end. Newfoundland in my area didn’t have electricity till 1960.
Great video Jeff! Open shelves are the most commented item on my entire channel. Polarizing for sure.
Definitely a touchy topic!
A year ago, I tore out my wall to wall cabinets. They were greasy and dark. I have a make-do kitchen for the time being. Just de-greased everything and it wasn't worse than the previous situation.
Interestingly, many designers advise against stainless appliances…
Everyone’s tastes are different, don’t rely on someone else’s interpretation of what they prefer to tell you what’s right or wrong
I agree with you. The point of these videos is to, at the very least, make people think about their decisions during renovations.
Beware… Stainless steel sinks are hard to keep clean. 🌸
No...I love my stainless steel kitchen sink....very clean & easy. Most of the people I know have stainless steel sinks in NZ...as well as stainless steel laundry tubs.
I think stainless steel sinks are dependent on how hard the water is in your area. My mom was constantly complaining about the deposits from their hard water, ours isn't so bad here.
Agree with all of this. Can’t stand the micro over the stove.
Stainless steel: the Harvest Gold of the 2020s.
I guess stainless is all right, but stay away from black stainless. The first scratch will tell you why.
I'm going bold for countertop appliance colors, but black porcelain for the cooktop. One look at a stainless surface discolored by heat will tell you why.
My mom really disliked the stainless steel - said it reminded her of hospital operating rooms or people wanting their kitchen to look like they were all commercial/restaurant chefs! (two of her careers (jobs) were waitress and then ob/gyn nurse) That being said, I'm just boring I guess - I like white appliances.
@@clwest3538 I have a galley space with walls that just can't be changed, though I'm trying to budget for widening the doors so I can get appliances in and out without pulling the doors off the hinges.
I have been buying my appliances on eBay, mostly Bosch and Thermador, and most of what I've found are stainless with no porcelain or painted options.
I did find a handsome hammered copper sink and oiled bronze faucet that will look great with the blue pearl granite countertops, and I found a scratch-and-dent (neither scratch nor dent are visible from the cook's point of view) black porcelain cooktop, but other than that all I can find are stainless.
@@clwest3538 Some years ago my state of residence built a new crime lab. The consulting engineering company I worked for at the time did the third-party inspections for that facility. I still remember the stainless steel autopsy tables with INSINKERATOR disposals in the drains under each table [SHUDDER].
That's why I don't want any horizontal stainless steel surface in my house.
I am, however, installing an INSINKERATOR disposal, a top-of-the-line one-horsepower unit with extra sound insulation.
Good video! The only one I disagree with as a personal preference is no handles on my cabinetry. All my kitchen cabinets are above the waist, and below are drawers (also pull out without handles)
Nothing wrong with that. We all have our personal preferences, which should absolutely be considered.
Haha I love open shelving… what’s with all the dust / grease concerns… maybe get better ventilation.
.... and don't live in the southwest U.S. with blowing winds when farmers are tilling the soil - or TX blows across to see KS and vice versa .....
Sometimes you don't NEED to put the OTR microwave over the range. Put it somewhere where others can access it without bothering the cooktop area, like over a counter. Plus you get automatic counter lighting. Bonus!
That's an interesting idea Steve 👍
@@hsdesignstudio That's what I'm doing in our kitchen reno. Maybe I'll post pics when it's done.
Great video Jeff, new subscriber here! I appreciate your valuable advice and insight as I embark on my own kitchen remodel.
Thank you for the kind words. I'd love to see photos and hear about your renovation journey when it's done!
Pot racks come from the idea of a commercial kitchen, along with stainless everything. Ugh. I don't want to live in a restaurant. And since no one would ever confuse me with a pro chef, I won't do any stainless.
haha that's fair! I think there are a lot of alternatives to stainless now, but price point it still what keeps most people away.
I’m distracted by your Bosch dishwasher. How are you liking it? Does it clean well, does it dry well? Two racks or three racks? Adjustable rack heights? What series is it, 100, 300, 800? As you might have guess, I am buying a dishwasher.
