Architect's TOP 10 Kitchen Design Mistakes

[@DanielTitchener]

Had a lot to get off my chest in this one (I do actually love the kitchen in our new place for the most part!). In case some of your were wondering why the audio's a little different, I'm doing some testing with a new mic with this style of off-script video, so if you guys have any feedback - let me know!

[@paulasimson4939]

It's interesting that you mentioned the audio, I was noticing that it sounded like a voice-over, rather than on camera. But clearly it was recorded on camera, so I was feeling a confused and discombobulated.

[@ratworks865]

Sounded great Daniel, and I really enjoyed the more human approach than a solid script. Feels more relatable, plus the architectural lens is why I tune in, so it's great to see more content like this. Top job!

[@haakman123]

7:50 really made me think the audio was overdubbed. The whole video sounded really uncanny

[@timvs]

Hey Daniel! Love your videos! I'm a TV person so do editing and directing and stuff. Live "presenter" sound and "OOV" (Out Of Vision) sound have, as you know, very different sound qualities. Viewers know this difference, even subconsciously, and can get very confused if they are mixed up. Mixing the two can be very effective; Live "presenter" sound represents direct reporting of what they person on camera is experiencing, and can also give scripted information of course. Voice Over audio, with the speaker Out Of Vision, feels more like facts after the event - extra information, or commentary that is once-removed perhaps. I'd stick to your normal mixture - with live sound when in vision, but not being afraid to add in extra facts in voice over. The viewer is so "trained" in this audio grammar that they will understand the change in quality. In this video I thought you'd had mic trouble and had had to overdub the whole thing afterwards, which was just distracting. Great to experiment though.

[@BonnyT]

I came to the comments just to give feedback about your voice in this video...relieved to discover it wasn't just my imagination that you sound different. I was actually in my kitchen making a cuppa and not looking at my TV when I first heard your video and wondered if it was playing faster because your voice sounds higher pitched and less rich than usual. And then when I started looking at the screen, like others have said, your voice seems disconnected from your image, like a voice over. I much prefer your previous mic system. Love your new kitchen BTW.

[@phoebelim5040]

Function over form. Always. The best advice is to really think about how you'll use things. I LOVE all the drawers I used in my kitchen reno. I have drawers drawer drawers with cabinets only under the sink and the corners (I have a U-shape kitchen). I put magic corners in both corners and love them. And I love my under cabinet lighting.

[@safalabista]

More of these please. For all types of spaces. Bedroom, bathroom, study, living room, EVERYTHING.

[@oygenn]

I love the level of polite frustration in this video, especially when it's so relatable! 😄 Another great video, thanks for the useful tips!

[@Camille4Real]

(Raises Hand) I'm an Architect, and I suck at designing kitchens. Kudos to all the interior designers, as their application of human anatomy to the use and movement in a space is magical! I'm here to learn 🙏🏾

[@natashafigueroa9198]

I love your humility!

[@phoebe2350]

thank you for this comment! cant agree more 😂

[@alis49281]

You learn the most when you use a kitchen or ask people what is bad about theirs. E.g. IKEA kitchens aren't bad, but extremely cheap (e.g. Knoxult drawers). The problem is, they look very much Ikea and it helps a lot to pick different handles. Also, rounded small handles for bottom drawers are a must. It is also possible to buy a new front for the IKEA furniture and it can help to get an expensive look for a cheap price. Soft close and cabinet lights are some other details that are overlooked too much. Oh, the backdrop that protects the wall is another important detail: it doesn't have to be tiles, but always easy to clean. We used leftover PVC flooring in rustic tile look. If we get tired of it, we can replace it

[@Dbb27]

Learn to cook. You will figure it out really fast after you’ve bumped your head or had a dishwasher hijack access to your stove. 😊

[@WereRea3807]

My mother had me design her kitchen for her forever house, the house she and my father will retire to. There are only base cabinets, as when you get older, reaching up can be quite difficult. There are three drawers per cabinet, one smaller one and two larger ones, making all the drawer fronts line up, and also eliminating the items lost at the back of cabinets. The cabinets are also a little taller than regular ones to make it easier to work on for older individuals. There is also five feet of space between the island and the rest of the cabinets so two people with walkers can pass by without knocking into each other. The oven is separate from the range so she won't have to bend down to get things out of it. A lot of forethought and planning went into this kitchen and I can't wait to finish building the cabinets and see it all come together.

[@Kuttar-jm2ce]

Good design

[@alc-e6b]

Excellent, a tip for kitchens for old people, the oven should not be low as you said but not too high either to prevent them from spilling hot food on themselves. Greetings.

[@christoffervik9997]

I also choose base cabinets for my kitchen, using the wall to show off some very Nice paintings instead to keep the erea more alive. 😊

[@germaineperry9586]

I had my husband install roll out shelves in our lower cabinets. Not expensive and very convenient.

[@arizonashopper5095]

Interesting. My parents mostly use their upper cabinets and not the lower ones, bc they have trouble bending/stooping. Maybe it depends on how tall you are, and what kind of mobility limitations you have.

[@shmolyneaux]

6:35 At night you may want the under-cabinet lights on while the overhead lights are off. I think that's a reason enough to put them on a separate switch.

[@thelibraryismyhappyplace1618]

Agree. No big light for midnight snacks, thank you 😉

[@10JuanMas]

I don’t think he means the same switch rather the same spot for the switch. It’s not very practical to have to walk around to turn on and off different lights whereas you could do it all from the same place.

[@elsa_g]

@@10JuanMas he said he’d never want one light on without the other, so I think he did mean one switch. I like them separate for ambiance as well as for better control dimming two types of lights, but it could make sense for his lifestyle for them to be on one switch.

[@violajackson9154]

Oops, I thought it‘s an AI video 😅. Great content though 👍🏻

[@liubis]

SAMe, I have light just for snacking of leave some plates or get water, but he its right , the switch must be on the door, because switch on the normal then going to the sink and switching on this lights its annoying, it would be better there were separated switches but in the door, or smart. mine are smart, so I just say ALEXA Turn on the sink, I its very easy, I will get a sensor so I can just walk in night and they will turn on alone.

