Kitchen Appliance Design Mistakes and Best Practices

Isn’t it exciting? Planning your kitchen.

Maybe it’s your dream, or maybe you’re combining the living room and kitchen into one space.

But a lot of people see this and don’t know where to start.

In this article, you’ll learn step-by-step how to complete your kitchen on time and under budget (yes, you read that right).

You’ll also learn about the common problems and how to avoid them.

By the way, this is the PowerPoint for the seminar on September 25th.

You can join us for a live webinar on September 25th at 12 PM, where we'll walk you through everything you need to know about creating your dream kitchen.

You'll get expert insights and have the opportunity to ask your questions live!

Click here to sign up for the webinar!

Looking for answers about Appliances?

Short on time? Download our free Appliance Buying Guide.

Kitchen Appliance Design Mistakes and Best Practices

First, let me start with some great news.

The supply chain crisis is over!

And here’s even better news:

You can now relax and make decisions without being under pressure.

Three years ago, we wrote about buying what was available (whether you wanted it or not) or waiting six to eighteen months for the appliance you really wanted.

Now, you can wait for holiday sales.

This part is so much easier now, right down to financing.

Pro Tip: Keep your money in the bank earning 4% and take advantage of these 0% financing offers when they pop up.

Good news: You have time.

So, let’s spend it wisely.

How to Start Your Kitchen Design

Choosing the Right Contractor

Note: We redeveloped the Dorchester store, built Framingham, Hanover, Norton, and now Hyannis. You’ll want to spend a ton of time picking the right contractor.

Look at the space and what you want:

The greatest contractor in the world can’t save you from yourself.

You have to make decisions. Figure out what’s important and what’s not, and design accordingly.

Don't design your kitchen to look like those in House Beautiful or Houzz unless it suits your lifestyle.

Case Study: Me

I loved my place. I redid the kitchen, then the bedrooms and bathrooms. It was a great spot.

Then my daughter was born, and that fifth-floor apartment became a lot harder. I had to carry her upstairs, and then fight for a parking spot.

It became brutal—especially if you add in groceries.

She’s seven now. If she were seven back then, I would have stayed in that apartment—assuming, of course, she would listen to me!

So, I sold my beloved apartment, moved across the street, and redeveloped a brownstone.

The walk-up was so scarring that I put the kitchen in the basement. I could park out back, carry in the baby, drop her on the couch, and then grab the groceries.

That’s my story. What’s yours?

The Importance of Layout

You want to start with your sink because it’s the most used spot in your kitchen.

Center it accordingly, so it’s near your other commonly used appliances.

The kitchen triangle concept has been under recent attack by new designers.

But I still think you should center the stove and dishwasher near the sink, since they’re the most used appliances—at least if you use them the most.

Secondary Cooking or Secondary Anything

Where does a microwave go in your kitchen?

Well, it depends on how much you use it. If it’s frequent, centralize it—maybe in the island or over your wall oven. If it’s not, place it farther out.

The same goes for steam or speed ovens, or wine or beverage refrigerators.

Common Ventilation Mistakes

Ventilation is where you can make a big mistake. Many vents are inadequate for today’s higher-output ranges.

Last year, I lived in Jamaica Plain and had an over-the-range microwave that couldn’t even vent a simple electric stove underneath. That’s the picture on the right.

The pic on the left shows a similar microwave over a high-output range. Venting is critical now.

Cooking emits potentially toxic emissions like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, formaldehyde, and particulate matter.

Your new energy-efficient house will keep these compounds indoors longer, leading to potential air quality issues.

So, let’s vent properly.

Refrigerator Placement: What You Need to Know

You have four types of refrigerators:

• Regular: Top or bottom mount, side-by-side, or French door. It protrudes past the cabinet.
• Counter-depth: Mostly French door, and doesn’t protrude for a cleaner look.
• Professional: Compressor on top, commercial style, and also counter-depth.
• Integrated: Hidden by the cabinetry for a seamless look.

Refrigerators don’t have to be central to your plan.

You can emulate anything in a smaller size—beverage, wine, ice makers, freezers in a drawer or regular configuration.

I’ve thrown a lot at you, so let’s reel it in. You should focus on placement. Once you do, the rest is easy.

Final Kitchen Design Tips

All these dimensions are standard. You can’t get it wrong—unless you’re buying a French or British range.

If you are, that’s a separate conversation. But for the other 99%, appliances fit into cabinets.

The Greatest Kitchen Design Hack Ever

An outside grill guy taught me this.

Worried about centralized sinks or the kitchen triangle?

Then chalk it out and see if it works for you.

Let’s look at some before and after's.

Now, let’s look at what not to do.

Look at these beautiful, well-thought-out kitchens below.

The only problem? The sinks are too far away from the cooktop.

The capture area of the hood in the first photo is too small to exhaust the pro cooktop underneath.

Take Advantage of Local Appliance Stores

Let’s take advantage of your local appliance store (sorry, guys). You can save 10-35% or more.

Here’s an example:

You’re looking at a La Cornue Chateau Supreme with a custom hood, Miele coffee system, speed oven, 42-inch Sub-Zero French door refrigerator, and Wolf microwave.

Not a bad utilization of space, right?

Conclusion

Designing your kitchen can be overwhelming, but if you focus on what you actually need, it doesn’t have to be.

Keep it simple and practical, and you’ll end up with a space that works for you.

Key Takeaways

• Start with the sink—it’s the most-used spot.
• Don’t design for trends; design for you.
• Ventilation is critical, especially with high-output ranges.
• Your fridge doesn’t have to be front and center.
• Test your layout before committing.

With these in mind, you'll avoid the common design mistakes and create a kitchen that works just the way you need it to.

Want to Dive Deeper Into Kitchen Design?

Join us for a live webinar on September 25th at 12 PM, where we'll walk you through everything you need to know about creating your dream kitchen, avoiding common mistakes, and getting the best out of your appliances.

You'll get expert insights and have the opportunity to ask your questions live!

Click here to sign up for the webinar!

Don’t miss out—spots are filling up fast!

Additional Resources

Want more information on the worst renovation mistakes to avoid? Get The Book of Bad Renovations to learn how to avoid a renovation failure. Well over 1 million people have read and trusted a Yale Guide.

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