How To Design A Functional Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home—a space where families gather to cook, connect, and create memories, from everyday meals to milestone celebrations. As the most utilized area in a home, it’s essential that the kitchen be as functional as it is beautiful. When designing kitchens for our clients in Charlotte, NC, we aim to transform these spaces into ones that function and work seamlessly for daily life.

The key to a truly functional kitchen? Personalization.

Before any renovation begins, we take the time to understand how each client lives. We ask the crucial questions to better design a personalized space: How is the space used? How many people share the home? Are there young children to consider, or retirees who need easy access to essentials? How do they prefer to organize tools, spices, and everyday items? Each detail informs a design tailored to their unique lifestyle.

From choosing between an island prep sink or a traditional layout, deciding on an induction cooktop versus a dual-fuel range, or selecting countertops—quartz or quartzite—every decision is guided by what works best for the client, and that’s what makes a beautiful kitchen.

In this month’s blog, we’re sharing our top tips for designing kitchens that are both functional and fabulous - two qualities we love bringing together.

Storage Solutions

While we love transforming the “outside” of a kitchen—the cabinets, countertops, hardware, and plumbing—it’s the “inside” that truly excites us. Thoughtfully designed interior storage solutions elevate a kitchen’s functionality, keeping countertops clutter-free and the entire space nice and organized. In every project, we prioritize innovative storage features that make daily life easier and more enjoyable.

For example, in kitchens like our Beaver Dam project, we incorporate a paper towel drawer to keep paper towels off of the counter. Large utensil roll-outs are another favorite, eliminating the frustration of digging through a narrow, unorganized drawer for a spatula or spoon. For our tea-loving clients, a tea drawer is a great solution for storing teas, while spices can have their own organized space for easy access. And for clients who love to entertain, a home bar with pull-outs for a wide range of spirits is a game-changer—another standout feature in our Beaver Dam design. The possibilities are endless when it comes to kitchen storage!

Kitchen Workflow & Layout

An essential element of kitchen design is workflow and layout. Whether you are prepping meals, washing dishes or tidying up after a party, it is important to have an easy and workable space. One of our go-to design strategies is the “triangle rule,” which is a guideline that suggests that the three main work areas - the sink, refrigerator and stove (or cooktop) - should be arranged in a triangular shape to maximize efficiency.

The placement of the main sink is another key detail. Depending on the design, it might sit under a window, as in our White Christmas project, or be integrated into the kitchen island. The island’s size often determines the best placement. For example, in our Asheford Green project, we positioned the sink off to the side of a smaller island to maximize prep space. On the other hand, in our Dancing on Providence project, the sink is centrally located on the larger island, with ample workspace on both sides. In kitchens where the triangle might stretch too far, we often recommend adding a prep sink to the island, which is a solution seen in our Finding Forever on Abingdon project. Another important consideration is aligning the primary prep area directly across from the cooktop for seamless cooking and meal prep. Additionally, the space between the kitchen island and surrounding cabinetry is also vital, with 36” being the minimal space between them. To ensure maximum functionality and comfort, we often aim for 42”-48” of clearance.

Appliances & Placement

Appliances are a significant investment in any kitchen, and with so many options and combinations available—gas, dual-fuel, induction, double wall ovens, oven-and-microwave combos, microwave drawers, and more—the right choice depends entirely on your lifestyle. For clients who love hosting and entertaining, we often recommend a double oven, as seen in our Bulaful Home project, to handle multiple dishes effortlessly. In this kitchen, we also installed an induction cooktop, which we love as it uses magnets for completely even cooking. Although you need cookware to be compatible, it’s a great option with small children in the home, as the top never gets too hot and it’s extremely easy to clean since it’s glass.

For those who enjoy big breakfasts with pancakes, eggs, and bacon, we suggest a range with a built-in griddle, like the 48” option in our Firethorne Kitchen. And for avid cooks or bakers, our favorite is a dual-fuel range. This setup, featured in our Finding Forever On Abingdon project, combines the precision of a gas cooktop with the consistent, even heat of an electric oven, delivering the best of both worlds.

When selecting appliances, we always advise families with young children to steer clear of microwave drawers. Instead, we recommend a microwave-oven combination, like the one featured in our White Christmas project, for added safety and convenience. Another key consideration is the dishwasher, which is typically installed near the kitchen sink for seamless loading and unloading. If our clients love to host gatherings we often suggest doubling up with two dishwashers in order to make cleanup after entertaining easier.

Designer Tip: Ideally, you want all of your appliance finishes and hardware to match. In reality, you may end up enjoying offerings from different appliance brands, which creates a bit of an aesthetic headache. In this case, consider paneling some of your appalinces. We love to use cabinetry to panel refrigerators and almost always panel dishwashers in the kitchens we design.

Material Selection

When selecting countertops, one of the most common questions we are asked is, “Which material is the best choice?” While there are numerous options—quartz, quartzite, marble, butcher block, granite, and more— we primarily use quartzite and quartz in our kitchen design projects. Ultimately, the “best” material depends on what aligns with our clients’ needs and lifestyle. Quartzite is a go-to choice for its natural beauty and durability! For clients that have kids, it can take on the wears and tears of daily life. As it’s a natural stone, it’s one-of-a-kind, has natural movement, unique vein patterns and is available in a wide array of color options. We used a dark variation in our Beaver Dam project and a light shade in our White Christmas kitchen, the possibilities are endless. Two things to note when it comes to quartzite - while it offers excellent heat resistance, we always recommend using trivets to protect the surface from hot pans. Sealing your countertops every few years is also essential to maintain its durability and beauty. Fortunately, the process is quick and easy.

Our other top choice for kitchen countertops is quartz. This man-made stone is non-porous (which means you don’t have to worry about wine or oils), stain resistant, and is nearly indestructible, making it a great option for families with young kids or even adults that want a low maintenance countertop. Quartz also stands out for its affordability and availability in a variety of shades and colors. We loved using this material in our Firethorne and Asheford Green projects. It’s important to know that quartz is less heat resistant than its natural stone counterparts as it’s made of resin, so a trivet must be used at all times.

How To Design A Functional Kitchen

Storage Solutions

Kitchen Workflow & Layout

Appliances & Placement

Material Selection

Interiors Inspired By Our Favorite Season, Summer

Follow us on Instagram to see what we’ve been up to lately @delphiniumdesign