Hey, would you live with your dream kitchen? You know, one of the million that you've been pining? With the gorgeous marble tops, white cabinets, shining stainless steel appliances, possibly a butcher block, velvet stools... Who wouldn't, right? But seriously, would you LIVE with it? Serving pasta and tomato sauce to your kids on that pristine marble top; cooking bacon on Sunday on that shining 48" stove; have a science project explode on said counter? The horror, the dread...

As a kitchen designer, one of the most challenging things that I come across is unrealistic expectations about kitchens. The all-popular white kitchens are still at the top of the list in sales, but constatn cleaning can get in the way of your life. Nowadays, the general trends across all industries are tending towards practicality, durability and convenience, with kitchen design somehow falling behind. Think about it: sneakers became an acceptable form of footwear outside of gym; formal dining and sitting rooms are being eliminated from houses; and when was the last time you wrote a "thank you" note? Yet we are still dreaming of white kitchens, marble tops, intricate design elements, white backsplash and hardwood floors. Our lives are quickly becoming more and more casual and practical, and the surrounding world follows the suit. 

Ok, I get it, everyone wants that gorgeous magazine picture, but are you ready to watch marble like a hawk, cleaning every spill, and even then, there is no guarantee that it won't stain or etch? Kitchens carry a very important practical value: it's a place where you cook, eat, help your kids with homework and have a glass of wine in the evening. Kitchens are one of the highest traffic areas of any house. It is a heart of home, and, as such, has to be livable, practical and convenient. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you should ditch pizzazz entirely, but don't make it your top priority. Quality of the materials and convenience of the layout/design need to come first. Getting a kitchen designer is always a good idea. Not only do we spend hours and hours training and learning how to make your life in the kitchen a little easier and how to make every available inch of space useful and practical, we also spend a lot of time researching the latest trends, finding new storage solutions and new materials for your kitchen. So, instead of marble, you can get a worry-free quartz that will look gorgeous and will withstand anything you throw at it (even the science project); corner storage solution eliminate the need to dive head first into your cabinet to find something in the back; cabinet pullouts and inserts allow easy access to gazillion pots in your kitchen; toe kick drawers, lift ups for your stand up mixer, trash pullouts, recycling centers, filler pullouts, spice racks - the options to organize kitchens are endless.

So keep your mind open when planning your renovation, at the end of the day, the kitchen is probably the most  costly renovation project and the one carrying the most significance to your life in your home.