A stove, sink, microwave, and fridge are definite must-haves in a kitchen. But a computer…well, that’s just crazy talk!

While adding a computer to your kitchen design, whether new or reno, might sound a bit odd, consider this: professional chefs and restaurateurs have actually been using computers in the kitchen for several years now. In a residential setting, they can be just as valuable for anything from meal planning to a place where young children can use the computer while you’re preparing dinner.

Purpose
People have many reasons for wanting a computer in the kitchen. One of the driving forces behind designing computer-friendly kitchens is contractors who are building homes with multi-purpose rooms in response to consumer demand – gone is the “formal” living room reserved only for guests. Another reason computers are appearing more and more in kitchens is multi-tasking. It allows you to keep an eye on the stove while checking your email, watching an online news story or supervising a child’s computer time, whether for homework or for fun.

• Everyone today is aware of privacy and online security issues; children, especially young ones, should be supervised when surfing the net.
• Not just for meal planning or looking up recipes, a computer can also be used to create grocery or inventory lists, convert measurements and watch videos of how to cook certain foods.
• It makes placing online grocery orders easier.
• A computer in the kitchen creates a natural gathering place for family members to plan an outing, buy movie tickets online or to have a video conference with the grandparents.
• You will have music wherever you go. A kitchen computer is a handy source of music to cook by.

Location

Will it be a computer station for the kids so you can supervise their homework and/or internet usage? Then you will want the computer to be in your line of sight rather than behind you when you’re standing at the sink or stove.

If you like a dedicated recipe station and a place to plan meals, perhaps it would be best to put the computer at the end of the counter or on the kitchen island where you do most of your food prep.

Give some thought to traffic flow. Whether the workstation is a built-in or a freestanding unit like a computer desk or a computer armoire, you will want to be able to sit and work at the computer without blocking the “kitchen triangle” (pathway from the sink to the stove to the refrigerator), as well as any entrances.

Your computer desk or workstation will need to be situated near a power source.

How-to’s
Work out your electrical wiring/power source needs. Even if you plan on using a laptop, it will eventually need to be recharged at some point. 

The width of the computer area should be at least 24 inches. If you would like your kitchen computer station to include space for spreading out papers or homework, or room for friends to gather around the screen, double the width, from 42 to 48 inches. 

Whether it’s a built-in or freestanding unit, you probably will want under-desk storage for any computer hardware you would like to hide away. Make sure any cabinetry, computer desk CPU compartment or enclosed area provides adequate ventilation. 

Don’t forget to include some kind of wire management system. You want easy access but without the clutter. 

Especially in a kitchen environment, include a dedicated slide-out keyboard tray in your computer setup. When not in use, you can retract the keyboard tray, protecting it from any potential mishaps.

Shelves above the computer desk or workspace are a must-have for office supplies, a choice selection of cookbook faves and peripherals like a printer or fax machine.
 
If you’re designing a built-in computer station, don’t forget to shed some light on the subject. Under-cabinet task lighting is the perfect solution, freeing up workspace while make the most of the light source. 

The same goes for any computer desk or computer armoire you are adding to your kitchen. Make sure you select a good desk lamp that will let you work comfortably at the computer.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 3:56 pm and is filed under Kitchen Furniture & Design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.