A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Dream Kitchen/office ideas - DJ

Posted: Jul 30, 2010

Hi my fellow MTs! Pinch me I am dreaming! My SO is building us a new home, and Monday we meet with the kitchen designer/cabinetry dude to layout the kitchen, which will include my office. He was insistent that he build a corner desk overlooking the woods, the best view of the house! He did not want me holed off in another room of the house, but wants to keep me in the heart of it! Yes, he has an ulterior motive... preparing scrumptious meals while I work... but thats fine with me! It will just be the two of us, no children underfoot as we are finite with that era of our life.

So, I ask for suggestions and/or ideas for having a home office in the kitchen area. I have already looked into that KVM switch for sharing a monitor with 2 p.c. I really need opinions about a low profile comfortable chair. Also, what can you simply not live without in your kitchens?

We purchased the GE Profile appliances in black.. nothing off the charts expensive. The plan is for hardwood floors, but I wonder if that will be a pain to keep clean. The house will have a lodge-feel to it but for the kitchen attempting an Old World or Mission style decor with some stonework accents....

I really am not writing this to boast... I have had the bare bones in my homes all of my life... currently even without a dishwaher or even disposal, just want to be sure I am not forgetting some crucial element of a kitchen/office.

Thanks!

Dream Kitchen/Office - ElkoMT

[ In Reply To ..]
Congratulations, your new home sounds lovely. The things I would take note of, is a chair without arms. I think it is really hard to type with arms on a chair, also I would suggest cloth or vinyl rather than vinyl (you begin to stick to that). Another thing I love is I had my dad build me a tall shelf/desk to set in front of my treadmill so that I can set my laptop there and work while walking (killing 2 birds with one stone) I took a picture off the internet and he just recreated that. As for kitchen appliances my best suggestion is hooks, hooks, hooks, shelves, shelves, shelves. I love kitchen gadgets and I want them handy. I also love my butcher block built into my counter for chopping. Good luck and upload pictures when it is all done.

Kitchen sink - tk

[ In Reply To ..]
DEFINITELY get a granite something-or-other sink. They aren't that expensive and they look AWESOME surrounded by the tile countertop in my friend's kitchen that's a bit rustic. She also said they're easy to take care, don't stain, and you can even set a hot pan in them. :o) ...and CONGRATULATIONS!!

What a fun question. - Poppy

[ In Reply To ..]
Another just-us-two-nower here. I designed my own new kitchen last year, also after always having very old inadequate ones and on a tiny budget. Design that really suits my wishes is what makes it so special. Ikea guts, custom doors, and Craig's List higher-end appliances make me smile when I'm reminded of what a new kitchen should cost these days.

IMO, the very best thing I did for my own kitchen was to have a nice long stretch of counter in my work area without overhead cabinets. Not working with cabinets in my face feels wonderful, and the kitchen looks really large and airy. That's in addition to a 30x54" work island facing the TV over the fridge. :) The island may sound small compared to some, but the workspace and spaciousness are extravagant.

Second very best thing: Full-extension drawers and more drawers instead of doors and shelves. I have exactly one door cabinet in my main workspace for vertical store of baking sheets, large mixer, etc.

Large deep (mine's 29" long by 9" deep installed) single-bowl sink. Dishes set in there disappear from view so they won't be demanding you jump up and deal with them.

If you use reference books, you'll probably want them behind doors to protect from grease.

A quiet dishwasher. I personally would benefit from a lock on the refrigerator and a scale set into the floor in front of the pantry.

Speaking of, a friend built her desk in her walk-in pantry. It faces into her kitchen through a pass-through slightly raised to hide the mess on the desk. I throw that in because I've wanted one as a control central ever since I saw it. My work desk's in front of a window like yours will be, though. Have fun!

I'm jealous! Lucky you. - Backwards Typist

[ In Reply To ..]
We built our home in 1991 and there are lots of things I would change if I could. My kitchen is all knotty pine. The whole house was built by DH and a friend. They had gotten a great deal on rough cut pine boards and built the cabinets, too, along with the floors.

I have a wall of pantry space which were very deep, but only had 4 shelves in each. Stacking canned goods on top of each other was a pain and some stuff was definitely hidden from view.

DH built sliding shelves in each pantry of mixed heights and I love it now. More room and I can see everything. He did the same for my under counter cabinets. (I don't know how to attach photos of it or I would). Email if you want to see it.

Just make sure you have enough counter space. Don't use your counter space for a microwave. Build it in somewhere convenient. Also, keep the stove/oven and 'fridge away from each other to save on electric. It will make the 'fridge work harder and more often.

Also, I wouldn't go with hardwood floors in a kitchen. I have them and they are a pain to keep clean. If you want the look of hardwood, check into the laminates.

Make sure you have a really good ventilator above your stove/cooktop to keep grease, etc. to a minimum. It could cause havoc with the computer.

I use a high-back gas-powered (for lowering and raising the chair) cloth chair with a lumbar cushion for the lower back.

Sounds quite nice, I had my backup out in the -- sm - ECMT

[ In Reply To ..]
kitchen for a little while, then moved it to the dining room (which is the kids's play room actually). But as for what I love in my kitchen, downdraft stove (not a Jennair but comparable), good lighting, we put in 2 more lights as what was there just was not enough, lots and lots of cabinets and counterspace (have tons here, love that), but a note on the cabinet height, the people that built our house here (the previous owner) must have been on the tall side as I can barely reach the bottom shelf (5'3") so make sure the height placement suits you, I have to stand on a chair to get to the 2nd and 3rd shelves. I would use a vinyl or lineoleum in a kitchen, or a stone, not hardwood, not sure what dropping hot food on it would do to it. Ceiling fans are a must too. We have something I have never seen in another house, we have a double sink (SS) on a diagonal, set in the corner of the countertop. Though if you are heavy it tends to be harder in terms of reach (I have a few pounds to hack off due to this job). We have a totally tile countertop too (and half the wall going up) so we can put hot pots, pans, etc directly on it without having to worry about anything, love that. Have fun planning!

THANKS for your suggestions!!! - DJ

[ In Reply To ..]
I really appreciate all your ideas and your enthusiasm for my new office. We met with the cabinet man for 3 hours yesterday, laying it all out. As I suggested, he can and will build the desk area with a tambour-type roll top so that I can hide away the monitor when we have guests. And it will be SO SWEET to have all the wires hidden! When its completed I will attempt to upload pictures. Look for then in Octoberish!

kitchen floor - roperslg

[ In Reply To ..]
So happy you are getting what sounds like the perfect kitchen and office! As for the hardwood floor, I bought a Haan steamer before we had our new kitchen floor installed (laminate). If there is ever a fire, it is the first thing I will grab to get out. My new floor has never had any chemicals on it, which are really not advisable anyhow. After steam cleaning with my Haan, I take a clean, white sock and rub it on the floor just to see if the Haan did it's job, it has nver failed! I purchased it through QVC and have never been sorry and if this one wears out, you can be sure it will be replaced immediately with another one. Enjoy your kitchen and workplace, good luch.

kitchen - roperslg

[ In Reply To ..]
Forgot to mention that I also use my Haan to steam my mattresses each time I change the bedding to get rid of mites and dead skin. Sounds horrible, doesn't it? But I have found that I breathe better and sleep better since starting to do this. This is not a commercial, lol. Good luck, not luch, lol

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