Must haves for kitchen remodel (2024)

What are the must haves for kitchen remodel? Should we remodel the kitchen? You may have been wondering about it for years, or maybe you are a new homeowner. Modernizing the kitchen, the “heart” of the home, provides benefits beyond just looking good. Kitchen remodeling can have several benefits. You get more home-cooked meals. You also get to regularly host family and friends, and enjoy the thoughtful and humorous conversations. Remodel your kitchen now!

Still on the fence? There are many compelling must-haves for a kitchen remodel.

Improve the Functionality of Your Kitchen While Also Removing Inconveniences

You want a functional kitchen; nobody likes awkward situations. Is your workspace too cramped? If someone is in the fridge, you may be unable to open some cabinets. Food prep may demand more counter space. All of these things can be corrected or improved with proper renovation.

Here are some basic ideas:

Remodeling your kitchen can bring about numerous benefits for your home and your family. From improved functionality and design to increased real estate value, the results of a kitchen remodel can be highly rewarding.

• Go for smaller kitchen appliances.
• Invest in storage organizers in your kitchen drawers.
• Prioritize a food pantry storage area.
• Reconfigure your countertop space.
• Upgrade your space with some under-cabinet lighting.

Renovating Your Kitchen Helps It to Better Cater to Your Family’s Needs

Well-designed spaces promote relaxation and peace.

Before remodeling your kitchen, consider everyone’s needs. You may build a large table in the middle of the room. Do children do homework at the snack bar? Want extra kitchen storage? You may want more counter space if you routinely hold parties in your kitchen. Make your desires and aspirations come true immediately.

Are you embarrassed by your outdated kitchen? If so, design a sunny location to visit. Your kitchen should be a place where you like spending time. It should be elegant and reflect your style.

It will definitely increase your home’s real estate value.

When remodeling your kitchen, consider others. Potential buyers will value your home’s upgrades if you sell it. A refurbished kitchen can boost your home’s worth and your future.

Statistics show that a large amount of your investment will be returned. You should recuperate 62 to 77 percent of your renovation costs. Prospective homebuyers often focus on the kitchen, so you can sell your home for more. A home without a remodeled or modernized kitchen won’t sell as quickly.

You get to minimize your utility costs!

Outdated appliances waste energy. Renovations are excellent for upgrades. You may only know some of the energy-consuming kitchen appliances, from stoves to dishwashers to washing machines. Using obsolete appliances has other drawbacks: Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star Seal will only be on 25-year-old appliances. Finding replacement parts can make repairs complex, expensive, and time-consuming.

20 Must-Haves for a Successful Kitchen Remodel

Imagine your perfect kitchen. What do you see before you? A contemporary room with skylights that allow natural light to pour in? Or do you have an image of decorative embellishments on your hood, island, and cabinet crowns?

You are not alone in your endeavor to update a few aspects of an existing kitchen, construct a new one, or remodel an existing one. Everyone wants the room in the center of their house to look as good as possible.

Are you prepared to get things going?

Following is a rundown of components that should be included in a luxury kitchen:

New appliances

Redesigning a kitchen involves many factors. Luxury, finishing, and design are examples. First, decide if you want new or existing appliances. Kitchen appliances include the refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, and stove. Before starting a renovation, decide if you’ll buy new appliances. If you go this route, choose them before the renovation begins. So cabinets and drawers can be created using their dimensions.

Need and want are very different. Whether you need new appliances depends on their condition. Refrigerators and stovetops can last up to 17 years, experts say. Dishwashers can clean 12 dishes. Most ovens last 15 years. A microwave’s lifespan depends on the model purchased.

A functional layout

Kitchens have the finest cabinetry, equipment, and finishes. But perhaps the design doesn’t fit the homeowner’s lifestyle. Other features will be fine if that happens to be the case.

How to create a kitchen plan that meets your needs and maximizes space?

Before remodeling a kitchen, consider how the space will be used. How a kitchen’s activities are laid out is a personal choice, and the floor must reflect this. Kitchen designs vary. They can be galleys, U- or L-shaped kitchens, curved, pentagonal, wedge-shaped, or outside the box. As kitchens come in different arrangements, think beyond the classic work triangle.

Durable countertops

Kitchen redesigns frequently focus on flooring, cabinetry, and appliances. Countertops are the most visually appealing part of any kitchen. They can fetch you more money when you sell your home. When redesigning your kitchen, prioritize the countertops. More reasons:

• They are in frequent use.
• They are in a highly conspicuous area in the kitchen.
• They have a significant impact on the appearance of the kitchen as a whole.