[@Chareads]

I avoided clicking this video because I designed and built my own kitchen and I'm just installing it now... and according to you I've made zero mistakes! Huzzah!

[@meltdown6165]

Incredible job! My grandma always said "you need to build twice so you can fix the mistakes from the first time".

[@debrascott8775]

I'm watching now in same position. 😂

[@akswalia6588]

OMG ME TOOOO

[@klausstock8020]

That's because you "designed and built your own kitchen" --- yup, *kitchen,* not *showpiece.* In 1980s, when I went to school in Germany, a few schools had a class "Hauswirtschaft" ("housekeeping"), and my school had it. The school even had a large "school kitchen", where you had kitchen isles instead of desk aisles. Kitchen planning was one of the topics taught there. Art was taught in art classes, and showpieces...well, they are neither art nor design, so showpieces weren't taught. Admittedly, the "Frankfurter Küche" ("Frankfurt Kitchen"), named after Frankfurt am Main, was a German invention (although somewhat based on the works of the US-American Frederick Winslow Taylor about work optimization). First implementations appeared in 1926, so yes, it makes totally sense that teaching te design of the optimal kitchen was taught at German schools, back in the days. But I guess that with a bit of common sense, you can actually design a kitchen without getting sidetracked by glossy "better living though fancy home improvement" magazines. Ya know, the magazines with the phots where the child carefully arranged the heaps of Lego bricks according to the golden ratio. Fun fact: the Vienna Museum of Applied Arts has a reconstruction of the 1926 Frankfurter Küche. So even if your kitchen is not a useless showpiece, it might count as a piece of Applied Arts.

[@Dbb27]

@@klausstock8020we had home economics in middle and high school. Learning to cook and sew. The design aspect you got is awesome. Schools need to get back to teaching housing basics. Some have absolutely no clue and no mentors.

[@dmw416]

THANKS! I always thought drawers inside cupboards were just plain dumb and spent the $ for all deep drawers for base cabinets. Glad to be vidicated by a professional :) Your humility admitting you've made mistakes is endearing..Keep up the great work.

[@Elle-kr8od]

Somehow trash/recycling/compost needs are often forgotten. To me, it's a critical part of kitchen design.

[@melusine826]

I have multiple recycling streams and no kitchen has ever had a good setup

[@Picca65]

Yes, so true. Also a good spot for towels.

[@KilgoreTrout4343]

A woodworker can never have too many clamps, and in the kitchen you can never have too many readily accessible drawers, cabinets with pull out shelves and plugs. We took a year designing our house and went over the kitchen details again and again, and I'm happy to report that the kitchen functions incredibly well ... and became the model for friends' remodels of their kitchens. Great video!

[@YSLRD]

From a short person: OH MY GOSH!! I'M IN LOVE! I had no idea about the drop down cabiinet interiors.

[@marbelhaj1234]

RIGHT, SAMEEEE

[@hezekiahthompson6817]

Thank you for this video. From it, I realize design requires a lot more empathy and forethought for the people who actually use the space than I had previously thought. There are hundreds of small scenarios that should be considered. Being an architect, or any designer, a lot of mindfulness, intention, and consideration for people.

[@PenkoAngelov]

One useful rule I've come to appreciate over the years, is that the top cabinets should always reach flush to the ceasing. Otherwise they will collect decades of dust and spiderwebs and are frustrating to keep clean.

[@rogerwilco2]

Indeed.

[@AB-yt4hd]

Indeed, but not the top of the doors they will be difficult to clean.

[@PenkoAngelov]

@@AB-yt4hd Yup, especially if your ceiling is uneven. The cabinets could have a top lip to distance the doors a little.

[@lindyasimus]

Bring the plaster down to the top of the cupboards. Same result. Cheaper. No falls from trying to get up and down to shelves that are far too high to be sensible.

[@jmi5969]

The ceiling in my urban apartment is 3.60 meters. Any cabinets at this height would be unusable. The simplest solution to dust on top cabinets is: cover them with newspapers or something similar and disposable. Later, carefully roll all these papers, dispose and replace. Easy.

[@TheGreatBobby]

If your sink had been installed in the island, I 100% guarantee that this would have been your #1 design mistake. Designers seem to place sinks in kitchen islands all the time nowadays. Sinks ruin islands: they make them smaller by reducing usable counter space; they attract dirty dishes, which end up in the middle of the kitchen; they don't allow for proper ventilation of the sink drain; they reduce the utility of the island as a gathering/sharing place.

[@TheZeusIsHere1]

What are your thoughts on a cooking hob on an island? Similar as above? 👍

[@angiej4865]

It worked for me. I wanted my venting hob extracting through the outside wall.

[@dollymomma710]

I agree with you. My sink is in the island and I absolutely hate it!

[@SF-ru3lp]

Great points here. I've always preferred a more traditional arrangement of functions and you've explained why! Thank you. G Ire

[@lennyl6856]

My island sink has no problems draining because it has a proper “bow vent” pipe going to it in addition to the drain pipe leading to the stack.

[@PLuMUK54]

With the issue of wall cupboards, I solved the problem with baskets. Apart from plates, glasses, and so on, everything in the cupboards, including in the base cupboards, is in various sized baskets. I stack them as it's easy to pull them out and, if necessary, place on the work surface. If a cupboard is likely to be opened when I have visitors, I use woven baskets for their appearance, but long term storage gets simpler, and cheaper plastic. Using baskets mean that I can change a cupboard's use. Drawers and pull down shelves limit this. A great space saver is an induction hob. When I'm not actually cooking, it gives me additional preparation space.

[@nickfosterxx]

Absolutely, can be a game changer. The baking basket, baskets for eg dried fruit, pulses, pasta types etc. Small ones for herbs and spices according to speciality. No more hunched hunting.

[@LaughingGravy.01]

Very good advice throughout! Another issue that is a deal-breaker is the location of power outlets for the numerous appliances we use regularly. If a splashback or tiling finish is envisaged, rationalising the location of said outlets is relatively straightforward but very worthwhile endeavour. Another issue is adequate space/location of waste disposal and separation for recycling. Foresight here can have a significant impact on the useability of the finsihed product. Cheers!

