Looking for kitchen remodel tips from the pros?
Get a jump-start on planning and designing the perfect kitchen for your family! It’s easy to create a gorgeous new kitchen with help from the pros. They’ve been doing it for years and are often on top of the newest trends. To help you get started, check out these 7 kitchen remodel tips and trends from GNH Kitchen Designer, Michele Gregg.
Things to Consider as You Plan a New Kitchen
1) Budget Wisely & Plan Appropriately
When you’re planning a kitchen remodel, making a budget and plan and sticking to it is key. The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) recommends spending 15-20% of your home’s value on your kitchen remodel. This guideline ensures that your new kitchen is a wonderful investment towards the value of your home. Planning your kitchen remodel should take more time than the actual construction. By planning well, you can reduce the amount of time you’re inconvenienced by construction mayhem. Plus, you’re much more likely to stay on budget!
2) Consult a Pro
Don’t forget: a kitchen remodel involves more than just replacing cabinetry. Working with an experienced designer will help you navigate all aspects of your kitchen remodel. From cabinets and countertops, to lighting and fixtures, and more! Designers stay up to date on trends & new materials. They are familiar with their local building codes and working with contractors. Their experience will translate to avoiding delays and will save money in the long run.
3) Have patience!
Each space is unique, and your perfect kitchen will take time to design, plan and create. Take time to enjoy the process of designing, planning, and product selection. It will be worth it in the long run! The more challenges you can anticipate and solve in advance, the faster your remodel will go, and the more money you will save.
Popular Kitchen Design Trends
4) Add More Functions
Today’s kitchens are designed to accommodate more than just cooking. Kitchen designers now create spaces where people can gather, play games, and even work on their laptops or mobile devices. Of course, the modern kitchen is still a place for cooking, baking, cleanup and prepping meals. But, in addition to these basic functions, our kitchens have evolved. We’re now using this all-important room to entertain our family & friends, help our kids finish their homework, balance household budgets or plan parties–and much more!
5) Break it Open
Open concepts are very popular. Even the smallest kitchens will feel bigger and brighter in an open concept layout. This also floods the space with daylight coming from windows in other rooms and can facilitate airflow. But larger kitchen spaces are also trending towards the open concept layout. By opening up this all-important room to the living room, you make it easier to interact with your family or guests from the kitchen as they relax on the couch. You can add space needed to create “entertaining zones” like coffee nooks, breakfast bars, and more.
6) Storage, Not Space
More storage will never go out of style. Even if you’re working within the footprint of your existing kitchen space, you can still add tons of storage! Try installing cabinets that reach your ceiling. This adds more shelving space and gives you a spot to display that beautiful dishware up top. You can also install shelving units, racks, and hooks in unused spaces. These could be empty sections of wall, inside cabinet doors, or even your ceiling.
7) Go Bold
Design with color and texture in mind. White Shaker style cabinetry has been popular for years now. While it still remains popular, we are now finding ways to introduce color and texture. A dark navy-blue island stands out against the white perimeter cabinets. Wood stained floating shelves that coordinate with the hardwood floors. A honed or “leathered finish” countertop that creates warmth.
Have fun designing your gorgeous new kitchen!