Any home chef will tell you a functional kitchen layout makes all the difference.

Space, convenience, access and adequate lighting are as important as the appliances and ingredients that work towards creating a favorite dish. For the clients of Sacramento area-based design/build remodeler Kent Eberle, owner of Eberle Remodeling, that’s exactly what their kitchen needed: openness and overall functionality.

For this project, his first step was to introduce more natural light into the space. His team eliminated the two existing, vaulted ceiling-mounted fluorescent lights and installed a large skylight. Eberle says the top priority when planning a new kitchen is to create a highly functional floor plan. “The client’s choices in appliances frequently drive the layout,” he shares. “Maintaining proper clearances between the appliances, the sink(s) and the cabinets allows for increased functionality. There are always pros and cons to these placements, so a great deal of thought needs to go into how the new spaces will be utilized.”

To open the kitchen to the adjoining family room, they took out the beam-hung cabinet above the island and eliminated the islands “cabinet legs.” “The existing legs made the island less useful by inhibiting the flow as well as creating two dead corners that were difficult to access,” he says. “White, shaker-style cabinets were most desirable, allowed for a more open feel, and created a nice balance with the medium-toned wood ceiling and hardwood floors.”

Appliances were tweaked as well, like the refrigerator and range wall, which was reconfigured to accommodate a food prep space and a small TV area for viewing from the nook. The clients primarily selected KitchenAid appliances, allowing for consistency in the handle style of the refrigerator, the range and the microwave/convection oven. “Many times our clients will select a varied appliance package with different manufacturers,” he says. “This can serve to best meet their individual needs based on the features of the appliances. However aesthetically, when appliances are in close proximity to each other, it’s nice if they match.”

The designer explains that most clients have a very good idea of what they want and what they want their project to look like. “Our goal, as a design/build company, is to help guide them through the entire process and assist them in realizing their goals and dreams. A thorough, detailed approach, where no stone is left unturned, allows for the best remodeling experience,” says Eberle.