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From Layouts to Range Hoods: 5 Kitchen Renovation Questions Answered

Renovating a kitchen involves a lot of decisions, and certain questions come up over and over again, so we thought we would throw out some answers for you. Here are the top five questions we encounter during kitchen renovations, along with insightful solutions, plus a few ways to Un-Urth your kitchen with custom metal touches… of course!

The 14 features a spacious modern kitchen with white cabinets, a large gray island with wooden stools, stainless steel appliances, exposed brick ceiling accents, and countertops adorned with decorative items and fresh produce.
The 1 circle product features a large orange number 1, centered within a thin orange circle on a light gray background.

“What’s the best layout for my kitchen?”

The layout is the backbone of your kitchen. A practical layout saves time and money as it integrates electrical, plumbing, cabinetry, and ventilation. We’ve all heard about the “triangle” since it has been around since the 40’s. But, it isn’t the only game in town. We get to check out some of the best designers in the country and take a peek into the layouts they love and build for their clients. Here are a few to consider:

Modern kitchen featuring the L Shape with light wood cabinets, a long island with marble countertop, four barstools, open shelving for books, stainless steel appliances, gold vent hood, large windows, and decorative pendant lights.
The 2 kitchen features brick walls, wooden cabinets, open shelves with jars and bowls, a stove topped with a red pot, and double glass doors that open to a lush garden. Sunlight streams into the rustic space.
The 3 features a spacious farmhouse kitchen with wood cabinets, black range hood, white subway tile backsplash, central island seating four, pendant lighting, and large windows for ample natural light.
Product 4 features a modern rustic kitchen with wooden beams, gray cabinets, a spacious island with stools, pendant lighting, stainless steel appliances, and an open dining area highlighted by large windows for natural light.
  • L-Shape: Great for small to medium spaces. The Triangle can work within this kitchen layout with the legs of the L perpendicular to one another. We often see the range anchored on the leg of the L that is first seen when walking into the space. That gives a spectacular view of a strongly designed, and spectacular range hood while keeping the sink across anchoring the other leg.

 

  • Galley: Efficient for serious cooks. This is really the original perfect kitchen design and it never fails to disappoint! Perfect for smaller spaces and always reminiscent of Parisian kitchens with every thing perfectly placed, close and accessible.

 

  • Island-Centered: Ideal for entertaining and perfect if you’re planning to feature a show-stopping island range hood. This kitchen layout has become the mainstay of modern kitchen layout for a reason. The island gives the perfect standing height table to gather around and keep an evening with family and friends more casual than the dining tables of our parents.

 

  • Open Floor Plan: Perfect for family interaction and keeping your kitchen visually connected to living spaces. We will often see these more open spaces in the South where the open floor plan allows the heat to rise and keep the space fresh, airy and open. 

There’s no single “best” layout, just the one that allows you to get what you need out of the space. Whether, quick and close master chef kitchen, or spacious with a large island to gather, the perfect one has to fit what you love and want from your space. Let your kitchen layout enhance what you love about being in there.

The "2 circle" features a bold orange number 2 centered within a matching orange circle, set against a light gray background.

“Do I need a kitchen island, and how big should it be?”

A kitchen island serves multiple purposes: prep space, casual dining, storage, and even a stage for your cooking. If space allows, it’s a valuable addition. Guidelines you will want to keep in mind when choosing an island size include:

The 5 features dark wood cabinets, a large island with gold barstools, modern appliances, fresh flowers, arched windows for natural light, and warm hardwood floors that create an elegant kitchen space.
The sunny modern kitchen features 6’s wood cabinets, white countertops, a large island with a bowl of apples, stainless steel stove, black range hood, and wide windows that fill the space with natural light.
Product 7: Modern kitchen featuring wooden cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a spacious marble island with sink, four high-backed chairs, pendant lighting overhead, and decorative potted plants.
  • You will want to maintain 36″ – 42″ of clearance around all sides. This allows for easy movement around the space, access to lower cabinets to open and pull out large items like platters or cookie trays, and of course ability to open dishwashers, fridges and other appliances that might be around the island or on the other lower cabinets across the walk way.

