The Kitchen Remodel Details That Can Make The Space Noisier Than You'd Expect - Tasting Table

"There are those of us who think of a kitchen as a quiet, meditative workspace, and others who see it for what it usually is: The noisiest room in the house by some distance. When you're in the zone cooking a meal, the sounds of a kitchen can be drowned out by your own thoughts - "chop it finer", "check the oven", "the onions are not brown enough"."

"According to Carmine Argano, owner of Creative Design Ceramic Tile & Bath, open kitchen layouts, while popular, are a big part of the problem as the sound bounces around the larger space. Other details that add to the noise are the type of flooring, the material used for counters, types of appliances, and the detailing on the cupboards and cabinets in the kitchen. "It's a big problem, especially for people who work from home or simply want some quiet," Argano says, adding that a series of interventions during a remodel can help significantly cut down noise in the kitchen."

""You can quiet things down with soft-close cabinets and drawers, thicker counters, and even by putting a rug runner in front of the sink or stove." The absolute best rugs for the kitchen are usually designed to absorb sound. And thicker counters are not only more durable, the extra inches also help absorb noise. As for soft-close cabinets, they come with a piston attached to the hinge, which forcibly slows down the movement of the door just before it shuts to avoid a bang."

Open kitchen layouts allow sound to bounce around larger spaces, making kitchens significantly noisier. Hard or reflective surfaces such as certain flooring, thin counters, and specific appliance types increase reverberation and clatter. Cabinet and cupboard detailing, including hinge and closure types, contribute to slamming and impact noise. Remodel interventions that reduce sound include installing soft-close cabinets and drawers, choosing thicker counters, and placing absorbent rug runners near sinks and stoves. Thicker counters add durability while absorbing sound, absorbent rugs reduce step and impact noise, and soft-close hinges use pistons to slow door movement and prevent loud bangs.

Read at Tasting Table