When you spend years of dreaming of the perfect kitchen, you want to ensure that your renovation project goes according to plan. This will require extensive research and may get pretty pricey. You will need to figure out where you want to splurge and where you don’t mind sacrificing so you can have more money for other parts of the space. Ultimately, when it comes to kitchen renovations, the best thing you can do is learn from others’ experiences. So, before you begin a kitchen renovation, here are a few things you should know.

Get Professional Help in the Design Department

A kitchen designer is going to have some tricks up his or her sleeve that you won’t. However, make sure that you are familiar with the designer’s charges. The same goes for a kitchen contractor. Will they bill for the design as well as a markup on the products that you purchase, or will you be able to order products on your own to save some money in the process. Also, you can probably get some help with your kitchen design by talking to the kitchen design center (if there is one) at your local building supply store.

Understand It’ll Be Unpleasant to Live Without a Kitchen

While your kitchen is being renovated, you won’t have it. Where will you brew your coffee? You may have to do it on the floor or even in the bathroom. However, it is crucial that the old kitchen is demolished so that precise measurements can be obtained for your new one. Each inch needs to be maximized. Hidden pipes need to be found and possibly removed. Unforeseen problems need to be detected and addressed early on.

Select Your Appliances Early On

Appliances play a significant role on the overall layout of your kitchen. So, as you plan, make sure that you measure the width as well as depth around door openings, the side of the fridge, where the drawers will open, etc. Don’t forget about ventilation, as the range will require a vent. You should also find your sink early on as well. Depending on the sink you choose, you may have to maneuver things around so that everything fits nicely and the way you want.

Only Choose One Show-Stopping Design

Your kitchen will need some personality, but you don’t want to go overboard. Therefore, you should limit yourself to one design that will really attract the eye. This is particularly true if you have a small space that you’re working with. Too much over-the-top items can detract from the overall design.

Perform a Dry Tile Run

Before you glue down your tile floor (if that’s the way you are going), you should consider laying it down the way that you want it. This will allow you to see if there are any variations in color from one tile to the next. If there are, you can try to hide the ones that are off underneath the cabinets or mix them up so that there is a good variation between the tiles and it looks natural across the floor.

Create a Kitchen-in-a-Bag

When you go from one store to the next trying to put your kitchen together, you may forget what color your cabinets are or what color your countertops are. This makes it difficult to match everything together. So, create a bag that has samples of everything in it. This will allow you to ensure you get everything right and have no regrets later on or have to make multiple trips back to store.

Make Design Choices Upfront

Once the renovation begins, you will begin to get frazzles with everything going on. Because of this, you will not want to be making design choices, as those choices may wind up costing you more or wind up being a bad choice. Therefore, all design choices related to your kitchen should be made upfront when you are fresh-minded.

Embrace the Drawers

Pull-out drawers should be considered for just about everything. Pots and pans, as well as plastic containers, are great for deep drawers underneath the counter. This makes it easier to get ahold of the items you need as opposed to lower cabinets that have shelves. Upper cabinets should be reserved for glassware, plates, and bowls.

Incorporate Something Natural

Whether it is leather seating, a green plant, or wood, make sure that your kitchen has something natural in it. This is great for contemporary or modern kitchens. Natural elements add a bit of contrast and warmth, especially to all-white kitchens or colder materials such as marble.

Don’t Forget Cleanup

When you are thinking about the kitchen design, think about how much time you are going to be spending on cleanup later. Open shelves may look great, but grease splatters and will get on your dishes. A bead of silicone should be placed along the grout between the backsplash and counter behind the sink so that water doesn’t darken the grout. You will also want to think about where you will place the garbage and recycling bins, as they will need to be easily accessible from your prep space as well as the sink.

For more information about kitchen renovations, get in touch with us at Structure Remodeling.