 

  • At least 24″ of depth for workspace. This is pretty standard for all lower counters, so nothing really new here. Once you get much more shallow, you will have a harder time finding standard cabinet boxes to support the counter and your work surface will be much more limited.

 

  • 12″ – 16″ of overhang when you are tucking seating up next to the island. It’s not fun when your knees are knocking up against the wall when you are snapping green beans or enjoying a glass of wine with your spouse at the end of a long day. 

And the bonus that we love about a kitchen island? It is the perfect place to float a sculptural range hood and really set the space up for a spectacular “wow” factor. What’s not to love about that?!

A large, orange number "3" (Product Name: 3) is centered inside a matching orange circle on a light gray background.

“What appliances should I choose, and which ones are worth the splurge?”

Essential appliances usually include a reliable range with oven, a quality refrigerator, and a quiet dishwasher. Of those 3 basics, the range and the refrigerator also offer design choices that can really set your space apart. You will also want ventilation when you have a gas range, or even with an electric or magnetic for the design impact it can offer. That said, downdraft is also a choice if you want to keep the space clean lined and clear. As for the dishwasher, it is usually best camouflaged into the cabinets and hidden as it isn’t glamorous, but you also can’t live without!

Your choices should match how you actually cook and entertain, but this is the base line. From there, the options are endless and we have no doubt there is now an appliance for every nuance and cuisine you could imagine. With that in mind, if we concentrate specifically on luxury environments and consider what our designers and builders have gravitated towards, here are our leading suggestions:

A Food warmer holds a tray of roasted carrots, a meatloaf topped with tomato sauce in a pan, and stacked plates on a rack inside its stainless steel compartment.
A modern living space features a brown leather lounge chair, side table with a cup, Built in Espresso coffee machine set in matte black cabinets, abstract art, and minimalist decor on gray floors and walls.
A modern kitchen with light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances including a double dishwasher, a farmhouse sink, and a white countertop. Chopped vegetables sit on a cutting board by the sink as sunlight streams through large windows.
  • Warmer Drawer: This is certainly a luxury, but if you have one, you will find you don’t know how you lived without it! It is perfect to keep prepared foods warm while guests arrive and everyone is catching up before diving in. Perfect for juggling multi-course meals by keeping food warm without drying out or over cooking. Plus, if you are a baker, this drawer doubles as a dough proofer, and even helps with thawing food you forgot to pull out of the freezer on time.

 

  • Built in Espresso System: Nothing says good morning like the smell of freshly ground beans and the warm smell of fresh coffee. Why not pull it off the counter and build it right into the cabinets? The look is elevated and the ease is unmatched. We say yes to this one for sure!

 

  • Wine + beverage cooler: These little under counter fridges always have a place in a stocked kitchen. Chilled wine ready to pour, snacks and drinks for the kiddos to easily grab and a place to direct guests when you are not ready to share all the items you have tucked away in your larger, over filled main refrigerator!

 

  • Secondary Dishwasher Drawer: We already have a dishwasher above, but we are going to give honorable mention to the dishwasher drawer for those times when you have have guests and don’t want to handwash the overage while the main washer is running! These are often best tucked next to a prep sink in the island or in a butler’s pantry. Makes the perfect spot to run a load of more fragile drink wear in one batch.
The product "4" features a large orange number 4 centered inside a thin orange circle, set against a light gray background.

“How do I balance luxury kitchen materials with durability and easy maintenance?”

This is the million dollar question! We all love the look of white marble and unlaquered brass until we leave a wine glass too long or have to get in there and actually polish that brass back up with elbow grease and a case of micro fibers. Our designers have recommended a few high luxury, great design and ease of maintenance materials for you to check out:

A modern white kitchen featuring Product 8 — an island with four chairs, a large vase of green branches, a bowl of lemons, stainless steel appliances, and two sunlit windows.
A luxurious kitchen features Product Name: 9—a large wooden island, three white stools with gold accents, marble backsplash, glass-front cabinets, two elegant chandeliers, a farmhouse sink, and expansive windows for natural light.
A modern kitchen features 10’s light wood cabinets, a gold range hood, gray subway tile backsplash, marble countertops, a wood-base island, and pendant lights. Sunlight enters through large windows and a glass door.
Sleek kitchen features wood cabinets, marble counters and backsplash, metal range hood, open shelving with dishes, pendant lights, and a spacious island with built-in sink and stylish faucet. Highlighted product: 11.
  • Quartz: Beautiful, large selection of options, non-porous and easy to maintain. This is a spectacular option to use as main cabinet counters, island topper and even full wall backsplash behind the range.

