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Pro Spotlight: 3 Tips for a Stylish and Functional Kitchen
A Los Angeles kitchen expert shares tips for getting a kitchen that mixes good looks with high function
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Who: Yarden (Jade) Shmaia of DYM Builders Group
Where: Los Angeles
In her own words: “I love what I do because it gives us the opportunity to change people’s lives.”
A kitchen’s layout isn’t one-size-fits-all. Instead, your kitchen should uniquely reflect how you use it. “You will spend a lot of time there, and you need to make sure that it’s right,” says Yarden Shmaia, who goes by Jade. Shmaia encourages people to think about how they want to use their kitchen now as well as in the future, to ensure they’ll always have the kitchen they want. “If you have the right kitchen, it will last a long time,” she says.
Where: Los Angeles
In her own words: “I love what I do because it gives us the opportunity to change people’s lives.”
A kitchen’s layout isn’t one-size-fits-all. Instead, your kitchen should uniquely reflect how you use it. “You will spend a lot of time there, and you need to make sure that it’s right,” says Yarden Shmaia, who goes by Jade. Shmaia encourages people to think about how they want to use their kitchen now as well as in the future, to ensure they’ll always have the kitchen they want. “If you have the right kitchen, it will last a long time,” she says.
Construction focus. Real estate is in Shmaia’s blood. “My father would invest in land rather than buy a new home,” she says. Shmaia went on to build a career in construction law. Eventually she and her husband, David Malka, who also worked in construction law, decided they wanted to be more hands-on. In 2010 they formed DYM Builders Group, using their initials for the company name.
Making a difference. When the couple started their company, Shmaia welcomed the chance to change the negative perceptions some people had of the construction business. “Women especially were afraid to ask questions and I became the face for those women,” she says. She also loves the opportunity she has to change people’s lives by giving them the house they need and want. “You can feel the change it makes to them,” Shmaia says.
Looking for ways to get the kitchen layout that’s right for you? Shmaia shares some tips below.
Looking for ways to get the kitchen layout that’s right for you? Shmaia shares some tips below.
1. Create a Functional Layout
Design a practical layout that works for everyday cooking. “For example, place the stove near the sink or add a pot filler by the stove so you can easily fill pots,” Shmaia says. She adds that different layout possibilities, as opposed to the tried and true, can also increase functionality. “You might not want to put the sink under the window, as is traditional, because that might not let you open it easily for ventilation,” she says.
Having the stove and sink opposite each other in this Los Angeles kitchen helps minimize steps. The refrigerator and microwave are nearby but not directly in the main cooking zone. This setup allows others to access the refrigerator for drinks or the microwave to make a snack without getting in the way of meal preparation, yet both appliances are still close enough to be handy when needed.
Design a practical layout that works for everyday cooking. “For example, place the stove near the sink or add a pot filler by the stove so you can easily fill pots,” Shmaia says. She adds that different layout possibilities, as opposed to the tried and true, can also increase functionality. “You might not want to put the sink under the window, as is traditional, because that might not let you open it easily for ventilation,” she says.
Having the stove and sink opposite each other in this Los Angeles kitchen helps minimize steps. The refrigerator and microwave are nearby but not directly in the main cooking zone. This setup allows others to access the refrigerator for drinks or the microwave to make a snack without getting in the way of meal preparation, yet both appliances are still close enough to be handy when needed.
2. Maximize Your Counter Space
Make sufficient counter space a priority. “Having enough space for meal preparation or baking or having places for small appliances is crucial, even if you have to give up some storage space,” Shmaia says. “The counter is the area that you use the most.”
She created a wide peninsula at one end of this galley kitchen in Hermosa Beach to give the homeowners plenty of work space as well as a spot for dining or setting up a buffet. White quartz countertops tinged with gray and a matching backsplash plus white upper cabinets help make the space feel open and inviting. The deep blue on the lower cabinets is a nod to the home’s oceanside location and carries into the adjoining dining area.
See more of this project
Make sufficient counter space a priority. “Having enough space for meal preparation or baking or having places for small appliances is crucial, even if you have to give up some storage space,” Shmaia says. “The counter is the area that you use the most.”
She created a wide peninsula at one end of this galley kitchen in Hermosa Beach to give the homeowners plenty of work space as well as a spot for dining or setting up a buffet. White quartz countertops tinged with gray and a matching backsplash plus white upper cabinets help make the space feel open and inviting. The deep blue on the lower cabinets is a nod to the home’s oceanside location and carries into the adjoining dining area.
See more of this project
3. Group Your Appliances
Place your appliances close together for efficiency. “Some smaller kitchens may have one odd appliance, such as the refrigerator, on the outskirts of the kitchen itself,” Shmaia says. “Putting all the main fixtures within easy distance of each other makes cooking and entertaining a lot easier — and it also looks better.”
The classic kitchen work triangle shines in this remodeled kitchen in Los Angeles. Shmaia placed the sink at one end of the island rather than directly across from the stove, providing better access to both as well creating a large, mostly unbroken work surface. The refrigerator and ovens sit on the adjacent wall, with plenty of storage surrounding them. On the other side of the room, a long counter provides additional work space.
More: For more information on Jade Shmaia and examples of her work, visit DYM Builders Group’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Place your appliances close together for efficiency. “Some smaller kitchens may have one odd appliance, such as the refrigerator, on the outskirts of the kitchen itself,” Shmaia says. “Putting all the main fixtures within easy distance of each other makes cooking and entertaining a lot easier — and it also looks better.”
The classic kitchen work triangle shines in this remodeled kitchen in Los Angeles. Shmaia placed the sink at one end of the island rather than directly across from the stove, providing better access to both as well creating a large, mostly unbroken work surface. The refrigerator and ovens sit on the adjacent wall, with plenty of storage surrounding them. On the other side of the room, a long counter provides additional work space.
More: For more information on Jade Shmaia and examples of her work, visit DYM Builders Group’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
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