[@ml_haskell3854]

You can learn a lot by living with bad lighting. We bought our forever home knowing that the kitchen would be renovated. It took a couple years. The lighting was awful: the "boob" fixture behind me meant I could never see my work. For the reno, I selected undercabinet lights plus lots of indirect lights *right* *over* the countertops. The GC and the electrical guys went nuts and tried to talk me out of it. I asked them, "So, WHO does the cooking in your house?" They got quiet and did want I asked. Those indirects pump out a boatload of suffused neutral ight with minimal glare. When they are on, they add light directly to the work surface, in addition to the undercabinet lights. All the lights can be dimmed, and they make a soft glowing room when we need it for entertaining. Instead of looking like it's lit for heart surgery.

[@lorraineedmond5921]

Drawers are the best, but pullouts are better than rummaging in lower cabs. Under cabinet lighting and soft close cabinets are essential. I don’t have a large kitchen, but would trade these features for square footage any day. Excellent ventilation is the other key item for people who actually cook.

[@lorr.jones8887]

My contractor modified the undersink cabinet of my Ikea kitchen. Changed them from one cavernous cabinet into two pullouts. Best thing ever!

[@Bobrogers99]

I love the drawers! Cabinets with handles remind you which side opens. Under cabinet lights are great! Stand-alone appliances are much cheaper, and given that the newer, complicated ones may need replacement sooner than you expect, they are more practical. The intrusion of a stand-alone refrigerator can be minimized by its location, like at the end of the counters next to a wall. White appliances clean quickly with a swipe or two, whereas stainless steel shows every fingerprint and streak. It's as bad as keeping glass clean! I'm glad you mentioned that grout soaks up grease even when sealed, and it's a real problem near the stove. My backsplash is laminate. Some good, sensible suggestions here!

[@yuvra649]

Im a experience designer for technology and man is this my jam. Breaking down each action into bits of micro action and making things easier. Yes the cabinet and drawer inside is the worst idea. Also if you have large drawer and small drawer inside with spoons in it. You must consider magnetting the spoon drawer to front panel. and then a light tug to spoon drawer will reveal the pans or stuff below. Because the number of times you go for spoons and spatula is more than a sauce pan. You need 1-2 saucepan but you need 10 spoons each day :) You can also go reverse with this. The top drawer can be infrequent things like foil, paper, sandwich bags etc. then you dont need the magnet latch to drawer panel. You can store primary pans/plates in the large depth drawer. For the push cabinet door, i think the magnet ones work better? And we used to get ones with slot handles hidden below. My mother hand the push magnets and hydraulic door hinges. But yes the cost depends country to country. It was pretty cheap for her.

[@caesar98]

My kitchen is a tiny L shape and desperately needed an island/extra storage of some kind, so I bought a barcart of marketplace. Best purchase I've done: extra storage for pans, spices and dry goods, easy access to utensils, cleared up counterspace. That barcart and 2nd hand rounded handles were game changers for the functionality of my kitchen

[@britt5753]

My kitchen was designed by someone who completed a 20 hour online course and only microwaves soup. And I say this as someone who is as terrible and uninterested in cooking as anyone alive, but that doesn't mean you don't have to. I would have thought the point (and cost) of an architect is to think these things through so a homeowner doesn't fight with their house forever. There should be a simulator where you are forced to contend with your own designs so you can get some firsthand knowledge. For example, do doors hit other doors? That's an F, my friend. Not enough light around appliances where fire or water might be involved? Community service for you. Can't put food away if someone puts a fork in the dishwasher so cleaning up is an intricate and lengthy Dance of The Doors? Time to be a short order cook until you learn your lesson. But maybe I'm being harsh because my kitchen is utterly insipid and I can't afford to change it. Paint will only be putting lipstick on a pig.

[@FurnitureFan]

Kudos for identifying that wicked mystery designer "who only microwaves soup". 😅 I suspect it's the landlord in most cases.

[@SailorYuki]

Sounds like my kitchen. It's huge, so there is plenty of space, even a kitchen island. But it's also the cheapest Ikea model, all the drawers are misaligned and catch on each other, most doors bang into others and since this kitchen is from the mid 90s, it's old, worn down and water damaged. Heck, even the floor is lumpy because the stuff under (gravel) has compacted at high traffic areas. My kitchen looks like a run down place where people with orange hazard suits and gas masks would cook stuff. We even have two corner cabinets that are completely useless since we can't reach the back and the bottom one's door won't stay up. The hinges are broken, so we had to take the door down. The kitchen "island" is just two cabinets with a counter slab on top. We were planning on redoing the whole kitchen until we had a leak in our bathroom, so that took priority. Then I got sick and now we can't afford a new kitchen and I'm disabled so I can't use most of it. Besides my hubby is 6'4 and places everything on the top shelf. I'm in a wheelchair.....

[@tamarugatamaruga9329]

I like how your sweater matches the general color scheme of your kitchen.

[@adriaba790]

Great points! I'm an architect, and we studied ergononics back in the 80's, so the basic measurements of kitchens,baths and furniture were "engraved" in our brains😅 However during the years I also learned from mistakes made! The only thing I do not like are paneled appliances,can look good but they are very heavy (specially fridge door)and replacing one can mean having to redo a whole area of cabinets...better off with sleek counter depth stainless steel ones IMO

[@MyFocusVaries]

In Vancouver, we installed push close latches for earthquake safety. We installed pot lights, and put them over the counters instead of in the centre of the room. We had to arm wrestle the installer over this.

[@happywanderer6307]

I had my kitchen redone with all bottom drawers. He also gave me all new cabinet doors and raised the height of the cabinets. My friend put in top of cabinet lighting. Do I love my kitchen? You bet! Last year I bought the fridge of my dreams; a GE Cafe series fridge. I love love love it! I love the drawers so much, I just had my cabinet guy redo the ones in the bathrooms. No more trying to reach in the back for things. I'm 73 and it's not easy getting down there any more. I'm intrigued by that pull-down thing. I have empty shelves up high because I can't reach up there. I need to look into those.

[@canarymultimedia]

8:50 actually, what I have is doors that open up upwards - it's elegant and quite useful this way

[@jolenenevins3761]

I was wondering about this and if you're short how do you reach them to close them?

