Lessons Learned: Kitchen Design Debacles
Planning is free—so do a lot of it!
Many homeowners were surprised by how much time they spent planning their renovation, but the more you can visualize at the beginning, the fewer holdups there are later.
Your kitchen might have outdated appliances, tattered wallpaper, and worn flooring and you and your partner might have clear ideas of what you want to do, but completely different visions.
Spreadsheet Solves Problems
Create a spreadsheet to store ideas. Separately, you and your partner can rank each on a scale of 1 to 5; projects marked with a 5 were definites—anything with a lower number was territory for compromise.
Know what you want before you get bids
Early planning is critical when shopping for bids from contractors. Without a detailed plan, it’s hard to make apples-to-apples comparisons.
Choose contractors carefully
The first architect might not secure a building permit, another one might be able to do the structural work but not have an eye for design details:
Surface materials should be practical and pretty
Is it durable and easy to clean? ( e.g. concrete countertops are gorgeous, but spill anything on them and it’s like oil on a garage floor—if you don’t clean up a spill right away, it’ll stain)
Prepare to be displaced
Whether it’s 5 days or 15 months, a kitchen renovation is a complete gut and clean.
Design a good workflow
Kitchen designers often spend time with clients discussing their “work triangle,” the area defined by the sink, refrigerator, and range. A good designer will help you place these items in positions that make sense for your cooking habits.
Spend the most on items that can’t be easily replaced
If budget is a major concern, consider investing in projects that can’t be changed easily and saving money on pieces that can be upgraded later
Your most important choice might be your refrigerator
When talking about appliances, homeowners are often most passionate about their refrigerators—for better or worse.
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