What do you think defines a high-end kitchen?

[Anonymous]

If you could only update a couple of things, which are the best to focus on to make a kitchen look high-end? Which are the least important?

Cabinets
Appliances
Countertops
Floors
Table/Chairs
Window Treatments
Lighting
Range

[Anonymous]

Why is it important that a kitchen look high end? In your opinion, is a high end kitchen one that looks expensive or one that is functional?

[Anonymous]

Marble
Other expensive finishes
Pro cooktop
Double wall oven
Massive island
Drawers for all bottom cabinets. No cupboards on bottom
Space for a deal or two
Something extra: pot filler or special warmer/ microwave hidden in a bottom cabinet.

[Anonymous]

Deal = desk. Oops.

[Anonymous]

The cooktop with six burners that is separate from a wall oven.

[Anonymous]

A full staff.

[Anonymous]

Christopher Peacock

[Anonymous]

gas stove top with 5 or 6 burners - I personally don't like the water spigot but some like
double wall ovens
two dishwashers (one possibly in the butler's pantry)
two french door refrigerators
separate microwave in an upper cabinet
all appliances with wood fronts - no stainless(!)
walk-in pantry with lots of shelves for food stuff & serving platters, etc.
no lower cabinets - all drawers that pull out
plenty of outlets
under cabinet lighting throughout plus recessed lighting
two sinks - one standard size and one smaller size in the island
the hot water spigot in the main sink (forgot what it is called but I use mine every day)
an island with storage underneath and seating at one end but no cooktop(!) and only a small prep sink
large eat-in area with room for a table and chairs to seat 8-10
family room off of the kitchen
mechanical arm to hold cookbooks or ipads up off the counter at readable level (just saw this at a friend's house - her husband devised and it was really, really cool)
butler's pantry leading to the dining room (so no open kitchen here) with the butler's pantry to have a dishwasher, lots of crystal storage, independent ice maker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:gas stove top with 5 or 6 burners - I personally don't like the water spigot but some like
double wall ovens
two dishwashers (one possibly in the butler's pantry)
two french door refrigerators
separate microwave in an upper cabinet
all appliances with wood fronts - no stainless(!)
walk-in pantry with lots of shelves for food stuff & serving platters, etc.
no lower cabinets - all drawers that pull out
plenty of outlets
under cabinet lighting throughout plus recessed lighting
two sinks - one standard size and one smaller size in the island
the hot water spigot in the main sink (forgot what it is called but I use mine every day)
an island with storage underneath and seating at one end but no cooktop(!) and only a small prep sink
large eat-in area with room for a table and chairs to seat 8-10
family room off of the kitchen
mechanical arm to hold cookbooks or ipads up off the counter at readable level (just saw this at a friend's house - her husband devised and it was really, really cool)
butler's pantry leading to the dining room (so no open kitchen here) with the butler's pantry to have a dishwasher, lots of crystal storage, independent ice maker

Your list is fantastic. I have most of this in my kitchen. I don't consider it high end. I'm lucky enough to have the space to support this layout. But a high end kitchen can be done without this much space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you could only update a couple of things, which are the best to focus on to make a kitchen look high-end? Which are the least important?

Cabinets
Appliances
Countertops
Floors
Table/Chairs
Window Treatments
Lighting
Range

Um PPs, OP is not asking about a dream kitchen or an exhaustive list. He clearly has a budget or other restraints and can only focus on select updates rather than renoing the entire kitchen!

My answer: It really depends on what you're working with. If you have old, white appliances, replacing those with stainless steel would be a priority. If you have white laminate or Corian countertops, replacing with high end natural stone would be a top priority. If you're cabinets look cheap or are in bad repair, you can replace countertops and appliances until you're blue in the face, but your kitchen will still look cheap and unrenovated. I would focus on high-need/high-impact items. You may want to go modest (eg get nice looking stainless range, but don't splurge on $6-8k model. Get a $3-4k model and put the extra savings into more upgrades, like cabinet lighting.

[Anonymous]

-High quality inset cabinets
-Marble counters
-High end appliances- either a separate double gas stovetop and wall ovens or 6-8 burner range with a additional oven + microwave. I disagree with the wood paneling, I think that look has become dated.
-a built-in fridge
-hardwood floors
-high end lighting fixtures (ex Circa)

Size doesn't matter (at least when it comes to kitchens!).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:-High quality inset cabinets
-Marble counters
-High end appliances- either a separate double gas stovetop and wall ovens or 6-8 burner range with a additional oven + microwave. I disagree with the wood paneling, I think that look has become dated.
-a built-in fridge
-hardwood floors
-high end lighting fixtures (ex Circa)

Size doesn't matter (at least when it comes to kitchens!).

Of course size matters. 6-8 burner range is at least 48". Double wall ovens means you have the wall space to dedicate to cooking rather than storage,

[Anonymous]

I don't agree at all that size=high end. I've seen many very high end kitchens in rather small spaces. Prep sinks and desks for instance seem to very American and very useless waste of space.

Look at these kitchens: http://www.bulthaup.de

They are very expensive/high end, and don't have many of the items mentioned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't agree at all that size=high end. I've seen many very high end kitchens in rather small spaces. Prep sinks and desks for instance seem to very American and very useless waste of space.

Look at these kitchens: http://www.bulthaup.de

They are very expensive/high end, and don't have many of the items mentioned.

I agree with most of this, but I'd also say to consider the typical American lifestyle as you reno. Many Euro kitchens have what we'd consider teeny-tiny fridges because culturally they've been more likely to make trips to the market/butcher/whatever several times a week. With Costco and the like here in the states, many go on giant monthly shopping trips with a couple supermarket runs. At best, it seems like people go on supermarket runs every 1-1.5 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:gas stove top with 5 or 6 burners - I personally don't like the water spigot but some like
double wall ovens
two dishwashers (one possibly in the butler's pantry)
two french door refrigerators
separate microwave in an upper cabinet
all appliances with wood fronts - no stainless(!)
walk-in pantry with lots of shelves for food stuff & serving platters, etc.
no lower cabinets - all drawers that pull out
plenty of outlets
under cabinet lighting throughout plus recessed lighting
two sinks - one standard size and one smaller size in the island
the hot water spigot in the main sink (forgot what it is called but I use mine every day)
an island with storage underneath and seating at one end but no cooktop(!) and only a small prep sink
large eat-in area with room for a table and chairs to seat 8-10
family room off of the kitchen
mechanical arm to hold cookbooks or ipads up off the counter at readable level (just saw this at a friend's house - her husband devised and it was really, really cool)
butler's pantry leading to the dining room (so no open kitchen here) with the butler's pantry to have a dishwasher, lots of crystal storage, independent ice maker

Your list is fantastic. I have most of this in my kitchen. I don't consider it high end. I'm lucky enough to have the space to support this layout. But a high end kitchen can be done without this much space.

OMFG, would someone please tell me the DCUM obsession with being obscenely wealthy and then pretending not to be? It's just toad-like. Oh, is the Lambo not high end because someone has a more elite edition? If you're going to brag about your luxury lifestyle, then FFS, just own it.