[@PolarBearChicky]

​@@jolenenevins3761my brother had those and once I opened them I couldn't close them again. Neither could his wife 🙄

[@canarymultimedia]

@@jolenenevins3761 Mine are manual, but there are also automatic ones which have buttons to reach easily

[@martinhassler299]

We have two rows of them. The upper one is used for items we do not need that often therefore it is not a big deal to take chair to reach them and the lower ones are very easy to reach even by a short person. Anyways, I do not understand that he does not know about this solution 😳 where does he live?

[@MiikaLiukka]

As an architect myself, I 100% agree with everything in this video! One thing I would like to add is, the handleless look is also a choice that puts form before function. On a handleless front you can't tell if it's a door or a drawer, and if it's a door you don't know which side the hinges are on. Personally, if it's my call, I'll always go for clean, elegant handles that match the kitchen style.

[@petertgeorgiev]

Regarding point 1. Drawers - I designed my kitchen with drawers inside heavy-duty drawers. The one for forks, knives etc. is inside the big drawer for dishes and bowls, so like 80% of the time I need to open both of them anyway. Same for the other inside drawer with the spatulas and utensils, it is inside the drawer for cooking pans, baking trays etc. and again, almost always I need to open them both anyway. It had never bothered me and I really love the slick lines and choices I made. Saying all this was to give an example that nothing is set in stone and there are solutions that work perfectly! For a drawer inside a swinging door cabinet, yeah it looks like a nonsense I must agree.

[@mheinzle]

We needed the right handles on our cabinets and drawers to hang/dry our fresh made pasta. It all comes down to your own needs :D

[@PongoXBongo]

I hang my hand and dish towels on them.

[@janel4582]

I'm in the middle of planning my kitchen and this vid has been super helpful. Thank you!

[@conniebruckner8190]

What do you think about building up cabinets all the way up to the ceiling, or having drawers all the way down at the base? I ask because we don't have them, and wish we did. One can use that space for all sorts of things, extra supplies, once a year use items etc. Yes, a stepladder would be necessary.

[@Seralina888]

Love it! We have that and no need to worry about dust on the top. We put special occasion items up there.

[@FurnitureFan]

I love floor-to-ceiling cabinet storage. I use the top units for rotating seasonal items & decorations - Christmas, Hallowe'en, large dinner dishes, and suitcases. Vertical is the best use of space, & dust free.

[@cakedupkevin]

This is my new favorite video of yours, as I am helping my parents design a kitchen remodel! Great insights and tips, Daniel!

[@essendossev362]

I like having the kitchen overhead lights on a separate switch than the under-cabinet lights, because in the evenings I like to just use the under-cabinet lights on a dim setting to cast an ambiance light while keeping all the harsh overhead lights off.

[@trinaroe5132]

If you’re stuck with base cabinets without drawers on bottom buy a baking sheet large enough to fill most of the shelf and put your items on it. You can slide it in and out like a drawer and even bring it up to the counter. If the items you’re storing there are too heavy and might fall off as you pull it out, get some lightweight bins or baskets that fit on the baking sheet and can contain those items as you pull the sheet out. Multiple baskets on the sheet means you can pull out and lift off only what you need. Likewise for upper cabinet top shelves there are very inexpensive ways to remedy the reach issue for short people unless your cabinets go all the way to the ceiling. Start by adjusting the lower shelves to just the height you need for what you’re storing there. You usually can move each shelf down one to two notches. Once you have the very top shelf lowered so it is just within reach look for baskets that fit the shelf that either have a handle or holes that can be gripped at the bottom. I’m only 5’0” tall, but can reach everything on my top shelf except the one over the corner base. The top shelf is also a perfect place to store cereal if turned on the skinny long side. The length of the cereal box keeps it from slipping back into the cabinet and the skinny side of the box is easy to grab from just at the top shelf. Additionally they are inherently lightweight, so no danger of dropping and breaking something. By laying them upright on their long skinny side you can store multiple varieties side by side and reach what you want without moving anything. And the top of the box is labeled so you can see what you are grabbing.

[@TallyDrake]

Being a short person, imo the biggest kitchen mistake is putting the microwave over the range. I have never understood why anyone does this! I have watched cooking videos where presenters have made a mess or burned themselves taking hot liquids out of said microwaves. It just seems like an accident waiting to happen.

[@FurnitureFan]

Yes, absolutely. I realise people plan this to maximise worktop space, but I could not work that way with a microwave at eye level.

[@Bobrogers99]

A microwave over the stove is especially dangerous for older people. Taking out a hot dish at eye level can mean a trip to the ER. Also, microwaves do not have an effective extractor fan.

[@JamieM470]

Oh me too. Exhaust fans on the bottom of microwaves are so inferior to the ones in actual hoods. A microwave also takes up so much space right above the range top...it's ridiculous how much roomier and open and bright it feels when you replace that stupid microwave oven with a range hood. Also many people are not aware that when microwave ovens age, seams, screens, etc can fail or wear down, which means you're getting microwaved right at face/brain level. Manufacturers even warn about that. That makes installing one at face-height absolutely insane.

[@disqusrubbish5467]

This.

[@kathygann7632]

I’m old, and my microwave is above the stove, and I LOVE it. My daughter lives in a multimillion dollar home and her microwave is under the counter, and I hate it. I have to bend or squat down to see to program and squat to take anything out.

[@MrLGDUK]

Thank you, you've totally validated my choice to put in a huge number of drawers in our kitchen spaces, even though our builders wanted to murder me 😅

[@DaemonViews]

Also, don't be afraid to add outlets. It's really easy and only requires making a hole as you cover the rough edges with the plate. We added 4 outlets to a kitchen we didn't remodel.

[@jankoodziej877]

Oh yes. I have, hmm, 2 times 4 outlets hidden in the island top, 2 times 4 over the counter on the main kitchen wall, and an extra outlet on a side wall. Those are all freely available, there are separate hidden ones for the appliances. Never had I thought to myself I have too many and even if I never use all of them at the same time, I use most of them at least from time to time.

