How to Make the Kitchen the Heart of the Home

November 9, 2022

You often hear it said that the kitchen is the heart of the home, yet it doesn’t work out that way in all homes. You might find yourself crammed or with no place to sit. If you are in the process of designing a new construction home, you can find an appealing floor plan with a builder like Ameri-Star Homes in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and customize it to your heart’s desire. Here are a few tips to make the kitchen the heart of the home.

Location in the House

In most floor plans, the kitchen resides at the back of the house. This is a traditional position; in the mid-20th century, floor plans closed off the kitchen to keep messes away from the view of guests. Today, it still typically is centrally located within the house where family and guests can enjoy an informal gathering space.

An Open Floor Plan

Modern kitchens use an open floor plan, which combines the room with a family room and possibly a dining room. There is free movement between the informal living space and the kitchen. This layout alone allows for more flexibility in making the kitchen the heart of the home.

Room for Everyone

The kitchen layout and size must be able to accommodate you and your family and guests. How big is your family, and how many guests do you expect to have at a time? If you plan for the kitchen to hold your family and guests, plan for the square footage necessary and a kitchen layout that flows.

A Place to Sit

Given the space and layout, you can add a place for people to sit in the kitchen. One way to do it is to add counter seating along the edge of the kitchen. It can be a straight countertop or create an L-shape or curve. Of course, island seating has become a predominant feature within homes allowing for seating and gathering. When building new, opportunity is presented to increase the size or configuration of the island space.

Appliances to Entertain

A kitchen is primarily for preparing meals; if you are using the kitchen to entertain as well as cook, consider your kitchen appliance must-haves carefully. Aside from the range and refrigerator, you might also want extras like a warming drawer, wine fridge, or even a second dishwasher.

Let Ameri-Star Homes Build Your New Custom Home!

Ameri-Star Homes was built on the idea that a home is not complete until the homeowner is 100% satisfied. That’s right, completely satisfied homeowners. Whether you want a home built on one of our home sites or on your own land, count on the same high quality from Ameri-Star. We have set out to exceed all your expectations of integrity, affordability, and customer satisfaction. Build lasting memories for years to come with Ameri-Star Homes. 

For more information, contact us today at 410-590-1000 or through our contact page. For more helpful custom home tips, keep in touch with us through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest!