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Southern Maryland Kitchen, Bath, Floors & Design

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California, MD Home Remodeling

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23415 Three Notch Road #2025, California, MD 20619
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Remodeling

April 14, 2025 by Southern Maryland Kitchen Bath Floors & Design

modern kitchen remodel interior in black colors

Maximizing the utility of small spaces presents new challenges, even for experienced designers. Kitchen designers must use strategic choices to make the most of every square foot of floor area, maximize countertop utility, and fit more storage into a limited space.

The strategies suggested below can help kitchen designers and homeowners better understand the challenges of maximizing the utility of small spaces. With an optimized layout, smart storage solutions, and the right materials, even a limited space can become a polished and professional design.

Use a Well-Planned Layout for Maximizing Space

Planning the layout is key to fully use limited space. Kitchen designers look for opportunities to expand upward with vertical space to increase organization and storage potential while minimizing limited square footage. Vertically-built cabinets, built-in shelves, and other custom storage solutions can free up valuable counter and floor space to promote better flow. Especially in kitchens, the flow of foot traffic is important for optimizing a small space to prevent the feeling of being cramped and cluttered.

Kitchen designers typically use the “triangle” layout, which focuses on the distance between the fridge, stove, and sink to promote flow. In a limited space, this requires careful optimization of floor space, including smart placement of the kitchen island and strategic use of built-ins to get cabinets and appliances out of the way.

Incorporate Multi-Functional Fixtures

In a small space, fixtures that support multiple functions can significantly enhance usability. For example, built-in storage solutions such as recessed shelves and under-sink cabinets can provide extra storage space without consuming extra room. Working with kitchen designers, homeowners can commission pull-out countertops, deeper drawers, toe drawers, integrated seats, and more to create a more adaptable space.

interior green kitchen

These modular custom designs are focused on maximizing the utility of a kitchen’s layout. Modern designers aim for a dynamic, living space that promotes ease of use, especially in modern kitchens where socializing and working are often as common as cooking.

Use the Benefits of Light and Color to Your Advantage

Light and color can be utilized to expand the perception, if not the practical utility, of small spaces. For example, incorporating natural light sources from windows or skylights can make a room feel more open and spacious even with the same floorplan. Kitchen designers often use light-toned cabinets, floors, and walls to reflect natural light to complement and reduce the artificial lighting.

This idea carries over to the placement of artificial lighting as well. Under-cabinet or recessed lighting fixtures can maximize the perception of depth. Mirrors and glass tiles can be incorporated to further enhance the perception of light sources while adding much-needed elegance.

Discover and Maximize Storage Space

Maximizing storage is one of the most significant changes kitchen designers can make to expand the usage of a small space. Cabinets, pantries, and appliances can take up valuable floor and counter space. However, adding toe drawers, pull-out shelves, lazy Susans, drawer dividers, built-ins, and other smart storage solutions can expand on these fixtures within the same floor plan, reducing clutter while keeping everything within arm’s reach.

Custom shelves and cabinets specifically designed for a small kitchen space create more opportunities for keeping even busy kitchens functional and tidy.

Choosing the Right Materials

The right material choices can make rooms feel more spacious and inviting even if they technically don’t change the floorplan. 

  • Sleek and minimalist finishes contribute to a space that feels streamlined and accessible. 
  • Natural stone countertops, porcelain or glass tiles, and minimalistic cabinetry can balance the functionality of the space with natural warmth and texture. 
  • Reflective materials can redirect natural light to expand the space further.

Experienced kitchen designers choose the right materials to maximize small spaces while adding modern elegance to their designs. Since material choices have specific limitations and cost differences, homeowners should consult with designers on the best options to maximize the utility of their space within their budget.

Use a Professional Kitchen Designer

Professional kitchen designers are experts in planning spaces, selecting materials, and executing designs that maximize storage, floor, and counter space. Accounting for both functionality and style can be difficult without process-driven professionals, high-quality material suppliers, and customized designs for the limitations of each space.

