Redoing kitchen...what do you LOVE in your kitchen??

We are starting the design process of re-doing (and enlarging) our kitchen. I love to cook, we have a big family (4 kids) and love to entertain. What kitchen gadgets, design elements, etc do you LOVE in your cook's kitchen? So far on my list are a pull out spice cabinet (looks like a cabinet, but pulls out, so you can see all of the spices), a beverage center w/ wine chiller and mini fridge (away from main cooking area), cook top, double wall ovens and an advantium...what else?! This is our 'forever' house, so we want to get it all right!!!

TIA!
Jess

We are starting the design process of re-doing (and enlarging) our kitchen. I love to cook, we have a big family (4 kids) and love to entertain. What kitchen gadgets, design elements, etc do you LOVE in your cook's kitchen? So far on my list are a pull out spice cabinet (looks like a cabinet, but pulls out, so you can see all of the spices), a beverage center w/ wine chiller and mini fridge (away from main cooking area), cook top, double wall ovens and an advantium...what else?! This is our 'forever' house, so we want to get it all right!!!

TIA!
Jess

A kegerator ?

http://www.kegerators.com/kegerators.php

My favorite things when I re-did our kitchen:
1)Eliminate the useless soffit and run your kitchen cabinets all the way to the ceiling. It gets rid of a dust catcher, gives you lots of storage space, and makes the kitchen look bigger;

2)Cabinets are usually seated on a flat 2x4; get the installers to turn the 2x4 on its side so the 4 inch side is vertical. That extra 2 inches makes all the difference in the world to this achy back surgery patient;

3) base cabinets with pull out shelves, using heavy duty glides so I can pile all my calphalon on and not worry about the shelves collapsing. Also great on the back (a recurring theme in my kitchen!) so I don't have to bend over and pull things out of the back;

4) my spice cabinet has deep pockets on the doors to hold those large spice containers that come from Costco, Sam's, etc, as well as bottles of vinegars, oils;

5) deep pocket drawers, stacked 4 tall and only 5 inches wide, on either side of the stove, to hold all the spoons, spatulas, mitts, turners, and crap;

6) gas stove

I tried to be a really awesome wife and buy my hubby a kegerator last year for Christmas, but he said he didn't want it...

I hate my kitchen. I need to re-do the whole thing. Not enough counter space. Not NEARLY enough, and no room for the hubby and I to be in the kitchen, cooking together.

My favorite things when I re-did our kitchen:
1)Eliminate the useless soffit and run your kitchen cabinets all the way to the ceiling. It gets rid of a dust catcher, gives you lots of storage space, and makes the kitchen look bigger;

We rent a great condo at the moment, but the kitchen could use an update - I just can't seem to talk my landlord into putting in that Viking range and double oven without raising the rent. Heh.

Seriously though, Amy's point is great, and we were lucky that our place has cabinets that run to the ceiling. Of couse, our ceiling is 12 feet, so we need a step ladder to get up there, but the extra storage space is priceless.

My favorite things when I re-did our kitchen:
1)Eliminate the useless soffit and run your kitchen cabinets all the way to the ceiling. It gets rid of a dust catcher, gives you lots of storage space, and makes the kitchen look bigger;

We did the same thing in our 12' tall kitchen. Great use of space but can never remember what's up there unless we get out the ladder. (Oops, Brad beat me to it.)

2 oven plus advantium is a great call if you do a lot of cooking. I also cant imagine getting by without a 6 burner range, especially around the holidays.

I recommend a heavy duty lift like this http://www.stuffcookswant.com/2008/11/heavy-duty-mixer-lift/if you have a kitchen aid you don't want to lug up to the counter everytime you use it. If you do this, make sure there is electric running to the inside of the cabinet so you can leave it plugged in all the time.

I tried to be a really awesome wife and buy my hubby a kegerator last year for Christmas, but he said he didn't want it...

1. gas stove
2. farmer sink, deep with only one compartment
3. magnetic knife strip
4. DISHWASHER!
5. counterspace counterspace counterspace
6. hanging pot rack (utilizes otherwise empty overhead space, while saving tons of space in your cabinets)

The only thing I would add that others have not mentioned is a warming drawer. I also feel it wise to rev up the horsepower on the garbage disposal.

I second the following suggestions:
1) gas stove top
2) pull out shelves with heavy duty glides in all base units.

My personal preference is for a dedicated knife drawer rather than a magnetic knife strip.