[@martinripka6898]

Dishwasher: Some people highly recommend a higher position, making filling and emptying far more easy and spine-friendly. Same advice for the oven. But possible only, if the kitchen is big enough to provide working space elsewhere. // In our kitchen we are happy with huge self - built waste- and recycling bins: large bags for plastic / paper / box for metal / cubes for glass / bin for organic waste / bin for rest waste ( from Austria, that's where my language mistkes come from)

[@jacquil6718]

My next kitchen will have all drawers in the base cabinets. I’m too old to go groping for stuff at the back of my cabinets. Also going to get a drawer dishwasher.

[@agoogleuser4356]

Metal has an advantage that you didnt mention, sanitation. If you have ever been in or thinking about the restaurant industry, it would be at the top of your list.

[@Geronimo2Fly]

I actually prefer appliances that you can see, rather than paneled. I think they nicely break up what I consider to be a monotonous look, and guests can tell where the refrigerator is without having to open all my cupboards LOL.

[@FurnitureFan]

Yes, seconded! Although noisy appliances are best in a utility room with a solid door. I love panelled doors, but not a whole wall of them.

[@viomouse]

Agreed. I think the monotony looks terrible. Also you never know which side the doors open without handles...

[@johnwalsh990]

Gosh not me. I do not like appliances. We hid everything we could, including the refrigerator.

[@heidig7773]

Under cabinet lighting is the best. As for putting them on same switch…no way. I have pot lights too but rarely use them, as the under-cabinet (and in-upper-glass cabinet) lights are plenty bright, and much more friendly as ambient lighting (pot lights remind me of surgery). But agree with switch LOCATION being common…my pot and cab light switches are in the same box at the entrance to the kitchen.

[@JuanCAraujoS]

For me the kitchen must be divided into three different areas: (1) Work, (2) Wash and (3) Logistics. This in order to have an uninterrupter workflow on either area so your cooking won't be interrupted by someone serving a glass of water or picking the dishes and cutlery to prepare the table.

[@michaelbeaver2292]

I love that you have Tetley Tea at eye height. Some things are just necessary.

[@johnharper257]

Teabags are never necessary. If you like tea, get proper tea leaves.

[@gigiatlas2364]

Tetley is for people who don't appreciate tea

[@carollewis5468]

When we purchased our home to retire in I got to design my new kitchen. It helps to be older because I feel you become more practical. I had our island designed with nothing but drawers on one side and on the other side I had a slide out garbage and recycling bin, another 3 drawers, pull out for cookie sheet & cutting boards a cupboard for an appliance lift since I have a very heavy Kitchenaid mixer. On either side of my range I have spices on the left and a pull out utensil drawer on the right which have come in very handy. I live in Canada so integrated appliances are just starting to come into fashion here. I had my dishwasher integrated but my fridge is not though it is counter depth and we had a custom made surround so you only see the front of the fridge. The island is in walnut and the perimeter cabinets are painted lacquer in a pale sage green since the back of the kitchen is quite a distance away from a direct light source. For lighting we have recessed ceiling lights, pendants over the island and the kitchen sink as well as under cabinet lighting. Since we have an apron sink I also asked for a pull out drawer so I wouldn't have to crawl under the sink to get dish soap or sponges, one of the best decisions I made. I really love my kitchen

[@oonarhu4681]

Such helpful observations about lighting and outlets. Those of us who DIY a lot often need to hire electrical work done. Your insights help avoid expensive redos. Likewise, great comments about door handles and latches. Might want to discuss cupboard door hinges sometime. Ours have a plastic internal part that inevitably breaks, requiring total replacement. A major expense over the years that we never anticipated.

[@FurnitureFan]

So helpful to consider all pros & cons, which are often subjective. Personally I always go for recessed handles which won't catch on people's clothing as they move around an open plan kitchen. Especially when they're in Halloween costumes 👻 My guests always seem to arrive early & chat in the kitchen & will load the dishwasher for me.

[@ummik8336]

My overhead cabinets open up to the top instead of to the side. I love that. Nobody bumps his/her head. Also, when i make a bottle in the middle of the night i just switch on the cabinet lights

[@joann5157]

Fabulous video! Drawers are 100% worth the investment. Full extension and soft close--even better.

[@saimanliu]

Always go for function over form! Efficient work-flow is way more important than aesthetics.

[@hanangoova]

OMG the best & most helpful video on kitchen design that I’ve seen (and I have seen A LOT)! Thank you so much! This is definitely amust see video for ppl who are planning their dream kitchen ❤👍🏻

[@elizabethsimpson3874]

Honestly, those routed top edges on drawers and doors are not as functional as handles. I have them and wet fingers slip off the edge, break finger nails. Bring back the handle. Not even a lip pull, a proper handle.

[@doubleleterlady]

At that point I’m putting some cutlery jars on the counter top 😂 I do agree on the drawers. When I do my kitchen I’m getting mostly drawers on the lower cabinets

[@RedRupert64]

Some interesting points to think about. I have some suggestions: A pull switch, for the counter top lighting, hanging from under the wall cabinet closest to the entrance door. The small metal bead type is virtually unnoticed, and being by the door, you don't have to go far to switch the lights off when you realised you forgot to. I agree that draws mess up a clean look, but also, like you, I think it's worth it. In fact, I've found that two layers of shallow draws at the top are extremely practical. We even keep often used plates in them. It looks as if you could do with a draining board. I know they're not cool, but even if you have a small and economical dish washer, it's a pain not having somewhere to put a couple of cups etc. For this reason I like a double sink. One half for washing; and one for draining. Your rack is not cool.

[@XV37]

Appreciate how your eyes capture both functionality and beauty simultaneously. A delightful video experience!

