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Design an Easy-Clean Kitchen
"You cook and I'll clean" might no longer be a fair trade with these ideas for low-maintenance kitchen countertops, cabinets and floors
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Is there a new kitchen in your future? When you come up with the design, there are so many choices to make. Many of those are about style, and you also need to think a lot about the functionality of preparing food. This ideabook is about the design choices you can make to reduce the amount of time it takes to clean your kitchen. I enjoy cooking. Cleaning up — not so much. Something tells me I'm not alone.
Below are tips for selecting low-maintenance materials, placing things close to where they are used and choosing storage solutions — all with an eye toward quick and easy cleanup. Some are very big time savers, and a few may just shave a little bit of time off your cleaning regimen. Add them all up, though, and you'll have a kitchen that is a joy to use and that cleans up fast so you can get on with the more fun things in your day ... like checking out some more great ideas on Houzz.
Below are tips for selecting low-maintenance materials, placing things close to where they are used and choosing storage solutions — all with an eye toward quick and easy cleanup. Some are very big time savers, and a few may just shave a little bit of time off your cleaning regimen. Add them all up, though, and you'll have a kitchen that is a joy to use and that cleans up fast so you can get on with the more fun things in your day ... like checking out some more great ideas on Houzz.
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Countertops. Stay away from traditional 4-inch by 4-inch tile on your countertops. Stainless steel, quartz, Corian and laminates are four good choices that don't have grout to scrub and never require sealing.
Granite is an all-time favorite for its ease of care even if it does need occasional sealing. If you don't want laminate but you need a lower-cost, easy-to-clean option, consider large-format through-body porcelain tiles. The large size will keep grout lines to a minimum. For any grout you do need, use epoxy grout. The formulation is extremely resistant to stains, making cleanup that much easier.
Granite is an all-time favorite for its ease of care even if it does need occasional sealing. If you don't want laminate but you need a lower-cost, easy-to-clean option, consider large-format through-body porcelain tiles. The large size will keep grout lines to a minimum. For any grout you do need, use epoxy grout. The formulation is extremely resistant to stains, making cleanup that much easier.
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| Backsplash. Your backsplash material should also be low maintenance and easy to clean. Full-sheet materials like this back-painted glass eliminate grout lines. You can use quartz or any stone slab as a backsplash. Laminate is another large-sheet material you can use that is very low cost. All are easier to clean than mosaics of any kind. |
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by Debra Toney
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| Flooring. Opt for flooring that requires just damp mopping and that has no grout lines, such as Marmoleum, linoleum or sheet vinyl. Although hardwood is easy to clean with a dust mop or a damp mop, you must immediately wipe up any spills or splatters, so you'll find yourself wiping up more often. |
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Large-format tiles are another great flooring option. There are tiles as large as 24 inches by 48 inches. Glazed tiles are impervious to kitchen spills, and the minimal amount of grout lines keeps scrubbing to a minimum. Just as on your countertops, epoxy grout is a better choice here than traditional grout.
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| Cabinet style and a little more on flooring. Avoid ornate moldings on your cabinetry. They are pretty, but it takes extra time to wipe around all the nooks and crannies. Slab-front cabinets are the easiest to wipe off. Shaker style is another good choice, and it blends with any kitchen style, from traditional to contemporary. This floor looks like wood but is actually porcelain tile planks. You can also use luxury vinyl tile planks in a wood look. They are very convincing, are resistant to water and require nothing but damp mopping. |
| Customized pot and pan storage. I hate crouching down to put away pots, pans and their lids in a regular cupboard. It takes time to pull out the smaller ones so you can reach back in to put away larger pots — then you have to put all of the smaller ones back in. Having an organized rollout drawer makes it easy to put pots and lids away. Even the ones that go in the back. |
| Savvy receptacle placement. Using a receptacle strip like this mounted under your cabinets keeps the outlets as far as possible from splashes and splatters. It means less time cleaning the receptacles and also makes it easier to wipe down your backsplash. Perhaps we're just shaving seconds off your cleaning time here, but I like this idea. Another great spot out of the splash zone for electrical receptacles is on the end of your base cabinets. How to Hide Those Plugs and Switches |
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Appliance storage. This is an appliance garage on a grand scale. Anything that keeps you from having to haul appliances out and then wind up their cords and put them away again makes it easier to keep the kitchen clean. And why stop at using doors for appliance garages ...
by AMI Designs
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... when you can use them to hide all kinds of things. These doors open and slide back into the sides so that this kitchen office can quickly be hidden. That's a lot faster than putting papers and equipment away, and it looks tidier anyway than having the typical office items sitting on a counter.
