A kitchen renovation can be an overwhelming undertaking for the inexperienced renovator. Before diving in head-first, take time to do some careful planning and beware of these 5 mistakes that amateurs often make.
Forgetting your cooking style
Your cooking style, like your lifestyle, is something very personal and maybe unique to you. Is the microwave your best friend or do you indulge your family with multi-course meals on the regular? Most likely, you’re somewhere in between. Think about how you like to cook. Where do you prep your food and how could that space be more efficient? Thinking about this in the early stages can inform the flow of your new design. Since you do some kind of food preparation every day, this should not be an afterthought.
Medium-tone hardwood floor kitchen idea near Boston, with Kemper Choice Amstead shaker cabinets in color Cloud, and quartzite countertops.
Losing Storage
One of the most critical features of a kitchen is its storage capacity. Whether you have a tendency to buy the latest kitchen gadgets or you seem to collect takeout containers, a place to store all of your goods is critical. Creating a design that removes rather than adds storage is almost certainly a mistake. Unless you find your current kitchen with loads of empty cabinets and drawers, try to keep the storage space you have. If you find your current storage to be a problem, look at the cabinet organization page on the Fairview Millwork and Kitchens website for more creative options.
Kitchen with gray ceramic floor near Boston with Kemper Echo Kaden recessed-panel cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, and an island.
Losing Counter Space
Prep space is key. If you food prep for the week ahead, you probably already know this. Even if you are just cooking for the family or the occasional event or holiday, prep space is important. To voluntarily surrender counter space because of poor design planning is a red flag for any design. If you find your current counter space isn’t working for your cooking style, revaluate how areas can be used differently to suit your needs.
Ignoring the budget
If you talk to anyone who has completed a kitchen renovation, this will probably be the most common mistake you hear. Getting distracted by the newest, shiniest item on the showroom floor is a mistake. Plan ahead, taking into account what your cooking style is and how that plan rises to meet your personal needs and work to fit that plan into your pre-determined budget. Never go into a renovation blind unless you have the means to write a blank check.
Trying to DIY
Trying to DIYWhen it comes down to the return on investment of someone knowledgeable in this area of renovation, this is a no-brainer. Work with an experienced kitchen designer to get the look and functionality you want at a price you can afford. A great designer will have creative ideas to contribute and know-how and where to save money in your design. If you’d like to book a FREE consultation, you can reach a Fairview designer HERE.
