Dear Jean and Richard, We’re thinking about remodeling our kitchen, but there are so many options we’re not sure where to begin. Do you have any tips on balancing style with efficiency? Harry and Susan, Lake Toxaway

Richard: Hi Harry and Susan. There are designers who specialize in just kitchens, so what we usually offer is another level of expertise. But there are, as you noted, lots of options for materials and appliances. What you choose to include will depend on how you use the kitchen and how it ties in to the rest of your house.

Jean: Are you implying that Harry and Susan use the kitchen for something other than preparing meals?

Richard: Well of course they do, because kitchens have become more than a factory for food preparation. They’re where the coffee is made in the morning, where the dogs hang out, and where guests tend to migrate during a party. These days kitchens are where serious money is spent in a house, and in recent years they’ve become showcases for style.

Jean: Yes, but you still thaw the chicken and open cans of cat food in the kitchen. For most people, a kitchen is the place where you wash dishes. Although I admit I was very particular about the dishwasher we chose when we remodeled our kitchen. And of course I wanted a TV so I could watch the news while I fix dinner, so I had the hanging cabinets positioned higher than usual for the TV and for the lamps I placed on the counter…

Richard: You put lamps on the kitchen counter? Wait, I bet you have potted plants on the counter too, right?

Jean: Well yes, but just around the windows. They wouldn’t get the right kind of light from the chandelier hanging over the sink.

Richard: Wow, your kitchen is really contemporary minimalist, isn’t it? TVs and table lamps and chandeliers and live plants, oh my….

Jean: And an area rug and some framed artwork. But really, it still functions as a kitchen.

Richard: You have underscored my point about style. Of course we all need adequate counter space, appropriate cabinet storage, and appliances that match our needs. But most people spend so much time in the kitchen, it’s often the home’s activity hub. So naturally it’s smart to make it as comfortable as possible.

Jean: For me, it’s not about the latest gadget or counter top material. What’s important beyond the trends and technology is how the various elements work together to create a welcoming and efficient environment. If you’re starting from scratch, choose appliance styling that has continuity with the cabinets, and counter tops in a color that coordinates with something else in the room. For example, if your appliances are stainless steel, consider stainless steel cabinet hardware. If your flooring is tile or slate, consider hard-surface counters in a similar color.

Richard: Don’t put tile on the kitchen floor, unless it’s high quality and you have a mat or rug to stand on. A dropped salad dressing bottle can break a porcelain tile….not to mention the bottle literally exploding everywhere. But tile makes a nice backsplash, and I would tile every wall space dividing the counter from the hanging cabinets. If you are remodeling existing cabinets, consider ordering some hanging cabinet doors with glass fronts to show off your dishes and help you remember where things are.

Jean: Unless you use paper plates. And despite Richard’s teasing, I get a lot of compliments on my kitchen sink chandelier. The point is, make your kitchen as cozy and inviting as the rest of your house, because it is truly where you live.