Kitchens … the gathering place
By David Domenichini
We ’ ve all been there . We plan a gathering for friends and family ; snacks and drinks are strategically placed around the coffee table and buffet . We may even have a formal bar where guests are encouraged to mix and pour their favorite cosmos and mojitos while we ’ re in the kitchen stirring pancetta for our Cassoulet . Then one by one , as if the Pied Piper had arrived , our guests file into the kitchen , gathering around the counters , nibbling , pulling up chairs , and laughing . Before we know it , the party ’ s in our kitchen .
All across the country kitchens are the hub of our homes . It ’ s where we entertain . Where we eat . Where we gather to chat with family and friends ; some of us even work from our kitchens . For such an important room in the house , they were long treated like an unwanted guest . For decades kitchens seemed to be little less than a semi-functional collection of appliances and storage .
Over the years kitchen trends started to slowly catch up with other rooms . Function started becoming truly functional and fashionable as well . Today kitchen designers are finally recognizing the rightful place that kitchens have in the home .
David Domenichini is the owner and proprietor of D . R . Domenichini Construction , which was named Morgan Hill Business of the Year in 2012 . He brings nearly 20 years of experience to his family-owned and operated business . David resides in the Morgan Hill area with his wife Gina . Both are active in the community . Visit their web site at drdcon . com or call 408.691.3283 .
If you plan to remodel in 2014 , here are five smart kitchen trends you might want to incorporate into your kitchen design :
Walk-in Pantry Custom cabinets are one of the most costly items in a kitchen remodel . Creating a walk-in pantry not only saves money , it adds resale value to the home and creates a better functioning kitchen . Imagine all your canned goods and boxed items all lined up with labels facing out . Martha Stewart would be proud .
Pull-Out Shelves It just makes sense to have a pull out shelf rather than opening a cupboard , bending down with a flashlight , pulling everything in front off the shelf , just to get to the Christmas tree ice bucket tucked way in back . Having a pull out shelf that rolls out easily utilizes all your cupboard space and saves your knees and back .
Pot Filler Faucets This is one of those inventions that make you say , “ Why didn ’ t I think of that ?” How many times have you carried a pot of water to the stove just to slop it onto the floor ? This new kitchen trend solves that problem . The pot filler faucet sits above the stovetop with a swing arm allowing you to fill the pot with water right on the stove .
Wine Cooler Fridge As Goldilocks would say , “ And this one was just right !” Wine refrigerators are designed to preserve and age your wine at just the right temperature in order to bring out the full flavor potential . If you invest in wine and don ’ t store it properly , you lose your potential investment .
Coffee Centers Just as there are wine enthusiasts , coffee aficionados take their beans seriously . Today ’ s coffee maker has gone beyond Mr . Coffee and is more like your own personal Starbucks where you are the barista . Kitchen coffee centers are comprised of coffee machines that allow you to easily make your very own non-fat , half-caff , decaf latte right from the comfort of your own kitchen counter ( without the $ 5 cost ). You might even invite your friends and take their orders .
W I N T E R 2 0 1 4 M O R G A N H I L L T O D A Y
15