Designing the Heart of Your Home: Why Thoughtful Kitchens Matter

Nice to meet you! I’m Jessica, Founder & Creative Director of Dwell Well Design Co., lover of vintage treasures, cake, and kitchen dance parties (preferably all at once). And today, we’re going to have a heart-to-heart about your kitchen: the room that does the most and so often gets treated like an afterthought in renovations.

If you’re dreaming about redoing your kitchen—or even just giving it a little refresh—grab your coffee (or hey, your evening wine) and settle in. Let’s talk about why investing both time and money into your kitchen isn’t just smart; it’s essential.

Throughout today's post we'll be featuring a recent kitchen we partnered with some very special home owners on.

Why investing time and money in your kitchen matters

Here’s the honest truth: kitchens aren’t cheap—and they really shouldn’t be. This space works harder than any other room in your home. It’s where you chop veggies, help with homework, host the neighbors for wine, prep for holidays, and yes, reheat Tuesday night leftovers. It is also the one space in your home that has absolutely the most detail in both construction and forethought.

Because it’s the hardest-working room, it needs to be thoughtfully designed to handle real life, not just look pretty for Instagram. And while hiring a designer might feel like an added cost, it’s almost always a savings in the long run. Why? Because kitchens have the most expensive mistakes/oversights of any room in the home. We've all see them, awkward layouts, cabinets that block each other when opened, or finishes that don’t wear well in real life.

And beyond dollars and cents, there’s an emotional ROI here too. A well-designed kitchen doesn’t just look good—it makes cooking easier, mornings calmer, and your entire home life feel more joyful and functional. You’ll use it every single day. That’s worth doing right.

How to value your kitchen renovation for your home

Not every kitchen needs the same level of investment—but it does need the right level for your home. I see it all the time: a beautiful high-value home brought down by semi-custom cabinets, bargain-bin counters, or (my personal pet peeve) skipping cabinet hardware altogether. These things might seem small, but buyers (and appraisers) absolutely notice them.

Think of it this way: your kitchen renovation should be in proportion to your home’s value and what’s expected in your neighborhood. I'm not saying it's going to be top-of-the-line on everything—but it is about making smart decisions. Invest in the bones and the layout: solid cabinet boxes, stone countertops, quality appliances. These are the elements that can’t easily be swapped later. Then you can choose more budget-friendly options for things like lighting or stools, which can be updated down the road as styles change.

The big design considerations you can’t skip

Alright, let’s get a little nerdy (in the best way). Here are the things we always look at when designing a kitchen—and you should too:

• Work zones: Cooking, prepping, and cleaning up need their own space so you’re not stepping over the dishwasher to get to the fridge.

  • Don't put an appliance anywhere without at least 12" of surface on both sides.

  • Create a layout that maximizes uninterrupted counter stretches as much as possible.

  • Recreate cooking, prepping and cleaning up- are you jogging around an island to do that? Consider your steps and turns in the process.

• Clearances: Those “just a few inches” can make or break how your kitchen feels and functions. Think about aisles, fridge swing, island placement, and more.

  • Measure door depths then make sure none will touch

  • Consider if you can avoid having two work stations back to back.

  • A two person work area should have at least 48" in walkway width

  • Don't make your walkways too large though! More than 50" is a couple steps. That's likely going to be uncomfortable. Don't arrange your kitchen with an island too far away

• Lighting: It’s never just one fixture over the island. Layered lighting—task, ambient, and accent—creates warmth, highlights design features, and makes the space truly functional. Always put them on dimmers as well.

• Storage strategy: Deep drawers, tray dividers, pull-outs, and hidden appliance garages help keep counters clean and mornings smooth.

• Materials & finishes: These aren’t just about beauty. They need to hold up to daily life, be easy to clean, and still look gorgeous years later.

• Ventilation & outlets: Not glamorous, but absolutely vital for a kitchen that works.

  • So many kitchens don't vent to the outside. In your renovation take the time to do it right and vent your home. Depending on how much you cook and what you cook, it may be worth investing in a make up air vent hood.

  • I always use under cabinet outlets. It does cost a smidge more, but it also takes ugly utilitarian outlets from your backsplash. You won't regret it.

• Do a space study: It's something I do for every kitchen now. I calculate the cubic feet per storage type in the existing kitchen then compare to the renovated kitchen. This helps me ensure that I've fully considered the clients needs. Usually I'm expanding the cubic feet in the new layout, but not always. The study creates the ability to really dive into creating the smartest storage for the space.

A truly great kitchen doesn’t happen by accident. It’s planned down to the inch.

Recent design “solves” I'll repeat over and over

Every family is different, which means every kitchen should be too. Here are a few favorite solutions we’ve designed lately:

• In the 3D render shown here you can see a hidden appliance garage/ beverage station that is behind pocket doors. This not only keeps the counter clear by hiding often used small appliances, but it creates an additional work space in the mornings. Easing congestion at one of the peak kitchen use times for a family.

• Mixing metals—like a polished nickel faucet with antique brass hardware—to keep the space feeling layered, not flat.

• Repurposing a vintage piece as an island to add warmth and soul. If this isn't an option consider changing the finish for the island. This is really the only time I recommend mixing cabinet finishes.

• Using a dramatic backsplash moment as the star, then balancing it with quieter countertops.

• A family command center is something I've been creating in all of my kitchens. So many of us need a designated space for all the devices to live and charge, as well as all the school papers to go. This solution involves shallow shelves with plenty of outlet space, including USB. outlet Add doors that can keep it all contained and out of sight.

  

• Layering light fixtures, from sconces to pendants, for a space that can go from bright and practical to cozy and intimate.

• While we are talking about lighting- consider lighting the inside of cabinets. I love the automatic turn on when the doors open on these slide out pantry's! Efficient and oh so easy to live with.

  

• Dive into appliances that work. What are the decibels of the dishwasher? How many HP is the disposal? In the featured kitchen here we installed a speed oven. It's a microwave, convection oven and even air fryer. Such a smart, and space saving solve for the 2x per year many of us actually need that second oven!

These details may seem small, but together, they create a kitchen that feels uniquely yours, truly custom and most of all? Works hard for your life.

Final thoughts

A beautiful, functional kitchen isn’t just about resale value or following the latest trend. It’s about designing the space where your family gathers, grows, and lives everyday life.

Done thoughtfully, a kitchen becomes more than just a room—it becomes a reflection of how you really live, entertain, and share your home with the people you love most.

And if you’re ready to start dreaming about what that could look like in your home? You know where to find me.