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by Alisa Hofmann
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| Undersink cleaning supplies. When it's time to clean, who wants to get down on hands and knees and feel around in the dark spot behind the garbage disposal looking for cleaning products? A drawer under the kitchen sink lets you pull everything into easy view and within reach. |
by Studio Zerbey
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Preventing pet messes. Do you have pet food bowls out in your kitchen? Do you wish you had a nickel for every time you accidentally kicked one, sending kibbles or water all over your floor? Part of designing a kitchen that's easier to clean is designing one that doesn't get as dirty in the first place. This built-in spot for pet food bowls keeps them securely out of the way.
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by Paul Anater
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| Sinks. When you choose your sink, think integrated or undermount so you can wipe countertop messes straight into the sink. |
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Two kitchen sinks can make it easier to keep your kitchen clean when one is used for prep and the other for cleanup. When the meal is over and prep is done, if you have a helper, then cleanup goes twice as fast if there are two sinks.
See design ideas from two-cook kitchens
See design ideas from two-cook kitchens
by SB Architects
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Drainboard. An integrated drainboard directs water down into your sink, helping to contain water. And it keeps you from having to haul out a drainboard and put it away when the hand-washed items are dry. A nice, high faucet that can move every which way is a real plus when it comes to cleaning those big pots, too.
by Lucy McLintic
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Short path from sink to dishwasher and storage. The sink and the dishwasher are normally side by side. But having your dish storage right by the dishwasher means you can unload and put away in one easy movement.
At first, you might think that open shelves would make a kitchen harder to clean. But if you have them for the dishes you use daily and they are within easy reach of your dishwasher, then it is very simple to quickly empty the dishwasher.
This also makes it easy to hand wash an item, dry it and put it right back on the shelf. Put only dishes up here that you use often enough that they won't have the chance to get dusty.
At first, you might think that open shelves would make a kitchen harder to clean. But if you have them for the dishes you use daily and they are within easy reach of your dishwasher, then it is very simple to quickly empty the dishwasher.
This also makes it easy to hand wash an item, dry it and put it right back on the shelf. Put only dishes up here that you use often enough that they won't have the chance to get dusty.
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Dishwasher. Do you always unload your entire dishwasher in one fell swoop? Or, when the dishes are clean, do you just pull them out as you need them?
Many people swear by the convenience of having two dishwashers. You can be using the dishes out of one while loading the other one. Anything that keeps dishes from piling up in the sink is a good thing in my book.
Also, if you entertain frequently or have a large family so that you regularly have more dishes than can fit into a single dishwasher, having two makes sense.
Many people swear by the convenience of having two dishwashers. You can be using the dishes out of one while loading the other one. Anything that keeps dishes from piling up in the sink is a good thing in my book.
Also, if you entertain frequently or have a large family so that you regularly have more dishes than can fit into a single dishwasher, having two makes sense.
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Recycling and trash. Having your recycling bins and trash can on rollout shelves in one spot makes it a snap to sort items. This is a big time saver if you can avoid multiple trips to the garage or even outside, where recycle bins often reside.
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Cooktop. Although I love gas cooktops and think they are the best for cooking, when it comes to the easiest cooktop to clean nothing beats glass. You use a special cleaner to avoid scratching it, but there just isn't anything easier than this to wipe down.
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by Paul Anater
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| Looking clean. This idea isn't so much about making the kitchen easy to clean as it is about making it easy to temporarily hide the mess so at least it looks clean. Sliding doors cover one entire wall of this kitchen, so if the cook isn't able to keep up with the cleaning, he or she can quickly cover the mess up when guests arrive, then deal with it later. Some people can't stand the thought of going to bed until every last dish is clean and put away. Then there are others who find the whole thing easier to face after a good night's rest and a big cup of coffee. |
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Rollout pantry. It is easier to put the groceries away quickly if you don't have to fumble around in deep cabinets trying to see what you have and where everything should go, or pulling out a lot of smaller items so you can put bigger items in behind them. And when it comes time to wipe down the shelves in your cabinets, these are easier to reach.
