If you could redo your kitchen completely, what would you change to make it more suitable as a family kitchen?
Like, microwave up high so kids don't push all the buttons? Or cabinets that don't slam, or have handles that are easier to put child safety locks on... or anything.
And where do you go to look for inspiration for your dream kitchen and renovations? I'm looking at hgtv.com right now. Any other ideas are appreciated!
pomelo / 5678 posts
I love islands that face out- with sink and stovetop so that your back isn't to the rest of the room. You can still interact and watch LOs.
cantaloupe / 6146 posts
@Greentea: Is your kitchen open to the dining room?
That's a really good point. I will definitely consider that in our design!
pomelo / 5678 posts
@pastemoo: we have a set-up I really appreciate. The living and dining are all open with the kitchen- we have a large island (that I described) and at the end of the kitchen a french door closet with my washer and dryer- (totally hidden). It helps me multi-task while watching lo.
cantaloupe / 6146 posts
@Greentea: That's really cool!
We're buying a house where the last people added a new room (kitchen) but didn't finish it. I don't know if can open it the dining room (old eat-in kitchen) because the wall used to be the outside of the house wall. I would love to open it up though. I'm hoping if we can't open it completely we can at least put a window frame so we can look out to the dining room.
I wanted it open before but didn't think about watching my son from there. Very good plan.
honeydew / 7916 posts
Houzz.com has tons of photos and great ideabooks! I think they even have ideabooks about kid-friendly design.
blogger / grapefruit / 4836 posts
I am the opposite...I would be looking for ways to make it more accessible to kids, not less. My goal would be to make it so they can be as independent as possible. 
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
@pastemoo: honestly I would design it more for kid friendly meaning ways that they can be in the kitchen safer. Actually putting a microwave low is safer (for kids and adults) bc when they learn to start cooking and helping you can see what you're cooking and you are lifting hot foods rather than pulling them down onto your head. We have an under cabinet microwave and we love it. We've never had an issue with her playing with buttons.
I would look at the same for refrigerators. What is a model that has a snack door or a regular door (not French) so that as they get older they can get into the fridge themselves for drinks and snacks. Also on that one a fridge that has a water dispenser that fills up sports water bottles (taller).
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
@Mrs. Lion: agree!! They are only little for a year or two but then you've got like 5 plus years where you want them to be in there!
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
I would make sure to have a space for a computer. We spend a lot of time in our kitchen, I'd love to make it a place where we could all be at the same time. Also, I use the computer for recipes so having a designated spot for it would be perfect.
It's really nice having a set up Luke the one we have now. The kitchen opens to the eating are which opens to the family room. M can play in any of those areas and I can see her at all times. I would definitely try to see if you can open that wall any. You might be able to just leave support beams, if it was built properly....!
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I would look at possibly putting a counter at a lower height, kind of like a baking bar...the main problem that we have is my son likes to help, but I don't like him perched on a chair and we just don't have the space for a learning tower.
cantaloupe / 6146 posts
@T.H.O.U.: Interesting. I'm thinking he will surpass me in height by 6th grade, so I'm not super worried that he won't be able to reach things. I'm afraid of putting a microwave anywhere, really, and I don't know where they "should" go. I haven't had one in 10ish years.
@Mrs. Lion: Would there be a difference between short person friendly and kid friendly?
@mediagirl: That is a really good point. I kind of doubt we have room for one yet--but maybe some kind of tablet stand, like the old cookbook stands. Is that a thing? And yes, we have to see how well it was built. The one thing I worry about is if we totally open that well--we will only have ground level cabinets and no hanging cabinets (the other 3 walls are full of windows--not a bad thing).
@looch: Is there some other structure that would work like alearning tower? I don't have the $ for lower counters--but would LOVE it because I'm short. But I think we'll have enough supplies left over to build something that makes the kitchen accessible. Maybe?
Or do you mean like a small section of the kitchen that has a lower counter--like 1 foot wide only?
cantaloupe / 6146 posts
What age do you think is old enough to help. At 2, I sometimes let him stir while I hold him up, but otherwise, there doesn't seem like much.
blogger / grapefruit / 4836 posts
@pastemoo: haha probably I am working on a post about this now but if you Google montessori kitchen you will get all sorts of ideas of ways 2 year Olds can do real authentic jobs in the kitchen
eggplant / 11824 posts
We have cabinets that don't slam and they are awesome; I don't ever want to live in a house again without them!
pomelo / 5093 posts
My kitchen is too small for a learning tower, so my daughter has always just stood on a small, sturdy chair.
grapefruit / 4291 posts
We've had a breakfast bar in two of our places and I really like them! We kept a clip-on highchair at our breakfast bar and Miss A loved sitting, eating and watching while I was cooking. Now that she's nineteen months she climbs on to the barstools and scribbles while I cook or whatever.
watermelon / 14206 posts
I rearranged some cupboards so that D can reach some plates and cups. He's responsible enough to help himself to snacks and drinks but he couldn't reach some things. I also have some snacks and drinks accessible that he can get to on his own.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@pastemoo: usually baking bars are set down a few inches from the regular counter height, think about when you roll out dough, you kind of need the counter lower.
I was thinking an island could accomplish the same thing, but I really have no idea. We have an eat in kitchen and when my son helps, I set up everything for him at the table.
squash / 13208 posts
@pastemoo: Our kitchen cabinets are from IKEA and they don't slam - I love them!!!!
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