10 Kitchen Must-Haves I'd Put in My Own Home After 25 Years

After 25 years of kitchen design, here’s exactly what I’d put in my own kitchen — the sink, storage, countertops, lighting, and small luxuries that actually make daily life easier. The things people obsess over during a remodel are rarely what they’re still talking about years later. I’ve watched homeowners spend weeks on countertop samples and hours on cabinet colors — then walk me through the same kitchen years later and only talk about how it feels to live in. So this is the kitchen I’d build for myself: not the trendiest, not the most expensive, the one that removes friction from everyday life. I’m Ariana Adireh Anderson — interior designer, architect, and owner of the construction company that builds our projects. Two-time National NKBA Design Award winner, 25+ years designing luxury homes across the Eastside of Seattle: Kirkland, Bellevue, Mercer Island, and Sammamish. WHAT WE COVER: 00:00 — Why my answer changed after 25 years 01:20 — The psychology of how a kitchen makes you feel 02:10 — The island, and why I keep it clear on purpose 02:57 — The oversized sink + the prep sink nobody regrets 04:28 — Landing space and why kitchens feel awkward without it 05:11 — Why I’d choose drawers almost everywhere 05:51 — Panel-ready appliances and visual calm 06:20 — Quartzite over marble + full-height stone 07:12 — Small luxuries: instant hot water + appliance garage 07:56 — Lighting and how it changes the room 08:31 — Curves and the neuroaesthetics behind them 09:11 — What actually makes a kitchen feel expensive 09:47 — The real reason any of this matters FAQ Q: What should you put in your own kitchen when remodeling? A: Designer Ariana Adireh Anderson prioritizes a large single-bowl sink, a prep sink, drawers over lower cabinets, generous landing space, dimmable layered lighting, and durable quartzite — features that reduce daily friction over features that just look impressive. Q: Is quartzite better than marble for kitchen countertops? A: For a kitchen you actually cook in, Ariana recommends quartzite — it delivers the natural-stone beauty of marble with far more resistance to everyday staining and etching, so you enjoy living with it instead of worrying about it. Q: What makes a kitchen feel expensive? A: According to Ariana, it isn’t the countertop or the appliance package — it’s the details you touch every day: the drawer glides, the hardware, the faucet, and how things move. Luxury is sensory, experienced through hundreds of small interactions. — Interior Design: https://ariid.com Design + Build: https://ariidbuild.com ARIID Group: https://ariidgroup.com Luxury Furniture: https://ariidhome.com Instagram: @arianadesignsllc