If you're getting ready to remodel your kitchen or designing a new one, I hope some of these tips help you create a kitchen that will be a joy to use and a cinch to clean.
Tell us: What are your best design tips for making a kitchen easier to clean?
More:
Design an Easy-Clean Bathroom
If you're getting ready to remodel your kitchen or designing a new one, I hope some of these tips help you create a kitchen that will be a joy to use and a cinch to clean.
Tell us: What are your best design tips for making a kitchen easier to clean?
More:
Design an Easy-Clean Bathroom
Ideabook updated on Sept. 4, 2012.
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People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
Open shelves really are time savers for putting dishes away quickly.
And, I agree with you on the glass top stove...... yes they have their quirks but for looking nice all the time I like them best. Thanks!
I recently wrote an article on Minimalist Kitchen Designs if anyone is interested. http://hometipster.com/minimalist-kitchen-design/
Otherwise, a very thoughtful and useful ideabook.
Bobbi P -- Ha! Sounds like a match made in heaven :0)
cfmzhouze -- Already did. Here's the link:
bungalowarthouzz -- I have seen those and am so envious that you have one. They are so cool and I love that even the drain is seamless. It's on my must-have list for my own kitchen remodel. Thanks for the link.
melbourne mum -- They can be heavy when loaded with the canned goods. I try to design narrower ones and create two separate roll outs rather than such a large single one when I have the option. The pull out drawer/shelves are only helpful up to about chest height ... they aren't so useful higher up, so I like the roll out pantry because it maximizes space all the way up to maybe 6 feet. If you have one that is really large, then I would use the lower part for the heavy stuff and reserve the top shelves for cereal and crackers or other lighter dry goods to keep you from getting a hernia pulling it out.
kitter -- Excellent point. Although, there are new laminates that have texture, a matte look, and imitate wood extremely well. Some are also just interesting textures that don't look like wood, but are still super easy to clean, so I wouldn't rule out laminate with all the new ones available.
K. D. -- Yes, glass counters are just as anti-grout as quartz, granite and all the others.
zoe2neah -- Oh yes! A really big sink is a great help. Reminds me of that tip that if a guest shows up unexpectedly, quickly fill your sink with soapy water and put all the dishes in there. Your kitchen looks cleaner fast. For me, that would take a big sink. ;0)
tdknight -- I'm so glad you brought that one up. It was on my list and somehow I ended up not getting that in here. You bet! I think wall-mount faucets are the best thing since sliced bread. I hate all the gunk that has to be cleaned from around the base of a faucet. The natural work of gravity reduces how much gets dripped on them in the first place and keeps stuff from collecting around them.
Cordini cleans up the floors from those dangling cords and more importantly potential safety hazards. Please visit my website www.BuyCordini.com to see how Cordini can work in any room in your home.
Cleaning up is not my favorite pastime, but I want my kitchen to be very neat and therefore prefer materials that do show dirt, grease and fingerprints, but are easy to clean. My kitchen has high gloss surfaces that you just have to wipe down with a damp cloth.
I think the heavy pull-out pantry is probably "fixable" with a counterweight-type installation. The installer or contractor should be able to do that, no? It's all just physics.
As for the easy-to-clean glass-top electric cooktop, I personally don't care how easy they are to clean. Mom has one, and the convenience of easy cleaning does NOT, in my opinion, outweigh the inconvenience of cooking with electricity. An electric oven (self-cleaning) is a necessity, though - that's how you clean the black "patina" off the cast iron skillets! (Thank you, Lodge Cookware!)
I had to chuckle over the pair of dishwashers. I can see the attraction - sort of. There are too many pieces in my kitchen that can't - or won't - go in a dishwasher, though, so I'll leave them for larger families who would appreciate them. Or, as you say, those who entertain frequently.
