Have you ever
wondered what it’d be like to design your kitchen from scratch? If so, you’re
in the right place. Throughout this article, we’ll go over a few things you
should think about before committing to any plans.
In 2014 the
average kitchen remodeling cost a staggering $54,909, so make sure you think
through this investment carefully. Luckily for you, we’re here to help you with
that.
On that note,
let’s dive into our sterling advice!
What’s the
Purpose of Your Kitchen?
If you’re
looking for an easier life, you need a kitchen that not only reflects your
lifestyle but is conducive to it.
So you should
consider these questions during the initial planning stages:
Your cooking
needs
How much dining
space you need
How much storage
space you need
The style of the
rest of your home- you want your kitchen to look like it belongs.
Your current
kitchen size- do you need to/are you able to knock down any walls to suit the
new design you want?
How does the sun
fall on your kitchen and do you want more natural light?
What’s your
budget?
These questions
will help you fathom why you’re remodeling your kitchen in the first place
because let’ face it, it’s a significant upheaval.
To justify this
expenditure the finished product has to be precisely what you want and need-
otherwise, this project’s a waste of time and money, and no one wants that!
Let’s circle
back to storage for a second. If you need more cabinets, then skimping on
storage units isn’t the way to go. Check some of these gorgeous designs out from
the RTA depot!
Out of
everything you fit into your kitchen, you’ll use your storage space the most.
Plus, cabinets are easily damaged so they’re worth spending the extra cash on-
economize elsewhere.
Let’s Get a
Little More In-Depth…
When it comes to
the size of your kitchen, you have to remember that every inch of space is
essential.
You need to
fully utilize every crook and cranny that’s at your disposal. This is
especially true of smaller kitchens and if you’re considering a new layout. For
example:
Do you want an
island?
Do you want a
breakfast bar?
Are you
considering having a prep sink?
If you’re
considering the above questions, you need to talk with a kitchen designer or an
architect. This is the only way you’ll get a proper gauge on how realistic your
plans are.
Are You Planning
on Moving Soon?
Unless you’re a
homeowner and considering selling your property within the next couple of
years, then we recommend prioritizing your lifestyle.
Or, if you’re
planning on putting your house on the market you should consider whether your
kitchen even needs renovating.
By this we mean,
you should ask yourself– are there any structural features like plumbing,
electrics, the roof, etc. that need fixing?
Faults in these
departments will be a major turn off for any potential buyers so get up
straight where it truly counts before focusing on how aesthetically pleasing
your kitchen is.
Let’s Talk
Appliances
Are you a chef?
If the answer’s no, you probably don’t need a million state of the art
appliances (as lovely as they might be)!
In our
experience, you’re probably better off spending your money on other
practicalities, when you design your kitchen.
If you’re
thinking about purchasing an expensive kitchen gadget, ask yourself these
questions first:
How often will I
use it?
Does this gadget
suit your lifestyle?
Does it
compliment the style of your new kitchen?
We’ve found the
above three questions perfect for deducing whether buying the appliance is a sensible
decision (even if it’s not as fun!)
This same idea
applies to popular yet impractical design features. For example, open shelving
is really in right now, but it isn’t always practical- especially if you have a
busy lifestyle.
Let’s get real
for a second- can you commit to keeping your open shelves looking spotlessly
tidy (like what you see in glossy homeware magazines)?
I for one
couldn’t keep up with that kind of maintenance!
If you get
sloppy with keeping your shelves tidy, you end up with a dusty and chaotic
look, which certainly isn’t chic!
Research.
Research. Research.
Before hiring
anyone to design your kitchen whether it be an architect, a kitchen designer
or, laborers, do your research first.
You need to
trust the team you’ve employed to work on your pride and joy!
Check online and
see if there are any reviews or, get a referral from a friend (this is the best
way to go if you’re able to).
Maybe you know
someone who’s just had some work done? If so, give them a call and see they can
recommend anyone.
Or, ask whoever
you’re thinking about hiring for a reference and before you think ‘isn’t that
rude?’ We’re here to assure it’s isn’t.
There’s
virtually no other industry that would hire a worker without a reference- so
why should this be any different?
Lastly, go with
your gut. If you get a terrible feeling about them, find someone else.
This might be a
long and tedious process, but you’ll be thankful you put in the time and effort
when you have a stunning kitchen!
How Functional
Is Your Kitchen?
Everything
should have a home when you design your kitchen. By this, we mean that your
gear should have a set place. You need to think about where you’ll store the
following kitchenware:
- Pots
- Pans
- Crockery
- Herbs and
Spices
- Chopping
boards
- Appliances
- Serving trays
- Baking
supplies
- Wine bottles
- Garbage bin
Make use of
dividers and consider whether you need deeper drawers to fit your everyday
cooking equipment.
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