Haha- I don't even know the model. Base level is what I know for sure. Our dishwasher died our first Christmas eve in the house (house full of people) and we just went out and bought the first thing we could afford at the time. Had it coming on 9ish years now and have had no problems at all with it (knock on wood). That being said, if I was renovating now, I would spend a little more. Something with a solid stainless steel tub all the way around and a nicer/cleaner looking door. I have always had good success with Bosch, Miele, and Blomberg dishwashers. I also like models that have a catch pan underneath with a water sensor in case something ever happens.
@@hsdesignstudio Haha, thanks for the information. I think it is a series 100 since it doesn't have a stainless steel tub. Good to know even Bosch's entry level dishwashers are good. I'm between Bosch and blomberg. Blomberg pricing is just really good, but I dont hear much about them and only Bosch which you will pay for.
@@vc6478 Yea- it's a stainless tub, but not all the way around. I have used Blomberg dishwashers a few times in rentals, reno projects, etc, and quite like them. They aren't as prevalent as Bosch. I have also never had a single problem with a Bosch dishwasher.
@@hsdesignstudio Good to know. Like I mentioned you can't find any reviews about blomberg dishwashers even though the pricing is great compared to Bosch. Both brands seem to have comparable models with same features. If you were going to buy a new one today what brand would you buy?
@@vc6478 Hmm that's tough, and it would depend a bit on the situation. If it was my own renovation (my house), it would be Bosch or Miele. More likely Bosch because it is easier to find at the price point. Miele sales tend to only happen once or twice a year at appliance specific stores. If it was a client renovation and the budget was there, it would be Bosch. If the budget was tighter, we would have a discussion about Blomberg because of the price point.
I took down 1 pair of cabinet doors cause I have a galley kitchen and I banged my head, ouch!!!!
I hang pans in order not to take up valuable real estate, did I mention the galley kitchen?
Instead of a kitchen desk, how about a kitchen table?
Nothing wrong with incorporating the kitchen table (in my mind anyways)
You have obviously never lived in a small apartment or condo in a city. To say microwaves with filter is out and pot racks are not a good idea speaks to your lack of appreciation of apartment or city living. You should make that distinction in your videos. Kitchen make overs do happen in small spaces with limited storage also.
Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! I lived in a condo in the city for 2 years- small condo and small kitchen. I didn't have either and never needed either. In fact I still have a rather small kitchen in my home (by today's standards). However, each person is different and the goal is to provide everyone with some food for thought, not make everyone agree. Our spaces are personal and they should be unique to what we like, even if someone else disagrees.
My realtor convinced me to get a microwave/hood vent combo before putting my place on the market and insisted I pack up the microwave I had been using on the counter. I did it but wasn’t sure if it would make that much of a difference - but oh wow! I loved using it in the time it took my place to sell - not sure I could go back to ever having it on the counter and even though the house I was selling had a lot of counter space, getting the microwave off the counter seemed to triple it !
@@katherinekelly5380 We bought our house with the microwave/filter over the cooktop arrangement. There’s no place to relocate it without losing valuable counter space, & I can’t spare the cabinetry to install it there and lose the storage space. Sometimes it just is what it is.
@@annemurphy9339 fair enough - if you ever have the chance to replace the hood fan with a microwave/hood fan, jump at the chance, you won’t regret it, it’s a fantastic way to gain counter space with out losing any cupboard space
I couldn’t believe how great it was/is
@@katherinekelly5380 That’s what I have! I was agreeing because I have absolutely no other space to put mine, lol.
How did the farmhouse sink come about??? Joanna Freaking Gaines. Ugh.
Hahahah this is the best answer yet 🤣
I dont have knobs. Makes it easy. Cabinets have a lip and thats good enough
Totally fair! The goal isn't to make a list of one size fits all. Just a list of common trends my clients complain about from past experience
One less thing to clean, always keep that in mind.
I’m right in the middle of renovating my kitchen. I have no choice but to put the microwave over the stove because my kitchen is very small. It works out fine because we’re tall anyway. As for the rest of your no-no’s not incorporating any of these.
That's exciting! Sometimes there just is no other option for microwaves. Best of luck with your renovation.
Very good list, I agree on most. Another trend that should disappear: subway tiles or any tile too small.
I disagree on subway tile. It may not be trendy, but it will always have a place in kitchen design. I see it everyday working with clients, it's not going anywhere.
