If that kitchen remodel is slated for completion this year or in the upcoming years a little research and planning can save you from regretting any of your remodeling decisions and may save you some serious cash. I’ve highlighted some mistakes I or friends have made along the way and some things that need to be considered. Learning from others mistakes is smart and can save you a lot of grief when you realize a mistake when it’s too late or too costly to change. Before you get going on your dream kitchen be sure that you have accounted for or fixed any big issues like plumbing or electrical work. I know that this work does not add to the aesthetics or your remodel but they are crucially important to the function and protection of your new kitchen.
If your new kitchen comes complete with new appliances and new cabinets listen up. This is all to common and something that is often overlooked. Many standard refrigerators extend beyond cabinets and counters and it looks odd and is a bit of an inconvenience to have the refrigerator extending out from the space created to house it. The solution to avoiding this problem is simple, measure carefully and consider purchasing a fridge that is the depth of your counter to ensure a seamless fit. A counter width refrigerator may be slightly more expensive so be sure to budget that in if it’s something you desire.
High on the list of anyone who enjoys cooking, entertaining, and spending time in the kitchen is a center island. In the vision of a perfect kitchen we have to realize that not all kitchens benefit from an island and in fact some islands can create a nuisance to the work flow. You have to consider the shape of the room, traffic flow and of course size of the room. If the island interferes with travel to and from the fridge, stove, sink, and garbage an island is not ideal. Some other things to consider, a standard walkway should be 42 inches wide or more. Measure your space and decide if an island will create a great area for prepping, displaying, and enjoying food or if it will hinder it.
Another common item to update in a kitchen remodel are countertops. When choosing what type of counters you would like in your home it’s important to consider how you use your kitchen. If you cook a lot or have children choosing a hard surface such as granite would be a much better choice then porous material like marble, limestone, and slate that need to be sealed often. In addition granite or other harder stones are more durable and less likely to chip, scratch, stain, etc. Most of us are busy and on the go so choosing materials that suit your life style makes a lot of sense. While your replacing your counters you may also want to update your backsplash. Installing a backsplash is not overly complicated and can be done by most DIY types of people. Tiling your own backsplash can save you quite a bit of money. One thing to remember when tiling is to start from the middle of the wall, not from one end to the other, and work your way towards the edges so that you don’t end up with uneven ends and funky looking cuts.
Nothing says shiny and new like a fresh coat of paint. In order to get a top notch looking paint job you need to properly prep the surfaces you intend to paint. This includes; washing, sanding, patching holes, masking, priming, and last but not least painting with an appropriate type of paint. In general in the kitchen you want a semi-gloss paint so that the surface is easy to wipe off if food or grease gets splattered on the walls.
Refinishing those hard wood floors on your list of items you want to do? If so, it’s important to again properly prep the surface. It’s important to remove all of the old varnish off the existing floor. Starting with a course sand paper and working your way to a fine grit sand paper carefully and methodically getting the wood back to its natural surface. Many people don’t sand enough and when the floor is re-coated it looks uneven and bumpy. Once the floor is completely sanded and smooth be sure to choose a finish that compliments your cabinets and that is durable enough to fit your lifestyle.
One last common mistake that DIYers or even professionals make is to completely ignore the design and era of the home. Putting a modern kitchen with sleek simple lines into a turn of the century Victorian style home will look out of place. While you may love your new modern kitchen it could negatively effect the resale value of your home. Keeping the remodel with the original style of the home can be an important selling factor for some people.
I hope that this information is useful and resonates well with you. Is there any other common flubs that happen in a kitchen remodel that I’m forgetting?
