Don Silvers

The other day I went to a seminar where they spoke about lighting, faucets and appliances. I am always interested in hearing what a manufacturer has to say about their products. It is a way in which I can learn a great deal.

The talk about appliances started off well enough and it was obvious that he was intimate with the equipment that he was representing and also spoke in a way that was easy for everyone to understand.

He did make one statement however during the first part of his talk that made my blood run cold because it is the kind of thing that I have been fighting against for many, many years and I was especially disturbed that it came from an appliance manufacturer rep.

As he began to talk about the design of a kitchen he said, and I quote, "of course you have to specify your cabinetry and counter surfaces first, then you add in the appliances." I almost choked on the piece of candy that was in my mouth. I let the comment slide and didn't say anything. I did not want to interrupt or be rude because philosophically we would have had to change the entire course of the discussion.

Essentially, what he was saying was backwards to the way it actually should be done. Cabinets, counter surfaces and then appliances. No, no, no.......appliances must always be first. How can you layout a space not knowing what appliances you are going to want. A steam oven or speed oven, a dishwasher, a grill, a 6 burner or 8 burner cooktop or a range with ovens below or a pair of ovens in the wall? If you don't pick the appliances first then they get minimized and you end up having to fit what you can in the space that is leftover, instead of the other way around, which leaves you with an over sized pantry and not a kitchen.....