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Life Happens At The Kitchen Table

White and gray kitchen with stained table and pendants aboveBetween the formal dining room, home to Sunday and holiday dinners and the kitchen island counter stools, where bowls of cereal and avocado toast taste best, is the kitchen table. Often a bridge between the kitchen and family room, the kitchen table has grown slightly larger and infinitely more versatile over time.

“A kitchen table is often driven by need,” says Normandy Designer Vince Weber. “Maybe you host a book club or charity board meetings. Having a table that accommodates groups right off the kitchen makes it convenient to put out drinks and snacks and get down to the business of socializing.”

Dining table in the kitchenVince explains that when planning a kitchen it’s important to look at the purpose of each area. These days, flexibility is more important than ever. The kitchen table might transition from homework during the day to casual family dinners in the evening. At times in-between those activities there might be a conference call, coffee break or a 1,000 piece puzzle to build.

“Flexibility is everything,” Vince says. โ€œHow the area is used can change over time with your familyโ€™s needs.โ€

That doesn’t mean a smaller table and chairs can’t be just as useful. A round table with seating for four offers just the right amount of space for many families to eat, study and stay close to the kitchen action.

Sitting and eating are off kitchen for entertaining

While newer homes are often built with a sitting area off the kitchen with room for a table, older homes might need an addition to achieve the right flow and balance. Vince has worked magic for families with as little as 108 extra square feet.

What could you do with the knockout combination of kitchen island and table? Set up a time to talk with Vince about the possibilities your kitchen holds. There’s lots of inspiration to be found in the Normandy Remodeling photo galleries. Finally, if you like a daily dose of design, follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

modern style kitchen open to adjoining living roomGray island kitchen with glaze White kitchen with double islands and adjacent dining space

Not Just For Storage: Add An Appliance To Upgrade Your Pantry

Pantry with storage and appliancesWith a little bit of space, a thoughtful assessment of how your family uses the kitchen, and some real talk about what you’d rather not see most of the time, your pantry can work much harder to make every day easier. How? By building in appliances that are rarely used or to redirect some activity away from the main work area of the kitchen.

Whether you have a pantry room that can be closed off with a door or a butler’s pantry that is open with exposed cabinetry, there’s opportunity for more than just storing staples.

“It might be a little surprising, but some people say they aren’t really using their microwaves very often,” says Normandy designer Laura Barber, AKBD. “They can boxy and bulky, so banishing yours to the pantry maximizes the main kitchen storage and gets it out of the line of sight.”

The pantry can also be an ideal spot for a coffee center or wine bar. “It can be a really convenient place to make your coffee,” Laura says. “This is especially true when you choose a coffee system with a plumbed-in water line, which will keep you from going back and forth to the sink for water.”

Pantry shelving with full size refrigeratorA wine fridge below with wine racks and storage for glasses is another good use of pantry space. For a home with busy children who might like to grab their own snacks and drinks, a beverage fridge or refrigerator drawer with shelves of organized snacks offers autonomy for them while keeping the kitchen clear for meal prep.

Depending on the size of the pantry and its proximity to the rest of the house, it can make a lot of sense to put an appliance in the pantry.

Would you consider moving the microwave out of the kitchen? Or maybe you’d like to take some tasks out of the kitchen all together? Set up a time to talk with Laura about the possibilities. You can find more ideas in the Normandy Remodeling photo galleries. If you like a daily dose of design inspiration, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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