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6 Tips From Our Latest Kitchen Renovation

Every renovation provides lessons learned. Even for those of us that have been through hundreds of renovations.
Kitchen renovations are especially challenging. Everyone wants specific items in their new kitchen that are tailored for the way they cook and live, or they should.
Here are a few lessons that I learned during Details’ latest kitchen renovation.

1. Make your space “YOU”
As in every design, your kitchen should be personal as well as functional.
You need to really think about not only what you love, but also how YOU work. Think about how you cook, what areas of your current kitchen you wish were larger or more functional. It’s not about how the average home cook cooks. It’s about how YOU cook.
These clients were adamant about having their microwave over their stove. Is that what I would normally design? No, but it’s their kitchen.

2. Add some interest
With so many hard surfaces in a kitchen, you need to find a way to add some interest. We did it in this kitchen by using two different cabinet finishes. They’re the same cabinet but with different finishes. Using the same cabinet gives it continuity while using two finishes gives it interest. We used dark quartz on the light cabinets and coordinating, light quartz on the darker island. We were also sure to add some color in the window treatments and stools. And, we made it personal with the BAM, which comes from a personal story from the homeowner.

3. Keep it organized
There are thousands of fabulous ideas for keeping your kitchen organized nowadays. Before your renovation make a list of all of the areas of your current kitchen that could use a little organizing. Then go through that list with your kitchen designer so you know all of those problem areas will be addressed with your new cabinets.

There are knife-organizing drawers

There are special pop up shelves for mixers. Be sure to add an outlet on the inside of the cabinet so that you can pull up and use.

There are spice drawer organizers.

You can hide your small appliances away in this garage

Your trash and recycling can be hidden away inside your cabinets

There are even sinks with special inserts and ledges for your colander, cutting board and dish rack!

Be sure to check out what’s available for your specific needs.

4. Don’t let your contractors tell you that you’re crazy!
I hear the word NO a lot from people. No, that can’t be done. No, you don’t want that. No, that won’t look good. If you have something in your mind that you definitely want for your kitchen, don’t let anyone tell you NO. The electrician on this job told me that I didn’t want different colored electrical outlets and switches, that they were too expensive and the homeowner wouldn’t want them. Guess what? White outlets and switches wouldn’t have looked right. They would have stuck out like a sore thumb. And these beige ones weren’t that expensive. In fact, the homeowner chose to use them through the entire space!
Stick to your guns and find a way.
BUT, most importantly find a contractor that is willing to work WITH you.

5. Think outside the box
Sometimes you have to get creative. In this kitchen, we used upper cabinets as lowers in two different places. Why upper cabinets? We used them because they aren’t as deep. We used them in the dining area to act as a sideboard, serving area and we also used them under the pass through to the living room for extra storage.  You can never have enough storage! Put it wherever you can, even if you think you don’t need it. You’ll thank me later!

6. Be sure to take Before and After pictures
Make sure you take some pictures before your reno starts. That way you have them to compare once you’re done. You can also look at them when you’re in the throws of renovation and are wondering why the heck you started this big project anyway!

If you have a renovation that you’re totally overwhelmed with just thinking about it, give me a call. I can help you make all of your selections in a few hours!
Heck, I can even coordinate the whole job for you!
I have reliable, talented contractors that will be happy to help as well.

Check out the Services tab – www.detailsfullserviceinteriors.com/services

Please leave me a Comment below and let me know your thoughts.
It makes me smile