REMODELLING YOUR KITCHEN: A PLANNING GUIDE

Kitchens are often seen as the heart of the home, and for good reason. Having a functional kitchen is integral to modern life. Remodelling your kitchen is often a big job because it tends to cost more and requires more than other rooms in your home.

Related: Millennials: Transforming your home to add value

It is also one of the rooms in the home that can increase the value of the property overall too. This is why it is imperative that you plan the remodel out properly in order to ensure that it comes out within your budget, and that you get the look that you want. Keep reading for more information.

Work out a budget first

Before you can make any sort of progress with your kitchen remodel, you will first need to work out a realistic budget for the work that you want to be undertaken. Truthfully, kitchen remodels can be expensive, more so than other rooms in the house, simply because the workload is often bigger and more involved. This is why you really need to come up with a budget first. You can then plan around this budget as far as whether you want to hire help, look for cost-saving measures or do the work yourself.

That being said, home remodels do often cost more than you expect, which is why it is worth having a buffer built into your budget of between ten and fifteen percent. You do not want to run out of money before the work is done. There are often a few hidden costs that you will need to bear in mind, like labor, materials, taxes and delivery fees which will all also need to be factored in.

Research and inspiration

After you have worked out a budget, the next thing that you will need to do is to begin your research and start to look for inspiration. You can visit showrooms, DIY and home stores to get an idea of the things that you want and how much it is going to cost you. The internet and home design publications are also a great way to find inspiration; you can even build a vision board.

During your research, it would also make sense to start to look for contractors too. Make enquiries and get some quotes for the work that you want doing. In addition to ensuring that they will work with your budget, you will also want to make sure that they have a reputation for producing great results. For example, if you are located around Florida, then Beattie Developments have a range of services from building custom homes to bathroom or kitchen remodels, so be sure to check them out.

Quality is key

Obviously, a budget can be really limiting in terms of what you can afford; however, it is always worth going for the best possible quality wherever possible. Realistically, you cannot expect a great, high-quality finish without having used high-quality materials. In addition to affecting the aesthetics of the final result, it will also affect the longevity of the work too and even the resale value when you come to sell your property.

Purchasing brand-new might be out of your budget, but you can always explore used or second-hand materials. They are often much cheaper but still retain their quality. Consider repurposing older cabinets or appliances from showrooms, online sellers or even simple factory outlets.

Wants vs. needs

The next thing that you will need to do is to work out what you want versus what you need. Getting the latest trendy appliances might seem like a great idea to finish off your kitchen, but if you don’t need them, then it is just a waste of money. Instead, think about the non-negotiable features that you need your kitchen to have, whether this is lots of storage, a pantry, an island or whatever else you absolutely can’t live without in your new kitchen.

Try to think as practically as possible; obviously, having your wants is also desirable, but your needs should come first, so make sure that you are prioritizing.

The layout

A large part of planning a kitchen remodel is considering the layout. The kitchen needs to be functional above all else, and this does come down in large part to the layout. Think about what was working in terms of your old kitchen layout and what wasn’t. This can then help with planning your new layout; you can emulate the features that were working and fix what wasn’t. Maximizing the practical space is key; think about what would make the most sense in terms of convenience. How much workspace do you need? What sort of storage space do you need?

For the most part, there are three main areas that will need the most consideration—the counters, appliances and walkways. The counters obviously act as your work surfaces, allowing you to prep food; a workable prep space often needs to be around thirty-five to forty inches. You will also need around twenty-five inches next to your sink on one side and around twenty on the other to give you enough room to store the pots and pans that you have used to cook with.

The appliances need to be placed to ensure that you have enough floor space in front of them so that the doors can comfortably be opened and you still have enough space to move about in front of them. Lastly, the walkways impact the flow of the kitchen and the ease with which you can use it. You do not want your kitchen to feel cramped and make it difficult for more than one person to use at any one time.

Final thoughts

When it comes to remodeling a room in your home, it is obviously important that you have had input in the process to ensure that the final results mirror your tastes and your requirements. This is why you will need to work closely with your contractor, interior designer and anyone else who will be constructing your new kitchen. Planning is key to ensuring that you achieve everything that you want. Finding inspiration is important to help you to come up with ideas.

Remember that while following trends is perfectly valid, they do change often and loving your kitchen is far more important than trying to chase trends. This is why it is often advisable to opt for a more timeless look that you can then customize to the trends through soft furnishings and finishing touches.

Top photo by Max Rahubovskiy/Pexels