Design the Perfect Chef’s Kitchen for Your Home

Using the microwave for some quick meal prep when you’re in a hurry is super convenient, but anyone who has a passion for cooking, dreams of the perfect chef’s kitchen.

Putting together your culinary oasis doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive. In fact, you can have a lot of the elements in a chef’s kitchen without a complete remodel. We’ve put together a list of ideas to boost the existing functionality of your kitchen while allowing you to unleash your full creative potential.

Image: Aerial Quartz Kitchen Island Countertop & Castle Brick Brown Porcelain Kitchen Wall Tile from Arizona Tile

A Practical Countertop

The countertop is the most used surface in the kitchen, especially if you like to do meal prep from scratch. Whether you have an island, or only countertops along a wall, choosing your surface material here is perhaps the most crucial. To let your inner chef loose, you will need to pick a countertop material that is scratch, stain, and water-resistant.

Image: Mustang Quartzite Chef’s Kitchen Island Countertop, backsplash and counters from Arizona Tile

Our Mustang quartzite is the perfect example of a durable, functional, and naturally beautiful countertop solution. Quartzite is characterized by a high level of durability, scratch resistance, heat resistance, and low maintenance. Like all other kinds of natural stone, quartzite is porous. However, once it’s sealed during installation, you’ll get a fully water-resistant surface to work on.

Quartz slabs are a stellar choice for countertops. Check out our range of Della Terra® Quartz to acquaint yourself with the variety of colors and patterns available.. Aerial, Arabescato Como, and Citrine are lighter-colored quartz options that give your kitchen a more spacious feel, and also increase the brightness of the space by optimizing natural light availability.

For even simpler cleaning and easier maintenance, choose countertops that have the right edges. Traditional sharp edges can be a nuisance in the kitchen. Bullnose edges give you a much neater trim and they result in an even finish and visual sophistication. Did we also mention they’re a chef’s top choice as far as stellar hygiene is concerned?

One final design recommendation is selecting countertop shapes and layouts that maximize space. Professional kitchens feature massive countertops with no appliances on them allowing for maximum range of motion to prepare and cook food. Similarly, a chef’s kitchen at home will benefit from a cleverly-designed storage area that leaves large spacious surfaces for chopping and other meal prep essentials.

Image: Arabescato Como Quartz Chef’s Kitchen Island Countertop & Paros White Hex 8-1/2 x 10 Kitchen Wall Tile from Arizona Tile

Mess-Free Food Prep with the Right Backsplash

While countertops are typically front-of-mind, backsplashes play a protective role and are a must-have when designing a chef’s kitchen. Backsplashes can be made from an array of materials – from glass tile to a more traditional porcelain or ceramic tile, and even the same natural stone or quartz you have on your countertop.

Once again – you need a material that is water-resistant and easy to clean. It shouldn’t absorb grease or stains or you’ll end up with ruined kitchen aesthetics the first time you get messy with pasta sauce.

Our S-Series is available in a glossy and matte finish, a 2” x 12” subway tile, plus six mesh-mounted shapes including a picket, herringbone and scallop. You can choose from seven colors and various patterns, while knowing the entire product offering is water-resistant and requires minimal maintenance.

Flash porcelain tile is available in a variety of colors that will satisfy everyone’s taste and preferences. With eight colors, including cobalt, blush and light blue you can create a kitchen that is uniquely yours. Shiny and minimalist, the range will fit any interior design concept. Whether you’re going for a retro look or a contemporary industrial kitchen, this clean tile will add elegance and functionality to your backsplash.

Image: Taj Mahal Satin Quartzite Kitchen Countertop and Backsplash from Arizona Tile

Or, you can continue your countertop product right up the wall!  If you are looking for a consistent look and minimal maintenance, this may be the choice for you. By using the same slab that you have on your countertop and backsplash, you are able to keep the focus on this one, beautiful product and when you use a slab on your backsplash, you have NO grout lines, which provides for a simple clean up.

Versatile Flooring for a Chef’s Kitchen

Kitchens are a high-traffic area and as such, they need durable floors. Luckily, durable and good-looking can be achieved easily at the same time. Pristine, elegant floors that help you glide from the countertop to the oven and back again – that would be any amateur or professional chef’s dream.

Paros porcelain tile combines the sophistication of a seamless finish with the practical appeal of the material. Italian-made, available in a square shape, a rectangle shape and two sizes of hex, the options for your floor design are unlimited.  With classic colors such as black, navy, or white, you can even create a fun checkerboard design. Porcelain is very easy to wipe clean, even if you make a big mess and its breaking strength is excellent, so you don’t need to worry about dropping a knife or a bowl on the floor.

Image: Paros White & Paros Black Porcelain Kitchen Floor Tile from Arizona Tile

Food Prep Areas and Kitchen Islands

Now that we’ve outlined exactly what constitutes a chef’s kitchen, we need to discuss a few social elements that can add to the best food prep experience for the entire family.

Kitchen islands are a must-have. They give you one more work surface while the inside of the island can be used to maximize storage. Adding a few barstools will also give you an area for others to join the chef and socialize. Just imagine cooking the most delicious chicken parm with your kids or partner sitting by the island and having a chat with you while solving puzzles (your kids) or sipping on wine (your significant other).

Waterfall islands make a lot of sense, no matter what your living situation is. They became popular in the early 2010s for a reason – a seamless design that continues the material and extends all the way down on one or both sides to create a smooth, minimalist effect.

Image: Grigio Elegante Honed Quartz Kitchen Island from Arizona Tile

Grigio Elegante is the perfect choice for the execution of such a seamless design. The deep gray quartz slabs are stain and water-resistant. The veining adds some visual interest and the slabs are big enough to cover even the largest of islands.

To maximize the functionality of the kitchen island even further, consider the addition of a warming drawer. A hidden warming drawer is sufficiently insulated to maintain the heat of the meal stored inside. You can easily find such solutions that can be built into the structure of the island or anywhere else in your kitchen.

A Few Additional Recommendations

The best chef’s kitchen features a few additional elements that optimize the usability of the space. Our top recommendations include:

• A large kitchen sink
• Built-in appliances allowing effortless movement in the kitchen (even if it’s a smaller one)
• Concealed storage that utilizes space you wouldn’t have used otherwise (corners, the area behind the door, etc.)
• Large fridge with well-organized compartments
• Multiple ovens to help you with cooking a number of different dishes simultaneously
• Shelves or exposed hooks if you don’t have enough space for cabinets but would still like to keep your kitchen organized

Make Us a Part of Your Dream Kitchen Journey

We can make your culinary vision a reality. Your home deserves the best space for food preparation, socializing, and spending precious moments together.

Our Just Imagine Tile and Slab Visualizer gives you all the information needed to understand the specifics of a certain tile or countertop material, as well as the way it will look once installed. You can even create an account to save as many ideas as you come up with.

Anyone who wants to see our products and ask questions in person can choose an Arizona Tile showroom – we’re here to help.

If you need immediate assistance right now, contact the Arizona Tile team and we’ll do our best to give you a personalized consultation that takes into account all of your project’s specifics.