The Connection Bernards-Ridge Edition January February 2015

PAGE 74 Create a place where your family can flourish 134 South Finley Avenue Basking Ridge, NJ (908) 766-2006 www.trueleafkitchens.com It seems that family life gets more hectic each day and time that families spend together gets smaller. When family mem- bers are home, they often retreat to their own spaces to do homework, watch TV, pay bills, surf the web. Sitting down for a dinner together happens all too infrequent- ly. The kitchen is the hub of activity and the key to making your family thrive. Creating a space for different activities in one area will bring everyone together and make your family life run more smoothly. Get Wired Adults need to be connected to the digital world for work, social, and home oriented tasks while kids need to be plugged in to survive. Create a digital zone in your kitchen with a work surface, comfortable seating, power outlets and a USB connec- tion or wifi. Outfit the area with a multiport charging station so all devices have a place to power up. And if the kids’ phones are in the kitchen recharging at night, the kids will be sleeping instead of texting. The window seat next to this workstation is a cozy place to plug in while relaxing. Get Organized Most adults prefer not to spend time in messy, cluttered areas. Their kids, however, think that the best place for their stuff is wherever they drop it. A mudroom adja- cent to the kitchen with plenty of storage options is the best solution to this dilemma. Hooks for coats and backpacks encourage hanging up outerwear and accessories while open storage bins for shoes and sports equipment make it easy for kids to find what they need. Cabinets or drawers provide storage for out of season items and large kitchen items like brooms or mops. Incorporating the laundry in the mudroom simplifies things even further and brings a necessary family task into the kitchen zone. Get Creative Creative thinking in design can help you make the most of your family spaces. Open cabinets can provide easy access to dishes while allowing you to showcase favorite pieces. Wine storage or shelves can be incorporated into the end of an island or this area can house a small cart with wheels to pull out when extra prep space is need- ed. Create a pet zone with a feeding sta- tion and storage for leashes and coats. Dedicated bins store food while drawers located on the lowest level of the cabinet can be designed to hold pet bowls. The bowls slide neatly away when feeding time is over. Let the function drive the design. A dog wash incorporated into the mud- room makes bathing easier while also pro- viding a place to hang wet outerwear to dry. By incorporating the unique needs of your family into your kitchen design you will cre- ate a space for everyone to work, relax and reconnect with each other. CREATIVE KITCHEN DESIGN TO HELP YOUR FAMILY FLOURISH Submitted By: The TrueLeaf Kitchens’ Team The CONNECTory www.connectory.theconnectionsnj.com Be Seen In Scan here to visit Visit our Connection On-Line ad to view our video The CONNECTIONS www.theconnectionsnj.com