Resources - Kitchen Culture: Re-inventing Kitchen Design

I still turn to books as my primary resource for technical information and project ideas. For me, a book requires more research, so the information is a bit more concise than what one might find on ... oh I don't know ... a blog.

My bookshelves are full of design books; some technical, some merely of the coffee-table variety. But they are always nearby when I start a new project. In the "Resources" category on useful spaces, I'll be sharing some of my favorites and hopefully giving you a new source of inspiration.

Kitchen Culture: Re-inventing Kitchen Design

Johnny Grey is completely responsible for my career choice. Years ago when I was designing for a big box home center, I came across Grey's The Art of Kitchen Design and never looked back. Grey's ability to see a kitchen beyond the walls of the room opened my eyes to the possibilities of this field of design.

In Kitchen Culture, Grey continues to inspire us with his design, but adds his insight into the function of the kitchen. He examines different storage options for your cabinetry, different countertop materials and brings it all home presenting a number of case studies from actual projects. Beautifully photographed and illustrated it is an excellent resource for anyone considering a new kitchen project.

Work In Progress

Business is booming. Strange, since the summer months are usually the slow time of the year. You won't hear me complaining though!

One of my bigger projects recently has been a remodel of the kitchen in a 1920's East Vancouver home. It's of particular interest to me for a couple reasons ... first because I love working with homes of this vinatge, and second because these people are friends of mine, and I am quite familiar with the original kitchen.

The homeowner has graciously allowed me to link to his personal web site, where he's been documenting the process. He's got it to where we're waiting for countertops (which happen to go in today). I'll re-post when he updates.

It's an excellent overview of what you can expect during a typical reno. CLICK HERE to read on.

Some comments on Glenn's commentary:

• The Temporary Kitchen: I can't stress enough the importance of planning for the time you will be without your kitchen. Some projects can take as long as 12 weeks! That's a lot of pizza and Chinese take-out! If you have friends and family you can visit, great. Otherwise, cook and freeze as many meals as you can.
• Inspectors: I have no problem with inspectors whatsoever. In most situations we're exceeding the building code requitements anyway. But it's important for the customer to remember that using inspectors will add time to the project. If we have to wait for the inspector, certain things just can be completed.
• Cabinet Storage: When dealing with a small kitchen like this one, it's important to remember to consider where the cabinets will be stored before they're installed. You just can't keep them in the kitchen and inspect to keep the installer sane.
• Being Your Own Tradesperson: Most contractors will grimmace if you ask if you can do some of your own work. Especially when dealing with inspectors it can often mean delays that are out of the hands of the contractor. In this kitchen, all went brilliantly (the clients did their own electrical and painting), but I have been involved with those that haven't.
  
  So, if you want to do your own work be sure to a) know what you are doing, and b) be willing to accept responsibility for delays you may create.