How to Start a Kitchen Remodel
When revamping your kitchen, ask yourself these questions to ensure you plan well
A kitchen remodel can be a big and challenging project — but done well it can transform the way you live in your home. The trick to making the renovation of this room a success is clear planning, both in terms of establishing what you want from the space and knowing what to ask your designer. Read on to find out where to start and what questions to ask your yourself.
2. What Do I Need to Include?
Every kitchen is different and a good design will be tailored to your individual needs and budget. However, there are some elements that all good kitchens have in common, and you may want to consider including the following at the planning stage.
Every kitchen is different and a good design will be tailored to your individual needs and budget. However, there are some elements that all good kitchens have in common, and you may want to consider including the following at the planning stage.
- Storage. Start by doing an inventory of your kitchen equipment, as this will dictate the amount of storage you need. Don’t forget to think long term as you might need extra later. A good tip is to consider opting for drawers rather than cabinets, as these offer much easier access.
- Practical countertop. To help you decide which type of countertop to go for, consider exactly how you use your kitchen. Think about how much wear and tear particular areas in your space will get as this will determine how durable your countertops need to be.
- Efficient appliances. The appliances you choose will depend on how you use your kitchen and the size and layout of the room. A useful tip is to be honest about how much use they’ll get before you buy. For example, if you entertain often, a good-quality oven and full-size dishwasher might be a priority, but if your room is small, compact appliances might be a better choice.
- Layered lighting. As soon as you’ve planned your kitchen’s layout, think about where you’ll locate the lighting. A useful tip is to complement strategically placed task lights with softer mood lighting to create a layered scheme.
- Good-quality fixtures and hardware. If you’re considering which items to spend more on in your kitchen, it’s worth paying attention to the fixtures and hardware. A standard cabinet can be lifted by a beautiful handle, while a basic sink can look high-end with the addition of a well-chosen faucet.
- Hard-wearing floor. Think about how your floor will look with the rest of your design, and whether you’ll want to change it in the future. For a timeless look, a classic material such as natural stone tiles will work with most kitchen styles and colors.
- Practical backsplash. Your choice of backsplash material is a great opportunity to add interest and texture to the room. Choose a durable material, but have fun with color, texture and pattern.
3. How Do I Plan My Kitchen Layout?
When it comes to the layout, there are a few tried-and-true formats to consider and your kitchen designer will be able to talk you through the pros and cons of each for your space. The main ones are galley, single wall, L-shaped and U-shaped.
A basic understanding of key kitchen dimensions, such as countertop height and appliance width, can be very helpful when planning a layout.
Using these general dimensions, you can start to work out which type of layout might be possible in your space. You can use them to check if you have room for an island, for example, or to work out if you might need to look for smaller appliances to fit in everything you need.
Key Measurements to Help You Design Your Kitchen
When it comes to the layout, there are a few tried-and-true formats to consider and your kitchen designer will be able to talk you through the pros and cons of each for your space. The main ones are galley, single wall, L-shaped and U-shaped.
A basic understanding of key kitchen dimensions, such as countertop height and appliance width, can be very helpful when planning a layout.
Using these general dimensions, you can start to work out which type of layout might be possible in your space. You can use them to check if you have room for an island, for example, or to work out if you might need to look for smaller appliances to fit in everything you need.
Key Measurements to Help You Design Your Kitchen
4. How Do I Decide on a Style?
Whether you’re doing a quick kitchen makeover or a complete redesign, gathering together inspirational images in a Houzz ideabook is a handy way to develop and understand your own personal style. It’s also a useful communication tool for designers and suppliers working on your project.
It’s worth bearing in mind, however, that any design you fall in love with will need to be adapted to work in your own space, so try to keep an open mind and write down exactly which elements of a particular design appeal to you the most.
Do you love the layout of the cabinets, or is it the countertop material that’s caught your eye? A kitchen professional will then be better placed to help you narrow down your own style.
One tip is to be careful about introducing too many on-trend looks in a big way, as you could quickly tire of them. A better idea is to select a more timeless design, then accessorize with the latest lighting and on-trend handles, say, as these are cost-effective and relatively easy to change.
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
Whether you’re doing a quick kitchen makeover or a complete redesign, gathering together inspirational images in a Houzz ideabook is a handy way to develop and understand your own personal style. It’s also a useful communication tool for designers and suppliers working on your project.
It’s worth bearing in mind, however, that any design you fall in love with will need to be adapted to work in your own space, so try to keep an open mind and write down exactly which elements of a particular design appeal to you the most.
Do you love the layout of the cabinets, or is it the countertop material that’s caught your eye? A kitchen professional will then be better placed to help you narrow down your own style.
One tip is to be careful about introducing too many on-trend looks in a big way, as you could quickly tire of them. A better idea is to select a more timeless design, then accessorize with the latest lighting and on-trend handles, say, as these are cost-effective and relatively easy to change.
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
5. What Color Should I Choose?
Whether you pick an elegant neutral, a rich dark tone or a zingy shade, the color you choose will have an effect on the look and feel of the whole room and could be the keystone of your entire kitchen design.
Color can be introduced to your kitchen in several ways, but the largest block of color will usually be the cabinets, so it’s worth giving this choice careful consideration.
