My Chef Friend’s Best Kitchen Remodel Advice Went Against Everything I Thought I Knew
One of my closest, oldest friends is a chef and, let me tell you, she is a very useful friend to have! I can call or text her and at a moment’s notice have personalized answers to kitchen conundrums, like: Can I freeze this casserole that has sour cream in it? or What’s a good substitute for molasses? She shares her incredible recipes with me, and I’ve been the lucky recipient of more than one care package of treats like homemade organic vanilla and lebkuchen handmade with love. And you can imagine how much I consulted her when we remodeled our new kitchen.
From outlet placement and lighting configurations, to countertop materials and drawers versus cabinets, every detail of the kitchen passed through her scrutiny. Not only does she know me and how I operate in a kitchen with my large family to feed, but she also has far more experience in kitchens than most, as well as crucial industry knowledge. Her input was invaluable, and its results help me enjoy my kitchen every day. I talked with her recently about all her suggestions, and we had fun rehashing her advice — and she definitely loved hearing how right she was about everything she shared with me! Here’s what she told me I needed, and what I needed to skip.
The One Thing My Chef Friend Told Me to Avoid in My Kitchen Renovation
Do not, under any circumstances, install an over-stove microwave.
This was my friend’s number-one piece of advice and the point she insisted on most strongly. I did argue with her a bit. Putting the microwave over the stove seemed pretty standard, plus it saves countertop and cabinetry space so you don’t have to build it in. But this was an absolute no-go for her. “Fans are not sufficient for properly venting cooking odors,” she explained. “You really want high-quality ventilation.” In addition to keeping the kitchen fresh, there’s another compelling reason to skip the over-stove microwave: “Head clearance isn’t great when leaning over stockpots while cooking.”
I took her advice to heart and installed a dedicated range hood and a strong (but not quiet enough!) exhaust fan. It clears out odors super-efficiently, looks higher-end, and allowed us to extend our beautiful backsplash tile up to the ceiling. In lieu of a microwave over the stove, we installed a speed oven in lower cabinetry.
4 Things My Chef Friend Insisted On in My New Kitchen
1. The biggest possible single-basin sink you can fit in your space
Not only did my friend categorically forbid me from getting a double-basin sink (that’s all I’ve had in the past), but she insisted that I get the biggest sink that would fit in our kitchen. I listened (we got a Kohler workstation sink) and I’m so glad I did. A single-basin sink is so much more functional and versatile than my previous double-basins. If I want to soak cooking tools, I can do that in a bowl or bin, but I can also easily wash large cutting boards, sheet pans, and Dutch ovens without banging into a permanent sink partition. Having a big sink allows me to fit a bunch of dirty dishes in it so they aren’t cluttering up the counter, and so I can easily clean — even with dishes sitting in the sink.
2. Non-porous material for countertops
As a professional, my friend is all about durability and safety. This came into play in her advice for countertop material. While she loves a gorgeous kitchen as much as anyone, she is never willing to sacrifice practicality for beauty. “Get a countertop material that is non-porous and can withstand heat (without burn marks) or splashes of acid (citrus, tomato sauce, etc.) without staining or etching.” I opted for a natural stone look, a quartz slab with a matte finish, and I’m grateful for its easy upkeep. It makes for a far less stressful cooking and cleaning experience.
3. An induction stove
This is another never-going-back decision for me. I’ve always opted for electric glass-top ranges because they’re easier to clean than gas. Induction was new to me, but I am forever a convert. I can cook so much faster because my cookware heats up so quickly, and don’t even get me started on how fast I can boil water! I also appreciate not having to worry about surfaces that stay hot for too long. I’m convinced induction is the way to go.
4. Small details that make the kitchen run smoothly
In addition to the big decisions like countertop material, a huge sink, and an induction range, my friend also offered suggestions for smaller choices with big impact on day-to-day life in the busiest room of the house. For instance, she suggested a space for vertical storage of items like sheet pans, installing turntables in corner cabinets for pots and pans, and adding under-cabinet lighting to illuminate the countertops. I took all these suggestions to heart, and they have drastically impacted the usability of the kitchen. I don’t have to unstack things to get to my sheet pans or cutting boards, I can grab my pots and pans without digging through the back of inaccessible cabinet corners, and the under-cabinet lights provide task lighting when I’m chopping onions or decorating a cake (plus they add a warm, cozy glow — even when the kitchen is shut down).
Are you surprised by any of this chef’s suggestions? Let us know in the comments below!
Further Reading
Why People Are Ditching Their Seltzer After a Disturbing Study
The “Beautiful” $3 Flower Tumblers at Walmart People Are Buying 2 at a Time
