Ever wondered why your kitchen was not named the family room? It seems as more and more families are gathering at the kitchen for all the household events. With today’s fast paced society it is the common thread amongst the different generations since we all have to eat at one time or another.

What is it that defines the kitchen? Is it a place to cook and clean? Is it a place to store food and eat it? Or is it an investment that pays back in not only the cash outlay, but also increased equity?

I have heard many of the kitchen stories and could write a humorous book about it as well, but that is another day. In this article I want to focus on the modern day history of the kitchen and shed light on some common myths associated to remodeling your kitchen.

As little as twenty years ago many cabinets were purchased out of stock from your local lumberyard. The selection was reasonable and the choice of one color was real appealing. So for those of you who are thoroughly convinced your kitchen was designed by a man, you are right on the money there, although the man should receive a medal since he had little or no selection to choose from. The poor guy was just lucky that your kitchen was able to be completed.

Today we still can buy stock cabinets but chances of them working are slim to none. Cabinets generally take three weeks or more to get and are made to order for your specific project. In today’s world we can get as detailed as you want. We still have design rules to follow, but our possibilities are endless.

Over the last ten years or so the emphasis has switched from putting cabinets into the kitchen to designing the kitchen for performance. I wish I had a dollar for every kitchen that was closed in like a phone booth and another dollar for the owner who hated it with a passion (again a man designed my kitchen).

Our job as kitchen designers is to think outside the box. It would be an exception to the rule that all walls in the kitchen are load bearing, in fact many kitchen walls that I have removed have nothing structurally tied to the house. We do look closely at the plumbing and electrical associated to the kitchen and this is not a real big deal since most kitchens could use an upgrade anyway. My point here is look beyond the four walls and find the hidden dream.

A good kitchen design starts with the primary user and an experienced designer. Outlining the needs, goals, and dreams defines the starting point. Today we can tear out your old kitchen and put it back exactly the way it was, and increase storage efficiency. However, the goal should be to improve upon it.

What defines your kitchen? That is almost trying to answer the secret of life, but we can define it and it is yours. Yes the kitchen is a place to cook and clean, store and eat food, but when we define your kitchen these necessities become much more enjoyable.

Lastly I should share the equity secret. Did you ever wonder why some houses sit on the market longer than the average? Or how about the similar house two blocks away that was only on the market days and sold for thousands more? My guess is the kitchen.

Many buyers are looking for a good kitchen design that fits today’s world. The quick seller upgrades their kitchen, making it appealing not only to them but to others as well. The quick seller made good choices, had a fair budget and at the time of the sale got every dime it cost to do the job PLUS gained equity on the house. I have heard of instances of a five thousand dollar kitchen remodel gain a fifteen thousand dollar return. Of course I am no financial planner but I have practiced this on every house I have owned and it works.

It does not matter whether you are buying, selling or staying put. Kitchen remodels are more economical than most realize, they are very warm, appealing, efficient, and for some it means the end of holiday banishment cooking while others entertain.

(Editor’s Note: Shain Hamilton is the owner of Kitchen Design Group in Silverdale. He can be reached at 360-662-1891.).