In addition to personal preference, you’ll also need to take into account the direction your room faces, as this will affect the way colors are perceived. North-facing kitchens, for example, will have reflected rather than direct natural light, so using cooler colors can work better at keeping the space feeling brighter, while warmer tones will have a soft, gentle quality.
South-facing kitchens, in contrast, will receive direct light, so stronger, brighter colors will look vibrant here. If you love reds and oranges, these can work well in a south-facing space. A sunny room can also handle darker colors well, because the light is so intense.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, start by saving your favorite kitchen color photos in a Houzz ideabook and ask a professional to help guide you through the best options for your space.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Whether you pick an elegant neutral, a rich dark tone or a zingy shade, the color you choose will have an effect on the look and feel of the whole room and could be the keystone of your entire kitchen design.
Color can be introduced to your kitchen in several ways, but the largest block of color will usually be the cabinets, so it’s worth giving this choice careful consideration.
In addition to personal preference, you’ll also need to take into account the direction your room faces, as this will affect the way colors are perceived. North-facing kitchens, for example, will have reflected rather than direct natural light, so using cooler colors can work better at keeping the space feeling brighter, while warmer tones will have a soft, gentle quality.
South-facing kitchens, in contrast, will receive direct light, so stronger, brighter colors will look vibrant here. If you love reds and oranges, these can work well in a south-facing space. A sunny room can also handle darker colors well, because the light is so intense.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, start by saving your favorite kitchen color photos in a Houzz ideabook and ask a professional to help guide you through the best options for your space.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
6. How Much Is It Likely to Cost?
Costs will vary depending on the size of the project, the type of materials and appliances you choose and the level of professional help you employ.
Your kitchen designer or interior designer should be able to talk you through this at the planning stage. Make sure you ask them to clarify exactly how they charge for a project — and don’t be afraid to ask for a breakdown if something isn’t clear.
To help you get an idea of cost, if you fall in love with a kitchen project on Houzz, you can click through to the project page to see which price bracket it falls into. This will give you a rough idea of how much a similar design could cost you, but this will very much depend on individual factors, including region, so do talk to a kitchen professional for more advice.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
Costs will vary depending on the size of the project, the type of materials and appliances you choose and the level of professional help you employ.
Your kitchen designer or interior designer should be able to talk you through this at the planning stage. Make sure you ask them to clarify exactly how they charge for a project — and don’t be afraid to ask for a breakdown if something isn’t clear.
To help you get an idea of cost, if you fall in love with a kitchen project on Houzz, you can click through to the project page to see which price bracket it falls into. This will give you a rough idea of how much a similar design could cost you, but this will very much depend on individual factors, including region, so do talk to a kitchen professional for more advice.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
7. How Do I Choose a Kitchen Professional?
A great kitchen designer will take your ideas for this much-used room and turn them into a functional and fabulous reality. But before you can get to the planning stage, you first need to find the right pro for your project.
There are a few rules of thumb to help make this process easier. First, when looking through a designer’s portfolio, keep your eye out for recently completed projects (each project on Houzz has a completed date) to see their most up-to-date work. This will allow you to get a clearer idea of their current style.
In addition to aesthetics, try to look for practical elements too, such as how a designer has utilized space or made the most of an awkward layout. If a pro is used to working with small spaces that are similar to your own, they could be a good fit for your project, for example.
You should also consider the kind of company you’d like to work with to ensure your designer’s principles and approach to design match up with your own. Finally, check their website for independently gathered reviews, or look at their profile on Houzz, where each review is verified.
How a Kitchen Designer Can Be the Key to a Smooth Remodel
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen workbook stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
A great kitchen designer will take your ideas for this much-used room and turn them into a functional and fabulous reality. But before you can get to the planning stage, you first need to find the right pro for your project.
There are a few rules of thumb to help make this process easier. First, when looking through a designer’s portfolio, keep your eye out for recently completed projects (each project on Houzz has a completed date) to see their most up-to-date work. This will allow you to get a clearer idea of their current style.
In addition to aesthetics, try to look for practical elements too, such as how a designer has utilized space or made the most of an awkward layout. If a pro is used to working with small spaces that are similar to your own, they could be a good fit for your project, for example.
You should also consider the kind of company you’d like to work with to ensure your designer’s principles and approach to design match up with your own. Finally, check their website for independently gathered reviews, or look at their profile on Houzz, where each review is verified.
How a Kitchen Designer Can Be the Key to a Smooth Remodel
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen workbook stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Before you contact a professional, it’s important to establish how you’d like your kitchen to function.
Start by writing your mission statement for the new space and ask yourself questions such as, “Do I love to cook or is it a necessary chore?” and “Will we want to eat in here?” By considering these big questions before you start making smaller decisions, you should be able to pin down exactly what you want from your ideal space.
Try to build a wish list of what the room needs to do and the contents it requires to function. This process will also help you to answer a lot of questions as you go along, as you’ll know from the beginning what you’re aiming for.
Once you’ve defined and described the main theme of your new kitchen, it’s time to work out those non-negotiable items that are at the top of your wish list. You might not be able to get all of these, but it’s worth identifying your dream features early on. Finally, you’ll also need to ask yourself what your real budget is.
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