Kitchen Reno Mistake to Avoid
Don’t fall victim to the many possible kitchen renovations mistakes that can occur, find a professional contractor that has the experience to navigate the process. A kitchen renovation is often the biggest project you can embark upon for a home renovation and the prices vary. You can pay exorbitant amounts of money for custom cabinets, depending on the kitchen design, but without the foresight of a professional, the project is likely to run into oversights that can make the budget and timelines of a project grow. Good kitchen design & craftsmanship is reflected when the following is considered:
- The Triangle:
In the kitchen we are often preparing food, cooking food or cleaning up the mess from cooking. That is why there should be a clear triangle between the fridge, stove, and sink. This triangle optimizes functionality, efficiency, and aesthetics in the kitchen space. The distance between all points (refrigerator, sink, stove/oven) must be between 4 feet (1.2 m) and 9 feet (2.7 m) and the total sum of the three sizes should exceed 26 feet, but no less than 13 feet. Avoid any major traffic flow through the triangle and there should be no cabinets, beams, or full-height obstacles that block two points of the triangle.
- Lighting:
Planning the lighting for your kitchen should be done considering your floor plan layout and workflow. Do you have good ventilation? If not a ceiling fan/ light combo could be a great idea. Task lighting is important and most overlooked but when a kitchen build is poorly designed you’ll find your cutting food on the counter while standing in your own light. Placing lighting underneath the cabinets is common, practical and can provide ambiance as well, whether you are in the kitchen or not.
- Appliances:
Investing in new appliances for your kitchen makeover can help reduce energy bills in addition to improving the aesthetic of your kitchen. Picking the right appliances is integral to an efficient workspace. Depending on your kitchen configuration you may or may not be able to fit a dishwasher. Fridges also come in tons of options, top freezer, bottom drawer freezer, ice/water dispenser, French door style, it really depends on your space and needs. The biggest mistake made when purchasing appliances are not measuring, appliances are most often returned due to not fitting the space properly.
- Counter Space & Surface:
Counters can really make or break the kitchen in terms of what they are made of as well as how much counter space is available. Often when planning a renovation or build, we get caught up on details like colour, but it is even more important to know what material you want your counters to be made of because each has different pros, cons and price ranges. It is also important that when deciding on countertops, that you maximize counter space, many people estimate how much space they’ll need and end up wishing they’d added more counter space.
- Island:
Kitchen islands are always going to be a selling feature, in part because they add so much counter space, but if planned and designed correctly can add efficiency to space. If you are installing an island in your kitchen renovation it is important to consider the layout of your kitchen and the shape/ size of your island so that it is not too big or too small when trying to make the island part of your kitchen’s triangle.
- Backsplash:
Often the backsplash is an afterthought when the backsplash is a huge part of your kitchen’s aesthetic. Being considerate of the quality of the backsplash can really make your kitchen stand out with a timeless look instead of a cheap and trendy feature that won’t last the next few seasons. This is also an excellent opportunity to put some character and style into your kitchen so don’t put this detail on the back-burner.
- Storage:
Most people decide to move or renovate because they feel as though they have run out of room or storage, indicating the space isn’t meeting their needs. With careful and considerate planning for storage, you can ensure that you don’t outgrow the space prematurely. I don’t just mean where are you going to put your Tupperware and microwave, but consider your cutlery drawer, your blender, crockpot, coffee maker, toaster, etc. Kitchens with ample amount of storage are huge selling features of a home, so don’t worry, you’ll never have too much space.
- Trash:
Where are you going to store your trash? Waste management should be a strategic consideration when designing a kitchen. In homes for larger families, trash receptacles under the sink might not cut it for space anymore. Or if you compost, what about a trash compactor or sink garburator? Some kitchen remodels feature kitchen to garage recycling chutes, countertop garbage bin access and even toe kick dustpan vacuums along the floorboard.
When you hire a contractor, these are things you don’t have to worry about, we employ only the best designers, suppliers, and craftsmen. We manage the entire project so that you can focus on what’s important to you, life.
Building Communities Together. North Canadian Construction.