This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: What should you think of when planning the kitchen of your dreams?
A: Good design must strike the mark visually, emotionally and functionally. Unless you take the time to put it all together and make it really personal, it will never meet your expectations.
Q: If you know exactly what you want, should you be working with a general contractor or do you need to hire a kitchen designer?
A: It is difficult to get the results you want unless you hire a professional. Entrepreneurs have a lot of practical experience, but an interior designer will make you think of what you want in a way that might not be the case for an entrepreneur. It’s a designer job to ask questions about your lifestyle, your family and your preferences. The advantage for a kitchen designer is that he knows how to draw plans within an eighth of an inch of his life. The most important thing is to have a conversation with someone who really understands the interiors.
Q: How has the design of the kitchen changed over the years?
A: After looking at around 700 kitchens for this book project, I realized that I barely saw the ones that didn’t have an island. I think the work triangle has evolved into the oval of the racetrack because you are no longer in direct line from the sink to the fridge and the oven and vice versa. The popularity of the island has really changed the way traffic patterns work in the kitchen.
Q: Let’s talk about money: high-end devices or custom cabinets can be budget breakers. If you have madness in the kitchen, where should it be?
A: The material can be transformative. There are so many options for buttons and handles; having beautiful equipment is like putting on your favorite piece of jewelry. You can change the feel of your kitchen from something that is rather ordinary to something very special.
Q: But most people probably choose the hardware at the end of the process, almost after the fact.
A: Exactly, and that’s the problem. I think the second you choose your door style, you have to think about the hardware. This can be a significant investment, but it is worth your money.
Q: You must have a lot of opinions on the taps. What to look for?
A: Obviously, you want to like how it looks and feels in your hand. Turning on the tap is a humanistic and tactile thing. If the pieces are not superb, you may get the impression that they are jerky when you turn the lever. You want a kitchen faucet that works so intuitively that you never have to think about the direction in which the handle turns. Then ask if the scale is suitable for the size of the sink. Make sure the faucet or fitting you choose is large enough to tip from one sink to another. If it is a swan neck, it should be high enough not to touch your pots every time you clean them.
Q: You could spend $ 60 or $ 6,000 on a faucet. Why is there such a price range, in addition to the obvious variations in finishes and quality of design?
A: It’s hard to know what’s going on inside a tap unless you cut it in half, so it’s helpful to have questions ready when you’re shopping. Ask where the valve is made and how you can get spare parts. Above all, you want to make sure that your faucet is made of high quality brass. You don’t want plastic parts inside your faucet. My advice is to always buy the highest quality kitchen faucet possible. It is used hundreds of times a week by various members of your family, and it should last a long time.
Q: What should homeowners look for when choosing a kitchen sink?
A: Consider the size and the depth. Think of your biggest pot: is it a pot of lobster broth? Then you will need a fairly deep sink. If you opt for stainless steel, look at the quality. 20 gauge stainless steel makes a lot of noise because it is very thin. 16-gauge stainless steel is quieter because it has a support that muffles the sound of water. It is also more solid and does not pitch up as easily over time.
Q: Is there a particular finish that better hides fingerprints?
A: I have a matt nickel finish, and it’s really easy to maintain. As a general rule, any shiny finish, such as chrome, should be wiped regularly. All water contains minerals; once the minerals get on the tap, they interact with the finish and you get stains. If you have a nickel finish, you can apply a layer of carnauba car wax, which applies a light coating to the finish and maintains it for longer. Doing it every six months, or even once a year, helps.
Q: What factors should homeowners take into account when choosing a cabinet style?
A: Your wardrobe style should have some relation to the period of your home. If you are someone who has a traditional style home, you will want some sort of paneled door that nods, but the same type of door may seem silly in a more modern home. Thinking about the time of your house, even the style of your furniture, ensures that the cabinets do not become that discordant element that seems to land in your kitchen out of nowhere.
Q: What do you think of the darker trend in cabinet colors?
A: Fully white kitchens have had their times and then some, so I like the idea that kitchens can be moody and dramatic. In addition, it is difficult to distinguish one white kitchen from another. Once you introduce a color, it starts to feel a lot more personal.
Q: Any guidelines for coordinating the counter with the cabinets?
A: Cabinets always have ups and downs, and the countertop is the connector. The countertop and backsplash process, which can be two completely different materials (and I often prefer that they are), is about how they talk to each other. It doesn’t matter if the counter is an active marble or the backsplash is a tile with a cracked varnish. They should have a connection and a conversation with each other.
Q: Colorful encaustic style tiles have been popular for some time. Is there any downside to getting so bold with the pattern?
A: If you like the pattern and want to bring multiple colors to your kitchen design, give it a try. Personally, I love the pattern, but I love it on someone else or in their kitchen. Your kitchen is a long-term investment, and there are ways to inject much less permanent patterns. For example, you can line a small corner with a breakfast corner.
Q: How do you hope this book will help people?
A: There are enough styles of cooking, materials and ideas represented that if you are thinking of reshaping, the pictures in the book could help cement your vision. There is even a bright red kitchen from Bunny Williams. If you’ve ever considered having a red kitchen, I hope this book will give you the confidence you need.
