Susie- What you're calling form, I think is function, at least partly. You can't see the breakfast room, from the kitchen...and there is no where for people to converse, in the kitchen. Those are two of the big reasons people remodel their space!

Are you going to be solving these problems, with the remodel? Will you have a more open kitchen? Will this let in more light? Will it be a more cheerful place to be working in? This goes back to your form, which impacts your function. Knotty pine walls are dark...and it probably feels like they're sucking all the light and air out of the room. Bad floors are hard to clean, making the kitchen more difficult to maintain.

Old and ugly windows are probably blocking more light and are no fun to spend time around...same problem with the old cabinets. They are probably also harder to keep clean.

It sounds like you need a make-over that will bring light, air, space and joy into your kitchen. You do a lot of work in the kitchen, so why not make it a cheerful, fun place to spend your time. You want people to visit with you in the kitchen...they want a cheerful, fun, inviting space to be in, too. So, I don't think you're picking form over function...I think your form is impacting your function. And remember, any kitchen style can be functional, with the proper planning and storage.

So, you have probably already posted this, but do you have a plan, for your new kitchen? Are you opening up the spaces? I'd love to see the details :)

Well, I am a form over function gal, but that is mostly because the art of cooking does nothing for me. I just want my kitchen to be a gorgeous space that makes me supremely happy when I am in there (since the actual cooking does NOT bring me joy!) Most of the houses that my builder does in our price range have Viking ranges with Sub Zero refridgerators, etc...and frankly...that is a waste for me. So I got very pretty, commercial-looking Kitchen Aid appliances instead, and plan to use the money I saved to pad my countertop and lighting allowance. These are areas that make my heart sing (gah, the sight of a stunning crystal chandelier in a kitchen makes me swoon) and that to me is more important than how many BTU my range has or whatever! :)

I choose form when possible but insist on function. I find that there are pretty versions for just about every material these days. The only place I leaned toward form ahead of function is we got an old style sink with built in backsplash and drainboard built in. The sink part is not as large as a roomy farm sink would have been, but it was the one compromise of function I was willing to do. Every other part of the kitchen, I planned for function and then found the "form" to make it nice.
Of course, "budget" also was a consideration in all the decisions, lol.....

In any design of things that we use, we need to balance the form, the function, the quality of material/construction and a finite budget. How each one of us balances that is individualistic but when done well, creativity will shine. Most of cannot have everything we want because of the budget contraint.

Like everyone else has said, you will balance the form with the function in each design you select.

I remodeled my entire living area mostly to improve the esthetics. The function has changed very little. I had a well functioning kitchen.... It cost oodles of money and it was absolutely NOT necessary in the cosmic scheme of things, but it was meaningful to me. Most people remodel their homes to improve the esthetics in addition to improve the function.

However, do give careful consideration to what functional aspect that you are discounting. If minimal modification to the from give you a significant gain to the function, then it is a win-win situation. If you did not improve the function at all after all that money spent, it would be a shame also.

I'm a function over form girl. That said, I want both! I want my space to function as well as have a certain look. Given that parameter, I made two choices where I went strictly with form. One was my exhaust hood - it is the loudest, most obnoxious noisey thing - yet I love how it looks. I knew that it wouldn't be that much of a problem for me as I had lived with a JennAire downdraft for years - which was basically useless. For my cooking style, I was fairly confident that I could accept the noise for the limited time the fan would be used. To be fair, the hood exhaust takes an immediate 90 degree turn as it enters the wall which is probably a large part of the noise. THe second form decision was to remove the upper cabinets, add a few shelves, and run the tile up to the ceiling. It ended up not being completely a form decision, as I don't miss the upper cabs one bit, especially since I have shelves, but the decision was driven by form. What I'm pointing out is that limited "form" decisions over function make sense, but without "function" leading your decision choices you will be frustrated with the use of your space even though it is eye candy. Hopefully you can make choices that honor both.

There is a satisfaction, a calmness, a contentment when a space is a good one. Is that form or function?

If the space works well, allows you to do what you need to do, and complements the rest of the house, it's successful in my mind. I'm the one who wants to shut off the lights and leave the kitchen once the kitchen tasks are done. A utilitarian space with utilitarian stuff is okay, a utilitarian space with well-chosen stuff is wonderful. Naturally, this includes a number of amaryllis in pots right now and a new tray bought at an estate sale. Form or function?

Although I love to look at very decorated kitchens and high-end stuff, I can't imagine living in a self-consciously form-dominated kitchen or one that has a poor working design. But then, I actually use my kitchen and I don't consider kitchen activities to be odious or dull. If anything, it's become more fun to be in the kitchen as I have grown older. I hope this doesn't change. The new space should help prevent that, but time will tell.

It is entirely possible, and more pleasant, to have a kitchen that functions well and looks good. The form vs function question should not be a design focus but rather a way to weight which choices or which compromises along the way will give the results you most want.

I would also suggest that you consider the distinct possibility that when people are able to congregate in and around your kitchen, the function will be more important that it ever was in a single cook/few if any guests kitchen.

My kitchen design was definitely driven by function and I really didn't/don't care about form. We did a whole house reno and I was the same throughout the house and the process. It was my KD who was the voice of reason in the form end of things while I was "Yea yea whatever". She made me stop and actually look at colours, shapes, accents, focal point, and producing a cohesive look in every area and between areas. I am so glad that she did because it makes the "function" part of the kitchen much more relaxing and enjoyable to be a part of because of how gorgeous it came to be.

Yes, as usual everything that I read here makes perfect sense. In reading these responses I definitely see that I do, in fact, value function as well as form. With me, however, function is just really truly integrated into the form (if that makes sense.) My kitchen won't be able to function really well for me unless it looks the way I want it to. Makes sense.

And blfenton - perhaps I am your evil twin. Or if not that, maybe just your mirror image. The way you are with function, I am with form; the way you are with form; I am with function. Luckily, I have my builder and my husband to remind me that I do need to worry about how things actually perform and work, and not just how they look. Although on our budget, I really don't think we're getting anything along the lines of "eye candy." Don't I wish!!!

And the word "compromises" has definitely been coming up quite a bit with us...it's my "negotiable" vs "non-negotiable" list. The things that are "non-negotiable" to me are those that really appeal to my eye (and my heart.) I'm willing to make a bit of a sacrifice in other areas that others might consider more important.