Interesting that the 2 integrated drainboards are on opposite sides of the sink - personally, I want mine on the left, since I grumble daily about having to put the drainboard on the right in this un-kitchen (I say that because it's a room that contains a sink, a stove, and a refrigerator - and exactly 3 feet of counterspace, evenly divided on both sides of the sink. Also no cabinets other than the 2 on either side of the sink. And the dishwasher is off today - I'm getting my hair cut. ; )
I have to second ginny20! Induction is the best of both worlds: direct, fast heat and super easy to keep clean. Also, you are not heating the pot handles and the air around your pot. Nor do you burn your fingers or blacken the outside of your pots. Prices are coming down, too , since more people convert to induction. Only negative: you might have to invest in new pots if the bottom of your pot does not hold a magnet. For wok-cooking it is not ideal either, since the sides of the wok don't heat up like with gas. We are building a new house and there will definitely be another induction cooktop, even if we have to cut cost somewhere else.
Cordini -- Yes, cord control is a good idea too. I hate having to wipe gunk off of a cord that dragged through the pancake batter.
marynethery -- The old adage is true, that you get what you pay for. You can have wood of poor or excellent quality -- varnish or paint of poor or excellent quality -- laminate of poor or excellent quality. Any good quality kitchen cabinet should be cleanable with soap and water. Stay away from any abrasives no matter how good your cabinetry is. And always consult your manufacturer's cleaning directions.
writerinfact -- You are officially now the only person I know who has less counter space than I had in my last home --5 feet divided by the sink. I built a flip-up counter on the side of my stove cabinet which added 30" of counter space while I cooked and then got folded down on the side. The whole drainboard placement thing is really a matter of personal preference. Good to think about before you have one built in.
ginny20 (and the rest of you who love induction) -- Good comments. My parents had one of these and they certainly are easy to deal with and the food was much less likely to burn on to the top.
sbbattista -- There are loads of photos of those here on Houzz, but way more with the sinks and stovetops. Much of the time, the island is actually taking the place of the "other side" of the kitchen, so putting a sink or stove on it gives you the working triangle. It is also a great way to provide a second work station for kitchens where two people cook at once. But there's no law that says you can't have a smooth, large island with nothing else on it as long as that i what is functional for you.
fsball -- nice idea. I love glass backslashes. So pretty and easy to clean.
Caterina Eltze -- You can get a magnetic disc to sit on top of an induction burner so that you can use any type of cookware. It wouldn't help with the wok though.
apriltini -- I'm afraid I don't have that info. Click on the photo and then ask that designer your question.
Roll-out pantry to replace most of the kitchen cabinets.
Roll-out appliance garage with a plug-in strip.
Now, why did I not think about these solutions. The roll-outs are the best solution for quick and easy access to almost everything. Added bonus, no dust accumulation and reduction the kitchen/pantry space by at least one-third. And enlarging the living room by same.
Now, why didn't I think of that! I know, I'm I repeating myself...
I love Houzz.
Coming back to the induction cooktop: the disc in between the cooktop and your pot is fine for occasional use of a specialty pot you don't want to replace (I bought it for a cute little sauce pot I couldn't part with and the XXL crowd-pleaser pot). For your every day cooking though it doesn't make sense, since you then have to heat the disc which in turn heats your pot. So you loose the benefit of instantly adjusting your heat (up or down) and the record speed of heating up your pot, that induction otherwise provides. The good news though is that many companies now offer cookware that is induction compatible. Mine is from WMF and those pots are excellent quality ( I think I should go into induction cooktop sales, haha)
And does anyone else find that the seam between an undermount sink & the solid surface counter collects scum? Just like the edge of a topmount sink & the counter? I struggle to see the difference, it's just dirt in a different spot...!
Jennifer Drayton -- Excellent point about the hardware. Some can be a real pain to wipe down.
Laura Cavaluzzo -- I think it's great that both of your sinks have garbage disposals. Makes them both fully efficient. And when you think about it, just making design choices and allowing enough space so that two people can work at the same time is a great way to make the kitchen easy to clean because many hands make light work.
Jamie Crouch -- I have to agree with you on drawers instead of cupboards. Much more efficient use of space. They cost more than cupboards, but I think you can actually get away with a little less cabinetry when you have drawers to hold dishes, pots & pans and so on.
