No matter what your budget, planning a major kitchen renovation project requires a healthy dose of compromise. Whether it's a lack of space, structural considerations or an effort to cut down on costs - sometimes we're forced to say "good-bye" to items on our wish list. Some features, however, should never be placed on the chopping block. If you're looking for a true luxury kitchen upgrade, these 5 features must be included in the final plan. Gourmet Food-Prep Island Now that the formal dining room is all but extinct, more American families are converting the kitchen into a comfy one-stop-shop for cooking, eating & socializing. Gone are the days where food is prepared in the shadows as open-plan kitchen concepts connect diners with the chef via a multi-purpose island. An island serves a number of purposes: Dedicated space to chop veggies, roll out dough, toss a salad, etc.Space for bar stools or tall chairs to facilitate informal daily dining.Potential for an additional sink or cooktop.Extra storage. Pro Tip: Take advantage of the extra space under the island to install a 2nd dishwasher (drawer style). More Natural Light Connecting your kitchen to the great outdoors is key. In a perfect world, your contractor will be able to open a bright slider directly out onto a deck or patio but even something as simple as installing more or larger windows will do the trick. Skylights or Sky Tubes work wonders when the only way to bring in more natural light is from above. Appliance Garage A true clutter buster. Installing an appliance garage keeps your countertop free while maintaining quick and easy access to all the small kitchen appliances you use every single week. Blender, microwave, espresso machine, coffee pot, toaster, juicer and more...all plugged in and ready to go but hidden behind beautiful cabinetry. Coffee lovers will want to consider a second garage just to house all their coffee related gadgets and goodies. Splurge Appliance (or Two!) With so many fantastic built-in specialty appliances to choose from, you'd hate to go through the rigors of a full gut and replace without adding the convenience of at least one or two. Large family or love to entertain? Keep food piping hot in your warming drawer while you prepare the second course.Wine aficionado? A dedicated wine cooler keeps all your favorites ready at a moment's notice.Hot summers? Refrigerator ice makers are often too small to keep up all day. A stand-alone ice maker provides sufficient capacity and better tasting ice as frozen food flavors tend to permeate your cubes.Baker's delight. Add a steam oven for more versality. Another option is a dedicated pizza oven. Cabinet Lighting A huge boost in ambience without too much damage to the pocketbook. Over and under the cabinet fixtures generate a warm feel for the space while also providing task lighting for the countertops. Bonus Pick You won't find too many new luxury homes these days that don't feature a roomy butler's pantry. You need a fair bit of extra floor space to pull it off but if you do, you'll spend the rest of your life wondering how you once survived without one.Start your post here...