@@hsdesignstudio in practice however, it's very hard to keep hygienic; you'd need to steam it constantly to keep the grout free from pathogens, grease... I believe food safety is a primary concern in a kitchen 👍 and it should be designed accordingly
@@AlessioSangalli
What would you replace it with? How about stainless steel sheets behind/around the stove?
@@sct4040 granite slab; Kerlite (look it up: fantastic material and dirt cheap for that it is); large format tiles (less grout to take care of); yeah some sort of stainless but it has to be smart..these are just some ideas
Open shelves in the kitchen are nonsense. Great list.
I think these are actually taste elements more than faux pas. Some are also not my style but this has nothing to do with functionality.
1. Open shelving isn't as awful for things that ARE used so often they can't get dirty. As much as I dislike them, that's the only decent use for them.
2. OTR microwaves are super important in small kitchens, and "going without a microwave" is just dumb.
Subway tile is going to be severely dated soon. The subway tile of 2000s looks nothing like the subway tile of the 1920s.
Desks in the kitchen were heavily used from the 1920s through 1980s. They were ended by the computer. I don't know why you "can't imagine what they were for." They haven't been seen much since 2000, though.
New subscriber here....definitely a site worth following if interested in home design.
Thanks!
Dont like distressed pieces either
Nice video but the sound is pretty bad.
Hey Sebastien- would you mind being a little more specific? I am trying to play around with sound quality a little more and am curious what didn't work for you. Thanks in advance.
@@hsdesignstudio either you have a bad mic or you are too far from it so it sounds just like you are recording from a toilet. Also when you add music breaks it's much louder than your talking voice so I noticed it even more. And one more thing, remove auto-focus on your camera.
@@xzgun100 It's a Rode mic, so I'm going to assume it's not that. I'll play around with it's location and maybe that will clean up the recording. Thanks again.
My kitchen desk does look like a dumping ground
I disagree about pot racks. Bcuz I love pot racks and the look of pots hanging. And why people like them. They like the look of hanging pots. I don’t like white cabinets but a lot of people do. To each their own.
saying open shelving can add warmth to a space is a null argument because wooden or warm-toned cabinets would do the same and have much more potential for adding warmth than a few rows of narrow shelves
Yes wood tones in general. However, many folks still prefer white cabinetry over wood, thus some other solution is often needed.
Why would I need to wash dust off my dishes on my open shelves when I ise them all day long?
Totally disagree about open shelves and everyday dishes. If you’re using them every day they don’t have a chance to get dusty unless you have way too many dishes or badly need an air filter! Anything used everyday is getting washed everyday.
I agree with all *except*...open shelving. Before over-done, trendy Gucci kitchens became the default in the US (a terrible first-world problem), upper cabinets were considered unnecessary and obtrusive. Anybody who is partnered with a person who is 5'0" or thus, understands that upper cabinets are almost completely useless. I've renovated 15 homes and eliminated the upper cabinets every time, and every renter I have thanks me for the easily-accessible open shelves and the uncommon feeling of spaciousness they have in the kitchen. Open shelves are not a trend, they are a long-standing design element that will be popular well after we're gone.
Agree tp disagree, but it looks like you have found a good niche! Out of hundreds of clients, open shelves are never a priority. They are a take it or leave it item for some, and a downright negative for others. Very few ask to have significant open shelving in place. I would be interested to see how your renovated homes sell, and what a potential buyer who intends to live there long term may say (pure curiosity, not a judgement in any way).
@@hsdesignstudio - i’m 5 foot one and when we do our kitchen remodel we’ll be removing all of our upper cabinets. I currently have a galley kitchen one side will go to an island with lower cabinets facing both sides - the other side will get windows on a dark wall where cabinets were.
It’s just completely not functional for someone my height to have these giant cabinets on the wall
Of course, you could just lose the microwave.
I don’t care for the great room or large kitchen for the same reason open shelving isn’t a great concept. I can’t image grease covering my draperies or crystal pieces. Oh wait! New trends discourage fine furnishings.
I hate looking at a messy kitchen from my living room. Even after cleanup, still rather not live in my kitchen.
Why do people think there's no dust inside kitchen cabinets? Dust is literally everywhere in your home. Unless you're sawing and doing woodshop projects in your kitchen, the stuff on your open shelves aren't going to get any dustier than the items inside your cupboards. When I was a kid my Mom had a china cabinet, and once a month we had to dust the items inside the cabinet because things that don't get used every day collect dust no matter where you put them. Feel free to hide your clutter inside cabinets but don't fool yourself that it's not collecting dust
I can quite definitely say the inside of my kitchen cabinets do not coat in dusk like the any of the shelves I have in my house. We have to dust the random shelves weekly, not the inside of the cabinets.
