Any experienced cook can prepare a good meal in your average kitchen. However, a gourmet kitchen is designed with a layout and features to enhance ones cooking ability. So even your average cook can whip up their own culinary creations and feel like their own “Food Network Star”.
By loose definition a gourmet kitchen is one that is well-designed with many different appliances and supplies. There are many widely accepted features of a gourmet kitchen such as a large island, an open and efficient floor plan, spacious countertops and ample storage. It is often designed to include high end appliances, cabinetry, flooring, countertops, lighting and hardware. Once you put these design features in place you’re well on your way to a gourmet kitchen.
Islands
A gourmet kitchen island is typically large in size and can be designed to suite your specific needs and serve a variety of purposes. Whether you prefer an island with a prep sink/wine bar, extra storage and seating or a new large cooktop and prep area with extra storage. When properly placed a kitchen island can provide a seamless flow for entertaining and food prep while being a beautiful focal point of the room.
Cabinets
Any good cook knows you can never have enough storage space and when it comes to Gourmet Kitchens you’ll want your cabinetry to match your design and taste while being functional and stylish. When cooking in a gourmet kitchen you’ll want to have organized spaces to keep your kitchen accoutrement. Having spacious cabinetry allows you to easily access your well organized tools at a moment’s notice. Cabinets manufactured nowadays come with features like soft close doors/drawers and pre built racks for specific storage needs. Some of the best high-end cabinet manufacturers on the market today are Crystal, Dutch Made, Mid Continent and Shiloh just to name a few. They all offer a variety of woods and custom finishes meeting even the pickiest of tastes.
Appliances
For a kitchen to qualify as gourmet, the appliances need to be more than attractive. They also need to be practical for the chef. The range is typically the most important appliance in the kitchen. A range that is at least 36” is preferable to provide adequate cooking space. Next on the list would be a double wall oven, preferably electric, and one should be a convection oven. The refrigerator should be as large as the kitchen plan will permit in order to provide the cook ample storage for fresh ingredients and prepared meals. The range hood with exterior venting should be sized to handle the range, at least 600 cubic feet per minute (CFMs). Space permitting, a wine refrigerator has become a popular feature to have in the kitchen. Another feature of convenience would be the addition of a stove top pot-filling faucet. There are dozens of appliance manufacturers on the market these days, but some of the most trusted sources of quality kitchen appliances include, Bosch, Jenn-Air, Sub-Zero, Viking and Wolf.
Countertops
The material for a countertop in a gourmet kitchen should be carefully selected to withstand heavy use including dicing, slicing and spills. Durable options include stainless steel, natural stone (granite, marble or quartz), and stained concrete. These materials can be mixed in the kitchen as well. Modern kitchen décor welcomes more than one material to be designed into the kitchen. For instance, the gourmet kitchen could have quartz countertop on the main counter with a walnut island countertop.
Backsplash
Typical countertop backsplashes are generally 3-4” tall, match the countertop material, and protect the walls from spills and splatters. A custom backsplash of stone, tile, metal or wood is more fitting for a gourmet kitchen. It provides protection from spills and splatters, and can serve as a focal point for your new kitchen. Tile is still the leading choice for backslash materials, but with the right installer, you can make almost any material work.
Lighting
Good lighting is an absolute must. The island and perimeter countertops should have ample lighting. There can be recessed lighting, surface mount ceiling fixtures, pendants or a combination of these. Under cabinet lighting can provide additional lighting for the countertops.
A good starting point would be to consider having four times the light source you may have in a dining room.
The gourmet kitchen is designed and furnished to meet the needs of the cook in such a way he or she can express their style, and allow for the creation of one’s epicurean delights.