[@JenniferS-ef2sp]

1. Dimmer switches on everything. When I bought my new condo last year I had a dozen installed so I can completely control the ambiance. Dimmers on undercabinet lights, all the potlights, bathroom lights (much nicer than full power in the middle of the night). 2. Cleaning...It wasn't covered in the video but open shelving has become very popular in recent years. It looks lovely but when I see open shelves on either side of the stove, I'm kind of disgusted imagining what will happen when the bacon grease lands on all the stuff on those shelves, followed by a little dust. Ick. Every choice I made when renovating my place took cleaning into consideration. Yes I wanted it to be beautiful, but I want to do it with the least amount of cleaning. My new place has a nearly new kitchen so I'm going to work with most of the previous owners choices, but I wish they hadn't picked raised panel cabinets. I have 34 doors and drawers and the angled bit at the top of every panel means I have 34 extra things to wipe down every time I clean the kitchen. I am currently looking to redo the fancy (and I assume expensive) stove hood that the previous owners chose. It's got sloped sides and front so it catches all the dust and grease, and because it's in the same factory paint finish as the cabinets I can't use anything strong to degrease it. Again ick. I have to use dish soap to scrub it clean and then multiple wipe downs with a clean cloth to rinse the soap residue off. I'm going to have it redone in a boxy style with straight sides that won't catch dust, and likely in stainless steel - I like an industrial look and it will match my double wall ovens and built in refrigerator. 3. Microwaves - I wish people would stop putting them over the stove. Tall people may be able to reach over a hot frying pan to put food in and out but at 5'4 I certainly can't. I also can't see the food cooking and would need to repeatedly open the door and pull the food out to check on progress. I prefer the microwave either at counter height in a stack of cabinets, perhaps with a wall oven, or my personal fav - in the island right where I stand to do most of my work next to the sink. Wherever it goes it needs to be right in the main cooking area. Most things go in for a only a very short time so there is no point putting the microwave far from the main cooking area. On the other hand a regular oven can be installed outside the main work area because mostly you put something in for 20-60 minutes and don't need to babysit it. 4. maximizing storage - I completely agree about drawers. I have them everywhere. Great for storing tupperware so it doesn't rain down on your head when you open a cabinet door. I have my casserole dishes in drawers, pots, mixing bowls, etc. Also, when ordering the upper cabinets have them drill holes all the way from top to bottom so you can position the shelves exactly where you need them, and order an extra shelf for each one. The extra shelf and holes means you won't have wasted space over the stack of plates or glasses, and no need to stack the little plates on the big ones etc. 5. purely functional stuff: consider where the recycle bins and garbage will go, include a spot for a folding step stool to get to the highest shelf, is there a spot for the broom/swiffer etc so when the corn flakes end up on the floor you don't have to run to another room to get the cleaning supplies. In a small apartment it may be fine to store these items in a nearby closet but in a larger home it's annoying to have to take every can out to the recycling bin in the garage (or worse, let them collect on the counter until it's worth a trip...).

[@JohnnyMotel99]

I am not an architect or designer, but I designed the kitchen in my current house. I think I included almost every design feature mentioned here. I opted for all drawers below the worktop, the only doors being the sink cab and a pullout waste unit. No corner cabs either. Most used wall cabs are narrow doors. The only unit I slightly regret is a 300 full height full out, it's heavy and I don't use it as much as I thought I would.

[@camellia8625]

Solid wood can be refinished so many times so worth the extra expense

[@macsmiffy2197]

After many years of keeping my baking products in a bottom cupboard, I’ve recently swapped it to a deep drawer. It’s brilliant! Instead of having to pull everything out to get to stuff at the back, I just get what I’m using out. My kitchen is tiny, so keeping worktop clutter to a minimum while I’m cooking is paramount.

[@mffmoniz2948]

Oh, how I wish I had more drawers. The cabinets are very underused because it's hard to put and take stuff from them. Someone in the comments mentioned big baskets... I'll take the measures and go look for some baskets. Where I keep my canned goods that might be a good compromise. And maybe switch towels to a basket and free one of the tinier drawers for something else currently not working in the cabinet doors.

[@FurnitureFan]

I agree, a few top drawers are so, so useful. A tip for buying baskets; I found a whole row of woven wastepaper baskets for a third of the price of other storage baskets. If you're storing lightweight stuff like decorations etc, it works out well.

[@grimincat]

It would be great to have a cupboard that opens from the back door canned goods etc. Then you always get the oldest first rather than the newest. Very specialist but if you have a larder or utility room next to the kitchen then you could make use of it like that. Also no tall & narrow pull-out drawers were mentioned. They have uses and fit in gaps.

[@fredericapanon207]

There are also pull-out drawers for cabinets with a base that you screw to the shelf. You do lose a bit of the width, but it is so much easier to reach the back. Very useful for a bunch of canned foods.

[@GilaMonsdurr]

I do like having under cabinet lighting on without overhead lighting at night. Keeps the ambiance but I can see what I’m working on in the kitchen. Also reduces heat from the can lighting when I’m already heating the room with the stovetop or oven.

[@Mega.Luke87]

It's funny how chipboard is now High Pressure Laminate. :D Reminds me of vinyl now being vegan leather. :D Good video!

[@masbaiy4858]

The pressed clicking magnetic door is the best imo. They're more reliable than hinges in making sure the door kept close or kept open.

[@lispetera]

This video came just in time - I am considering a remodel of a kitchen for a new home. Great video!

[@Bobrogers99]

Plan to have the cabinets for dishes and the drawers for flatware adjacent to the dishwasher. It's a great time-saver when putting everything away.

[@Jeffnvz]

Great video, thanks for sharing. Liked. But I don't agree for No.5. Integrated appliances are basically the flagship products of various manufacturers. If you mean you want something like Submarine refrigerator, you need to custom the kitchen at the beginning. Appliances, especially integrated appliances, or oversized ones, need to be taken into the design at the beginning. Commercials generally choose stainless steel finishes for easy cleaning, so don’t worry about them. And if you are going to buy standing along appliances, for sure you should also consider the size when designing the kitchen, or compromise with the reality. For example, if the refrigerator will be placed against the wall, you could choose a deep one but with the additional side panel installed on the other side. But if it is placed in the middle of cabinets, you have no choice to use a cabinet depth one and install side panels to keep a unified look unless you want to ruin the design. Another thing you haven't considered is that if you buy a free stand stove or refrigerator or even a dishwasher, they all have gaps with the others. Your kitchen is full of big gaps when you look closely, especially for the refrigerator, which requires more than 1 inch on both sides. These gaps are not only looks ugly against minimalism, but also traps all kinds of dusts and wastes, especially those of the stove. You can see some clues in your daily life, and after only living for one year, when you finally decide move the refrigerator and stove to clean, you'll be shocked how dirty it is. For any new properties, generally speaking, only affordable ones use stand alone appliances. One selling point of an expansive property is fully integrated kitchens. They call this a sense of luxury. For No.6, the costco here sells heavy duty drawers for installing in the base cabinet, $50 for a pair. The width can be adjusted. A 30-inch cabinet can fit with a pair. Or you can find similar thing in Ikea from $30 to $100. The corner cabinet can be equipped with IKEA corner base cabinet carousel for less than $200. You can easily do the DIY with a screwdriver. The most expensive one are the one you mentioned - pull down shelving, a decent ONE costs at least $500 (the same brand with the heavy duty drawers in costco). For budget friendly, I would recommend a two-step steps from IKEA for $20, giving additionally maxime 16 inches in height.