Consult with Our Kitchen Design Experts

minimalistic kitchen interior design with wooden floors

Transforming small rooms into expansive, functional spaces requires careful planning and design. At Southern Maryland Kitchen & Bath, our expert designers work with homeowners to maximize the look and feel of their kitchen spaces. Smart design choices such as using high-quality materials and custom storage can help create spaces that are more inviting, open, and efficient.

Contact our team of designers today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help maximize a space of any size using modern design strategies and high-quality materials.

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    Filed Under: Remodeling

    March 24, 2025 by Southern Maryland Kitchen Bath Floors & Design

    new hotel bathroom remodel interior design

    The perfect bathroom may be slightly different for every homeowner; but most would agree that everyday spaces like bathrooms should be comfortable, functional, and above all, luxurious. With the help of experienced designers, you can elevate your bathroom remodeling project to new heights. From the choice of materials and designs to the colors and fixtures that create the impression of a spa-like retreat, every detail is important.

    If you are considering a bathroom remodel in Maryland, continue reading our list of luxury design ideas to turn a simple bathroom into a permanent spa vacation.

    1. Use an Open Layout

    Leisure spas don’t feel or look cramped and enclosed; they are airy, elegant, and luxurious. Consider an open floor plan to emulate this ambiance in your bathroom remodel. With the right design choices, your space can become more open and spacious without sacrificing privacy. Glass partitions or island vanities can define the space where needed, promoting flow and enhancing relaxation.

    2. Incorporate Natural Materials

    People tend to relax when they experience nature, which is why spa designers incorporate organic elements to promote a sense of grounded calm and comfort. Natural stone and wood can transform a bathroom into a warm and indulgent experience through custom fixtures, floors, or accent walls designed for sustainability, naturality, and quality. These elements can guide the overall design of your bathroom as well.

    3. Consider a Freestanding Tub

    The humble bathtub can become a striking focal point when crafted for luxury rather than simple functionality. Freestanding tubs, not attached to floors or walls, are symbols of pure indulgence. They can be oval, round, or rectangular depending on the limitations of the space.

    They can also be made from a variety of materials. Acrylic tubs are budget-friendly, light, and easy to install, as are fiberglass tubs. However, these materials scratch and crack easily, which can reduce the spa-like atmosphere.

    Solid surface tubs can provide the clean, elegant look that homeowners are searching for. Copper tubs can be finished with a beautiful patina, allowing them to resist rust and mildew. Stone resin tubs can have a more naturalistic look, and resist cracks and scratches. When combined with an open layout, these natural, freestanding tubs promote an unparalleled sense of freedom and relaxation.

    4. Use the Vanity to Make a Statement

    Vanities are available in all shapes and sizes to promote relaxation. They can be minimalistic to make the space more open or centralized as an island to create a functional focal point for the entire room. To elevate your vanity into a spa-like experience, use natural materials as accents and take advantage of natural light whenever possible.

    Vanities can also be customized with built-in storage space, another key aspect of spa-like bathroom design. The relaxing atmosphere of a spa depends on a spacious environment free of clutter. Homeowners can move their personal care items from their sinks and shelves into this dedicated storage space to create a cleaner and more inviting environment.

    5. Upgrade to Heated Flooring

    underfloor heating system installation in a modern house

    Spas often install heating mats under the stone or tile flooring, allowing guests to step out of their bath, shower, or sauna onto heated stone. This seemingly small luxury makes a big impact on their experience and can be easily integrated into a residential bathroom remodel by experienced designers. Smart thermostat technology allows you to adjust the heating systems remotely so they are always set with your preferences in mind.

    6. Utilize Natural Light

    Natural lighting is a key element in spa-like bathroom designs. When properly utilized, natural light enhances the feeling of openness and comfort while drawing attention to the natural fixtures and accents throughout the room. Even in smaller bathrooms, natural light can make spaces feel more expansive. By incorporating skylights, windows, and mirrors, designers can bring natural light into the room to create a more inviting, less artificial space.

    7. Pick Neutral Colors

    Spas are known for neutral, calming colors such as beige, slate, and white. This palette encourages a more peaceful atmosphere. Soft matte finishes and natural textures further enhance the relaxation. While bright colors may seem attractive, they can also be visually stimulating, which should be avoided when creating spa-like spaces.

