Have you ever heard a friend, co-worker or anyone at all rave about the joys of a kitchen renovation? No? There’s a reason for that; it’s messy. But there’s a big difference between temporarily inconvenient and outright pluck-your-last-nerve.
We want you to be safely in the realm of necessary inconvenience that will pay off handsomely in the long haul, so here are some helpful (ignore at your own risk) lessons that come from real-life experience.
Start with a Budget
If you’re going for a kitchen renovation of any size, you already know that you need to start with a budget – no newsflash there. A couple things that might help your specific calculations are to estimate that about a third of your total cost will go towards cabinets.
Planning with Appliances
Once you’ve mentally set aside that sum, start your purchase planning with appliances. Since cabinetry will work around your appliance sizes, this is the right time to cost-compare the pieces you want and in what finishes. It’s quite interesting to explore today’s choices. With so much available from a variety of sources, you could end up falling for an antique stove and an ultra-modern fridge, yet still make it work.
Picking your Fixture Family
Going the next step and picking out your fixture family will help tie your renovation project together. Because your appliances and fixtures will both have metal elements, see how the finishes (chrome, brushed nickel, rustic bronze, brushed gold…) and styles complement each other. Both of these decisions will then help inform your cabinet and color choices.
Find your Perfect Pfister Family
The Work Triangle
Next, you’ll hear designers talk about the “work triangle,” which means the sink, stove and fridge. Really, this is a fancy way of saying that the three most used areas of your new kitchen should be in logical places. The best way to determine this for yourself is pretty simple.
Think about the way you and other family members use your current kitchen. How would you solve your current sore points? Also think about potential ways your new layout could be used. For instance, if your kids take up table or island space with homework and school stuff, plan for more surface space or a built-in desk nearby.
A Second Sink?
If people in the way of your post-party cleaning up annoy you, maybe a second sink is worth the investment. And if everyone tends to gather in the kitchen, consider an open kitchen/den area that includes comfortable seating that’s more relaxing than say, tall bar stools.
Do it Yourself First
These are all things you can begin to feel out on your own, before engaging designers and contractors. By doing this, it’ll provide inspiration and help you bring something to the table (pun intended), when you do engage professional help. Having put thought into what your priorities are, and where you’re willing to spend or trim will make it easier get the kitchen you envision.
