The kitchen is the heart of the home, a place where loved ones gather, where the kids do their homework, and where you spend your lazy Sunday morning with a cup of coffee.
However, the best kitchen setup for drinking with friends may not be the same as making cookies with kids. In a perfect world, you can almost endlessly furnish and rearrange the kitchen of your dreams to suit the day, event, or even meal.
Well, freestanding kitchens make this possible.
Freestanding kitchens, unlike fixed islands, are mounted on wheels and can be rolled out while preparing meals. No more awkwardly placed kitchen cabinets and bulky islands – this vintage storage unit brings a one-of-a-kind touch to your home.
While a freestanding kitchen sounds ideal in every way, it goes against most people’s perceptions of kitchen design, which can feel a bit adventurous. To determine if freestanding kitchens are right for you, an expert shares details of this trend and why you might (or may not) want to try it at home.
“Freestanding kitchens are made up of freestanding furniture, not built-in cabinetry,” says Audrey Scheck of Audrey Scheck Design. “Because freestanding kitchens are made up of separate pieces, you can incorporate vintage furniture such as Welsh dressers or Indian cabinets to create a relaxed, unique and attractive look.”
These kitchens are becoming increasingly popular due to changing lifestyle trends: we want our rooms to be versatile; Having an island on wheels allows you to free up more space for your event, or open up the shelves that can be switched to create a makeshift bar for cocktail parties, following that sentiment.
More and more people are renting for longer periods of time and want to invest in something meaningful that reflects their décor perspective and can be taken with them when they move. In addition, the style is aesthetically in line with current design trends.
“With the rise of the country trend, we’re seeing a proliferation of freestanding kitchens that embodies comfort, romantic aesthetics and the charm of the English countryside,” says Sheik. “Freestanding kitchens follow this trend, as they are often complemented by antique furniture to create a layered, timeless look.”
“One of the biggest advantages of a freestanding kitchen is the flexibility to move furniture around to best fit the layout of the room,” says Shayck. “In addition, using old-fashioned furniture is an affordable and sustainable way to equip the kitchen. We recommend heading to your local antique emporium to buy antique cabinets, dressers, or even a table that doubles as a freestanding island. ”
This budget-friendly style allows you to leverage existing resources and collect debris over time, rather than feeling like you have to overhaul everything at once. It also challenges the idea of the “perfect” kitchen, which is that expensive marble countertops or brand new stainless steel appliances must be “good enough”. It takes on a more laid-back, acquired look.
“The flexibility of freestanding furniture in the kitchen makes it feel like it’s an easy trend to join,” says Sheik. “When sourcing furniture for this trend, look for warm wood tones with slight imperfections. It only adds to the charm and creates the beauty of comfort, life.”
There are definitely some elements of a freestanding kitchen to keep in mind before removing all the cabinets.
Storage is the primary concern in the kitchen, so if you decide to ditch the traditional design in favor of a freestanding kitchen, you will need to replace the functionality of the cabinets. A combination of pantry and freestanding furniture can do this, but it’s something to consider when planning your layout.
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You must also consider the future impact of reselling. If you create a kitchen with great taste, potential home buyers may not be able to imagine themselves living in this space. Also, if you’re planning to bring some larger furniture with you when you move (such as an island or an antique dresser converted into a kitchen pantry), this can be a deal-breaker for some buyers.
Despite its drawbacks, this trend has almost limitless customization possibilities. If you want to create a kitchen that fits your lifestyle perfectly, then a freestanding kitchen may be the best option for you.