A kitchen remodel is one of those things you’ll want to plan carefully. Do it well, and you’ll get an amazing kitchen. Make mistakes, and you’ll get a disaster.
Here are 8 tips to help you avoid the latter scenario and achieve the former so you can have the kitchen you’ve been dreaming of.
1). Look Out for an Identity Crisis
When remodeling, think about the essential identity of your kitchen, and understand that there are challenges inherent in changing it.
According to Hestia Home Services, providers of kitchen remodeling in Houston TX, getting professional guidance can help you to achieve an outcome that is true to your vision and still works with the overall layout of the kitchen and the nature of the rest of the home.
Understand the style in which your home was built, and you’ll have a better sense of wise ways in which to remodel your kitchen. Think of this in terms of working with the nature of your kitchen, not against it.
2). Keep the Plumbing in Place
There’s sometimes a temptation, especially in older homes, to move water and gas lines to allow for reconfigured sinks, ovens, stoves, or dishwashers. Try to avoid this temptation: it is very, very expensive, especially in older homes.
If you can keep anything that has to do with a pipe exactly where it is, you’ll be in good shape to save money and still get the job done in a way that will be aesthetically appealing.
3). Mind the Floor Plan
If you’re rearranging your appliances, keep a sense of your floor plan in mind. We’ve talked before about maintaining the all-important kitchen triangle of refrigerator, stove, and sink, and bearing in mind how much activity occurs at the sink in particular.
A suboptimal floor plan can cause a great deal of trouble later on. You may face interrupted work flow, or many messes from carrying dripping dishes from the refrigerator to elsewhere.
4). Don’t Take Good Cabinets for Granted
You may be tempted to redo your cabinets during your remodel, but if they’re quality wood and still in good working order, hang onto them. Cabinet frames are far and away the most expensive component of the whole kitchen space, so it’s in your interest to hang onto them if possible.
Instead of replacing them, give your cabinets a face lift. Re-laminating and repainting are excellent ideas. Adding new doors and drawer fronts are also excellent ways to go.
And instead of merely painting your cabinets, clean them, lightly sand them, and then contract a painter to spray paint them for you. It’s really best if you get a professional to do the job. If you do, the result is likely to be cabinets that look factory-new.
5). New Hardware for Doors is a Must
One thing to target in your remodel is door hardware. In fact, this is a particularly important detail to get right, because it can greatly add to the look you are going for without a great deal of expense or trouble.
Look for good doorknobs and for hinges, as these pieces will greatly improve the look of what you’re doing with your remodel.
6). Mismatching Appliances
Mismatching appliances can be the kiss of death to a remodel. Get this aspect of your design wrong, and you’ll be left with a kitchen full of appliances that don’t work well together, in aesthetic design terms.
The quick and easy way to handle this is by sticking with the same brand when you buy your appliances. That will help to keep everything looking reasonably well-matched, and matching is the key thing you need if you want them to work well together.
7). Prioritize Sinks and Fixtures
If you fail to prioritize sinks and fixtures, your remodel will suffer compared to what it could have been. Look for the best faucet you can possibly get, preferably one with a pull-out spray attachment or else a gooseneck with detachable head.
Also, stick to one fixture finish. Failing to abide by this maxim will get you patchy-looking finishes.
8). Don’t Spend Too Much
Whatever you do, make sure you budget. Kitchen remodels are one of those things, like automobiles, that don’t have to be incredibly expensive to look amazing—but the temptation is always there and very easy to fall into.
Budget carefully, look for low-cost alternatives, and you’ll be in a good place.
Conclusion
A kitchen remodel can be the ticket to the kitchen of your dreams, but there are important pitfalls to be aware of. Keep these 8 tips in mind, and you’re that much more likely to achieve great success.
