» kitchen problems, solved
BY MELISSA DAVIS
@MELISSADAVIS
As a designer, my job is as much about recognizing how not to design a space, as it is the how to.
Most of us embark on a redesign by first pulling
inspirational pictures of pretty spaces that have
the look that is appealing to us. I myself, usually
begin by asking clients to compile images, so that I
can start to get a literal picture into what the ideal
space looks like to them. It’s a very telling process
for sure. I get the fun job of finding the common
links, feeding into their individual wants and with
enough acknowledgements everyone feels like
their vision is intrinsic to the resulting design.
Pretty pictures aside, a great design goes deeper,
offering solutions to wants, needs and current inefficiencies. Part of my design programming and
something I encourage everyone embarking on a
project at home in the new year, is to walk through
room by room noting what currently doesn’t work.
Our relationship with our home is continually
evolving. One of the rooms that acts as a social
meeting/eating hub is the kitchen. It’s function
has evolved over the years. As our family, parenting dynamics and relationships have changed to
a more watchful and at least attempted engagement of the contemporary parent, so too did our
relationship with our kitchen. We want connectedness in our lives and the removal of walls and
visual barriers in our home is a physical representation of that.
Toronto-based celebrity designer and contractor Melissa
Davis, is known for her appearances, creative design and
reno work produced for various HGTV shows and services
clientele throughout Ontario & GTA. MelissaDavis.com
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• fredi winter 2016
T OP E
FIV
1
from the family room to be less
of a reminder the pan needs to be
scrubbed. If you can’t see the mess,
you’re less likely to be tormented
PROBLEM: Open kitchens mean
unwanted visitors under foot
SOLUTION: Add a drink fridge on
the outside edges of the kitchen. This
allows both little ones and guests to
grab a drink without getting in the
way of the chef. Adding pre-dinner
nibbles here like cheese and grapes
along with juice boxes allows them
by it.
4
work will start to accumulate
SOLUTION: The open kitchen
means more of the daily functions
will migrate in and inevitably be
left on the counter. Plan ahead and
add cabinets on the outside of the
kitchen designated as homework
supplies, magazines and household
bills. Allocating a place will help
condition the members of the family
to pop things away instead of leaving
to fulfill their own hungry requests.
2
PROBLEM: Visual clutter
on the counters
SOLUTION: I make a point of planning a place in advance for all the
larger items like small appliances and
microwaves. Consider putting the microwave below the counter for ease
in access by the littler family members while keeping it out of sight.
3
PROBLEM: Paperwork and home-
it to be dealt with later.
5
PROBLEM: Fewer upper cabinets
PROBLEM: A utilitarian look
SOLUTION: Open kitchens look
of a kitchen kills the cozy feel to
adjacent spaces
best when there is a nice amount of
negative space. Planning in a healthy
size pantry cabinet easily replaces a
full run of traditional upper cabinets
and offers a more streamlined look.
SOLUTION: Opt for integrated
appliances tucked in behind ca binetry and warm natural materials like
wood and stone that allows a glance
HOUSE&HOME //