10 Things You Need to Include in
Your Kitchen Remodel

Our last blog was about the things you need to include in your bathroom renovation (see it here!), but what about the kitchen? We are working on so many kitchen renovations right now! There are so many finish and design options available when remodeling a kitchen. I guarantee that some of them you’ve never even thought of. We’re incorporating these ideas into kitchens we’re working on here in western Massachusetts right now, and some of them are going to make the homeowners’ lives so much easier!

1. Classic colored cabinets. As tempting as it can be, don’t go with trendy cabinet color! You want to stick with something classic and timeless so that it doesn’t go out of style. A white cabinet never goes out of style! Some other colors that I don’t think will ever go out of style are black and navy blue. Another thing to consider is mixing cabinet colors! You can use one color on the base cabinets and a lighter color on the upper cabinets. Or you can do all of the surround cabinets one color and your island in a different color. You can even mix paint colors and wood tones together to create a warmer feel and bring in some texture.

2. Built-in animal food & water bowls! If you have a dog or cat, have you ever wished for a better place to store their food and water bowls? They always get in the way and guests kick them and water gets all over the floor. Guess what! They can be built right into the end of your cabinets or as a pull out drawer in your toe kick!! No more walking into them or spilling on the floor! They’re discreetly hidden and you don’t even have to look at them. This one below is by Wellborn Cabinetry.

• 3. Large pendants over the island. You know I always say “Go big or go home!” That goes for lighting as well. Always go bigger with your pendant lights than you think you need, trust me! Oversized pendants will make your kitchen feel larger and they can really dress it up! They’ll really make a statement instead of using some little dinky lights over the island. Gone are the days of the tiny pendants. Use two large lights, or if your island is really large, use three.

4. Spice drawers! I cannot tell you how convenient it is to have drawers that are meant for storing your spices. Instead of throwing them in a cabinet and never being able to find what you need, definitely think about getting a spice drawer. They have little angled rows that the spices sit on and you can see everything as soon as you open it up. Or, you can add pull out cabinets adjacent to your cooktop for easy access to spices. And did I mention that it’s super helpful to have them alphabetized? It is! Try it!

5. A pull-out trash bin. This is common now in kitchen remodels, but it truly does keep the clutter out of your kitchen and it keeps any smells tucked away. You can typically get your recycling bin behind the trash as well, to keep everything in one place. While I’m at it, here’s another trash tip. Keep a pile of spare trash bags in the bottom of your trash bin. That way when you take out the full bag you’ll have a replacement right there.

6. A pull-out cutting board! Have you ever thought about getting a pull-out cutting board right over your trash bin? Do it! It’s super convenient to chop up what you need and quickly discard what you don’t. Once you’re done with it, you just wash it off and close it up. Easy! You can also have it pull out right above your cutlery drawer. That’s convenient too.

7. Classic and timeless tile backsplash. Similar to the cabinet colors, choose a backsplash that’s not on trend. Do you remember the little glass mosaics that everyone used? Well, they’re really not in style anymore, and you don’t want to end up with something that looks dated or that you’ve gotten sick of. Choose something that will always be in style, like a white subway tile. We actually wrote a blog about it here! It works with so many different styles of kitchens and always looks nice. Don’t forget that it can be installed in many different patterns. Get creative!

8. A backsplash that goes to the ceiling. While you’re planning your classic backsplash, consider continuing it all the way up to the ceiling instead of cutting it off and painting the rest. It can really make a statement and help make the room feel larger and taller. Bring it up behind your range hood and all the way above your sink. It can go around windows in place of paint.

9. Big, oversized drawers. Do you wish you had a better place to store those big pots and pans or large bowls? Oversized drawers can solve that problem! It can be so frustrating to have to stack them in a cabinet and take them all out to get the one you need. In a large drawer, you can just set them in and easily see what you have when you open the drawer. It adds functionality to your kitchen because you will save yourself time and aggravation.

10. Refrigerated drawers! Yes, that’s what I said, refrigerated drawers. How easy would it be to quickly grab the cold things you need for your recipe out of a drawer when you need it, or to pop something in there when you’re done with it? Think about adding one or two during your kitchen renovation to make your life easier.

Those are just a few of my recommendations of what you could include in your kitchen remodel! If you’re feeling overwhelmed, check out this kitchen renovation questionnaire! It will really help you figure out what’s important to you and to stay organized during the process. And we’re always here if you think you need some help. Happy renovating!

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