2 . Landing zone – “ You need to have a place to put your things when you come in ,” Ross said . That ’ s why she encourages home owners to consider a “ landing zone ” when they first walk into the house . “[ it ’ s important that ] there ’ s a place to put stuff like mail , keys , things like that .”
3 . Functionality – The first thing Ross likes to consider when approaching a design is function . “ Every space has a purpose ,” she said . “ Instead of just pretty first , make it functional .” While something like open shelving might work for some people , others may need to try something else depending on their own kitchen tendencies . “ I try to make people think about how they ’ re going to use the space versus just throw some cabinets in and do what you typically would . You gotta think about each area .”
4 . Pull-out trash – A good garbage can can save the day after a particularly putrid refrigerator clean , but it can also help increase functionality and efficiency on a day-to-day basis . “ There ’ s a lot of different options , Ross said . “ You gotta think about what works best for you and what ’ s practical . You can get as fancy as you want . Sometimes you can add a sensor on it in the toe-kick part so instead of having to grab the trash with a dirty hand , you can stick your toe under it and it ’ ll open on its own . Stuff like that makes it a little more functional . Sometimes it costs a little more on the front side , but it makes it so much more practical .”
5 . Sinks – A unique sink is a perfect opportunity for homeowners to include a piece that is both pretty and functional . “ There ’ s a million sinks , and they ’ re not all the same ,” Ross said . From large stainless sinks designed for maximum capacity to those with cutting board holders across them , the different design options for sinks are the perfect opportunity for homeowners to experiment with the attractive looks and effective use . “ Instead of just getting the regular stainless sink , you can get something that actually works better , and it ’ s like dual purpose . You gotta go outside the box a little bit and find something that works best for you .”
6 . A bold color scheme – It ’ s out with the old , in with the … blue ? White and gray kitchen schemes are becoming a thing of the past as homeowners begin to welcome more unique color choices into the kitchen . Instead of stark white , say hello to creamier whites , wood tones and earthy colors . “ People are getting braver ,” Ross said . “ They ’ re not afraid to do a blue kitchen or an all green kitchen .” Earthy wood tones and other warm splashes can help give your kitchen the stylish and welcoming feel it needs .
7 . Think outside the box – As people move away from the stark whites and classic cabinets we ’ ve known too long , don ’ t be afraid to look outside the box for ideas . Whether it be an innovative new garbage can or a beautiful statement sink , unique twists in your kitchen lead to a functional masterpiece . “ The trends are changing and people are getting braver ,” Ross said .
Photos :
Top-left : Thinking outside the box with kitchen storage can greatly improve functionality . Ross suggests homeowners think about how and where each item will go in the kitchen .
Bottom-left : Having a “ landing zone ” to set items when first entering the home can reduce clutter and simplify storage .
Top-right : Thinking about seemingly small things like the garbage can , can make a world of a difference in home comfort . Ross suggests keeping pull-out trash bins in mind as they gain popularity in kitchen design .
Southern Iowa Living 19