Kitchen Design Can Be Personal... But You Can Trust CRS to Get it Right

Piece by piece, this senior’s facility kitchen design came together perfectly.

Commercial kitchen design isn't one-size-fits-all, and anyone who's spent a service in the weeds will tell you the same thing. The right layout, the right equipment, the right flow when the dinner rush hits... it all depends on who's cooking, what they're cooking, and who they're cooking for, which is why we treat every commercial kitchen design project at Canadian Restaurant Supply (CRS) as its own thing. Same team, same process, different answers every time.

When most people picture a commercial kitchen, they default to the reality TV version with endless space, every shiny gadget on the market, and a brigade of trained cooks moving in formation. Those kitchens make for great television, but they're not really what most operators are building, and honestly, the kitchens we design tend to be smaller, tighter on budget, and a lot more interesting to figure out. The CRS design team genuinely loves a project that asks us to think outside the box, and we're there from the initial client meeting through to the design plans, the actual construction, and the post-construction follow-up... we listen first and make recommendations second.

What makes a kitchen design project "personal"?

Every kitchen has a few things working against it: a budget, a footprint, a menu, staff with different levels of training, and equipment requirements set by the people who write the cheques and the people who write the regulations. A good design accounts for all of it, and a great design makes the people using the kitchen feel like it was built for them, because it was.

That's the part of our work that doesn't show up in a catalogue. Listening, asking questions, and then designing around the answers instead of starting from a template is what separates a kitchen that works from one that just exists.

A project that gave us plenty to chew on: Clinton Seniors Facility

One project that really put our team to the test was the commercial kitchen design for Clinton Seniors Facility, where from the get-go, it was clear there were certain features the staff were determined to have. The space needed a simple layout so cooks who weren't professionally trained in a commercial kitchen could navigate it easily, the kitchen had to feel "homey" and foster community, and the team asked us to design in an open window so staff could greet residents with a cheery hello when they passed by. And unlike the reality TV kitchens, this one was located inside a modular building, so space was tight and every inch had to be maximized for usability.

BC Housing sets strict requirements for commercial kitchens, so CRS worked alongside these guidelines to ensure Clinton Seniors Facility met all requirements while at the same time providing the staff with the kitchen they actually wanted. When it came to appliance selection, the facility wanted restaurant equipment that was multi-functional and could be operated by inexperienced volunteers as well as trained staff, which meant a lot of careful spec work up front but a kitchen that ran smoothly once the doors opened.

The project was a roaring success and scored a 10/10 via client feedback. In fact, the commercial kitchen design was so well received that the template has been used in more than six other modular kitchens in the senior care facility channel, with each new kitchen tweaked slightly for the specific needs of the project.

Frequently asked questions

Does CRS work outside of British Columbia?

Yes. We're based in Kelowna, BC, and our online store ships products Canada-wide.

What kinds of kitchens does CRS design?

Anything commercial. We work on restaurant kitchens, care home kitchens, and other commercial spaces, and you can browse completed work in our project gallery.

Can CRS handle a project inside a tight footprint?

Yes. Clinton Seniors Facility was designed inside a modular building where space was tight, and the design template from that project has been used for more than six other modular kitchens since.

What does the CRS design process look like?

CRS consultants are with owners from start to finish, including the initial client meeting, the design plans, the actual commercial kitchen construction, and the post-construction follow-up.

Looking for a commercial kitchen design partner who has already built the kitchen you are about to build? Book a design consultation with the CRS team or browse our project gallery to see the work.