Creating the Perfect Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and at Wayne Homes, we pride ourselves on helping every client design the kitchen of their dreams.

From cabinets to countertops, we know there are a lot of choices out there, and we do our best to curate high-design selections at great prices. And remember–as a custom, on-your-lot builder we can always source unique options for you so your home–and your kitchen–is exactly the way you want them.

The best place to start is by asking yourself some key questions to determine what your top priorities are for your kitchen.

• Cabinets: Stained or painted? Contrasting or all the same? Cabinet height– to the ceiling or open space above the cabinets?
• What appliances do you plan to have?
• Island or peninsula? Eat ledge or no?
• Countertop materials: laminate, granite, or quartz?
• Other things to consider:
  • Open shelving
  • Trash can pull out
  • Roll out trays
  • Lazy Suzan
  • Backsplash
  • Pantry size
  • Finishes–black, bronze, gold, nickel?

When you have a clear idea of what you want from your kitchen based on how you use it, then you can start having fun with design options. For example, if you know you want a large kitchen island, then you can start thinking about possible having a contrasting countertop or cabinet color to highlight this standout feature in your kitchen.

Having trouble getting started? Try visiting our Pinterest or Flickr pages to start your own vision board for your dream kitchen. You can show us all of your ideas when you come into one of our Model Centers to discuss your new home.

Here’s some more food for thought when cooking up your ideal kitchen:

Layout

The kitchen work triangle is still an important part of kitchen design. The primary tasks in a home kitchen are carried out between the cooktop, the sink, and the refrigerator, creating a triangular area of use. Keeping the three points of the triangle closer together creates a more functional space. However, you must also take into consideration the

need for space to move and create adequate walkways. In addition, the placement of the kitchen itself within your home is important. The Columbia and Hanover‘s kitchens are at the front and center of the home, giving them priority placement.

Function

Do you want a “closed” kitchen or an open concept? Do you prefer to keep those lines of communication open between the kitchen and great room, or do you prefer some privacy between the two? Will there be enough room on the island to fit five barstools for your family? Do you need an oversized pantry with room for all your Costco finds? Your family’s needs are unique, and your kitchen should reflect those. The Columbia, Covington, Gettysburg, and Plymouth all have sufficient storage with their huge, walk-in pantries. The Alexandria‘s kitchen is open concept and has a large kitchen island, perfect for the kids to do their homework or to do food prep. But, every kitchen can be modified how you like it. Need two islands? You got it! An extra-large fridge? We can do that! If you can dream it, we can do it.

Design

Design is always the fun part. This is where style meets substance. Consider durability within your design choices. Do you have young kids who have a habit of getting dirty fingerprints everywhere? Maybe white cabinets aren’t for you. The same goes for countertops–white quartz is gorgeous (and it doesn’t stain too easily!) but granite and laminate are also both amazing options and come with their own share of benefits, too. Our Design Team is ready to work with you on which option is a better fit your life. You can also use our online Design Tools to get started on creating your dream.

Need more inspiration? Download our helpful Kitchen Design Guide. This will give you some fun ideas and features a handy checklist to get started.

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About Wayne Homes

Wayne Homes is a custom homebuilder in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia (see all Model Home Centers). We offer over 50 fully customizable floor plans and a team dedicated to providing the best experience in the home building industry. For more information, Ask Julie by Live Chat or call us at (866) 253-6807.