Kitchen renovations are the most exciting and nerve-wracking projects for clients. A remodeled kitchen changes the heart of the home in a major way and adds a lot of value to the house’s resale. So everyone wants to get this makeover absolutely right. Before you even begin to work with a designer or a contractor, it’s a great idea to decide what you really want and need in a kitchen renovation. They’ll have a lot of questions for you, and you’ll want to already have some answers ready to go so you’ll end the project with the best design possible. Here are my top tips for how you should decide what you’d like to have in your new kitchen.

Think About How You Cook

Do you love to cook or bake for family and friends? Do you enjoy having dinner parties and entertaining? Or are you more of a DoorDash or Uber Eats person when it comes to meals? Knowing the answer to those questions will help you and your designer decide where to invest in your kitchen. If you are a gourmet, you’re definitely going to want a top quality range, possibly with a pot filler like the one in a kitchen I designed above. If you really love to entertain, you may want a wine fridge and lots of cabinet space for glasses and plates. Know your personal cooking style to help you start a list of what you need most.

Consider Your Family

Do you and your family tend to gather in the kitchen for meals and tasks? Then you’ll want a place for them to sit and a surface to work from. If you have little ones, consider performance fabrics that won’t stain or show a lot of wear. And it’s nice to have some extras for kids and teens, like drawers that they can reach easily for their own dishes, a drink fridge so your large refrigerator isn’t open all the time, a snack pantry, or even double dishwashers to handle the volume.

Style and Substance

What style do you prefer in your interiors? Do you like traditional details, modern looks, or a mix of both? And what’s the style of the rest of your house? That will definitely be something your designer and contractor will want to determine. But there are other style questions you’ll want to answer, too. For example, do you like stainless appliances, or would you prefer for them to have cabinetry fronts? In the kitchen above, the dishwasher is hidden in plain sight, covered by a shell that matches the rest of the cabinets. Today, you can also find incredible appliance selections that are bold and colorful, too, so that could also be something to research!

Special Requests

Have you always wanted more storage in your kitchen - like the hidden cabinetry in the island above? Do you dream about specialty items like an appliance garage to hide small appliances? Would a built-in coffee machine make you swoon? Bring anything and everything on your dream list to your designer! They can definitely help you decide what will work in your kitchen and how it will impact your overall budget. But dream big! Most people only renovate a home’s kitchen once during the time they own the home, so make it count.

My team and I love to design kitchens, so if you’re ready for your renovation, give us a call!

All the best,

Kara