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7 Questions to Consider Before Planning a Kitchen Remodel
Experts share the key things they ask clients before redesigning a kitchen
If you’re planning a new kitchen, a designer can help you make the most of the space to ensure the room works perfectly for you. But what are the key questions to think about before you hire your kitchen professional? We asked three experts to share the top things to consider before your first meeting.
2. What Style of Kitchen Would You Like?
Barry Sawyer of Brayer Design recommends you start your kitchen design by gathering lots of inspiration. “Spend some time online looking at different kitchen styles and create a mood board. Houzz is a great resource for this,” he says. “Not only will a mood board help you to crystallize your ideas, it will be an invaluable tool for your kitchen designe, too.
There are two ways you can approach this on Houzz — collect photos while browsing Houzz and save them into an ideabook, which is a shareable album. You can also ask your pro to use Houzz Pro software (if they use it) to create a mood board for you, perhaps taking in the standout themes from your ideabook collection.
“When crafting a new design, our team will consistently return to client mood boards to ensure we’re really capturing the essence of the project,” he says.
Things to consider while finding ideas, Sawyer suggests, are what style of kitchen will suit the architecture or preferred interior style of your home and whether you want to opt for a clean and contemporary design or a more traditional one.
Shop for kitchen and dining furniture
Barry Sawyer of Brayer Design recommends you start your kitchen design by gathering lots of inspiration. “Spend some time online looking at different kitchen styles and create a mood board. Houzz is a great resource for this,” he says. “Not only will a mood board help you to crystallize your ideas, it will be an invaluable tool for your kitchen designe, too.
There are two ways you can approach this on Houzz — collect photos while browsing Houzz and save them into an ideabook, which is a shareable album. You can also ask your pro to use Houzz Pro software (if they use it) to create a mood board for you, perhaps taking in the standout themes from your ideabook collection.
“When crafting a new design, our team will consistently return to client mood boards to ensure we’re really capturing the essence of the project,” he says.
Things to consider while finding ideas, Sawyer suggests, are what style of kitchen will suit the architecture or preferred interior style of your home and whether you want to opt for a clean and contemporary design or a more traditional one.
Shop for kitchen and dining furniture
3. Which Surface Materials Would Work Best?
The flooring and countertop materials you choose will have a huge impact on the look and function of your kitchen, so it pays to consider them early.
“Flooring is a fundamental aspect of your kitchen design. In fact, it’s one of the first things you should consider before you pick your color scheme with your kitchen designer,” Sawyer says. One of the main things he recommends you consider is whether you want it to run throughout the ground floor of your home, or to help your kitchen feel separate from the rest of the house.
For countertops, Sawyer suggests looking at the pros and cons of different materials, and lists the following.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
The flooring and countertop materials you choose will have a huge impact on the look and function of your kitchen, so it pays to consider them early.
“Flooring is a fundamental aspect of your kitchen design. In fact, it’s one of the first things you should consider before you pick your color scheme with your kitchen designer,” Sawyer says. One of the main things he recommends you consider is whether you want it to run throughout the ground floor of your home, or to help your kitchen feel separate from the rest of the house.
For countertops, Sawyer suggests looking at the pros and cons of different materials, and lists the following.
- Natural marble. Beautiful but porous and tends to be prone to stains.
- Granite. Hard-wearing but generously dark and busy in appearance.
- Engineered quartz. Functional and stain-resistant — perfect for busy households (look out for low-silica versions).
- Solid wood. Eye-catching and beautiful but requires ongoing maintenance.
- Corian. Functional and can be seamlessly integrated into the rest of your kitchen design.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
4. Which Appliances Do You Want to Include?
“Your kitchen designer will guide you through all the options you need to consider,” Sawyer says, adding that at the early stages of the design process, the main questions to think about are whether you’d prefer an eye-level oven or a range, whether you want a stainless-steel refrigerator or prefer concealed appliances, and whether you have your eyes set on any additional appliances, such as wine coolers or steam ovens.
If you have space for a kitchen island, Sawyer recommends you think about whether you want it to include a cooktop or sink, so you can use it for cooking, or whether you prefer to keep it clear for socializing with family and friends.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
“Your kitchen designer will guide you through all the options you need to consider,” Sawyer says, adding that at the early stages of the design process, the main questions to think about are whether you’d prefer an eye-level oven or a range, whether you want a stainless-steel refrigerator or prefer concealed appliances, and whether you have your eyes set on any additional appliances, such as wine coolers or steam ovens.
If you have space for a kitchen island, Sawyer recommends you think about whether you want it to include a cooktop or sink, so you can use it for cooking, or whether you prefer to keep it clear for socializing with family and friends.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
5. What Else Needs Updating?
In addition to the kitchen cabinetry and appliances, Chris Chapman of Chris Chapman Bespoke Kitchens & Furniture says it’s important to consider other aspects of the room, such as plumbing, lighting, the electricals and walls.