[@eattherich9215]

Those huge jutting out refrigerators are because a lot of people get their kitchen from the big box stores that don't cater for integrated appliances.

[@FurnitureFan]

Thanks for the extra points to consider. My first apartment kitchen came with all integrated appliances, but they only lasted a few years. It was a major pain sourcing integrated replacements of the exact dimensions - those were always the dearest, plus they need installing & the hassle of taking the old units out, rather than pulling them out. When replacing, I had other priorities & didn't expect new appliances to last a lifetime - even when renting out, you like to upgrade to the latest features every few years, for power-saving & convenience. As a result I always go for freestanding appliances now. You simply have more choice and can shop around. For me, it's enough to have them all under a worktop rather than behind matching doors - also less confusing for guests 😊

[@pinkbunny92]

I’m about to embark on a kitchen renovation and really enjoyed this video! I’m all about form and function, and the practicalities and trade offs discussed in this video is so appreciated! 👏

[@kimberlyf4888]

We needed to replace the cabinet fronts in our kitchen, which had been push latch. We switched over to minimal finger pulls and no push latch, because I hated the former mechanism and, as you say, the kitchen always had open doors - and the bottom cabinets opened constantly if you leaned on them.

[@worawatli8952]

I have a section of counter with four 80cm wide drawers, I thought it was so expensive at first, but after living with it for a while, I love it, it's just incredibly space efficient I never run out of space. Also easy to get everything out. And it's black, so lines aren't that visible. I think choosing dark color is great way to hide seam lines.

[@Matty002]

im so tired of people using minimalism as a scapegoat for bad design. minimalism is supposed to still function. without function you dont have minimalism you have garbage

[@LJP863]

Absolutely right 👍🏼

[@alis49281]

We used Knoxult drawers (white, with custom black handles) with method appliances cabinet (sink and oven) the top cabinets are small black partial glass doors. The kitchen is tiny and the white bottom helps to make it look bigger below. The expensive top cabinets are the eye catcher, the glass also helps with spacing. But since the electricity is no good (yeah, we get zapped), we will have to renovate a little of that soon. We will see if we can move the wall a bit. It sometimes really pays off to pay attention in physics at school.

[@jimh4072]

In my last house and when I renovate this house none of the kitchen wall cabinets will have doors wider than 400mm. I found 600mm too wide in a galley kitchen. Great video. 😀

[@Micha-bp5om]

Yes, 600mm is wide but it looks more expensive than many 400mm cabinets

[@danross7194]

I had a great modern apartment in LA (The Elysian) and the upper cabinets were sectioned horizontally and opened from the top and folded in the middle so they were out of the way completely… you could even have all the upper cabinets open while you were cooking and you could move back and forth along the cabinets without the open upper cabinet doors getting in the way. I think they were an Italian design. They used heavy duty spring loaded or air hinges.

[@jim_bocho]

Big fat 7 3/8 head... 8 1/8 here. I have a small moon circling me. You make great points. I have a long, long list of things I want in a kitchen once I'm fortunate enough to have the space to build my own. In every apartment that I lived in I had one or more things where I thought "whoever planned this better ensures we never meet".

[@trinaroe5132]

Regarding wider wall cabinet doors, you can fix this issue without changing the door fronts by getting a wider opening hinge. A hinge that opens to 180° or near that solves the problem, even when the door is hinged on the wrong side.

[@sarahrosen4985]

I only use my under cabinet lights. The ceiling light only gets turned on when my youngest stops by. Really recommend.

[@eattherich9215]

I have track lighting and each of the four pots can be angled independently. Lighting under the cupboard is just frippery as far as I am concerned.

[@PLuMUK54]

​@@eattherich9215 How do you avoid your shadow on the work surface?

[@eattherich9215]

@@PLuMUK54: I work around it.

[@scottjones1715]

So many great things here I hadn't though about whilst planning our kitchen renovation. Thank you Daniel!

[@ryansoo4000]

Have you ever heard of Trufig outlets, which has a cover plate that integrates into the surrounding tile surface and disappears?

[@jomerrell]

repeating myself with an inserted reply, but we solved the problem you mentioned with drawers in cabinets by keeping the original top drawers, like for cutlery above the cabinets. Everything was custom built, so they factored in the need for easy access drawers and the cabinets are below them.

[@951000jerome]

Solid wood cabinets all the way. My childhood home’s kitchen is solid oak and is 33 years old. Endless water splashes and no warping. Specced my reef tank cabinet doors in solid ash, and 8 years of salt spray later, no warping.

[@carolvosloo1326]

My husband has just completed my new kitchen with 65 drawers and it is the best ever especially as a senior cook

[@Nick-fm5uv]

This is my first video I’ve seen from you! I like your style of editing a lot! Also loving the sweater does anybody know what brand that is??? It looks like the perfect quality!!!

[@ArkiPlan]

This video is really useful for those renovating, we often mention these things to our clients. We would hate for people to be months past completion and start to realise elements of the design don't work for them!

[@susanjohn6506]

In my base cabinets I have all my items in trays which I can pull forward to access everything easily. An inexpensive solution for us.

[@ersia87]

What you said about handles in the end reminded me of a pet peeve I have with handles in some kitchen. It's when the cabinet doors have handles along the whole bottom of the door making it impossible to know on which side to start pulling.

[@jaysonwilliamson970]

Excellent editing. Love the J cuts!

