1 Warm Colors- Your kitchen should have a feeling of warmth when you walk into it. Avoid using bright colors as well as really dark ones. Try to stick to a more natural tone when deciding what color to paint your kitchen.
2 Family items- One of the best things about my kitchen is an old plaque that says " Betty's Homemade Soups" It had been on my grandmothers wall as far back as I can remember and when I see that I always have a feeling of happiness..
3. The Stove- Make sure you buy what you enjoy. I personally love gas stoves.. Fast heat (although the new electric ones are super fast as well) and I have learned to visualize temperatures by the look and size of the flames.. The new electric ones that cool almost instantly and change color when cool are great especially if you have kids
4. The Fridge- I personally love the new stainless fridges. The clean sleek look does it for me, but that should not be the number one factor in buying a fridge. Be practical when choosing your fridge. Do you have children? If so, a side by side may be the best answer since you can put certain things at tier level. Personally I like the over under ones because it seems to be able to hold not only more items, but larger ones as well.
5 Dishwasher- Quiet Quiet Quiet. No kitchen should be without a automatic dishwasher. They are just way to convenient to not have, For me the biggest factor is I do not want to hear it! After dinner we like to play cards at the kitchen table and a loud dishwasher makes this very unenjoyable. My sisters new dishwasher is sooo quiet you can barely tell it is on even if you are standing right next to it.
7 Dual Ovens- Ok, this one is very personal. I love to bake and also love to have big dinners at my home. (Thanksgiving, Xmas, Easter, New Years.) Having a second oven is needed. They make some great over under models that incorporate a stove top with them as well.. You will be surprised that the price difference is not all that much
8 Microwave- Seems silly but not all microwaves are created equal. Make sure you buy one that has at a bare minimum, these features- Over 1000 watts of cooking power. Large enough for 2 plates to sit side by side, a turntable and lastly, looks. Other then my Hot water dispenser, this is what I use the most in my kitchen. Again, they are just too convenient.
9 Garbage Disposer- This is a MUST have also in my opinion. Food scraps go right down the drain and get ground into nothing. My new Insinkerator is also so quiet compared to my old one. It used to rattle things loose on my counter:)
10- I put this as number 10 but it is the ONE thing I could NEVER live without! My Hot Water Dispenser!. Having instant hot water (200 degrees) is incredible. I use this 10x a day easily. I make Tea, Instant Coffee, Oatmeal, Bullion, not to mention all the meals that need you to "add boiling water". This is also great for cleaning. Soaking a nasty dish in boiling, soapy water will remove just about any stained on mess on my dishes. It is absolutely incredible how many uses you will find for your Hot water dispenser.
