Kitchen Redesign Tips

Are you in the planning stages of your kitchen design and overwhelmed with everything?  Being a Certified Kitchen & Bath Designer, I have had the opportunity to collaborate on many kitchens throughout my career… Here are some tips I have picked up over the years, to make your kitchen redesign a joyful creative experience for you and your family:

Tip #1:  Ask many questions at the appliance store

The staff at appliance stores like Ferguson and AC Carlson are very knowledgeable.  They are experts in their field.  Did you know the main reason why people do not use their vent is due to the noise?  The salespeople at these appliance stores will be able to assist you in finding what is right for you. They can also tell you the difference between counter-depth refrigerator and built-in refrigerator. For instance, the counter-depth refrigerator cavity will be 24”D but the doors and handles will stick past the cabinetry.  The built-in refrigerator, on the other hand, blends seamlessly into your cabinets.  Once you apply your cabinetry appliance fronts, you will not know if it’s a cabinet or an appliance behind those doors.

Tip #2: Door vs Drawers

This is a new trend for your base (lower) cabinets. A lot of my clients are going with drawers instead doors when remodeling their kitchen cabinetry. I look at it not as a trend but as an efficiency or convenience. Let’s think about it. When you go into your cabinetry with doors, you open the doors and then pull-out the roll-out shelf. It’s a 2-step process. The drawers, in contrast, are a single process. You just pull open the drawer. Also, this new trend is part of universal design. Being a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, I continue to improve myself to better understand my clients’ needs so I can help them stay in their homes safely and securely. In my Continuing Education Units (CEU’s), I have learned drawers are better than doors in a kitchen remodel because you can see the items clearly without bending down to see what’s on the shelf.

Tip #3: Organize your Kitchen

This is one of the big reasons why my clients remodel their kitchen: to be organized. You have probably had your current kitchen cabinetry for so long that you don’t imagine how it could be different. That’s where a Certified Kitchen Designer can co-create with you on how to organize your kitchen to fit “you.” For example, did you know you don’t have to put your outlets on your walls? You could incorporate them into your cabinets. That way, your backsplash truly becomes the focal point of your kitchen. Maybe you love baking but are tired of taking your mixer in/out of your bottom cabinet. One solution would be to incorporate a base cabinet with a swing-up mixer shelf. Another example: let’s say you want a minimalist look now with all your utensils instead of them being on your countertop. Not a problem. I can easily incorporate a base cabinet that holds all your utensils. The accessories are the little details behind your beautiful new cabinetry. These hardworking, organizational tools can transform your kitchen into an efficient creative workroom that maximizes every valuable inch of your storage and countertop space!

After

Before

You are probably thinking what’s my next step… I would suggest collaborating with a Certified Kitchen Designer.  We would be happy to design your new kitchen based on the creative tips above… Maybe it’s time to invest in your kitchen so you can bring “Joy” into it.  Let’s face it.  Our lifestyle is always changing.  I have learned to start transforming my spaces instead of adapting to them.  How about you?  Let’s start promoting creativity and well-being for your kitchen, so family and friends feel welcomed.  Start dreaming about transforming your kitchen.  I am only a phone call away to make that possibility a reality . . .   

CW Design – Rising together with you