[@RTAV108]

Oh my God! Just last night I suggested my husband to get into habit of standing on the opposite side of the island coz if he is helping me right next to the stove, it literally gets dark at the counter space we are working! 😀 All in all, it tells me you are my soulmate on this subject of pointers on bad design of kitchen and how to avoid them. 😊 To SOLVE ALL THESE ISSUES while also retaining aesthetics, MY DREAM KITCHEN DESIGN is - 1. To have ONE WALL dedicated to ENTIRE STORAGE of the kitchen - a) cookware b) tableware c) pantry The depth of the cabinets/shelves will NOT be more than 15 INCHES (as against conventional 22 inches), so there is no issue of inaccessibility to backspace. The grid will be a combination of closed and open shelves with bottom-most and topmost row having taller shelves (so one doesn't need to bend or stretch in excess) and the middle ones sized according to the specific needs of the kitchen depending on the ethnicity (Why I am saying is, in Indian cooking we do use cookware of different metals and materials essential for specific dishes viz steel, iron, clay, stone, bronze, brass separately for savory and sweet dishes.) 2. To have one wall dedicated to ALL THE APPLIANCES - a) Fridge in a corner and then b) a continuous countertop across the entire wall length with one section for sink and dishwasher in the centre and the other end of the wall with vertical unit to host the oven, mixers, grinders, coffee makers. 3. ISLAND, gally style or square / rectangular or peninsular, whichever is permitted by the dimensions of the kitchen, with cooktop. the entire island (big or small, wide or narrow) serves as workspace as it is separate from any wall units or appliances or sink area. My personal preference is to NOT face the wall while cooking, which gets dark and boring. Instead, one can enjoy the view of the kitchen/house or the window. Benefits - 1. It eliminates the deep wall cabinets as well as base cabinets from the design. Also eliminates L shaped counters and cabinets along with all the pain of using and cleaning them. 2. The cook is not facing the wall all the time while prepping or cooking. 3. All the electric work is on single wall with its separate countertop. 4. 2 out of 4 (/3 if it is an open layout) walls of your kitchen are free of any furniture whatsoever! This space can be used for small dining area or decor or literally an empty minimalist space. I achieved most of this (if not all points) last year when we did partial renovation of our kitchen. ☺

[@katanyajason3316]

Because of the fact that handles often get in the way and can be quite dangerous, we also opted for no handles. We were going for the type of doors that we can see in this video ("J" profile) but for several reasons we decided against it. When visiting a friend who has these doors, we noticed lots of scratches and paint removal. This is because the lady of the house had long fingernails. They are also quite hard to open because one can only get one phalange into the groove and that is not much if you have long fingernails or arthritis (I actually broke a fingernail!) . Luckily we found a kitchen designer that had an alternate solution which is an oblique edge which is much deeper and a lot more comfortable to open.

[@anniestumpy9918]

That sounds like a very niche problem.

[@katanyajason3316]

@@anniestumpy9918 What do you mean by a "niche" problem?

[@FurnitureFan]

Great points for & against cabinet handles. Personally I love using the push doors because you can open them with an elbow instead when carrying a lot of groceries in 😊

[@fionataylor5112]

😂🤣😂

[@SarahCoxWrites]

Watching this was really quite validating. I’m renovating my 4th kitchen (so not my first rodeo 😂). My cabinet maker said he had never had a kitchen with so many drawers. I am now known as the drawer Queen to him 🤣. I also had LED lighting installed on the back wall cabinets. I have been wrangled into a push to close situation above the oven (to match my no handles on the wall cabinets) but I will change it if I don’t like it. Sadly, I had no alternative than to put our sink in the island, but our island is 4m long so hopefully it will be okay. I consciously chose white cabinets in a 2Pac finish which is a bit risky, but the laminate didn’t come in the colour I wanted. But by and large the design choices match what you have said. Thanks 😊

[@FurnitureFan]

Yay for drawer queens. My small extra tip is to have a decent scissors at the front of each drawer. It's saved me much frustration over the years!

[@peter65zzfdfh]

Drawer dishwashers are the best. You use them at least twice a day, and you use half as much effort to open/close it. Instead of open/pull out/add dish/push in/close you just pull it out, add dishes and close it. Non drawer dishwashers are even worse when you have to add things on two different levels in the dishwasher, and if you have kids that leave it open, it's at ankle level.

[@ggerdagg]

This video is genius and needs more recognition!

[@Saturnus666]

Never seen drawers behind cabinet doors. This is so impractical!

[@sherrieludwig508]

I have them. They are adjustable as to height, and I use them for the small appliances. I have drawers for utensils ABOVE those. For twenty years this kitchen has worked beautifully for me, and I cook daily.

[@jennymcdermid7345]

Such helpful and down-to-earth information. Thank you so much for addressing many of my own pet kitchen design peeves AND more!

[@nopetuber]

One advantage of freestanding appliances is that they usually have a higher energy rating (at the same price) than built-in ones.

[@eattherich9215]

I had an integrated fridge/freezer until I moved to my current home. It is a very small kitchen and I decided that I wasn't going to replace it completely. I changed the door and drawer fronts, worktop, sink and tap. My mother's freestandig fridge/freezer came with me from her old house.

[@alextodotango]

All your tips really resonate and I‘d love to send you a video of our kitchen, despite of the issues we had with it being our first kitchen. We are very happy with how it turned out and almost all of the points you address in this video are also dressed in our kitchen with solutions for all the issues you mentioned.

[@nonamenoname1133]

Forgoing drawers for minimalism is kinda like cutting your nose off to spite your face. People pick some very visually noisy marble-look surfaces in the kitchen that really ought to be rethought before you start cannibalizing the things that hide other pieces of visual clutter.

[@YSLRD]

I can appreciate the cover doors, but 100% on board with the marble design counnertops. Aside from the look, it's hard to be sure they're clean.

[@lattemacchiato1231]

"visually noisy marble-look surfaces" They are great if you have kids, because you cannot see the dirt in contrast to a uni-colered surface.

[@pcatful]

We got all drawers in our kitchen remodel. Love them. My wife always complained about the lower cabinets. We also got slow self closing doors and drawers and handles. Handles are more costly and installation can be incorrect, but you also keep your hands off the woodwork. I also agree on the lighting. Oddly though, code requires under-cabinet lights to be switched separately.

[@junethiel632]

I meant to add that we had bought our house in 1973, and then lived with a vast room with hardly a cupboard or functional anything in it for a few years, before deciding what we wanted....