Remodeling your kitchen is exciting. It’s also a significant investment, so you want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to ensure it looks great and lasts into the future. There’s a lot you need to consider throughout the process – before you start, through to completion. The following tips should help you to smooth things out.

CONSIDER YOUR BUDGET

To start with, work out how much you have available and how much you want to spend. This will give you a better idea of what you can do with your kitchen.

Do your research and check out design and style magazines to see what’s on offer. Head to some local showrooms to check out the designs and ask about general pricing. Make a list and get quotes on what you need, as well as the optional extras you want.

LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY

Take a look at what’s in the kitchen already. Do you need to replace everything, or are there some aspects that you can use again? Old cabinets can be torn apart and rebuilt – saving you money on purchasing new materials. You might prefer to spend your money on a new kitchen sink, rather than replacing the drawers.

And if you leave the major systems in places, such as your plumbing and gas, without moving them around the room, you’ll save money again. As the old saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

LAYOUT AND DESIGN

You want the layout of your kitchen to suit the size of your kitchen and it needs to be functional. To start with, there are a few styles to choose from, including a U shaped kitchen, L shaped kitchen, and galley style, and you may even consider an island or a breakfast bar.

Once you’ve decided on the style, consider functionality – you don’t want the dishwasher to be on the other side of the room to the sink. Consider the height of your appliances, walkway space, bench space and storage, power outlets, and where you are going to sit and eat.

EMBRACE SPACE

If there’s one thing we all know about kitchens, it’s that there’s never enough space so when you’re remodeling, consider aspects that will give you more space for storage, and preparation. An island is a great way to add space, while also enhancing the overall aesthetics of your kitchen.

Do your measurements to ensure the space around the island leaves you with plenty of room to move around – you could even make one out of cardboard first to see how it works out. If you don’t have space for an island, a temporary kitchen trolley will do the trick – and you can store it away when you’re not using it.

Talking about making space, make sure that you account for plenty of cupboard space where you can store your plates, pots, and pans, and so on. With all the gimmicks and gadgets we use these days, let’s face it – the more space to put things, the better.

DON’T LEAVE YOURSELF WITHOUT A KITCHEN

Finally, if you’re still living on the property, you want to make sure you can still cook dinners and eat comfortably. For that, set up a temporary kitchen that will allow you to still prepare food, cook it, and wash the dishes.

It could be that you have pulled out all the old cabinets and they’re sitting in a pile waiting for the tip. Grab them and set them up so you can at least put your toaster, kettle, and microwave on them.

MISTAKES YOU CAN AVOID

Even if you love to DIY and you’re a seasoned hand, it can’t hurt to get a professional to take a look at what you’re after – and at the very least, to give you some advice on your proposed design. You want to make sure everything is going to work as you expect it will, and they’ll help you to avoid common mistakes:

• Ensure the appliances are in a good location near one another.
• Consider extra storage options, like drawer dividers, lazy Susans, and pantry pullouts.
• Protect your walls, floors, and other rooms from paint and debris.
• Don’t choose the appliances last – you want your counters and cabinets to fit around your appliances, not the other way around.

If you want the process of remodeling to be as stress-free as possible – preparation is key. If you take into account the above tips, everything else will fall into place. And, if you need a helping with installing your kitchen sink, get in touch with Ashbury Plumbing today.