Finally, in addition to countertops, countertops, countertops I believe good kitchen design incorporates at least two different surface options in the countertops and also at least two levels.

Double-oven, for sure (at least one of which is convection). Perhaps most important a warming drawer. I'm in my second house that has one, and don't know that I could live without at least one!

TP

(oh, yeah ... at least two kitties to lie around and be cute!)

a good way to organize all those stinking pot and pan lids!! any suggestions welcome, we are thinking remodel in a year or two and I can't ever figure out what to do with those things that doesn't take up a ton of room and keeps them orderly.

pull out counter space, sure there is another name for it, but one of my friends had a shelf that pulled out from under the counter for extra counterspace, you can never have too much!

(1) My enormous stainless steel farmer's sink with only one bowl. I can wash any amount of dishes, get any size pan, and do just about anything I want. My two youngest kids sat comfortably in it before we had it installed.

(2) Getting rid of the stupid soffit. Extra cabinet space and I swear it actually makes the kitchen look bigger.

(3) A giant table in the middle of the kitchen to accomodate the whole family plus a few more if they show up. I hate the "breakfast bar" they put in modern kitchens. I like a real table for real eating and real conversation. I won't go on a rant, but the breakfast bar just encourages solo eating in my opinion. Also, when a task is going to take a really long time, like pitting enough cherries for jam or chopping a big load of beans, I'll just sit down at my table and talk to the kids while I work.

(4) Splurging on the xenon under cabinet lights. No extra heat and great lighting of the workspace.

Redid and enlarged a few years ago! It is so wonderful! but the dishes still don't jump from the table to the dish washer!! A few of my favorites.
1-Dishwasher is elevated 6". This also gives the sink island an elevation and on the room side I have 3 sets of double door, shallow cabinets for cookbooks, and one area for display shelves.
2-For all things used with regularity no over head cabinets. I call it a Old Ladies Kitchen. On the right side of my cooktop and work space is a cabinet, about the height of the refrigerator (which is next), with five pull out shelves full if staples--flour etc, spices, measuring cups, rice, pasta.
3-dish storage is just across an isle from the dishwasher. Here the top cabinets come all the way to the counter. The shelves in these upper cabinets all have adjustable shelves. I think I have an extra shelf somewhere. One of the base cabinets in this group has full shelves, two. Great to fill with the dishes, platters, bowls used to entertain. One base has two deep drawers. and the last has a regular narrow shelf under which a store soft drinks and a section with two tall compartments for baking sheets, etc.
4-My sink is stainless with a disposal in a smallish bowl on the right and on the left is a big deep bowl. On the right also is a stainless drain board.

I will second the magnetic knife strip. Fabulous.
A second small sink.
My pre-wash faucet. Just like restaurants have. AKA "the car wash. " I don't know how I ever functioned without it.
An appliance garage for the blender, toaster and food processor WITH electric outlets inside the cabinet.
Flat screen TV.
2 ovens.
bookshelf.

My favorite things when I re-did our kitchen:
1)Eliminate the useless soffit and run your kitchen cabinets all the way to the ceiling. It gets rid of a dust catcher, gives you lots of storage space, and makes the kitchen look bigger;

3) base cabinets with pull out shelves, using heavy duty glides so I can pile all my calphalon on and not worry about the shelves collapsing. Also great on the back (a recurring theme in my kitchen!) so I don't have to bend over and pull things out of the back;

5) deep pocket drawers, stacked 4 tall and only 5 inches wide, on either side of the stove, to hold all the spoons, spatulas, mitts, turners, and crap;

6) gas stove

I echo the above from Amy. Also:
1) love my warming drawer

2) deep drawers ( 2) under my gas 5 burner hold all my pots & pans

3) heavy duty corner lazy susan for all my oils, sauces, vinegars, chocolates, etc.

4) roll outs in almost every cabinet - including the upper portion of my pantry cabinet. This stores an amazing amount of product.

5) built-in pullout cutting board under a small section of countertop, a little out of the kitchen triangle. Great for having someone help with cutting, out of my way.

6)rollout tray on the bottom of a cabinet sized just right for my Kitchen aid mixer- right below where I use it. Makes it so easy to store and pullout.

7)Cabinet guy thought I was nuts, but I have a roll-out in the bottom of the cabinet above our refrigerator. Need a stool to access it, but it's wonderful, useful storage for all my appliances ( ice cream maker, Breadmaker, slicer, wok , etc). Usually this ends up being wasted space or very difficult to use.

Deb