    8. Invest in Smart Technology

    Although spas often prioritize nature, subtly integrated smart technology can also enhance comfort to provide an improved user experience. This technology can be integrated into a home bathroom design through adaptive heated flooring, smart lighting systems, mirrors, voice-activated lights, aromatherapy diffusers, and more, engaging all of the senses in the user’s ideal bathroom experience.

    9. Incorporate Lounge Designs

    Luxury bathroom remodel designs often include lounge-inspired elements that prioritize comfort, aesthetics, and versatility. By incorporating plush seating, warm materials, and thoughtful lighting, these spaces create a spa-like retreat that encourages relaxation and functionality. Adding a seating nook with chairs or a space to store soft bathrobes, towels, scented candles, and other amenities ensures this leisure space is always stocked with desirable spa comforts.

    Start Your Bathroom Remodeling Project in Maryland Today

    luxurious bathroom with a marble bathtub, a vanity with gold accents, and a black and white checkered floor

    A luxury bathroom design extends beyond functionality to create an atmosphere of spa-like comfort. For many homeowners, the bathroom represents a focal point of potential relaxation; the right design choices can turn a daily routine into a luxury experience.

    At Southern Maryland Kitchen & Bath, our goal is to bring dream bathrooms into reality. We make bathroom remodeling stress-free with the materials, designs, and fixtures to create in-home spa relaxation. Contact our team today to learn how professional design choices can completely upgrade the atmosphere of your bathroom, no matter the size of the space or the budget you have in mind.

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      Filed Under: Bath, Remodeling

      March 17, 2025 by Southern Maryland Kitchen Bath Floors & Design

      modern kitchen showing rustic interior design featuring wood and stone

      Modern kitchens are no longer purely functional; they have developed into stylish, and often, elaborate focal points of the home. Modern technologies combined with classic design ideas create spaces that are as inviting as they are luxurious and beautiful. In 2025, kitchen designers are adopting cutting-edge materials and concepts while bringing back some traditional elements to communicate the values of modern homeowners.

      This guide to kitchen design trends in 2025 examines the modern kitchen as an evolving, dynamic space where designers and homeowners can collaborate on their visions, using natural designs, energy-saving solutions, and minimalistic styles to create elegant, modern kitchens. Consider these factors as inspiration to bring your perfect kitchen to life in 2025.

      1. Kitchen Designers and Homeowners Want Sustainability

      Sustainability is a continuing design trend in 2025. As the heart of the house, the kitchen has a responsibility to capture this idea; modern designers are using eco-friendly materials and naturalistic designs to create kitchens that feel natural and sustainable.

      Kitchen designers flock to eco-friendly alternatives to conventional manufactured materials. Favorites include:

      • Stone and reclaimed wood give kitchens a naturalistic feel.
      • Bamboo offers a renewable alternative material for countertops and furniture.
      • Recycled glass can be used in counters, cabinets, skylights, and backsplashes to reduce industrial waste.

      Beautiful bamboo cabinets and floors, or stone backsplashes are not only sustainable material choices, they also add a sense of natural beauty and functionality to the space. The main takeaway for homeowners is that sustainability is a visual commitment to using one’s home to make the world better. The kitchen is the perfect room to turn this idea into a mission statement for the entire house.

      2. Smart Technology Adds Convenience While Saving Energy

      Modern technology is being used to transform kitchens into more functional, energy-efficient, and user-friendly spaces. The latest smart appliances are made from renewable materials using processes that value low-carbon manufacturing methods, while reducing energy consumption in the home.

      Beyond long-term environmental benefits, smart technology is trending in modern kitchens because of the conveniences it can add with features such as:

      inviting kitchen showcases light beige cabinets and white marble tiles
      • Voice-activated appliances and lighting
      • Motion-sensor faucets and lights
      • Wi-fi-enabled refrigerators and ovens with remote controls
      • Automated climate controls

      These innovations streamline everyday tasks in modern kitchens while helping homeowners reduce their overall carbon footprint. Experienced designers integrate these features without losing sight of the timeless warmth and charm of the ideal kitchen.

