One thing we hear a lot from our clients during a kitchen remodel is that they didn’t realize how many little decisions there would be along the way. Luckily, your Powell Construction designer can help you through all of them! Here are our top 5 suggestions for things to think about before you start a kitchen remodel.
1. How do you use your kitchen?
It sounds like an easy question, but the first step to any design is to think about how you use the space you are remodeling. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) recommends using “the work triangle” – basically, placing your sink, fridge, and cooktop in a triangle, like this:
This is a great starting place, and something we think about on every kitchen remodel. But when it comes to a custom design just for you, we are more interested in how you work in your kitchen. Maybe you use your oven more than your cooktop; maybe you care more about having your dishwasher conveniently located than your refrigerator. The question “how do you use your kitchen?” is where we start with every design, and it also influences later decisions – where we might put a spice drawer, for instance, depends on your work style.
2. How much wall space do you need for your cabinets?
It’s so tempting to want to take away or move walls to open up your kitchen, and often times you can do that! But keep in mind that the more walls you take away, the fewer walls you have to put cabinets against. This might be just fine if you have room for a big island or peninsula. But think about your desired cabinet layout as you are thinking about those big ideas like taking out walls. That said, at least half of the kitchens we do involve removal of a wall. So if this makes sense for you, we are experts at it.
3. What are the most important things for you to invest in?
If budget is a concern, some would choose to reuse existing appliances or select lower cost finishes in order to accomplish that. Others may decide to keep the kitchen’s existing footprint, saving the cost of removing a wall. They would rather invest in higher end finishes or appliances than worry about creating a bit more space. One thing is for sure, each client has a unique set of priorities. While it is good to think about resale value, the most important things to invest in are the features that you will enjoy the most while living here.
4. What is your design style?
This can be hard to pin down, but it’s another question that our design team loves to help homeowners answer. When choosing tile, light fixtures, cabinet hardware and the like, it is helpful to have the “compass” your design style preferences provide. Although a few may appreciate an eclectic look, most enjoy a more cohesive look. To achieve this, understanding styles and knowing what kind of features belong in each style can help. In fact, we’ve put together another blog post to help identify your style–check it out: Finding YOUR Design Style.
Here, we’ve shown two completely different kitchen styles~ one is more traditional, while the other leans toward a contemporary style:
5. What are the secondary functions of your kitchen?
Maybe you never intended for this to happen, but somehow you ended up always taking your phone calls in the kitchen. Or maybe you have kids who sit at the peninsula to do their homework. Whatever it is, you have two choices when it comes to your kitchen remodel – incorporate those functions into your design, or intentionally plan for them to take place elsewhere.
In this kitchen, we created a combination desk/hutch for tasks such as bill paying and displaying gorgeous dishware. The peninsula was designed to seat several people and includes outlets for those want to use their laptops there or need to charge a phone.
Taking the time to plan these things out ahead of time makes all the difference. Because, after all, a kitchen remodel is an investment—you want it to function well for your family and appeal to your sense of style!
All photos from Powell Construction remodeling projects.