Let’s take a closer look at some of the things you want to do and don’t do with your kitchen renovation.
The Do’s of Kitchen Renovation:
Reflecting on the Use of Space
How will the total kitchen area feel after your remodel? You may have a specific upgrade in mind, such as stainless steel appliances or granite countertops. It is essential that you conceive the entire room after this upgrade, however. You might be surprised at just how quickly a single change can affect an entire room.
The use of space also means the technical design of the kitchen. If you change the countertops, for instance, you must be sure that any new protrusion does not block the use of your appliances or create some other hazard that limits the function of the kitchen. Prioritize the “kitchen triangle” of the stove, sink and refrigerator. In the average kitchen, this triangle should measure no more than 26 feet, with no single arm measuring any more than nine feet.
Keeping Proper Ventilation
Your kitchen is the number one place where stale air can cause problems. Proper ventilation helps to extend the life of your food and your appliances. If you are running a gas stove, then you need good ventilation, although an exhaust system may not be a requirement, it helps to eliminate steam, smoke, grease and heat.
Constructing New Cabinets
If you are redoing your cabinets, make sure that the doors do not bottleneck the flow of traffic in the room or interfere with each other when opened or extended.
Take stock of what your cabinets will be used for. Do you need them for extra storage to make up for a loss of space due to your renovations? If so, you may want to consider extending the length of the cabinets to the ceiling or lowering them. Do you need more overhead cabinets or base storage?
The Don’ts of Kitchen Renovation:
Overdoing Your Budget
Conceiving the design before starting the work is the first way to stay within your budget. Once new construction starts, every change that you make will cost you money and time. Make sure that you and your design partners have agreed completely on the look and the layout before the start.
You also want to consider your budget for your kitchen renovation before biting off more than you can chew in terms of the latest and greatest gadgets. Prioritize. What additions give you a better look and function, and which are just vanity upgrades? If you are bumping up against the roof of your budget, this is one way to cut some unnecessary expenses. Keep in mind the value of homes in your neighborhood as well. If you upgrade too much, you may lose ROI if the surrounding homes do not have similar luxury upgrades.
Short Term Fixes, Fixtures and Finishes
Are you investing in a look and a feel that you will love for many years, or are you falling into a trendy, short term look that will hardly last the season? You might be surprised how many people are lured by the hot look of the year. In the present moment, it looks like the best decision – a conversation starter, a step ahead of the Joneses, an awesome look – but when it is out of style, it takes value from your home and adds stress to your life.
You can stay away from most trendy mistakes by considering utility as well as aesthetics. Also, many trendy looks will combine multiple finishes on the same surface for a busy feel that only works when it is being advertised heavily in media. For the most part, you should stay away from bold colors on your cabinetry as well. Go with neutral colors on the big features and use the bolder colors as accents – this will preserve your ROI while giving you that personal touch.
DIY to Save Money
There are certainly parts of your kitchen where a DIY mindset may actually be advantageous. For the most part, these will be the non-fundamental choices around the room. Under no circumstances should you try to DIY the whole thing. If you are trying to overhaul the entire room, a team of professionals is one of the best investments that you can make.
Take the best practices above to heart to ensure the best investment in your kitchen while you see your vision through. Make sure that you have an expert opinion on your side as well. An updated kitchen is an investment that will last for quite some time. Having the right technical partner for advice can make all of the difference in your renovation!
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