Appliances and Work Surfaces
An ideal kitchen design incorporates a variety of workspaces and appliances of different functions and heights, allowing for food preparation, homework and other tasks whether sitting or standing.
$$ $$
Medium
As with cabinetry, appliances have a wide range of costs and features. Some appliances will require modification of adjacent casework or kitchen layout, such as a wall oven or smooth-surface stove. Slide-out shelving in casework may be retrofitted in some situations, but could also require replacing the cabinets in other cases. Also, Casework and appliance costs can add up quickly. Additionally, plan for the possibility of minor floor patching if not replacing during renovation.
How-to tip
Select appliances with controls that are visible and easily understood. Front controls on the stove top are essential. Make sure that the wall oven is mounted at a height where the controls can be seen with easy access to the interior. A raised dishwasher shouldn’t be installed more than 6 inches above the typical mounting height and should be located at the end of a counter run so as to not disrupt larger work surfaces.