Which part of the home is the perfect place to combine design and function? It’s a space some might call the heart of the home—the room in which a great design plan can make basic functions come to life.
It’s the kitchen—and it’s the room you’ve wanted to remodel for years.
You’ve brought your experience with interior design to other rooms in your home, and now it’s the kitchen’s turn. When you move into a home, the kitchen can be the last room that receives attention. Sometimes other areas take priority, but when the time comes for a full kitchen renovation, it’s important to do that right.
You know the kitchen is the perfect place to combine the beauty of a well-designed space with function. But how should you go about it? Here are a few pieces of advice to help you make that new kitchen design turn out well.
1. Decide what your priorities are.
When considering a high-end kitchen renovation, it’s crucial to prioritize your goals. Remodels, even when they’re comprehensive, sometimes involve compromise. Even so, there will be parts of the renovation that are more important to you than others.
For example, you may have dreamed of luxury kitchen appliances, filling your space with a top of the line refrigerator, dishwasher, and oven. These key appliances can make all the difference in functionality and interior design, since they contribute to the kitchen’s overall look and feel. You may decide that obtaining them is a priority, and a premier backsplash isn’t as important.
Regardless of your priorities, be sure to consider them before undertaking a full renovation. A plan for these choices will make the design process much easier.
2. Determine a budget.
As your kitchen renovation comes together in the planning stage, your interior designer will need to know your budget. Even if it’s flexible, a ballpark estimate will help the designer match your priorities to your budget.
From there, you’ll be able to adjust the budget as opportunities for interesting changes or additions come along. But determining a budget for the designer at the beginning will go a long way in making the kitchen design process move smoothly.
3. Nail down plans during the renovation.
A kitchen renovation will be a lengthy and invasive process. Though the renovation itself will be hassle-free for you when in the hands of a professional designer, sometimes the construction aspects will lead to being uprooted from your home for a bit of time. It’s important to consider whether you’ll live in the home during the renovation for all or part of its duration. You may also need to make other plans for your basic kitchen needs, as there will be times in which you will not have a usable refrigerator, sink, and oven. While it will be for a short time, these alternate plans are crucial for a worry-free renovation.
4. Choose a great kitchen designer.
Finding the right kitchen designer can be the difference between a kitchen you love and one that simply had a few new appliances installed. Choose an interior design who creates award-winning kitchens and offers complete interior design, not just a few parts of the kitchen. If they can put together a vision for the room, you are likely in good hands.
Make sure your designer has experience with the type of high-end kitchen you want, as well. In Auckland, interior designers will be able to refer to other work they’ve done, and this can help you make the right choice for your own space.
5. Think about the renovation’s future impact.
Of course, the primary goal of your renovation is for you to enjoy it in your home. But what about the future of the room?
Think about how the room will appear to future buyers. Even if you aren’t planning on selling the home, considering how the new kitchen will affect resale value is crucial. You should by all means design it to your taste, but chances are the functional aspects you choose to include will be the very ones that close the sale of your home in the future.
6. Keep communication open.
You might have a clear vision for your new kitchen design—a luxurious, beautiful space—but sometimes conveying that vision can be difficult. That’s why it’s necessary to keep communication open between you and your kitchen designer.
When you communicate throughout the entire kitchen renovation process, you move ever closer to achieving the vision you’ve had from the beginning. Make sure you keep explaining and exploring until your vision is accurately conveyed, and use all methods available to do so, from writing it out to grabbing a sketchpad and everything in between.
7. Have an aesthetic in mind.
Kitchen renovations involve innumerable small decisions. When the overall design is finalized, factors such as paint colors, drawer pulls, and light fixtures must be chosen. This can extend the time of the renovation by years if you don’t have a kitchen aesthetic in mind. It’ll still take time to make final decisions, but if you have a look in mind, you’ll likely be drawn to certain colors and patterns.
When you’re starting to design a new kitchen, the world is at your fingertips. You’re just a few blueprints away from your dream kitchen space, but entering the process by keeping a few factors in mind will make it the smooth, enjoyable journey it can be.
Start the fun of renovating your kitchen today by jotting down design notes, brainstorming goals, dreaming about key features, and working on a budget. By taking these steps, you’re on your way to a hassle-free renovation and a beautiful new kitchen!
If you have questions, please contact us here!
