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Pro Spotlight: 3 Mistakes to Avoid When Designing a Kitchen
An Orange County kitchen designer shares how to steer clear of design decisions you’ll regret
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Who: Bruce Colucci of Le Gourmet Kitchen
Where: Orange, California
In his own words: “I love building new relationships with my clients and creating environments that inspire them to cook and entertain.”
If you’re a devoted at-home chef and a frequent host of friends and family, there are certain aspects of your kitchen where you simply shouldn’t compromise. “Appliances and surfaces can and should change over time,” says kitchen designer Bruce Colucci, the owner of Le Gourmet Kitchen in Orange. “But an expert design, one that is well-balanced and functions correctly for your needs, will stand the test of time.”
Where: Orange, California
In his own words: “I love building new relationships with my clients and creating environments that inspire them to cook and entertain.”
If you’re a devoted at-home chef and a frequent host of friends and family, there are certain aspects of your kitchen where you simply shouldn’t compromise. “Appliances and surfaces can and should change over time,” says kitchen designer Bruce Colucci, the owner of Le Gourmet Kitchen in Orange. “But an expert design, one that is well-balanced and functions correctly for your needs, will stand the test of time.”
Authentic sources of inspiration. Colucci first contemplated a career as a chef. “Instead of attending the Culinary Institute of America, I started my career as a finish carpenter,” he says. It was this experience that introduced him to the world of kitchen design. “In the early 1980s, German and Italian contemporary furniture was being featured in every issue of Architectural Digest,” he says. “I was intrigued by the style and wanted to become more familiar with that aspect of construction and design.” Colucci moved to Los Angeles and began designing kitchens that integrate the latest trends in fashion and interior design.
Advice from the experts. Colucci specializes in kitchen design because he loves to cook himself. “I tend to attract clients who are ready to fall in love with cooking and entertaining,” he says. “If you work with a designer who knows how to cook, they’ll likely pass on the features and insights that culinary pros have been relying on for years.” Take, for instance, the workstation sink. “It’s a heavily used appliance that people underestimate,” Colucci says. “The latest versions have multipurpose functionality like cutting boards and colanders, everything you need to prep, stage and clean up.”
Curious about which kitchen corners not to cut? Colucci shares his advice below.
Curious about which kitchen corners not to cut? Colucci shares his advice below.
1. Improperly Planning for Flow and Functionality
According to Colucci, the biggest mistake a homeowner can make is ignoring the future functionality of their space. “When designing a kitchen, meet with a designer who is familiar with the movements within the space,” he says. “You’ll regret thinking the flow of your kitchen isn’t as important as the look.”
For this home in Orange Foothills, Colucci helped the homeowners blend both innovation and style to transform a builder-grade kitchen into a functional work of art. “Being a designer often means being a teacher, helping my clients understand what they need,” Colucci says. “We always say that we can’t promise you’ll emerge a gourmet chef, but we’ll give you the setting to become one.”
See more of this project
According to Colucci, the biggest mistake a homeowner can make is ignoring the future functionality of their space. “When designing a kitchen, meet with a designer who is familiar with the movements within the space,” he says. “You’ll regret thinking the flow of your kitchen isn’t as important as the look.”
For this home in Orange Foothills, Colucci helped the homeowners blend both innovation and style to transform a builder-grade kitchen into a functional work of art. “Being a designer often means being a teacher, helping my clients understand what they need,” Colucci says. “We always say that we can’t promise you’ll emerge a gourmet chef, but we’ll give you the setting to become one.”
See more of this project
2. Scrimping on the Wrong Features
Be flexible when it comes to cost savings. “Clients tend to spend too much time on where to save money, then they’re disappointed with their results,” Colucci says. “Do your research, identify products that suit your lifestyle and invest in items that are well-built and time-tested to save you time and money in the future.”
At the same Orange Foothills home, the homeowners had a good-size space but needed the infrastructure to support frequent family gatherings. “We installed a 45-inch chef’s sink from Create Good Sinks, which provides ample space for prep but is also a breeze to clean up when the party ends,” Colucci says. “We then selected quality-grade cabinetry from Wood Mode and added mirrors to the pantry doors to open the space without adding too much visual weight to the right side of the room.”
Be flexible when it comes to cost savings. “Clients tend to spend too much time on where to save money, then they’re disappointed with their results,” Colucci says. “Do your research, identify products that suit your lifestyle and invest in items that are well-built and time-tested to save you time and money in the future.”
At the same Orange Foothills home, the homeowners had a good-size space but needed the infrastructure to support frequent family gatherings. “We installed a 45-inch chef’s sink from Create Good Sinks, which provides ample space for prep but is also a breeze to clean up when the party ends,” Colucci says. “We then selected quality-grade cabinetry from Wood Mode and added mirrors to the pantry doors to open the space without adding too much visual weight to the right side of the room.”
3. Sacrificing Style for Timelessness
Colucci emphasizes that kitchens, just like furniture and fashion, can’t exist outside of time — and we shouldn’t necessarily want them to. “The design of your kitchen remodel, when done correctly, will look beautiful and last 25-plus years with little maintenance,” Colucci says. “But surfaces, like backsplashes and countertops, will always date themselves. The good news is they’re easy to change.”
The same Orange Foothills kitchen expanded to fit the family’s lifestyle, and the investment in quality products and thoughtful design will last for generations. When it came to the kitchen’s countertop and backsplash, Colucci and the homeowners applied a more contemporary style. “Backsplashes are such a statement in the kitchen and the first material you see. It’s the best way to integrate your personality in your space and the options are endless,” Colucci says. “Here, we wanted a backsplash material that was neutral, in taupes and grays, to act as a background for their accessories. It really pulls together the veining you can see in the Cambria Inverness Frost quartz countertops.”
More: For more information on Bruce Colucci and examples of his work, visit Le Gourmet Kitchen’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Colucci emphasizes that kitchens, just like furniture and fashion, can’t exist outside of time — and we shouldn’t necessarily want them to. “The design of your kitchen remodel, when done correctly, will look beautiful and last 25-plus years with little maintenance,” Colucci says. “But surfaces, like backsplashes and countertops, will always date themselves. The good news is they’re easy to change.”
The same Orange Foothills kitchen expanded to fit the family’s lifestyle, and the investment in quality products and thoughtful design will last for generations. When it came to the kitchen’s countertop and backsplash, Colucci and the homeowners applied a more contemporary style. “Backsplashes are such a statement in the kitchen and the first material you see. It’s the best way to integrate your personality in your space and the options are endless,” Colucci says. “Here, we wanted a backsplash material that was neutral, in taupes and grays, to act as a background for their accessories. It really pulls together the veining you can see in the Cambria Inverness Frost quartz countertops.”
More: For more information on Bruce Colucci and examples of his work, visit Le Gourmet Kitchen’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
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