A backsplash

Backsplashes protect kitchen and bathroom walls from water, grease, and other spills, especially behind stoves and sinks. Backsplashes come in various colors and designs, allowing owners to customize their kitchens.

Water, grease, and other impurities can harm the wall behind the sink and stove. Thus, a backsplash is needed. A backsplash protects the wall. The backsplash should be made of durable, easy-to-clean materials, as it’s a protective surface.

Ample storage space

Modern kitchens need storage. Open-concept living areas put the kitchen on display. It’s more important than ever to make intelligent design choices to avoid clutter. Start by dividing your new kitchen into sections. This will dictate where to cook, wash, eat, relax, or work. Each section’s storage needs will be different. The kitchen needs space for dry materials, fresh food, herbs, cooking oils, earthenware, cleaning supplies, and pots and pans.

Adaptable storage is crucial. Use even the smallest spaces to make your new kitchen plan user-friendly and enjoyable. This article will show you some excellent examples of clever kitchen storage.

A kitchen island

Are you looking for more space, seating, storage, or anything else? Your problem can be solved with a kitchen island. Kids can finish their homework while you talk to your visitors and mingle with other people, thanks to the expansive island.

A kitchen island can give additional storage space for your kitchen items in the form of cupboards, drawers, shelves, and counter space. The flow of activity in food preparation sections is not disrupted by adding an island, it instead creates the ideal additional storage space. In point of fact, it will make it even better!

A walk-in pantry

Planned walk-in pantries help in the kitchen. “Walk-in” refrigerators imply you don’t have to bend over to get stuff.

It also prevents you from needing a ladder to open high cabinets. People discover that their kitchens have more space after installing pantries, and they spend less time going to the market. You can conveniently store everything in your kitchen’s walk-in pantry. Large enough laundry rooms and corridors can have walk-in pantries installed.

A breakfast nook

A kitchen of a considerable size must contain an island bench for gathering and snacking..

Breakfast nooks replace traditional kitchen tables and chairs for functional and aesthetic reasons.

Breakfast nooks are a great way to start the day, and utilize extra space, making a small area into a functional place with plenty of seating.

Breakfast nooks can be used for coffee breaks, snacks, and unrelated activities. You can invite guests to a welcoming kitchen area. If you have a meal, conversation can continue after the meal is complete. While deciding what to do for the weekend, make ice cream, play a game, or cook your favorite dish.

Various warm, pleasant places have plenty of table and countertop space for these activities. Your breakfast nook’s capability as a meeting venue, size, layout, and number of seats all determine whether it will be an area free of technology distractions.

More counter space

Due to the layout, kitchen counter space may be in great demand when preparing meals and cleaning up. Breakfast nooks provide more kitchen counter space. Even large kitchens with an island need more counter space.

Creating a dining, sitting, or game area is a great way to free up counter space. It allows family members to gather without crowding the kitchen. It reduces clutter in high-traffic areas like sinks and stoves.

Added seating area

A new benchtop can make your kitchen look cleaner. A breakfast nook is a charming addition to any home that will boost its value. It adds counter space, seating, and charm. Booths or benches will increase your kitchen’s worth.

Better use for your corners

When you have a sharp corner that is a right angle, you can put appliances like a tiny oven in there to save space. Then install a wall cabinet above it, so the visual flow throughout the remainder of the space is maintained. The handleless doors and bright colors of the kitchen cabinets work together to draw the viewer’s attention elsewhere.

A new sink and faucet

When it comes to kitchen renovations, there are a lot of important considerations to make, from the appliances to the tile for the backsplash to the lighting fixtures. Selecting a faucet for your kitchen sink might seem easy. However, considering how your new faucet will affect the functioning and style of your new kitchen is an essential step in the kitchen remodeling process. It is something that should be completed on time.

New flooring

If you are considering redesigning the kitchen, consider replacing the flooring. This will give the room a more polished and finished appearance. Regardless of your decorating style or budget, your chosen flooring may completely transform a space. Changing the room’s layout or knocking down walls may necessitate installing new flooring; this step should be considered during any restoration project.

New cabinets

You can organize anything from your spices to your pots and pans with custom cabinets, deep drawers, dividers, and inserts. A wide range of cabinetry is available, each of which provides a selection of chic storage alternatives that can contribute to your home’s aesthetic appeal and practicality.

For instance, the space supporting your range hood in the kitchen can serve as more than just a lovely backdrop. It can be a practical and appealing place to store spices because of its thoughtful design.

Find a team that can work with you to establish the ideal design for the needs of your business during an in-home consultation, and they will come to your house.

Updated lighting

Every room needs proper lighting to function. This is especially true in the kitchen. In home design, it’s crucial to have appropriate kitchen lighting. Not only should the type of lighting be considered, but also its placement.

Why is kitchen lighting so important? A well-lit workspace improves visibility and keeps you safe while cooking. Counters and other surfaces should be well-lit for easy and efficient meal prep. If your kitchen is well-lit, you can trust its cleanliness. Any dirt or particles on countertops, fissures, and crevices may be visible.

The proper lighting will make your dinner look great to you and any guests you entertain while cooking.

A kitchen herb garden

The best herbs are the ones that you grow yourself. It is in everyone’s best interest to cultivate their own herbs rather than purchasing them at a neighborhood grocery store or picking up some dried herbs from a retail establishment. This is true regardless of location.

A built-in wine rack

Wine racks allow you to store wine securely and handily in one place. When placed horizontally, the cork will retain its moisture, which is necessary to avoid drying out and cracking. Many capacities and designs are available, including those made of wood, metal, plastic, and more!

A spice rack

Because a built-in spice rack only requires a minimal amount of space, you can position it virtually anywhere in your kitchen. It can store hundreds of spices in a horizontal space only three inches wide, a narrow part of cabinetry that cannot be used for anything else.

Energy-efficient windows

Windows that are good for the environment should be considered for both newly constructed and existing homes. Between 25 and 30 percent of the energy used for household heating and cooling is attributable to heat gain and heat loss through windows. Windows that are efficient in energy consumption can result in an average savings of . This will reduce between $100 to $600 in annual savings on your utility expenses.

A pot rack

Pot racks make better use of the space within cabinets by keeping saucepans and skillets on open shelves. They provide flair and organization to a kitchen. You can have them mounted against a wall, under the cabinets, or suspended from the ceiling. Use these ideas for pot racks to create functional and aesthetically pleasing storage.

An appliance garage

Adding an appliance garage into your kitchen might assist in bringing the space and the storage together. Your kitchen will appear more organized and uncluttered if you store the less significant appliances behind closed cabinet doors.

A knife block

Blocks or sheaths are used to protect knives from being damaged while they are not in use. Knife blocks feature several compartments that are designed to hold specific types of kitchen knives. Depending on the type of block, these compartments may be labeled for utility knives, cheese knives, Nakiri knives, Santoku knives, bread knives, or filet knives.

Setting a Budget for Your Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen remodeling costs can confuse homeowners. Because every project has unique requirements, features, oddities, and repairs, estimating a kitchen makeover can be tough. Cheap to expensive materials are available. Different installers charge different costs for otherwise equivalent services.

It will take a lot of work to estimate the expense of redesigning your kitchen from the outset. It’s crucial to plan your renovation budget as soon as possible.

Make a decision about how much money you will spend, and then stick to it.

It may seem like a clear and easy task to establish a budget for your kitchen makeover and stick to it, but in reality, doing so might be more challenging than you imagine.

The national average for remodeling a high-end kitchen is over $80,000; however, three considerations can help you decide whether you want to spend that much. The first thing to consider is how much money you have available to spend. Consider your current financial situation to arrive at this figure.

The second is your anticipated length of residence. Your kitchen makeover should boost your real estate investment if you intend to sell the house in the next five years. Only spend what you believe you will recoup when you sell the home. If you intend to stay in your house for more than five years, modify it so that you and your family can be as comfortable as possible.

Your neighborhood is the third factor. Is it upscale or modest? You will experience a loss on your investment when you sell your home if you install a ruling-class kitchen in a middle-class area. Never over-improve.

Be aware of how the expenses will be broken down.

The cost of your labor could range from 20 to 35 percent of the total cost of your project. Cabinets have the potential to eat up a significant portion of the funds you have set up for your kitchen remodel.

The following is how it works out, on average:

• 35 percent: cabinetry
• 20 percent: any costs incurred from labor and installation
• 20 percent: purchasing of new appliances
• 10 percent: structural attachments such as backsplashes or windows
• 5 percent: kitchen hardware such as faucets and the like
• 3 percent: any additional kitchen fittings
• 7 percent: any added miscellaneous expenses

Put away 20 percent of your total spending to cover unforeseen expenses.

Especially if you are renovating a much older home, you should be prepared for the unexpected when working in the kitchen. Numerous cost overruns and other unpleasant surprises are concealed behind the walls or buried beneath the floor. Consider the scenario where you pull out your walls only to find that your electrical wiring is decades old. Or you find that the floor beneath it has deteriorated due to a water leak. Make sure that your budget allows for enough wiggle room so that you can handle any unexpected expenses.

First things first: you need to make a list of your renovation priorities.

What do you place the utmost importance on? Brand-new home appliances? Are those new cabinets? You should write down your priorities so that even if unanticipated costs cause your budget to suffer, you can still complete the essential tasks on your list.

Consider how significant crown molding and a luxury faucet are to the kitchen’s overall design and function. Small details matter. You can find a cheaper option or do without the item.

Be familiar with the particulars of the payment plan you have devised for this endeavor.

Home equity loans are popular since they’re tax deductible. Refinancing, personal loans, and retirement plan loans are more alternatives.

Even if you have cash, borrowing at a low-interest rate may be more intelligent than withdrawing from a high-yield investment account.

Consider interest and origination fees when borrowing money. When will you obtain your loan? You must pay contractors and materials in advance.

Talk about the importance of setting a budget before starting your remodel and determining what you can afford.

Make a decision regarding whether or not you will continue to reside in the house while it is being renovated.

Living somewhere during construction reduces stress. Consider apartment/hotel, storage, and moving costs. Staying will cost your sanity. You could set up a makeshift kitchen in a neighboring room; add the expense.

Take into account the expense of eating out.

While your kitchen is being remodeled, you’ll eat out or bring in takeout. Budget for this upfront.

Make a spreadsheet for your budget, and look at it frequently.

Use spreadsheets to track your spending and your budget so you can stay on top of your overall spending. You can halt a cost overrun if you notice it beginning.

Perform some of the more menial tasks to cut your expenses.

Hiring a third party to complete all the tasks is optional. Demolition, which involves removing the old flooring, cabinetry, and appliances, is simple.

Avoid frills. Refrain from giving in to the temptation to vary from your budget in the middle of the project.

Stop yourself if you hear yourself saying, “It would be fantastic if we installed (beautiful kitchen feature here).” Budgets blow up in this way. Look at the remodeling budget you created in step 1 and keep repeating the figure to yourself. The minor frills are not necessary.

Designing Your Kitchen: Choosing a Style and Layout

If you want to get the most out of your new kitchen, planning the layout is a crucial first step. It will guarantee that you can maintain your space neatly, enhance your workflow, and provide spots where people can relax or socialize. And it will eventually have an effect on the entire atmosphere of your space.

Kitchens are now more relaxed, closed-off spaces. The kitchen is crucial to everyday life, special occasions, and entertaining.

When remodeling a kitchen, the style should be determined initially. You know what you like and don’t like when it comes to style. Since the kitchen is so important, there are limitless ways to make it great. Here’s a brief guide to choosing your kitchen style.

Traditional

When you think of a traditional kitchen, you may picture baking cookies with your kids or sitting around the table for Christmas. The traditional style is ageless. Consider painted or stained cabinets with glass-front doors, white tiles, arches, ornamental moldings, corbels, steel appliances, and vintage-look light fixtures.

Farmhouse or Country

A farmhouse-style kitchen might be natural and rustic, or sophisticated and contemporary. Anywhere a pleasant, homey, life-centered feeling shines through. Country and farmhouse kitchens include open shelving, wide sinks, classic flooring, a large kitchen island or table, vintage door handles, and a pastel color scheme such as yellow with red or blue hues. Think open, inviting, and lived-in farmhouse.

Modern

Modern kitchen definitions differ, but all types have a few common traits. A clean, minimalistic style with polished surfaces, frameless cabinets, and chrome hardware. Exotic woods, stainless steel, and other luxury materials are essential in a modern kitchen.

Contemporary

Contemporary kitchens prioritize structure and grids to produce a sleek and immaculate design. Still, they do so with a variety of finishes. In a contemporary kitchen, you can mix materials, play with old and new, choose informal or polished, and integrate elements of various styles. Make contemporary sleek and minimalistic with lots of open space.

Transitional

Transitional kitchens combine traditional and contemporary design elements. Transitional kitchens combine contemporary’s clean, straightforward style, with traditional’s warmth and hospitality. An intoxicating combination of familiarity and contemporary sophistication. Transitional kitchens give a great deal of versatility when building a comfortable, livable area.

Rustic

A rustic kitchen converts worn, distressed, and rough-hewn, into positives. In a rustic kitchen, you’ll see lots of wood and stone. Distressed finishes, unfinished surfaces, textured items, open shelves, vintage appliances, and polished oak floors provide a feeling of craftsmanship. Rustic means simple, functional, and natural, like log cabin interiors.

Industrial

You may not equate industrial with your kitchen, but hear us out. Industrial-style kitchens have high ceilings, large windows, open space, and exposed masonry, plumbing, and beams. Why? Because it’s rugged and modern. The industrial kitchen is open-plan and uses rough and textured materials like brick, metal, wood, and even cement.

Shabby Chic

Interior designers and homeowners have embraced shabby chic in recent years. Why? Who doesn’t like a cozy space? You can pick aspects from this design or jump in feet first, depending on how much you enjoy antique decor elements, faded furniture, floors and cabinets, and so on.

Classic

Classic kitchens are hard to categorize because they’re a blank slate ready to be personalized. Think white or cream kitchen cabinets, neutral colors, and basic architectural features. This makes it easy to integrate contemporary, traditional, and eclectic accents. See the typical kitchen below.

Craftsman

Craftsman style was birthed from Victorian mass-produced fussiness. It is characterized by rich woods, built-ins, handcrafted tiling, and well-made simplicity that still fascinate us. The design is based on primary clean lines, solid artistry, and little adornment. This gorgeous handmade kitchen has a country/farmhouse atmosphere.

Cottage

Cottage-style kitchens combine farmhouse and craftsman themes. Imagine painted cabinetry, salvaged flooring, old features, and patterned fabrics. A cottage kitchen emanates cozy, pleasant, joyful, and carefree sensations, regardless of size. This design uses light neutrals, trim, and smooth textures.

Old-World

Some find old-world kitchens fussy and dark, but others find them elegant. Old-world style is gorgeous, with exquisite moldings and dark mahogany wood. This kitchen style highlights a time when materials were solid and craftsmanship was king, but it’s only for some. The old-world can be ‘improved’ by adding modern accoutrements.

Hiring a Professional Contractor

A kitchen remodeler oversees the entire project. These people will handle permits and inspections, navigate building codes, choose methods and materials, and supervise a team of expert craftspeople. Contractors schedule and organize staff and subcontractors. Their work includes:

• Tearing down of the outdated kitchen.
• The present building will either be restored or repaired to get ready for the new construction.
• Building of the brand-new cooking space.

You can hire a general contractor with kitchen remodeling experience, or a specialist. Both should be state-licensed general contractors to assure quality work, as their business models differ.

A general contractor with kitchen experience could be an excellent choice for your kitchen remodel. These builders may have more competence with earthwork, masonry, and roofing than kitchen specialists. General contractors are fantastic for house additions and whole-home renovations, and most also know how to modify a kitchen.

Kitchen remodelers do everything kitchen-related. Many of these people offer design services to help you create your dream space. If your project involves dismantling an existing kitchen and building a new one, these experts can help.

Hire a licensed, insured contractor. Contractor licenses are issued by states, not counties or municipalities. For a contractor license, they must pass tests on trades, business, and law.

Request the contractor’s license and the Certificate of Insurance (COI). Make sure you check the reputation via feedback and ratings, and the license’s status with your state’s licensing board. Verify coverage with the insurer.

How to Hire a Contractor

Start by listing contractors. You can ask friends, family, and coworkers for recommendations. Also, make it a point to contact National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), or National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) for local members.

You can explore such companies by reading consumer reviews on Google, Facebook, Yelp, and other sites, and by checking their Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings.

Select the top 3 to 5 candidates. You can start with your top shortlist candidate. Provide a project outline and any additional services, like architecture or design. Before a house visit, check their licensing and insurance.

Accepted contractors should submit bids. Provide each contractor with the same information to get accurate bids. Give as many details as possible regarding materials, brands, and other choices.

Compromise on:

• Budget of kitchen cabinets and types.
• The many brands and materials of countertops and floors.
• The positioning of the various electrical components.
• Hours of labor that are acceptable.

When new proposals come in, check both the materials’ content and professionalism. All bids ought to be specific and thoroughly defined. They should include the following:

• Timetable for the payment and estimated cost.
• The object of the task site layout plan.
• Detailed agenda of the critical construction activities.
• Change order clause.
• List of operational procedures for the closeout.
• Express limited warranty on parts and labor.
• Dispute resolution clause.
• Release of the lien.

Kitchen Remodel Enhances Your Home

When you opt to remodel your kitchen, it can drastically enhance your home, not just in aesthetics but in functionality. You get a central area that is better suited to your family’s needs, one that fits your personal style and preferences, you minimize your utility costs, and enhance your overall home’s resale value to boot further down the road. It’s definitely an investment worth having at the end of the day when done right.

So go ahead and plunge in on that much-needed kitchen remodel. Work with a legitimate professional contractor to get the best results, and end up with the kitchen you have always wanted and deserve.