Design and convenience describes my ideal kitchen. Here are my top 5 dream kitchen must have features!
It’s true what they say – kitchens sell homes, as evidenced by the fact that the second we entered the kitchen of our current home while touring it in 2013, I turned to Ben and said, “I MUST HAVE THIS.” I was also 8 months pregnant with Lincoln at the time and we’d already sold our house, so we literally needed to have this, but coming from a once-orange kitchen with bathroom tiles for countertops, the tall cabinets, sleek appliances, and stone countertops of the new place gave me immediate goo-goo eyes.
While I do love our current kitchen, the thought of designing my dream kitchen from the ground up sends me into an emotional tailspin. Oh, the possibilities! Truly I couldn’t care less about having the biggest house with the fanciest finishes – but a tricked out kitchen? Yes, please!
When I think about my dream kitchen, I think design and convenience. Beautiful cabinetry, a big island, wide-plank wood floors, white stone, and fabulous hardware – plus functional features like the 5 must-haves I’m sharing below. This “Just 5 Things” post idea came from a reader and it was a blast to curate. I’ve already pitched 10 kitchen upgrade ideas to Ben as a result of my “research”, which will all undoubtedly be knocked into the atmosphere (?,) but ah, a girl can dream. ?
Tell me – have you ever had the chance to design your dream kitchen? What did you include? If not (hi! ??) what would you include in yours?
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1. Appliance Garage
Clutter in any area of the house drives me nuts, but clutter in the kitchen makes me insane. Probably because I spend so much time in there for my job – and who doesn’t like a zen, organized work space?
That said, I would adore cupboards at counter height set up as an appliance garage to hide any of the cough FIVE appliances currently residing on our counter: toaster, KitchenAid Mixer, Keurig, Nespresso, plus the air fryer Ben got me for our anniversary earlier this week (can’t wait to try that bad boy out.)
Isn’t this solution just so sleek?
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Here’s another fun option with a top sliding door. Must have for my dream kitchen – totally obsessed.
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2. Walk-In/Butler’s Pantry
Forget walk-in closets, I’m ALL about the walk-in/butler’s pantry. CAN YOU EVEN with this space?!
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My dream kitchen would have a separate, walk-in pantry loaded with shelves, pull out shelves, and counter space for ALL THE STORAGE. I’ve seen some really cool pantries a couple stairs away from the main kitchen space, but have always liked the idea of tucking it behind a kitchen wall like the photo below.
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The only pantry we have in our kitchen is a skinny pull out shelf next to the fridge, so I use the cupboards in the laundry room for overflow and it’s really inconvenient. Our current kitchen layout would lend itself well to installing the kind of pantry in the photo above and below, so who knows, maybe someday my dream pantry could become a reality!
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3. Sliding Pull Out Drawers and Shelves
One thing I love about our current kitchen is that it’s loaded with pull out shelves making it really convenient to store and retrieve items in deep cabinets. Our garbage/recycling is even on a track and I don’t think I could ever go back.
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Another feature I’ve always wanted to include in my dream kitchen is drawers under the sink. How many bottles of cleaner, plastic bags, and dishwasher detergent boxes have you lost in the dark recesses of your under-sink cabinet?! Hate that space!
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4. Command Center
A command center is something we lack in our current kitchen and I’m desperate for a space like this. Probably because I have to use up a big corner of the kitchen to organize bills, etc, and it’s really unsightly (again, hate clutter!) We could use the office/guest room upstairs for that stuff but for me, if it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind. I have the memory of a goldfish.
I love the space in this dream kitchen below. From the traditional desk design that matches the rest of the kitchen cabinetry, to the cork board backsplash and shelving above (which I’d cover with doors in my dream kitchen,) it’s the perfect size and design.
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This command center is dreamy too. The chalk board backsplash + under cabinet lighting is a fun touch.
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5. Built-In Wine Refrigerator
No explanation needed for why I’d want to include a built-in wine refrigerator in my dream kitchen! That said, I love the location of this wine fridge – tucked into the end of the island vs taking up cabinet space in the main kitchen area.
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Just like the microwave, I am also obsessed with the idea of stashing the wine fridge in a walk in pantry. I don’t care if people SEE my wine, I just don’t want to have to go down to my spider-infested basement – where we currently keep our wine fridge – every time I want a glass.
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5 More Features I’d Love!
- Cabinet lighting. We currently have under and over cabinet lighting and the ambience it creates at night is totally dreamy.
- Farmhouse sink. Timeless and functional – got to have it in my dream kitchen!
- Hands free faucet. A must!
- Pot filler. Would love to hear from people who have one – love it or hate it? I would love the convenience but what if there’s an issue with the pipes? Do you have to bust open the wall?
- Waterfall edge. Adore this look.
What are your must-haves for your dream kitchen?
