6 Tricky Questions to Ask When Planning Your New Kitchen

1. What Are the Rules?

I’m not talking about design rules for what colors will match or what wood goes with what stone. I’m talking about the actual rules that are laid out by your local building code, which can affect many decisions or none at all, depending on your area and project conditions.

For example, many building codes dictate what type of hood fan you must use to ensure proper ventilation. These rules are especially important to know during a major renovation or new construction, as a surprise inspection that finds violations will leave you with a serious headache.

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2. How Should My Cabinet Drawers and Doors Open?

Designers often point out that changing out the knobs on existing cabinets can make a kitchen look new in a snap. Putting knobs and hardware on new cabinets for the first time, however, can take a surprising amount of thought to get right.

One of the trickiest parts of designing a kitchen well is making the cabinet door and drawer fronts look elegant and consistent while the cabinets themselves serve different practical functions in a variety of shapes.

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You might find a single handle that works for all your cabinets, but you may need two or even three coordinating styles to address all your different sizes of fronts.

Once you’ve chosen hardware, you should give careful consideration to where to install it to best achieve a sense of visual consistency. Or you can skip the issue altogether and use knob-free touch-latch cabinets.

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3. What Finish Should My Fixtures Be?

Selecting the material for your kitchen fixtures isn’t all about trends and pretty color palettes. Metals come in various finishes, and there can be major practical considerations as well.

Brushed finishes tend to hide fingerprints and light water spotting better than polished ones. Brass and gold-tone finishes tend to be warmer and more dramatic, while stainless steel and silvery-tone finishes may blend into the color palette more but add more sparkle.

There are lots of details to consider, so it’s best to research the pros and cons of a style that you like. It can also become even trickier when trying to coordinate multiple metal elements.

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4. How Will I Mount My Sink?

The choice of a farmhouse, undermount or drop-in sink affects more than just the look of the sink itself, so it’s a decision that should be thought through early.

Undermount sinks are generally easier than drop-in sinks for keeping the surrounding countertop area clean because the neater edge of the counter allows you to sweep crumbs and debris directly into the sink without getting caught on a high lip. However, undermounts can’t always be installed in a laminate counter because the counter cutout would leave a raw unfinished edge in the core material.

Knowing what style of sink you prefer will affect what materials are available to you, so it’s best to answer this question as soon as possible and then research from there.

6 Things to Consider When Choosing a Kitchen Sink

It’s often recommended to choose appliances from the same manufacturer, if possible, especially if they’re situated very close together, because differing product lines can have subtly different finishes that become more apparent once paired together.

5. What Profile Should I Use for My Countertops?

The shape of the countertop edge may seem like a mundane detail, but it can make a world of difference to the look and function of your counters and the kitchen as a whole.

This kitchen shows an eased edge counter — essentially a crisp rectangle with slightly softened corners. An eased edge is a popular choice for contemporary kitchens because it gives a simple, modern appeal. More ornate profiles, such as “S” shaped ogee edges, usually carry a traditional air and a sense of warmth and personality.

Rounded bullnose and demi-bullnose options are less sharp than a minimalist eased edge, but so is the experience of bumping into them by accident. Ultimately it comes down to personal priorities.

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6. What Finish Should My Countertop Have?

Besides choosing what material you want for your counters, backsplash and flooring, you also need to decide the finish of the material itself.

Popular stone materials such as granite, quartz and quartzite can take on a polished finish, like the one shown here, which gives a hard face and an almost reflective look.

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A honed finish appears much more soft and organic. It also has the advantage of hiding scratches that can stick out in a gleaming polished stone. However, they can be more easily stained if not well-sealed, as the material tends to be more receptive to absorbing oils. Each has its advantages, so you should research your choice and not make a snap decision when meeting with the supplier.

When looking at stone samples, be sure to ask what finishes are available and look at each individually, as the finish can greatly affect the appearance, even radically changing the apparent color. Applying sealant can also darken the appearance to a degree, so you should ask to see a sealed sample — it may be extra work for the supplier, but it will save you a potential surprise on installation day.

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