The kitchen is the heart of a home, which means we have to keep the heart intact at all costs by avoiding common kitchen renovation mistakes. Fortunately, these mistakes are easy to avoid when you do sufficient research, take your time with planning, and open yourself up to alternatives without compromising on practicality and functionality. Most of all, renovation mistakes can be avoided when you’re working with a professional.
Are you on the hunt for kitchen remodeling architects in New Jersey? At Seth A. Leeb Architecture, we feel that no project is too small to justify consulting an architect. We do modern and traditional home renovations and additions but have special competence in the remodeling of older homes. In this article, we share kitchen renovation mistakes you can avoid to ensure your budget is spent on the things you really want.
Not Planning Out Your Kitchen Storage Space
One of the main kitchen remodeling mistakes to avoid is underestimating the kitchen storage space you require. Leave sufficient height clearance between appliances and your upper cabinets when you plan your kitchen, and don’t follow trends unless you know it is something you will still like in five years. Look for ways to add storage space around the island for items you don’t often use and place practical storage, such as pull-out spice racks, close to your cooking area.
Forgetting About the “Work Triangle”
Are you wondering if the kitchen work triangle is something of the past? Do you still have to plan the layout around the sink, refrigerator, and range? We might call it working zones today, but the kitchen triangle is still a very practical design principle. You can adapt it to accommodate your needs, especially in a small space where you have a galley kitchen. Practical issues to consider when you plan the kitchen triangle layout are ensuring you can open the dishwasher without blocking access to the sink, and you can open the fridge or oven without blocking the kitchen flow.
Underutilizing the Vertical Wall Space
One of the other kitchen remodel mistakes people often make is underutilizing the available vertical wall space. If you have high ceilings, you can extend your cabinets to the ceiling for a modern look. If you have low ceilings in a small space, consider installing floating shelves rather than cabinets to make the space feel open and airy. There are other ways to utilize available vertical space in your kitchen. You can use it as a feature wall and hang artwork, or install a hanging garden filled with herbs when the area has sufficient natural light. Consider these alternative vertical space uses when you plan to stay in your home long-term.
Forgetting the Importance of Lighting
Every kitchen design should allow as much natural light in as possible, but what about artificial lighting? Never underestimate the importance of lighting in a kitchen. A well-planned kitchen includes three types of lighting: ambient, task, and accent. Ambient lighting sets the overall mood and could be a beautiful feature light over an island. Accent lighting adds character by highlighting certain decorative elements or architectural features. Task lighting is all about functionality. Under-cabinet lighting often fulfills this role and is designed to focus the light on working areas such as cooktops and countertops.
Seth A. Leeb Architecture can complete the design and full construction drawings for your kitchen renovation project. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you avoid kitchen renovation mistakes. You can also visit our website at: https://leeb-architecture.com/