We designed a new home 8 years ago, and the kitchen is the center of the great room. The kitchen is very traditional, being 11×12 with a half wall on the public side and a peninsula open to the dining side. We have very few wall cabinets each side of the stove, one for baking supplies the other for cups/glasses. All of the undercounter storage is a combination of shallow and deep drawers – where we store everyday dishes, plastic ware, spices, bread items, utensils, etc. Because of the lack of wall cabinets, we have a 6×6 walking pantry for all of the pot/pans, baking dishes, cooking devices, and food items. We even put the microwave in there. The pantry is the crowning touch of the entire house –
We designed our kitchen about 5 years ago and now I will never ever move! I have all the things you mentioned above except the hands-free faucet, appliance garage the wine fridge. My command center is behind a wall with a sliding pocket door that I can close so no one (including me) can see my mess! I don’t need an appliance garage because my butler’s pantry holds all those items. One other item I have and use every single day is a warming drawer! The pot filler? I do like it but could live without.
You’ll love your new Air Fryer! I got one as a wedding gift and we love making french fries and sweet potatoes in it. The other most delicious thing you can do is Brussels Sprouts, they roast and char up beautifully and the little outside leaves turn so crispy, they’re to die for.
We were fortunate to design a new home/kitchen and just moved in 6 weeks ago. I incorporated 7 of your 10 items. I’m so pleased with it and was so worried after. The cabinetry people just took photos of the kitchen and I can’t wait to see how they turned out. Favorites include:
*Counter top space in the walk-in pantry with outlets. We use crockpots, toasters, etc and can hide warming things if you have people over!
*I love our mudroom/desk off the kitchen. The clutter is close but enough away you can close it off.
*Lots of natural light
*Hidden trash
*I didn’t want my sink on the island and I wanted it super clean looking. But, practically it needed to be designed that way and I love it because that’s where I always stand.
*Agree with Maggie above. Pot filer not necessary and we didn’t get.
*Someone suggested a self closing trash drawer (just put your foot under to open). Great idea we did not do but may be should have.
*Under cabinet lighting and under cabinet outlets everywhere.
*Separate pantry is so much a favorite and opens up kitchen cabinet space.
We have a large walk in pantry (which I LOVE) and at the end of it, there is a little 2’x2′ (or so) door which connects my pantry to my garage….I can open it, pass my groceries into the pantry and no longer do I have to drag all of them in through the house! It was a genius idea from our builder!
I have this too. I call it the “Wizard of Oz Door”. I’m convinced the builder of my home was a woman or a smart man that listened to a woman.
We just moved into a new house last summer and the kitchen is great. I have a command center that is counter height instead of desk height and I love it. I had a desk height center at my old house and it was fine, but I never actually sat down there in the chair and worked on anything, so the counter height one is perfect for me. If you ever get to design your dream kitchen…consider it as an option.
I LOVE This post! I want ALL of the tings you listed! My current kitchen is small and out dated, these kitchens literally make me weak at the knees.
In my dream kitchen I would love a second small sink for rinsing dishes or washing veggies/fruits so you’re not in the way of someone who might be working at the main sink washing dishes. One day. :)
I did get to design my dream kitchen and 2 things I LOVE are a drawer for my garbage can and shelves that either rotate or move in and out. The hidden garbage is awesome – it is between my stove and chopping counter area, so you just open it up and drop stug\ff in – easy. The rotating/movable shelves make getting my pots and pans out super easy.
We just gutted our kitchen and took down 2 walls. I worked with the cabinet people who redesigned my entire kitchen. I LOVE it. 12 foot island, grey cabinets, white quartz countertops, and a farm sink. Also took floors, double ovens, pull out drawers, and wine fridge/beverage center. I just wish my pantry was bigger. I think no matter the situation, the pantry will never be big enough. My kitchen looks a lot like the first pic in your post today.
I love ALL. THE. THINGS. in this post! Perfection ;)
We just had the privilege/first world headache of building a home last year and I got to make my dream kitchen – you hit many of my same must haves! I wanted to chime in about the pot filler because that’s something we opted NOT to have. My logic was that it only saves one trip from the sink with a big heavy pot… You still have to drain the water when you’re done. The way we did the layout, our cook top is right across from the sink so it’s no big deal to fill a pot, lift it up, and turn around to set it down on the stove. I know people love the idea of them it just didn’t seem like that much of a time or effort-saver to me, personally :)
We also built a new home last year and I really loved the idea of the pot filler. However, when it came down to the additional cost versus benefit I couldn’t justify it. We solved the problem the same way that you did – the sink is on the island right behind the cooktop so it’s only a step away to carry a pot full of water. I also have a small prep sink to one side of the cooktop so if it’s easier to use the water there and move the pot along the counter top to the cooktop, that’s an option also.
Ive never had the opportunity to design my own kitchen.. one day though! However, a walk in pantry is 100% what I want!
Omg, these are some perfect things that I hope to have in my dream kitchen at some point! Thanks for sharing!