5 Kitchen Must-Haves for 2024
If you’re thinking about a kitchen renovation, check out out top 5 kitchen must-haves for 2024. Some have been around for awhile, but were only seen in the most aspirational of kitchens with the most aspirational budgets.
But today these things are all within reach, especially with smart design planning! We recommend keeping a running tab of your kitchen must-haves. Use a Pinterest board, Houzz Ideabook or Instagram saved kitchen ideas folder to keep track.
When looking at these functional and beautiful elements, imagine how and where they’d work in your own home. Things to think about include:
- Are people getting in each other’s way when trying to cook together?
- Do I hate lugging heavy pots full of water from the sink to the range?
- Am I too bleary eyed in the morning to get my cup of Joe together?
- Do I want to show off a fancy coffeemaker or would I rather tuck small appliances out of sight?
- Are overnight guests able to find where the coffee, tea, mugs and sweeteners are in the morning?
- Would I like to be able to display grandma’s china, our wedding glassware, my Fiestaware collection or objects I’ve collected on my travels in the kitchen? Would seeing those things make me happy?
- What struggles am I having when prepping food in the kitchen? Can one person prep while the other one is at the stove?
Pot Filler
We just love the convenience of a pot filler, and our clients do too! So it definitely makes our top 5 kitchen must-haves for 2024. They are not only great for filling your tea kettle or pot, but also for filling items like vases or Britas.
Another favorable thing about pot fillers is that you’re not getting the bottom of said kettle, pot or vase wet in the bottom of the sink. And you won’t have to carry these heavy items from the sink to the range.
Finally, the beautiful look of many pot filler selections make them an aesthetic enhancement in the room. With their elegant silhouettes and pretty metal finishes, they are like the jewelry of the kitchen!
Coffee and Tea Bar
Another one of our top 5 kitchen must-haves for 2024 is a coffee and tea bar. For those of us who aren’t exactly morning people, this is a must. They make it so much easier to get that caffeine injection ready as quickly and easily as possible in the morning.
You may have the Ferrari of cappuccino machines — and left out on the countertop, it’s an asset to the kitchen design. On the other hand, you might swear by that not-so-handsome Mr. Coffee that is simple and works for you. Solutions include:
- Tucking it into an appliance garage
- Keeping it in a countertop cabinet with a roll-out shelf
- Placing the coffee bar in a butler’s pantry, scullery or walk-in pantry along with other small appliances
- Placing it inside a large pantry cabinet.
Another great aspect of having a coffee and tea bar is that it’s handy to have for overnight guests. Early risers can find everything they need to get a pot started without digging through all your cabinets.
Whatever your decision, we’ll help you find a way to keep your other coffee and tea accoutrements within reach. Mugs and cups, coffee beans, coffee grinders, tea bags, sweeteners, cream, lemon, stirrers, honey can be stored in the bar area.
Well-Planned Prep Areas
Prepping ingredients for a meal is an important part of cooking. And it’s also a great opportunity to get meals ready together. Now if that’s the case, you’ll need distinct work areas for two or more people to work in the kitchen together.
A prep area should have things like cutting boards, knives, trash/recycling, tools like graters, bowls and colanders nearby. Another element we recommend is a second sink for prep — more on that below.
We love the setup in the island shown above — a built-in cutting board pulls out like a drawer over the trash/recycling pullout. Scraps can be swept directly into the trash from the cutting board. And if you’re a composter, this is a great spot for a compost bin!
If you like to bake, think in terms of a baking station/prep area. A marble countertop to roll out dough, a special cabinet for the Kitchenaid mixer, baking tools and ingredients can all be kept together in their own area.
Prep Sinks
Speaking of prep areas, it’s always handy to have a second sink. Especially for couples and families who like to cook together. If the main sink is on the perimeter, a kitchen island is a great spot for a prep sink, like you see here.
Since people will be chopping and getting rid of things near the sink, we recommend a disposal in the prep sink. The simple, subtle button seen here controls the disposal. Keep a veggie brush and a scrubber brush handy as our clients did here.
This sink can also serve as a bar sink when entertaining. It’s always a fabulous feature for parties. Fill it up with ice and it’s the perfect place to keep beers and other drinks refreshingly cold.
We know we sound like a broken record with this one. It’s appeared on many of our must-have lists. But if you have the space, you’ll find the second sink invaluable, as many of our other clients have.
Display Areas
Leaving space for display is an opportunity to add your personal style to your kitchen. We’d love to help you find the best way to display art, objects from your travels, cookbooks, grandmother’s china, wedding crystal,
Some of our favorite ways to incorporate kitchen display space include:
- Open shelves
- Cabinets with glass doors
- Freestanding or built-in china cabinets
- Picture rails
We can also help you properly light these items with fixtures like:
- Cabinet lights
- Recessed under-shelf strip lighting
- Art lighting and other types wall lights
It may come up as number 5 on our list of 5 Kitchen Must-Haves for 2024, but that’s so you’ll remember it best. Personalizing your kitchen makes it feel like home.
We hope you’ve enjoyed these 5 Kitchen Must-Haves for 2024! Are you thinking about remodeling your home? If so, please give us a call to schedule a free consultation.
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