Caterina Eltze -- Thanks for your input on using the magnetic disc. So, all of you who are contemplating induction cooktops, keep it in mind the next time you buy any pots or pans.
karenvs -- Glad to hear you will get the floor you want at last! And that icky seam is why I think seamless sinks will just continue to become more popular.
melbourne_mum -- Well thank you so much. I enjoy the conversation and so many readers have added a lot of great ideas. You made my day!
Roberta Zehr -- Lots about induction cooktops in the comments if you go through. I know there are a lot of them. In my tiny kitchen at my last house I also retrofitted all cupboards with pull out shelves. If you aren't ready for a full remodel, it's one of the best things you can do to increase the functionality of your kitchen.
Just to add to the 2 dishwasher idea, Fisher and Paykel make a Dish Drawer, which is 2 half sized dishwashers that can be put side by side, or one on top of the other, or you can just have one if that is all you need. I have seen a kitchen where the owner never put dishes away, but took them out of the clean one and straight into the "dirty one" after use.
Another great option for a grout free backsplash is concrete, I am a little bias being I work for a concrete company, it is one of my favorite applications. The one shown here has a custom texture, we did the same texture on some inset panels on a fireplace surround opposite the kitchen. There is more in the photo gallery at www.2stone.ca
Thanks again!
zombieknit -- I just KNOW that is what I would do!
jcraighill -- Isn't that always the way it is. Glad you'll be able to implement some of the ideas though. Take note readers ... hire that designer to help you design your kitchen so you get all the great tips & ideas before you end up with a re-do. Just saying ...
Roberta Zehr -- Glad you came back to check out the comments. Lots of good input from our readers on this one. Interesting about the one-burner unit.
2 Stone Designer Concrete -- I remember this kitchen backsplash. I featured it in one of my other ideabooks on kitchens. It's a beautiful backsplash and the texture is subtle so it would really be easy to clean. Here's the link to the ideabook in case you didn't catch it before:
sclawson -- I love the wood look luxury vinyl tile planks. Just recommended it as one option for a client this past week, but she opted for engineered wood. We do have it as our back-up plan though if we need to reduce costs overall. Still pulling all the selections together. Glad you like yours.
spacesprit -- Love that! I wish I had a central vac system so I could have those. With 6 cats and 2 dogs, pet hair is always drifting across the floor. These would be heaven!
Connie Fourie_Nel -- I look forward to seeing the pictures. Yes, drawers or pull-out shelves are so much more efficient for almost everything.
mcd53 -- I appreciate that the photos you see are generally going to be of higher end kitchens. After all, the photos have been uploaded primarily by interior designers, architects and professional photographers. But almost every one of these ideas can be applied to even the most humble kitchen.
Laminate countertops and linoleum flooring are as affordable as you can get. You can even use laminate all the way up the wall for your backsplash. That is what is in my own kitchen until I can remodel. Slab front or shaker style cabinets are available at all price points. Appliance garages don't require anything more than a cupboard door and electrical receptacles inside. Anyone designing a new kitchen can think out electrical receptacle placement to avoid spots where they get dirty easily. Even the double dishwasher idea is relatively affordable. They don't have to be the top-of-the-line models. There is a wide range of pricing on glass cooktops, so many of them are quite affordable. Open, floating shelves are available at Ikea, or you can remove the doors of regular cabinetry to give you open shelving. And recycle bins can be retrofitted under any sink very inexpensively. If you are building or remodeling a kitchen, the spot for the pet dishes is super low-tech. I would say that the only ideas in here that carry a higher price tag would be the seamless sinks, the roll-out pantry, and the integrated drainboard.
I know that when we look at all these fabulous photos, it can feel like everything is unattainable. But when you think about the actual ideas that are being discussed here, there are ways to apply these to your kitchen in ways that are every bit as functional although perhaps not as luxurious in looks.
The best thing I found (on you-tube) is to use baking soda.
After I clean it with Soft Scrub/or glass top cleaner --- then I use baking soda (just SLIGHTLY damp) and rub it with my finger to remove the spots that the other cleaner can't remove.
As I said I think it is a pain and I'd NEVER get another one!!!
We're in the planning stages of a kitchen (and bath) redo, and was really surprised to find so few companies that produce an induction range. And when I read articles about kitchen equipment, gas ranges are still being touted as superior. Why do you think that induction is not more popular? Thank you again.
maggie setler -- Thank you for the baking soda tip for cleaning glass cooktops. Great idea!
