This is the first in a series of articles about planning for your kitchen remodel. Be sure to check back for more great advice!
Congratulations, you are planning your kitchen remodel! You are about to embark on a journey to create the kitchen of your dreams. Chances are you’ve been thinking about this for a while and maybe have a picture in your mind’s eye of what your new kitchen will look like. You might even have a Pinterest board full of beauty shots of other kitchens.
That’s a great start, but now that you have decided to go ahead with the remodel, it’s time to really get into the details of what goes into a kitchen and organize your selections.
What to Collect:
A good place to start is with a list of all the items you will need to consider when planning your kitchen remodel:
Cabinets
You will need to make decisions about cabinet grade, cabinet construction, door style and finish. Additionally, you will need to think about what types of storage you want – cabinets vs. drawers for example – as well as what you want the inside of the cabinets and drawers to look like.
Cabinet hardware
Just when you thought the hard cabinet decisions were over, you now have to select the hardware – for which there are myriad choices to complement your cabinet style.
Countertops
You have a lot of options for countertop material and color/pattern. It’s a good idea to consider what you’ll be doing on the surface as well as budget as costs vary widely depending on material.
Tile for backsplash
This is a place where you can add a lot of personality to your kitchen or a pop of color.
Sink style
With the ubiquity of stone or quartz countertops, most people opt for a undermount sink if it’s in the budget. You will need to make decisions about how big of a sink you want, how deep it needs to be, the number and layout of tubs in the sink, as well as the sink material: stainless steel, porcelain, copper, etc.
Faucet/Plumbing
That sink is going to need a new kitchen faucet and if you are having a pot-filler installed over the stove, you will need to select one of those as well.
Appliances
You’ll need to make choices about the kitchen standards: refrigerator, oven(s) (if stand alone), cooktop (if stand alone) or range, vent hood (if not incorporated in a range or microwave) microwave, and dishwasher. Extras to consider include: wine refrigerator, built-in coffee maker (read about more about these delightful machines here) and warming drawers.
Flooring
Some remodels will work with existing flooring (as we did with our hardwood and patched in where needed). If, on the other hand, you’re pulling up the old floors, you’ll have a lot of choices. Tile is popular for its durability. Hardwood is also often used for continuity with other rooms on the main floor.
Lighting
A kitchen is first and foremost a workspace so you’ll want ample lighting at all the work areas. But a kitchen often is an entertaining space too. So, you’ll want to layer in options for softer lighting for ambience.
Types of lights to consider:
- Can lights for general room lighting
- Under-cabinet lights to illuminate countertops
- Pendant lights for islands and peninsulas
- Ceiling light for over a kitchen table
Electrical
You’ll have an electrician that will come in and ask you where you want outlets placed and today there are options for what type of outlets you want. You can get outlets installed with USB ports directly in them.
Source: House Beautiful
Paint color for walls
This will either be a new color or will mean digging out the name of the existing if you want to keep it the same (for continuity in an open floorplan).
Ideally you’ll think through these things and make your decisions well before the remodeling process starts. You won’t want to feel under the gun to make a rushed choice just to keep the work moving on your project. And some of these items can have significant backorder times (think cabinets and tile).
Where to look:
Now that you know what you need to consider when planning your kitchen remodel, let’s turn to where to look. Of course, it goes without saying that there is no shortage of inspiration on the internet and most of these national sources are well-known to all:
• Pinterest
• Houzz
• HGTV
• Better Homes & Gardens
• Traditional Home
• House Beautiful
• Good Housekeeping
But don’t overlook local sources – they are most likely to have pictures from your style home and will know what is on trend in your area.
• New England Home
• Design New England
• This Old House Magazine
• Boston Home (part of Boston Magazine)
• Local custom builders’ online portfolios
• Local kitchen design showrooms’ online portfolios
And of course, don’t forget us! Our Kitchen Pinterest Inspiration Board has tons of great ideas! Good luck planning your kitchen remodel!
Kristen
For more in our kitchen remodel series:
Budgeting
Design Guidelines
Cabinetry
Countertops
Backsplash
Don’t miss the next installment in our Planning Your Kitchen Remodel series on Budgeting! Subscribe below:
