Your remodel of your kitchen is finally complete! The dust has settled, the smell of paint has finally disappeared, and the trim is installed. All that is left is for you to enjoy your new space! The last thing you want to be doing is standing in your brand-new kitchen regretting decisions you made or finding things you wished were different. From skimping on certain aspects or paying too much attention to others, your new project feels can go from fab to drab quickly, but luckily for you, there are many things you can do to prevent a remodeling blunder! So start with the list below before getting under way!
Double-Check Those Walls!
Yes, you read that right. Check your walls, folks! But what the heck would be in there?! A hidden chest of money? Or a clue to an unsolved murder? Probably not, mostly just some insulation, but the trick here is finding out if the wall is a weight-bearing wall for the home. Before you give your creative genius free range of your kitchen, make sure your future design plans don’t include removing or altering a load-bearing wall. While it is possible to move/remove/remodel these walls, it comes with an additional big project, so you may wanna leave those where ya found them.
Lifestyle Integrations
Every person is different and so are their kitchen needs. Many people remodel their kitchens based on their favorite influencers’ styles or their Pinterest inspiration boards. Get inspiration but do not just copy. While it may lead to the prettiest kitchen, it may not be the most functional for YOU. Are you an avid baker? Cooking for 5 every night? Does everyone eat together? Do you use the kitchen area for entertaining? Taking into consideration the activities that are going to be occurring in the kitchen can help with some decisions. Making accommodations – like a water spigot by the stove for filling pots, a built-in step if you have a Little assisting you or ensuring you can reach all the outlets and shelves – can change everything for you. On the other hand, if grilled cheese is your signature dish, then maybe you skip out on those bonus features. Either way, consider your and your family’s needs.
Lighting
Kitchens tend to be spaces for entertainment, hosting, and general, everyday gathering. Do not skimp out on lighting! When you are chopping vegetables or pouring wine for friends, you do not want to be in a dimly lit space! Choose fixtures that hang to fill tall ceiling spaces, or maybe you find some nice can lights since the ceiling is a bit lower. The pretty chandelier may look gorgeous, but if it hangs right in the middle of you and your guests, then it does more harm than good. Choosing light bulbs that are bright white or daylight can often brighten the kitchen and even make it look bigger. Yellow light or warm light can often change the hue of the paint color and can give the kitchen a dingy look. It is wise to experiment with a few options before totally committing! Whatever fixture or light bulb color combo you select, just make sure there is a lot of it! Maybe not see-it-from-space bright but pretty close! If that scares ya a little, add a dimmer switch! You’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Height
If you are on the shorter end (and especially if you have high ceilings), incorporating outlets, cabinets, shelves, etc to fill the space looks luxurious, but how great can it be if you need a ladder to get up there? Before making final design decisions or screwing anything into the studs, make sure it fits the person that needs it!
Remodeling can be a source of great stress for many, but there are ways to plan ahead and minimize that stress! Professional advice, inspiration, mood boards, personal preference, budget, and more all dictate how and what you do to your kitchen space during your remodel. Keeping in mind the walls, lighting, and personal uses of the kitchen can help save you money, time, and mental capacity during your construction. Second guesses are a necessary part of life, but they should not be a part of your new kitchen remodel!
Any home project can start to feel overwhelming, whether its a new garage addition with built-in storage, or new custom cabinets for your kitchen. But at Latham we are here with you every step of the way! From start to finish our team will walk you through the design, build, and installation processes until project completion.