Alas, there is no perfect product. I know that sometimes you'll get something so stuck that it seems like it fused to the glass. But I've had glass cooktops, electric burner type stovetops and gas. Hands down, the glass one was the easiest to keep clean. I love my current gas one for how great it is for cooking, but when I'm pulling apart the entire stovetop to try to get everything clean, I find myself longing for that glass cooktop. I haven't had an induction one personally, so perhaps that's the answer. My parents had one and they absolutely loved it. Judging from many of the comments above, that may be what I choose for my next one. Although -- I live in a rural area and the power goes out often in the winter ... sometimes for more than a full day. At least with my gas stove I can still heat food at all times. Something to be said for that no matter how hard it is to clean. There always seems to be some kind of trade-off for our choices.
Here in the U.S., the gas itself is quite inexpensive, which certainly helped make gas cooktops very popular. So in many existing houses there is only gas available, which makes it hard to switch.
In France however ( where many people like to cook), every other cooktop is already induction.
And yes, we are getting the Vacpac aka Vacusweep in the new kitchen, as I always seem to be looking for the small brush.
Almost worth having your old house destroyed by an EQ.
Also, if you live in/near a city with a "higher end" kitchen store, many of them will have cooking demos to show off their technology. THAT was what finally sold my DH. Doesn't mean you have to shop there...but it will give you a better idea of what the technology can do.
We currently have a 25 year old electric range (no gas in the kitchen) and I guarantee you, induction WILL be in the new kitchen!
And thanks to everyone for the positive comments!
Bowden Carroll Design -- Thanks for the share on the back-coated glass backsplash. Too funny about the dang screws. I guess spray painting the little tips would be an option for the truly obsessive. I take it they don't make the glass receptacle cover in a style like the Lutron ones that snap on to cover the screwed in portion so you don't see any screws? That's a shame.
Yes, smooth glass will show up fingerprints and anything else quite easily, although they are a snap to wipe off. Would love to see some examples of a full-sheet, back-coated, textured glass as those would be a little more forgiving in the fingerprint department. On my current client's kitchen project, one of the backsplash materials we've narrowed it down to is a back-coated larger sized glass tile with a nice texture. Very pretty for style and sparkle and still easy to clean. But it doesn't show every spot you touched it.
custom-tiles -- Nice to know you have larger format glass with a non-slip texture. These are approved for use on the floor then?
Bowden Carroll Design -- Well, I sensed a kindred spirit when I saw that photo of the electrical receptacle. We have to be a bit obsessive to be in this business, don't we?
Coincidentally, after I wrote my last comment I actually did see a TV ad for an Electrolux suite of appliances, and it did include a hybrid induction cooktop. The ad was aired on the Style channel during a rerun of Sex in the City. So I was wrong - apparently induction is sexy.
My sister-in-law has induction with a warming draw and she loves it. It would be great to see Emril or one of the other cooking shows use it. Someone that actually cooks and can give a real opinion, since it is a big investment. New pots and pans can be a perk if you go with induction.
I'm sure Emril or the IronChef cooking with induction would certainly get a lot of positive attention about cooking that most people know little about.
My sister sings it's praises, she cooks every day, but I don't know if she could convince anyone (other than me) that induction is worth the investment. I didn't mean to offend you or Oprah. I just thought if someone is asked Emril (if he has used induction) is a better choice than Oprah.
seattlegirl -- Thank you so much! Glad you got new info. There are advances all the time in materials. It's hard to keep up with it all.
freedom -- Congrats on the new house. Lots of great ideas here.
Also, anyone who’s had a stainless counter would argue against describing it as low maintenance.
But thanks to Houzz, I am including the plug strips under the upper cabinets and pullouts at the bottom of all sink cabinets! Question -- I seem to remember a popup electrical outlet that can be installed in a countertop. Does anyone remember specifics?
Still deciding on the countertop but it will likely be quartz. Anyone have preferences between the various brands?
Induction has great variable functionality, ease of cleaning and unparalleled safety (induction is safest-only cookware heats).