Cause people don't clean inside their cabinets more than once a year. We have lives, and rather enjoy ourselves than clean.
It’s actually called a Belfast sink z
That's really interesting, I've never heard that before.
Sorry, disagree on knobless. It’s really easy to keep clean and use. Knobs are horrible dirt traps.
Hate pot racks
Dont like open shelves at all in kitchen
We've had flat cabinets and cupboards and drawers for 35 years and have no problem opening them because the edges are beveled so you can get a grip with your fingers, even when wet.
Ya, I disagree with this one as well.
You never actually say what is wrong with farmhouse sinks, other than being misnamed. I’ve never had one. What’s wrong with them?
I think you are right haha! Every one I have seen (we also had one in the house when we bought it) has been in terrible shape- scratched and stained beyond cleaning. In my experience they just don't seem to hold up to everyday kitchen use.
Why do we want to hang pots? Because they are loud and inconvenient in a drawer or cupboard, because bending over is challenging for the disabled, because they don't get scratched when they're hanging.
I disagree with almost everything you have suggested. There are appropriate uses of all these things and a good design can support all of these options. It's about thorough design.
Yes good design is key with anything, I agree! That is much harder done than most folks think. The goal of this is in no way to make everyone agree. These are just common complaints and issues I hear from clients all the time.
I like my butler sink! I can wash my big pans in it.
That's awesome! Ultimately, this is just my personal preference and opinion. However, the goal with any design is to give/get exactly what you want and works for you 👍
@@hsdesignstudio I can't be doing with those little fiddly stainless steel jobbies! Always so small and divided into a middle- and a half-sized bowl - I feed ravenous hoards, so need big pots and a big pot washer :) Also I live on a farm in rural Devon in England, so farmhouse kitchen is literally my thing!
I’m in my late 50’s
You have weird background music
I agree, I don’t care for it at all!
Good to know, thanks! It's always a balance of trying to find something that isn't distracting from the talking.
Awful music.
Agree
I HATE open shelving.
Not everyone has space to put a microwave under a counter and I'm not doing without one for design purposes. Stupid advice.
Under the counter is not the only option mentioned, there are several others. However, I do have several clients who have opted to go without due to kitchen size and limitations. Taking up valuable countertop space is not a design choice, but a functionality choice. If you have room for it, there is no issue. Many of today's smaller kitchens do not use countertop microwaves.
What happened to ceiling fans? They are so useful.
That's an interesting point. We really don't see them much where I live. I wonder if it is more climate specific and they are still popular in warm/humid climates?
It is pretty climate specific. They're still in high demand in how areas. I own a rental with FIVE.
@@toomanymarys7355 that's a lot of ceiling fans!
@@toomanymarys7355 We have three at my house. They keep the air moving in the heat of summer.
That riled piece above the stove is hideous …think about it..
Tiled. Piece above the stove
I like it.
Talk about avoiding That tile backsplash behind you is ugly looks old and dirty and the center part behind stove is too small. It should be width of stove , start avoiding that before you give advice.
Thanks for your input 👍
Geez Leela calm down
How rude!
I think it will always look dirty as it is dark grey pattern on a light grey background right next to white tile - pretty much an oops in my book too
And it does look under sized
@@katherinekelly5380 The grey shows no grease and it's an easily cleanable ceramic tile- so big plus in my book behind a range. As for width, that could be your personal taste (which is fine), but I think ~1" shy of the stove width is perfect, especially when it involves full tiles with no cuts. In addition, we love that the grey ties in with our quartz countertops. To each their own, right 👍
@@hsdesignstudio we will have to agree to disagree on these points !
If you have pets you can’t have open shelving 🤢
I have pets and some open shelving. It works because the items on those shelves never stay there for more than a couple days before we use them again.
Not open shelves like he was talking about - but I have a little one over my 'coffee' station that holds my daily travel mug and my home mug. As far as pets, I have 4 dogs and never had issues with my tiny one use shelf ;-D
It’s european
Common sense X 8.