The Essential Kitchen Design Guide

The kitchen is the heart of the home, the ideal place to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee, an informal gathering, or an intimate conversation. It is also a complex organism in which numerous independent systems must work in harmony to minimize the energy required to prepare meals and clean up afterwards. Few rooms see so much activity; fewer still challenge designers with such an array of practical, technological, and esthetic considerations. The successful kitchen designer creates a warm, pleasant atmosphere while solving problems of storage capacity, accessibility, functionality, ventilation, lighting, safety, and durability. For many years the National Kitchen & Bath Association has conducted a prestigious education program for kitchen designers. The Essential Kitchen Design Guide, condensed from the NKBA's own six-volume manual, is an invaluable sourcebook and technical guide for kitchen planning and design. It offers an established set of kitchen-planning guidelines--accepted as the norm for the industry--and provides authoritative presentations on every kitchen mechanical system, design issue, and planning principle, as well as appliances, fixtures, and other equipment. Hundreds of design details, descriptive technical photos, and useful checklists help you make the most of all the information provided. Reliable data, proven techniques, and helpful tips prepare you to tackle every aspect of kitchen design, including Electrical systems, lighting, and plumbing Fixtures and appliances Cabinetry, floor coverings, counter tops, and other equipment and materials Drawing and presentation standards for the kitchen professional Cost estimating Space planning Kitchen-related building codes And more The Essential Kitchen Design Guide is an indispensable tool and an essential addition to the professional libraries of architects, interior designers, and anyone interested in pursuing the finest in kitchen design. From the organization whose name is synonymous with the highest standards in kitchen and bath design-the kitchen design guide no professional should be without