      3. Mid-Century Modern is Back in Style

      Mid-Century Modern is experiencing a revival in 2025, blending the modern desire for eco-friendliness with simple, timeless designs. Cabinets and other furniture pieces have become less ornate and more minimalistic, favoring clean horizontal lines that exude timeless elegance. For colors, designers are favoring organic tones with splashes of bright accents.

      Kitchen designers use natural wood and stone to bring out the simplicity of Mid-Century Modern while dialing back some of its more retro stylings (think multi-colored stick-on tiles from every kitchen in the 50s). Instead, sleek, flat cabinets, open shelving, and stone counters create the classic streamlined edges while opening up the space. The result is a refined, uncluttered, and nostalgic space that remains functional and modern.

      4. Natural Light is an Asset in Modern Designs

      In a well designed kitchen, natural light is used to tie the modern look together by communicating sustainability, sculpting the areas of focus and function throughout the room, and opening up the space with its bright and welcoming atmosphere. With large windows or doors, modern designers can easily turn the kitchen into a beautiful focal point. Even without them, there are ways to bring natural light into the space to make it seem more spacious and functional than before:

      • Expansive glass doors or wall-high windows integrate indoor and outdoor spaces.
      • Skylights can make even small kitchen areas seem spacious without sacrificing any privacy.
      • Reflective surfaces such as high-gloss stone, tile, and metal materials help designers redistribute natural light to lower lit areas. 

      From the floorplan to the choice of materials, modern homeowners and designers look for ways to strategically integrate as much natural light as possible to give kitchens an organic, airy, and grounded feel.

      Book a Consultation with Maryland’s Top Kitchen Designers

      a home kitchen

      In 2025, ideal kitchens preserve a naturalistic appeal that has always been at the heart of their design. The designs have also become more sleek and minimalistic, favoring open spaces, clean lines, natural light, and sustainable materials.

      At Southern Maryland Kitchen & Bath, our goal is to adapt modern design trends to our client’s visions for their kitchen remodels. While this list of trends provides common principles of modern designs, experienced designers adapt these trends to the qualities and limitations of specific kitchen spaces. Contact our experienced team to learn how we use high-quality materials and modern designs to create modern kitchens of luxury, without losing natural beauty and charm.

      Filed Under: Kitchen, Remodeling

      March 3, 2025 by Southern Maryland Kitchen Bath Floors & Design

      modern kitchen remodel with wooden cabinets and a sketch of the layout overlayed

      Kitchen remodels are detailed projects that require careful planning, including assessments of the structural constraints of the space. Structural integrity is a key factor to consider before, during, and after a kitchen remodel to ensure the project goes smoothly and safely.

      Without careful planning, your project could violate building codes, experience costly delays, or fail to structurally support its new additions. This guide addresses how Maryland homeowners can work around the structural constraints of their space when remodeling their kitchen.

      Our goal is to help homeowners complete kitchen remodeling projects safely, stay in compliance with codes, and find experienced designers to address structural concerns throughout the entire process.

      1. Assess the Foundation

      The first step in working around structural constraints is to assess the existing foundation of the kitchen to determine its condition. This will allow your contractors and designers to ensure the stability of the structure while planning the remodel. When working without expert guidance, many DIY remodelers skip this process.

      Experienced designers know that the foundation must be thoroughly vetted to ensure that it can withstand the remodel and remain compliant with building codes. This process includes noting which walls are load-bearing and how this could impact the remodel plans. Demolishing a load-bearing wall is dangerous and costly.

      Additionally, many walls support plumbing and electrical systems and are difficult or even dangerous to alter. If your plans can not work around the load bearing wall and removal is necessary, an experienced designer will know to enlist a structural engineer for a safe and compliant support beam system.

      2. Account for Load-Bearing Structures

      In addition to load-bearing walls, your remodel plans should account for other load-bearing structures, such as floor joists. The frame and joists of the kitchen must be strong enough to bear the load of the furniture, counters, and appliances that will be added during the remodel.

      This step should include repairing or replacing any joists damaged by rot, water, pests, or age. These repairs must be built into the remodel schedule and budget to ensure safety and compliance before proceeding with the full project.