 

  • Stainless Steel: Durable, modern, and timeless, Stainless is a perennial finish in modern kitchens although we do like to warn that stainless is stain-less, not stain-never. If it is being cared for, stainless should last for years in your space without issue.

 

  • Brass and Custom Metals: Bring warmth, personality, and the opportunity to tie in your range hood or hardware across the space with metal counters, backsplashes, lighting and even cabinet faces. Of course, you know we are partial, but metal is the best!

 

  • Quartzite or Natural Stone: Gorgeous and artistic, natural stone and quartzite had so much organic and natural tone and texture to the space. It can hold up to some serious wear and tear, although it is often porous and you can expect a more natural, living finish when dealing with this natural material
A large, orange number "5"—the product name—is centered inside a thin orange circle on a light gray background.

“How do I connect the kitchen’s look with the rest of my home?”

Connecting spaces is as easy as flowing your own story from room to room. The kitchen is not separate from the rest of the space, it is a continuation of your personal style and a place to show off all that you love. The goal isn’t to match every detail perfectly, not even to create a space that screams design, but to create a visual rhythm so your home feels intentional and genuinely you.

Product 12 features a sleek modern kitchen with dark gray cabinets, stainless steel stove and hood, minimalist shelving for dishes, and a kitchen island with a wooden inlay topped with dark flowers—perfect for contemporary spaces.
The 13 features a black and gold stove, white marble island, patterned tile floor, copper pots on the wall, and a blend of modern and vintage decor. Fresh bread, fruit, and greenery adorn the island.
The 14 features a spacious modern kitchen with white cabinets, a large gray island with wooden stools, stainless steel appliances, exposed brick ceiling accents, and countertops adorned with decorative items and fresh produce.
Experience a modern kitchen featuring product 15: wood cabinets, marble countertops and backsplash, a central island with a gold faucet, black pendant lights, greenery in a vase, and large windows for natural light.
  • Repeat colors and finishes. This is the easiest, and most powerful way to create a space that flows together from room to room and space to space. Keep the palette consistent… but not identical. Think sisters, not twins. Use related hues, shared undertones, or a consistent temperature (all warm or all cool tones). This builds connection without a copy-paste like feel.

 

  • Keep hardware styles consistent. Although hardware is small and a detail in the space, keeping those cohesive really packs a punch. When knobs, pulls, hinges, and even door levers share a common stile, finish or silhouette, the whole house suddenly feels more intentional and elevated. Not every piece has to match perfectly, but keeping the overall language consistent prevents the space from feeling visually choppy. Close a “family” of styles and tones that start in the kitchen, they works its way room by room.

 

  • Repeat shapes and silhouettes. If you have arched doorways, consider an arched range hood line or softer rounded pendant lights. If your home is full of clean, linear architecture, set your kitchen reflect that same simplicity. Shapes tie spaces together just as much as color.

 

  • Coordinate lighting. Lighting is one form of the sneakiest connectors in your arsenal of great design. It can make everything purposeful and beautifully tied together without anyone quite knowing why. Instead of treating each room like its own island, think of your fixtures as part of a larger conversation with similar finishes, or reoccurring design detail. When your lighting speaks the same stylistic language, your home develops a gorgeous flow, starting at the kitchen which most often shows off the largest selection of your specialty fixtures.

At the end of the day, trust your eye. When your home feels calm, cohesive, and unmistakably yours, you will know you got it right!

Ready to Make Your Kitchen Functional and Beautiful?

Renovating a kitchen means making a lot of choices, but the good news? With the right layout, thoughtful appliances, durable yet luxurious materials, and a little intentional design, your kitchen can be both highly functional and unmistakably “you.”

And if you’re dreaming of custom metal pieces, like custom range hoods, that bring warmth, craftsmanship, and soul into your home, we’re here to help you Un-Urth your space!