As a premier design/build firm in Lafayette, Indiana, we’ve had the privilege of helping hundreds homeowners remodel their kitchens—all with varying functional, layout and design needs. Over the years, we’ve learned that these eight basic elements dramatically improve the usability of your space, and should be considered in your next kitchen remodel.It’s all in the details!

1) Specialty Cabinets/Drawers (Slide Out Trays)

Kitchen cabinets have come a long way over the last several years. No longer are homeowners just selecting cabinet doors and drawers. They now choose from an endless selection of specialty accessories including, corner drawers, cutting board drawers, charging stations, utility cabinets, towel rack pull outs, recycle bins, vegetable baskets, and much more. Our favorite detail, that we think belongs in every kitchen, is the slide out tray. These can be customized to accommodate everything from spices and oversize baking items to condiments and cooking utensils.

2) Under Cabinet Lighting

Often an overlooked kitchen design essential is under cabinet lighting. Under cabinet lights are installed under the upper cabinets to not only provide good task lighting, but also add depth and ambience to your valuable kitchen space. Two under cabinet lighting options that Riverside Construction recommends is LED(Light Emitting Diodes) and Xenon.LED is a solid-state lamp that uses light-emitting diodes as the source of light. LED lamps offer long service life (can last for up to 50,000 hours) and produces high-energy efficiency. They are also small and durable and can be grouped together to form concentrated light.

Xenon light is produced by lamps that have high-melting-point glass envelopes and contain a tungsten filament surrounded by xenon gas. When the light bulb is connected to power, the tungsten filament heats up and begins to glow. This light is close to natural sunlight and is very bright. It is also an incandescent bulb, so it is not energy efficient and does not last as long as a LED, but it operates more coolly than other incandescent bulbs.

3) High Arc Faucet with Pull Out Sprayer

If you’ve ever tried to fill a large, tall pot with water using a standard, 45-degree angle faucet, you know that it’s virtually impossible to do! A more updated, decorative option is the high arc faucet, which not only allows you extra workspace to fill up large pots, but also adds an elegant feature to your home.Additionally, pull down and pull out faucets offer a wide variety of spray patterns that you can control with a button. The pull out sprayer allows for the flexibility of an extended reach for everything from giving your fresh veggies a rinse to cleaning up the sticky corners of your sink.

4) Under Sink Drip Protection

In an ideal world, the inside of your sink cabinet should never get wet. Yet, they do, whether from water or liquid chemicals. To protect against cabinet damage, Riverside Construction recommends installing a Hafele protective polystyrene mat. This mat can be cut to size and has unique dimples to collect water and other liquids to prevent damage.

5) 3/4 to 1 HP Garbage Disposal

It’s hard to imagine a kitchen without a garbage disposal, as this hard-working machine makes the unpopular task of cleaning dishes a whole lot easier. When it comes to choosing a garbage disposal that is right for you, the difference is in the horsepower. How much horsepower do you need? Riverside Construction recommends a ¾ HP or 1 HP. A ¾ HP disposal is suitable for a family of four and has more power than a ½ or ¼ HP disposal. It also typically comes with additional sound protection features—keeping unwanted noise to a minimum.If you have a large family (greater than four) and anticipate heavy usage in the kitchen (where grinding up food items like orange rinds or coffee grinds would come in handy), a 1 HP garbage disposal might be your product of choice. However, the 1 HP is a large-sized unit and requires more space beneath the sink.

6) Slow-Close Drawer Glides

Cabinetry today requires modern innovation as well as functionality. That is why Riverside Construction recommends soft-close drawer slides to provide you with not only the latest in technology, but also the pleasant, quiet, functional convenience of smooth closing drawers—guaranteed to add to the prolonged enjoyment of your newly remodeled kitchen.

7) Solid Hardwood Dovetail Drawers

When it comes to quality drawers, Riverside Construction recommends Wellborn. Their dovetail construction has always been known as the strongest, most durable method of furniture assembly, creating a beautiful, long-lasting drawer.

8) 3D Design

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and when it comes to remodeling your kitchen. Nothing could be closer to the truth! When it comes to putting all of the right pieces together, Riverside Construction utilizes advanced 3-D design software to help you visualize your kitchen remodel before construction begins. While a floor plan can give you a sense of how your new kitchen will be configured, it doesn’t show you how large the room will be or how different aspects of the kitchen will fit together.3-D design allows you to move the key kitchen components (i.e. sink area, island, cabinets) around and see how they work together. You can actually picture yourself walking in the kitchen doing everyday tasks. The power of 3D technology simply allows you to see the space from all angles and try out colors and textures of material selections like countertops and fixtures, ensuring you are happy with your new kitchen well into the future.Ready to renovate? Let us share all our knowledge and experience we’ve gleaned over the years from past happy clients to help you create the perfect kitchen for you.Take the first step by scheduling an in-home meeting with your very own personal design consultant.We also schedule complimentary kitchen remodeling seminars regularly each month. Let us know your interest in attending by signing up today.