“I find in discussions with clients that these elements tends to be overlooked a little,” he says. “The scope of these other works is often seriously underestimated and, more importantly, insufficient budget is allocated.”
“Another thing to chat about is whether you would consider building work to achieve your dream space,” Berry says. “Often, moving a door or a window or knocking down a wall between two rooms can really make a space work better and create a more social environment, too. Try not to close your mind to suggestions as a kitchen is a big investment and getting it right can increase the value of your home and transform your lifestyle.”
Consider the above extras early to avoid unexpected issues later, say our experts. “The associated works can often exceed the total cost of the kitchen, which can surprise many clients,” Chapman says. “So it’s good to have this conversation to appreciate what will go into it, how long it will take and, ultimately, what the entire project will cost.”
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
In addition to the kitchen cabinetry and appliances, Chris Chapman of Chris Chapman Bespoke Kitchens & Furniture says it’s important to consider other aspects of the room, such as plumbing, lighting, the electricals and walls.
“I find in discussions with clients that these elements tends to be overlooked a little,” he says. “The scope of these other works is often seriously underestimated and, more importantly, insufficient budget is allocated.”
“Another thing to chat about is whether you would consider building work to achieve your dream space,” Berry says. “Often, moving a door or a window or knocking down a wall between two rooms can really make a space work better and create a more social environment, too. Try not to close your mind to suggestions as a kitchen is a big investment and getting it right can increase the value of your home and transform your lifestyle.”
Consider the above extras early to avoid unexpected issues later, say our experts. “The associated works can often exceed the total cost of the kitchen, which can surprise many clients,” Chapman says. “So it’s good to have this conversation to appreciate what will go into it, how long it will take and, ultimately, what the entire project will cost.”
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
6. What Is Your Real Budget?
Whether you have a ballpark budget figure in mind or a more specific amount, it pays to discuss it with your professional.
“It isn’t a question that a lot of clients like to answer, as they feel they’re giving away a crucial piece of information and the ability to bargain,” Chapman says, “but budget is a crucial question.”
He says that professionals don’t want to know this so they can adjust their price. “Instead, I ask the question because it will give me a good idea of what I’m designing, and to get to a design that maximizes the potential of the room while still within the client’s budget,” he says. “It can be a difficult conversation for some to have, but there’s little point in me designing something they love that’s far above their budget.
“Also, by having this conversation openly and frankly, we can discuss which compromises they’re willing to make and which they aren’t,” he says. “We can work with a client to optimize their budget to get the best design for them.”
Whether you have a ballpark budget figure in mind or a more specific amount, it pays to discuss it with your professional.
“It isn’t a question that a lot of clients like to answer, as they feel they’re giving away a crucial piece of information and the ability to bargain,” Chapman says, “but budget is a crucial question.”
He says that professionals don’t want to know this so they can adjust their price. “Instead, I ask the question because it will give me a good idea of what I’m designing, and to get to a design that maximizes the potential of the room while still within the client’s budget,” he says. “It can be a difficult conversation for some to have, but there’s little point in me designing something they love that’s far above their budget.
“Also, by having this conversation openly and frankly, we can discuss which compromises they’re willing to make and which they aren’t,” he says. “We can work with a client to optimize their budget to get the best design for them.”
7. What Would Make It ‘Your’ Kitchen?
According to Chapman, the main question to ask is, “What do you want your kitchen to be like for you? For designers, a good understanding of the client’s intended use for the space has a big impact on the design criteria,” he says. “This can then lead on to appliance choice and layout decisions based on the client’s needs, as well as things such as countertop materials and flooring.
“Most clients will have given this some considerable thought prior to having any discussions with a pro, and talking to them about what they want, guiding where needed, and realizing design thoughts they may have, is the most important thing,” he says, “because, ultimately, the most important outcome is that the client gets the kitchen they want.”
More on Houzz
Read more guides on kitchen design
Find a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
According to Chapman, the main question to ask is, “What do you want your kitchen to be like for you? For designers, a good understanding of the client’s intended use for the space has a big impact on the design criteria,” he says. “This can then lead on to appliance choice and layout decisions based on the client’s needs, as well as things such as countertop materials and flooring.
“Most clients will have given this some considerable thought prior to having any discussions with a pro, and talking to them about what they want, guiding where needed, and realizing design thoughts they may have, is the most important thing,” he says, “because, ultimately, the most important outcome is that the client gets the kitchen they want.”
More on Houzz
Read more guides on kitchen design
Find a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
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Before you even think about colors and materials, kitchen designer Diane Berry of Diane Berry Kitchens recommends you focus on function. “Try to build a wish list of what the room needs to do and the contents it needs in order to function,” she says.
“Ask yourself whether you want a dining-in kitchen and for how many people,” she says. “Also, whether you need a snug space with a TV, how many sinks you want, and whether you need a waste disposal. Really try to consider all your family needs and remember the stuff such as where outdoor shoes and the vacuum cleaner will go.”
Find a kitchen designer on Houzz