      3. Design for Efficiency

      assembly of kitchen furniture during kitchen remodeling in new home

      When working within structural constraints, the efficiency of the remodel is just as important as the aesthetics. Designing functional spaces requires careful attention to the intended workflow; in the kitchen this includes the distance between the refrigerator, stove, and sink. The goal of a remodel is to improve the functionality of the space rather than restrict it.

      For example, many homeowners add islands to their kitchen designs to create more counter space without changing the walls. However, islands are not ideal for every kitchen and in some cases, they can take up so much floor space that they detract from the intended workflow.

      Efficiency should be considered an art rather than a science when kitchen remodeling. This requires the designers and homeowners to collaborate to determine the optimal solution for the dream kitchen and budget.

      4. Optimize Storage Space

      The structure of the kitchen may restrict its storage capacity, but designers can work around these limitations. Using custom cabinets, islands, and built-in appliances, they can expand storage space and declutter the counters without expensive structural renovations.

      Examples of space-saving designs include floor-to-ceiling vertical cabinets, pull-out shelves, toe drawers, built-in appliances, kitchen islands, floating shelves, and lazy Susans. These features can be incorporated into cabinets or built into the walls to save floor and counter space while creating an aesthetically pleasing display.

      5. Use Aesthetics to Your Advantage

      Strategic stylistic choices can help you achieve your ideal kitchen, even with structural limitations of the space. For example, strategically placed lighting can make a small kitchen feel more spacious while adding functionality by highlighting important workspaces.

      Natural light is another important resource for kitchen remodels because it also impacts how large or small the room feels. An experienced designer will know how to utilize natural light to create inviting spaces within your structural limits.

      They may employ glazed glass or mirrors to control light or strategically place metal surfaces to distribute it throughout the space. Explore materials like white birch which reflects more light than dark materials; these types of options can make your kitchen feel more spacious.

      6. Follow Building Regulations

      preparing kitchen for installation of custom new features in modern home improvement

      Everything in your kitchen remodeling project is negotiable except for building regulations and permits, which are needed to guarantee that the project is completed safely. If you plan on changing the structure of the home, including changes to its plumbing and electrical systems, you will need to follow the relevant building codes in your area to ensure compliance.

      The permit process is different in each location; find a design company familiar with the permit process in your area to make sure you stay safe and compliant throughout your kitchen remodel.

      Book Our Trusted Maryland Kitchen Remodel Experts

      At Southern Maryland Kitchen & Bath, we prioritize the needs of each kitchen remodel, including its structural constraints, to deliver dream kitchen designs for our clients. Our experienced team will never employ a one-size-fits-all solution to safety and regulatory compliance. Contact our experienced team today to learn more about the structural constraints in your kitchen and how our designers can help you work around them.

      Filed Under: Kitchen, Remodeling

      February 17, 2025 by Southern Maryland Kitchen Bath Floors & Design

      bright bathroom remodel with lots of light

      Natural light is an essential part of the beauty and functionality of your bathroom remodel design. When properly incorporated, natural light can enhance the space, improve its ease of use, and add accessibility. However, not all bathroom designs can easily utilize natural light, which is why modern designers prioritize windows, skylights, and mirrors to distribute, redirect, and utilize available light as effectively as possible.

      If you live in a populated area where privacy is a concern, the placement and position of natural lighting can be even more valuable. Continue reading to learn how windows, skylights, and mirrors can impact your bathroom remodel and maximize its functionality.

      How Windows Maximize Light

      Windows provide the most direct way to increase natural light in your bathroom design. However, they may not be appropriate in all situations, especially when the house is located in a well-populated area.

      Depending on the situation, your bathroom remodel design should utilize natural window light while strategically accounting for privacy concerns. Experienced designers can help you choose between different types of windows to maximize the functionality of your natural light, including:

      • Bay Windows: Bay windows are beautiful but large, allowing natural light to flood into the room, provided the space can accommodate them.
      • Frosted Glass: Frosted glass can provide much-needed privacy. It’s a stylish option for homeowners who want to incorporate natural light in populated areas.
      • Storm Windows: Storm windows are efficient and safely designed, allowing homeowners to introduce more natural light while preparing for inclement weather.
      • Custom Windows: With an interior designer’s help, windows can be customized to the needs of the space with the shape, functionality, elegance, and privacy that the homeowner requires.

