Home Kitchen Design – Plumbing, Electrical and Appliances

Once you’ve chosen your kitchen cabinetry, flooring, countertops and backsplash, it’s time to tackle all the hookups needed to make your kitchen functional, efficient and well-lit. Learn about plumbing, electrical and appliances in this House & Home video:

You may think that choosing a kitchen sink and faucet is an easy decision, but it’s very important to get this duo right. The type of sink you choose will dictate the type of faucet, how the countertop is formed, and how all three are installed, so changing your mind later can be a big deal.

When you’re choosing a sink, you need to decide if you want to go with a single- or multi-bowl option. You also want to consider if you want a drop-in, undermount or apron front sink. Also, think about the material you want the sink to be, whether it’s stainless steel or granite composite.

When it come to buying a faucet, there are a few things to consider. Do you want a one, two, three or more hole configuration? When you choose an undermount sink, you can have any faucet configuration because the install applies to the countertop. You may have the option of putting on a plate as well as a soap dispenser if you choose. Many people like high arc spouts because they allow better clearance for large pots and platters.

It is very important to hire licensed trade especially when you get into plumbing and electrical. People have a misconception that they can save all kinds of money by doing things themselves. There’s a reason why trades are licensed to do plumbing and electrical; they’re trained to follow current bylaws and codes, and you need permits for those.

There are many ways to introduce natural and artificial light into your kitchen. Daylight is a tremendous asset to a kitchen. If you want to incorporate a window into your design, be sure to ask the question early in the process. Depending on the size of your space, you may want a mix of fixtures such as recessed lights, pendants and even strip lights under the cabinets.

Probably one of the biggest things to consider is using LED lighting. LED lights not only save you energy and save on your hydro bills, but they also throw off barely any heat, and they last a long time.

Recessed lights are unobtrusive and fit any design scheme, whereas suspended lighting should complement the look of the room. Hang pendant lights 30 to 36 inches above a tabletop or counter. It’s nice to have everything on dimmers as well, so if you entertain or want to dine, you don’t have to have bright lights on all the time.

For under-cabinet lighting, LED strip lighting is very versatile. You can cut it to length so you can get the exact length you need, and it’s like a piece of tape – just peel off the back and stick it in place. You can place it at the front of the under-cabinet or at the back to show off the tile.

Appliances these days come with more and more convenient features. You can customize them to suit your cooking style, mix and match fuels and save energy. Slide-in ranges give a custom-built look, and having no back panel showcases your backsplash. Be sure to consult a licensed electrician if your kitchen requires any type of specialized wiring for your appliances. If appliances are the right depth, the right scale and sensibly located, they’ll blend in nicely into the design of the room.

It is very important to have ventilation above the stove. The most important thing is to make sure you have it at least the width of your stove. In terms of the height requirement, anywhere between 24 and 30 inches is recommended. Range hoods are rated by the amount of air they can move in cubic feet per minute or CFM. To calculate what you need, take the total heat output of all the gas burners and divide by 100.