When you visualize a kitchen renovation, the finished space, what do you see first? A big, multi-purpose island? Maybe new sparkling pendant lighting! Or perhaps the custom cabinets that redefine the look AND utility of the space…
We all typically visualize the big updates first.
BUT, once folks are LIVING in their finished kitchen renovations, it’s often not the big features they’re most grateful for. Instead, the “oh I’m SO glad I included that!” features are the ones homeowners rave about. These are the features we use constantly, that make life easier every single day.
So, I thought it would be fun to share that number-one, “oh I’m SO glad I included that” feature in five of our most awarded kitchens.
Some are surprising!! Let’s see which feature jumps out at you…
The Walk-In Pantry with Counter Space
In this Trophy Club kitchen remodel, our client’s day-to-day favorite feature ended up being their walk-in pantry! And not because it’s large. (Plenty of large pantries are still frustrating to use!!)
This pantry was designed intentionally around how this family lives: What they store, what small appliances they use the most, and where prep naturally happens.
…And once we organized the pantry around those real-life answers, the rest of their kitchen flow improved, too.
The biggest game changer in the pantry design was incorporating counter space right inside, because certain prep tasks naturally migrate into the space. Small appliances could stay plugged in and ready, too!! Intentional lighting updates made the entire space feel more functional, too (instead of dark and forgotten, like most pantries do).
The Dual Dishwashers for Busy Family Life
In this Southlake, Texas kitchen remodel project, the feature that the homeowners appreciate the most is their dual dishwasher setup.
This is one of those features where a family asks themselves, “WHY didn’t we do this sooner?!”
This kitchen, I should tell you, was designed for a VERY active family…kids moving through the space constantly, and different activities happening simultaneously. So, the placement of the dishwashers ended up defining the overall flow of the kitchen during all the busiest times of day.
The Kitchen Window That finally Brought in Enough Light
For the homeowners behind this Trophy Club, Texas kitchen renovation, the feature they appreciated most was the dramatically expanded kitchen window.
See that window, stretching across the wall? It was much smaller and narrower before. And, go figure, the kitchen ALWAYS felt dark and boxed in.
…And dark kitchens sap our energy more than we realize!!
In general, I think folks often underestimate how emotional lighting really is, including natural lighting AND lighting design. They focus heavily on finishes and color selections while it’s light changes how your body experiences a space.
This project is such a perfect example of that!!
The Custom Mixer Lift
In this vacation home remodel, there are honestly sooo many custom features the homeowners adore that it’s hard to pick a “number one.”
But if you ask which feature has the biggest weight in certain family interactions, it’s the custom pull-out mixer stand designed for this homeowner’s baking!! With this specific customization, now when the grandkids come over, baking is easier. It happens more often. And keeping the mess and work area CONTAINED is stress-free.
If you own a large stand mixer, you already understand! They’re heavy and awkward, and dragging them out can even be a DETERRENT to baking. So sad!
This custom mixer lift solved all of that.
The Trio of Specialty Grills That Upgraded Entertaining
Our award-winning indoor-outdoor Keller, Texas project is filled with incredible features, so choosing just one is nearly impossible!
BUT one feature that arguably changed entertaining most dramatically is the trio of specialty grills and cooking surfaces in the outdoor kitchen of the pool cabana.
With this set-up, different cooking methods can happen simultaneously, including communal cooking as people socialize. The homeowners can now stay engaged with guests instead of constantly disappearing back inside the house.
When outdoor kitchens are designed properly, people entertain differently. For starters, the cooking itself becomes part of the experience!!
An Exercise to Find Your “One Thing…”
Here’s something I encourage y’all to do before making ANY kitchen remodel decisions.
For one week, pay attention to every tiny moment of annoyance in your kitchen, and take note.
For example…
- Where do people collide into each other?
- What appliance is annoying to pull out?
- Where do bags, mail, or clutter naturally land?
- When do you wish you had better lighting?
- Where do you need more prep space?
- Where could you use another dishwasher?
- What would be a better spot for guests to gather while you cook?
Ultimately, the kitchen features you’ll end up loving most are the ones that improve your routines. Over and over and over again!!
Your next step after this exercise is to schedule a call with me…get started now, and you’ll thank yourself later!!
About the author:
Robin Burrill, RID, NCIDQ, ASID, IDS, CAPS, is an award-winning professional kitchen, bath, and interior designer. Robin and her husband, Robert Mathews, have owned Signature Home Services, Inc. for over three decades, establishing a superior in-house team with a widespread reputation for delivering meticulous design to their many repeat clients.
In 2022, the national publication, Kitchen and Bath Design News magazine, named Robin to their Top Innovator list in recognition of her achievements in the field of kitchen and bath design. In 2024, she was named one of the Fall 2024 Market Pros and “tastemakers” by ANDMORE at High Point Market. In 2024 and again in 2025, Fixr identified her as one of the Top Professional Interior Designers for their nationwide audience. At the start of 2025, she then acted as one of Dallas Market’s “Style Eyes” at Lightovation and Total Home & Gift Market.
Over her extensive career, Robin has been quoted in Architectural Digest and Forbes multiple times; her design work has been featured in top national trade publications; and she has been interviewed for Designers Today magazine’s “Profiles in Design” video series, among others. Widely respected for the depth of her knowledge, Robin is a sought after speaker and judge for many design industry events.
In 2023, Robin designed a bench for Charleston Forge, making her foray into product design. Robin currently serves as a volunteer on the board of the Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter of the Interior Design Society.
Leave a Reply