      This is not an exhaustive list of possible window types, but it provides homeowners and designers with a starting point to conceptualize their bathroom designs while keeping both privacy and functionality in mind.

      How Skylights Maximize Light

      Skylights provide an upscale option to enhance the natural light in your bathroom, adding beauty and functionality without sacrificing privacy. In areas with direct sunlight, skylights provide a flood of natural light that can accent the room without wasting electricity, leading to energy savings.

      In a large open-plan bathroom, skylights can illuminate the entire space with natural light. Alternatively, smaller bathrooms can use multiple skylights to complement the layout. Using skylights requires strategic planning, but they offer an upgraded customization option for bathrooms that are able to accommodate them.

      elegant bathroom with white and beige walls, white basin with oval mirror, bathtub, shower, plants, and dark parquet floor

      Importantly, there are both fixed and ventilating skylights. Fixed skylights remain in place, while ventilating skylights can be opened, allowing residents to bring fresh air into the space as desired. The orientation, size, location, and type of skylight will change its impact on the room. 

      Regardless of the type you choose, properly constructed and expertly installed skylights provide a visual expansion of the space, opening the ceiling into the sky and sunlight, while improving your energy efficiency by reducing the need for artificial lighting.

      How Mirrors Maximize Light

      Mirrors cannot produce natural light, but they can reflect and redirect natural light from other sources. With proper placement, style, and size, mirrors can make rooms appear fuller, more functional, and more beautiful.

      However, mirrors can also reflect light inconveniently. If placed incorrectly, morning sunlight can be redirected into the user’s eyes or onto a metal accent surface. When strategically placed, mirrors allow designers to manipulate sources of natural light, while avoiding inconvenient glare.

      Designers can also add to the functionality of a mirror with lighting sources that mimic or augment natural lighting. For instance, backlit mirrors can simulate natural lighting while distributing it evenly, avoiding direct glares.

      Full-spectrum LED lighting can create balanced white light that feels natural, such as over the counter or under the sink. Cove lighting installed along the ceiling edges can create a soft accent that illuminates important features.

      Maximizing the functionality of natural light while carefully mitigating its direct impact is a key task for modern bathroom remodel design teams. When working with designers, you will evaluate the limits of your space and the lighting systems that make the most sense, especially when you have the advantage of a natural light source to work with.

      Contact Southern Maryland Kitchen & Bath to Design Your Dream Bathroom Remodel

      bright and modern white bathroom with freestanding tub and large window overlooking greenery

      Experienced interior designers can use natural light to create a more functional and beautiful bathroom space. Using windows, skylights, and mirrors, light can be strategically placed, reflected, and accented to illuminate important features and make the space feel larger while maintaining privacy for the users.

      At Southern Maryland Kitchen & Bath, our interior designers focus on natural light as a source of functionality and beauty. Depending on the limitations of your space, we will outline the features that best complement your layout and maximize the impact of the available natural light. Contact our experienced team today to learn how we can use natural light to make your bathroom redesign more functional and beautiful.

      Filed Under: Bath, Remodeling

      January 20, 2025 by Southern Maryland Kitchen Bath Floors & Design

      modern kitchen remodeling project in Maryland home

      As kitchens have become central hubs for work and socializing, designing them for accessibility has become even more important. Inclusive kitchen remodel designs that accommodate residents of varying ages and abilities improve the comfort and flow of both the kitchen and the home as a whole.

      Yet, accessibility is more than an accommodation for people with disabilities. Today, accessibility is a message that communicates comfort and multifunctionality to potential buyers. It defines a homeowner’s priorities, including their devotion to multifunctionality, and how comfortable the kitchen is to use on a daily basis.

      When planning a kitchen remodel or even an initial construction, modern homeowners and designers should make accessibility a main priority in their designs. This guide to designing for accessibility will help you create a balanced kitchen that offers multipurpose functions in a modern space while remaining user-friendly to anyone who visits it.

      What is Accessibility?

