Many people with a passion for cooking may dream of creating a commercial-style kitchen at home. But there are more pieces to the puzzle than just installing a beautiful, but huge, professional range. Like any kitchen remodel, it takes some planning to create a practical, well-equipped workspace for cooking and entertaining in a style that would make any chef proud.

The 4 Elements of Your Gourmet Kitchen

1/ Ranges, Cooktops and Ovens

This is the first step in designing your gourmet kitchen.  When selecting an oven, it’s good to look for dual-fuel models. Many cooks prefer the responsiveness of gas, while convection ovens offer faster cooking times. Comparing BTUs is a critical step for your high temperature cooking needs. And the number of burners for your cooktop is not a given. Do you really need 6, or is 4 enough?  Continuous stovetop grates give you the flexibility to use griddles, wok rings and other large pots, pans and accessories easily.

Photo courtesy Jenn-Air.

2/ Ventilation

Sizzling or pan-searing at high heat without smoking up your gorgeous kitchen makes a powerful venting system a must!  This system can be incorporated in hood styles ranging from a modern glass and metal look to an antique coppery range hood, and anything in between.

3/ Sinks and Faucets

In a commercial-style kitchen, the stove may be your stage, but the sink is command central.  It needs to be large, deep and versatile. Stainless steel is a popular choice for a hard-working sink. Faucets need to be equally hard-working, including being tall enough to handle large pots. High-powered sprays and flexible hoses make rinsing vegetables and cleaning up quick and easy. Installing a pot-filler faucet near the stove is also a great convenience.

Photo courtesy Kohler Co.

4/ Right-Sized Appliances

Large-capacity refrigerators and dishwashers are important for a commercial-style kitchen. But it’s even more important to match your choice of appliances to the amount of space in your kitchen, as well as how you cook and entertain. You might not need the extra capacity.

Custom kitchen by Merrill Contracting & Remodeling

Space Planning and Finishes

The best feature of a professional-style kitchen is that they’re practical. That’s why space planning and finishes are so important.

Open Floor Plan

Will you entertain as you cook? Do you want several people helping with prep at the same time? A good floor plan eliminates unnecessary steps for the cook (or cooks) while creating an open, multi-functional area for sharing the fun of cooking.

Convenience

What is the best way to keep pots, pans, utensils, dishes and food at hand?  For some, the answer may be open shelves. For others, it may be clever storage that keeps what’s needed at hand while also keeping the kitchen clean and visually uncluttered.

Custom kitchen by Merrill Contracting & Remodeling

Easy-to-Clean Surfaces

Commercial kitchens often have lots of stainless steel and tile.  These may be easy to keep clean, but they may not be the finishes that you want for your own kitchen floor, counters and backsplashes. Fortunately, we can show you many new flooring and counter materials that are both easy to maintain and attractive.

We can advise you on all kinds of chef-friendly options that are properly scaled for you and your home. Give us a call and let’s talk about how to remodel your kitchen so you can cook with the ease — and fun — of a professional chef.