Have you started a "must-have" list of Chicago kitchen design ideas for your upcoming remodel? In February, the Research Institute for Cooking and Kitchen Intelligence (RICKI) conducted an online market research survey for Kitchen & Bath Design News. The goal of the study was to figure out which options homeowners want most in their kitchen and bathrooms, and what they're willing to pay the most for.

Kitchen Must-Haves to Include in Chicago Kitchen Design Ideas

One thing is clear after combing through the results from more than 300 respondents; while style is important, today's kitchens are designed around function and efficiency. The results were divided into three different tiers, based on popularity.

Here is a review of the results. Take a peek and see how they compare with your own must-have design list:

Storage is a top priority

One of the first things we noticed is that storage and organization are top priorities. Three first-tier items focus on storage-related features:

• 87% want full-drawer extensions.
• 74% want deep drawers.
• 73% want more accessible storage.

Those three results comprise almost half of the top-tier must-haves. Storage makes it's way into the second- and third-tiers as well, with 46% wanting divided drawer storage, 25% wanting to use space for a home office or entertaining, and 16% interested in racks for pots or utensils.

Design Tip: Rather than listing what you want, start taking an account of how you use your kitchen on a daily basis, and which kitchen items you use most. Keep a running list for at least a couple of weeks through a month or so. This list will help your kitchen design-build team to create a more personalized kitchen design, one that prioritizes storage according to how it will be used.

Is that a residential or commercial kitchen?

Another thing the survey reflects is a trend towards commercial kitchen upgrades. Commercial kitchen equipment is durable and can take a serious beating. For this reason, 39% of survey respondents said they're looking at commercial- or professional-grade appliances. Things like built-in, sub-zero refrigerators, convection ovens separate ranges and hoods, double ovens and warming drawers are all examples of how professional appliances are becoming mainstream in residential kitchen remodels.

Design Tip: Decide how much is enough. Yes, a gourmet kitchen remodel has all the bells and whistles. However, make sure you'll really use the bells and whistles you select. Otherwise, they're just taking up usable space that could have been designated for something your household will actually use on a daily basis.

High-quality cabinets are key

At first-glance, cabinets only made a single appearance on the list, albeit in the top-tier: 70% of respondents are willing to pay more for semi- or custom cabinets. However, when you think about it, cabinets are part of the drawer, organizing and home office requests, not to mention the framework for showcasing appliances. Thus, cabinets are the ultimate kitchen must-have.

Design Tip: Work with Kitchens & Baths Unlimited to get new Chicago kitchen design ideas for your must-have list.