It's just not the 'ta-da' design note of a gas unit.
sclawson -- The luxury vinyl wood look planks are amazing. Very, very hard to tell it isn't wood, and nearly indestructible.
ce56385 -- I just recommended that one of my clients go to an induction top because of how well they work vs. an electric glass cooktop. The easier clean up is definitely a bonus!
stargazer51 -- Sorry to hear the wall mounted faucets had to go. Cleaning the gunk from around the base of a deck mounted faucet is a chore I hate.
I do want to clear up just a bit about the wall mounted vs. deck mounted cost issue though for anyone reading this comment. If you are doing a remodel and keeping your plumbing in the same place -- then yes, the labor to move the faucet plumbing up the wall will run more. But if you are doing new construction or you were going to move your plumbing anyway, then there's no noticeable difference in the cost for the plumber's labor. And, although it is frequently the case that a wall mount faucet costs more since you generally have to buy the mixing valve separately from the trim, it isn't always the case. I just selected bathroom lavatory faucets for a client bathroom remodel last week and we were able to find deck mounted and wall mounted fixtures that were equal in style and quality as well as pricing. So, they opted for the wall mount even though, for them, this means extending the plumbing higher in their wall and a little extra plumber cost. But for years to come they will have a simple wipe down of faucets and an absolutely clear counter top also easier to clean.
You asked about the pop-up electrical outlets. Here are links to two that have been shown in Houzz user's kitchen photos:
http://www.lewelectric.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/PUFP-CT-SS.pdf
Lew Electric has pop up models for countertop and floor plates for various hidden electrical receptacles as well.
http://www.mockett.com/technology-into-furniture-integration/power-communication-systems/plastic?p=1
Interesting about the plumbing for wall mounted faucets. This is new construction. I haven't purchased my faucets yet so I'll bring it up again with the plumber.
Remember to have your electrician vet the amperage draw of the induction - some models need more juice than the average stove-top. Re: price, Ikea is the best value, made by Whirlpool for Ikea with an industry "non"-standard five year warranty. Check out their video on YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xslGbkkeCkA
The annual sale just began, running through April 28.
Susan
http://www.mockett.com/technology-into-furniture-integration/power-communication-systems/metal/pcs4b-sss.html
csforsythe -- Unless you are retrofitting existing cupboards, I would go with drawers instead of a cupboard with pull outs. It is cumbersome to have to open cupboard doors first, then pull out the interior shelf -- much easier to simply pull out a drawer. As far as expense, I've never asked a cabinet maker to quote it both ways. I doubt there is much difference. Both require you to build one outer cabinet box plus another box inside for each drawer or a pull out shelf. Both require drawer glides for each drawer or pull out. The drawers require a drawer face for the front of the cabinet and the cupboard requires doors to cover the same space. Just reasoning it out, I think it would be a toss-up. Plus, you lose some space with pull outs behind cupboard doors because the pull outs would have to be narrower to miss the hinges on the doors.
As for the information source ... you're on it. Houzz is pretty good for all sorts of info. :0) Just saying ...
rdwoodonline.com
One little thing I might mention: I think glass stovetops are the toughest to keep looking "perfect". They so easily form a ring around the edge of each burner... I have almost cried about this before, I can't get this stuff off!
Godspeed, thank you for your great thoughts!
I write a article about how to clean the kitchen.
http://www.janitorialweb.com/clean_the_kitchen.html
I love the look of wall mounted faucets compared to deck mounted faucets because no gunk collects around the faucets but I have heard designers say not to do it because of the possibility of leaks. Wall mounted faucets require you to put the pipes in the wall unlike deck mounted faucets so you you won't become aware of leaks until your wall is totally damaged, whereas with deck mounted faucets the pipes are visible under the sink and leaks are quickly notice. Do you know of any stainless steel sinks designed for wall mounted faucets that don't require you to put the pipes in the wall? I know soap stone sinks can be designed this way with a greater depth back giving one the functionality and easy cleaning of the wall mounted faucet without the worry about leaks in the wall. I don't want a soapstone sink though.
Thank you.
Thanks for the FYI. I knew about the linoleum and marmoleum being green,but it was the vinyl iI was worried about it is definitely a toxic product. I wondered about how linoleum and marmoleum held up to water stains or standing water from spilled pet bowls. I didn't know about large tiles being wet rated. Are the large format tiles still smooth without crevices so that dirt and gunk don't build up in them?