Cooking good food in a kitchen you love is a great experience – ask my husband! But what if you don’t love your kitchen? Kitchen stresses can totally impede upon our cooking successes. Depending on your budget and timing, you could create the kitchen of your dreams, making your time in there fun!Remodeling a kitchen is no easy task, so make sure you plan before you start. Here are a few things you may want to consider.
Layout
If your kitchen layout is wrong, your food is going to suffer. Ensuring that your kitchen layout works will make cooking so much easier. Having to go out of your way to access the stove or fridge isn’t baked into the cooking time. Have you ever heard of the “kitchen triangle”? It’s when your sink, oven and refrigerator are placed so they form a triangle, making it the most efficient layout when it comes to cooking.
FIXTURES
The fixtures are a major feature of any kitchen. Not having the fixtures you need, or having them in the wrong places, will be a significant set back. When planning your kitchen design think about what fixtures could do for you, and set them in the most convenient places. Do you want an island on which to prepare food? If that’s the case, what cabinets do you need surrounding it? Where do you want a dishwasher installed? Think about the sizes of the cabinets, too. Having small cabinets around the oven is going to mean that you can’t fit saucepans and cooking essentials in there. Solve the problem and save yourself having to travel across the kitchen to reach them!
OVEN AND COOKTOP
Take time to think about what oven and cooktop would best serve you. Think about how much cooking you normally do. What size oven would be best? Would four cooktop burners work for you, or do you need six? This is the perfect time to expand your cooking options. Having to juggle with too few burners and a tiny oven space isn’t optimal if you love to cook. If you find you’re cramming your oven full, look into a double oven if space allows. How large your family is and how frequently you entertain guests are other factors to take into consideration. Cooking for a lot of people can be hard when you don’t have the facilities!
WORK SURFACES
Different work surface materials are useful for different things. Before taking a look around, get yourself comfortable with the different options, like the ones here. There are many materials to choose from but it all depends what you’re after. Wood is one of the least expensive options, but bear in mind that wood and knives don’t work well together – unless you want the butcher block look! Wooden cabinet sides aren’t the best for durability. On the other end of the scale, there’s granite, which is sure you give your kitchen a luxurious finish but will set you back a fair bit. Other options include quartz, aluminum, laminate, and stainless steel. It’s worth thinking about the appearance of your kitchen here, too. What color scheme will you be choosing? Make sure your work tops fit with the rest of the room.
DECORATION
Speaking of color, you’re going to want to spend some time thinking about the color scheme. Take into account the kitchen accessories you already have. If your accessories are black, you’re going to want at least a little black in your decoration. Muted or neutral colors seem to work best with kitchens. Of course, you could go all out with bright neons if you wanted! Tiles can be a nice touch in a kitchen, and relatively easy to clean. A strip of tiles, or listello, just above your work surfaces will look great and will protect your walls from any splashes. Throughout the redecoration, keep in mind that food will be flying around the room. Wipe down decorations are a must.
YOUR ESSENTIAL KITCHEN ITEMS
Now is a great time to stock up on some new kitchen tools. New kitchen, new kitchen essentials! You may even want to buy some to put on display. Hanging rails can be a great addition to any kitchen, and they’re practical, too!
This is the perfect opportunity to stock up on some new saucepans and frying pans. Good quality equipment will help to improve your cooking and will last a long time. Click here for some examples. Look for equipment that will also compliment the rest of your kitchen design.
A kitchen redesign can be a lot of fun. You will be so thankful once it is all done and you’re standing in your beautiful and highly-functional kitchen!
Laurie says
I definitely think when remodeling your kitchen you have to take into consideration what works for you in your kitchen currently and what doesn’t, so you can try and address those areas. For me personally, I think that functionality and durability is important and shouldn’t be sacrificed to have a certain look. Great tips, thanks for sharing!
Dana says
Glad you enjoyed the tip Laurie! I am on board with you in that functionality and durability are super important factors.
James says
Hi Dana,
Thank you for sharing this! I must admit, today’s the first time I heard of the kitchen triangle and I would definitely keep that in mind. What is the best color scheme to use for a kitchen where you want to increase appetite? Great tips! Thanks.
Dana says
I’m so glad you liked it James! Believe it or not, I read that yellow is very appealing for kitchens!
Hayden says
These are all great tips! I agree with you that it is very important to understand that at some point food will get on your decorations. Very informative, thanks for all the tips!
Dana says
Thank you Hayden! I am glad you liked it and find the tips helpful 🙂
Selene says
Wow, great post! This is definitely some excellent advice and tips to keep in mind when remodeling your kitchen. Especially the triangle, that does certainly help with cooking. Thanks for sharing!
Steele Honda says
For me personally, I think that functionality and durability are important and shouldn’t be sacrificed to have a certain look. I liked that you advised thinking about what fixtures could do for you when planning a new design for the kitchen. I am going to have my kitchen remodeled as it looks (and is!) too old, so I will make sure to solve the problem of size and save myself having to travel across the kitchen to reach the necessary objects!
Dana says
It makes all the difference!
Frederic Garcia says
Wow, Absolutely fabulous remodeling!! Love your inspiration kitchen! And yours will be EVERY bit as gorgeous when you’re done!!!! LOVE every detail you’ve planned, and I can’t wait to follow along!
Dana says
Thank you, Frederic!
Faucets Lab says
These are fabulous remodeling factors. I have heard of the kitchen triangle being mentioned by our architect that we hired a few years ago for our house renovation. You discussing it here brought back a lot of memories.
Dana says
Thank you 🙂 I’m glad I could bring back (happy I hope) memories of your renovation!
Faucets Lab says
yes! they were happy and busy memories 🙂
CarolinaCabinetWarehouse says
Hi Dana,
I love the idea of kitchen triangle you explained and I also want to share a point about cabinet accessories. To fully utilize the space where cabinets are installed there are also cabinet accessories like Pullouts, cabinet and drawer organizers.
I think they also play important role. What you say?
RonaldJanson says
Thanks For the Awesome info.
Dana says
My pleasure!
Renovaten says
The bathroom cabinets & table came out great! We just moved last week but in our previous home, I had chalk painted the kitchen cabinets & bathroom and many many other pieces of furniture! It is so easy and hard to mess up! The outcome is always worth it! Love the built-ins in your dining room.
Dana says
Thank you! I am trying to find the perfect wall to chalk paint in our house 🙂
Jack Borden says
I love working in kitchen. I like new ideas. thanks for sharing.
Dana says
My pleasure, Jack!
Laura says
Wow, This kitchen looks beautiful. Completely agreed with your thoughts that fixtures are one of the most important features of any kitchen. In that, you have to take care of something like which cabinet design you choose, what size you preferred? Keep sharing this kind of amazing work with us.
ANDREW says
I am completely stunned and got inspired by your article cause the way you put the information over here is very organized and informative and the most important part is i found it stupendous and spectacular.Couple of days back, i was looking for those appliances whose can give a vibrant look and elegant vibes but on this perspective, i want more details of kitchen remodeling information and stuffs. Can you recommend which particular brand i really need to go cause still i am confused, thank you in advance .Highly appreciation for your amazing professionalism and your great patience.
Kitchen Remodeler Austin TX says
That kitchen looks really fancy and cool.
jesse weset says
Greats tips, I read your blog post .
The restroom cupboards and table came out incredible! We just moved a week ago yet in our past home, I had chalk painted the kitchen cupboards and washroom and numerous different household items! It is so natural and difficult to wreck! The result is consistently awesome! Love the assembled ins in your lounge area.