      Accessibility implies safety and accommodation. People with variances in mobility, balance, and sight abilities should be able to use a kitchen space comfortably. However, modern kitchen designers also focus on another key area of accessible design: flexibility. Flexible kitchen designers consider every aspect of the space, including the layout, counter height, the location of appliances, and more to create a user-friendly space for everyone, accommodating multiple types of abilities.

      Notably, accessibility does not have to come at the expense of style. Professional kitchen remodelers can help you realize your vision for your ideal kitchen while upholding standards of accessibility. They do this by considering the consequences of each design choice in detail.

      For example, moving an appliance to a more convenient location changes the way people move through the kitchen. Lowering the height of the countertops may impact the available storage space which may need to be added elsewhere, and so on.

      In other words, designers have taken accessibility to new levels in modern kitchen designs. As kitchens have become more multifunctional, accessibility itself has become more flexible, accounting for more design factors in each decision and making important accommodations for users of all abilities.

      Key Accessibility Factors to Consider

      Modern designers consider key accessibility factors when creating user-friendly kitchens, including:

      modern gray kitchen features dark gray flat front cabinets paired with white quartz countertops and a glossy gray linear tile backsplash
      • Navigation: Navigation, including entryways and throughways, should be adjusted to accommodate different types of users. Modern user-friendly kitchens include enough space to allow wheelchairs to turn, where applicable, and multiple people to enter, use, and exit the kitchen at the same time. 
      • Floorspace: Adequate floor space is key to allowing enough room to use appliances and cabinets while keeping the kitchen throughway open. If the kitchen includes an island, there should be at least 3 feet of space around the edge on all sides.
      • Countertop and storage space: Countertop and storage space are critical to making kitchens more user-friendly. Pantry shelves should not be placed higher than 3.5 feet to accommodate most users.
      • Appliance, sink, and stove location: Appliances should be arranged to encourage ease of use. For example, microwaves should be placed at counter height to make transporting food easier. Stoves should have front controls that are easy to reach and counter space on either side.

      Professional designers can go into even greater detail with modern kitchen designs. They consider the locations of outlets, the most likely routes from the sink to the stove, the location of trash cans, and more to create spaces with maximum accessibility.

      How to Design a More Accessible Kitchen Remodel

      To think like a professional kitchen remodeler, consider these steps to designing a more user-friendly kitchen:

      1. Assess Needs: Residents with specific needs should have those needs addressed in their kitchen designs. However, the needs of average users can also be accommodated with user-friendly design choices, such as the locations of appliances, sinks, and outlets.
      2. Create a User-Friendly Layout: Floorspace, counter space, shelf height, and flow contribute to the kitchen’s usability. A user-friendly layout has clear paths between key points such as the sink and oven, enough floor space to accommodate multiple users, and room to open and close cabinets and doors without obstructing throughways.
      3. Prioritize Safety Features: Professional designers prioritize safety features to make kitchens more user-friendly. Ovens should have forward or side-facing burner controls with clear counter space on either side. Microwaves should be placed at counter height. There should be enough floor space to allow multiple people to use the kitchen without crowding each other.
      4. Innovate Storage: Maximizing storage space is a key concern for modern kitchen functionality. Designers can innovate on storage with toe drawers, built-in appliance storage, vertical shelving, and more to make everything easier to store and find.

      Book a Consultation with Our Professional Maryland Kitchen Remodelers

      luxurious kitchen with a large island, gold faucet and sputnik chandelier, stainless steel appliances

      Accessibility is a significant factor in the quality of a modern kitchen design. Modern designers can accommodate users of all ability levels and ages, increase the resale value of the house, and improve the comfort of the current residents by prioritizing accessibility.

      At Southern Maryland Kitchen & Bath, our team prioritizes usability in kitchen remodels and designs to create spaces that are centerpieces for sociability, usability, and functionality. Contact our experienced team today to learn how our team can bring your dream kitchen to life with user-friendly, multifunctional designs.

      Filed Under: Kitchen, Remodeling

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      Country house kitchen cabinets with English frames in a dark kitchen decor in a california, maryland home.

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      Country house kitchen cabinets with English frames in a dark kitchen decor in a california, maryland home.