6 details you’ll find in a chef-quality kitchen

We can all agree that some kitchens have a “je ne sais quoi” that makes them a pleasure to use. Whether you’re working with a small footprint or have loads of available space, be it a renovation or a new build, investing in high-end kitchen details will always add value. Tailoring that room to your wishes and needs adds the ease that makes it a truly enjoyable space.

Real estate listings sometimes define a good-looking kitchen as a “chef’s kitchen”, but that often only applies to its look. Which details define a true high-end cooking space? This interior designer weighs in!

1. Crème de la crème appliances

Appliances are one of the top investments in a kitchen renovation. Features vary, and everyone has personal preferences. Steam oven? Massive gas burner stove? Downdraft vent hood? It’s definitely worth spending an afternoon at a specialty showroom, going through the models, being shown all of the bells and whistles, and deciding which appliances suit your fancy.

Some of the most beautiful appliances are fully integrated into the kitchen cabinetry. Don’t be fooled by very streamlined, simple-looking cabinetry. It often hides some of the most luxurious units on the market!

2. Quality finishes

Around here, we’re all of about authenticity: natural stone, exquisite marble, fine custom millwork and artisan-quality ceramics. The finishes on decorative hardware and plumbing often become the star of the show. However, functionality should also play an important role in material and fixture selections.

Perhaps you prefer a high-quality, easy-care quartz or porcelain countertop rather than finnicky Carrara. One of our favourite faux-stone countertops these days is Laminam’s high-tech porcelain surfaces. The subtle veining beautifully replicates sought-after marble slabs, and a variety of textures ranging from velvety to glossy offers options to fine-tune the feel of the kitchen. It out-performs stone in a number of practical ways, including heat-resistance and cleanability.

Remember that compromises are sometimes needed to achieve just the right result.  For instance, if you like a bolder style, perhaps a lacquered cabinetry finish in a stunning deep colour better fits the design intent than wood.  It’s not a crime to substitute a classic mosaic backsplash for that trendy inlaid onyx if you genuinely prefer it.

Whatever your selections, be intentional and true to the design intent without compromising quality.

Display courtesy of Perrin & Rowe at IDS 2024 / Laura Muller-Four Point Design Build Inc

3. A place for everything

Have you ever noticed that when you open cabinets in a well-appointed kitchen, it looks organized and items are easy to find?

In the planning stages, it’s important to consider how a kitchen will be used, and where things will go. Small appliances, oversize dishes, cooking utensils, spices, baking tools should all have a place. Pantry cupboards can be organized and beautiful.

4. Flow

Perhaps the most subtle of details is how a space feels as you move through it and use it. Taking into consideration cabinet door and appliance clearances, traffic flow and how multiple cooks will work around each other is a hallmark of great kitchen design. Work zones, adequate counter space and accessible, practical storage all have an impact of our enjoyment of the space. This is often where hiring an interior designer can bring value to a project. A professional eye can envision the big picture, and hone in on crucial details.

5. Specialty items

Kitchen gadgets have come a long way in recent years, and none more so than the hardware and organizers in cabinetry interiors. Pantry pull-out units and interior drawers are go-to features in modern kitchens. But you will also find pull-out garbage centers and corner units, utensil and knife dividers, spice organizers and dishware systems, to name a few.

These amenities keep often-used items easy to access and make use of any dead space in your cabinets. They are especially invaluable in optimizing a small kitchen layout!

5. Small luxuries

When planning a kitchen, it’s important to draw up a wish list. What is the one thing you’ve always dreamed of having in your kitchen? Which feature would make you smile every time you see it?

Although function is high on the list of kitchen renovation considerations, adding a dose of happiness will ensure that you feel at ease in your space every day.

Many thanks to Häfele and Laminam for supplying many of the products featured in this post. Stay tuned to see them installed in our beautiful Kamouraska River House project! 

We would love to assist you with the design and renovation of your kitchen. Mimi Pineau Design creates high-end residential interiors with a tailored, modern edge and imbued with comfort, quality and beauty. Contact us to inquire about how we can assist you!