When it comes to renovation there are many questions that will arise throughout the transformation process. One of the toughest questions is answering “What do you like?” When you sit back and think about it, you may realize your vision isn’t as clear as you originally thought it was. Typically, renovations occur around an event that is life-altering such as having your first child, growing your family, starting a new job, and more, all of which do not make the choices any easier. If you have a spouse or roommate, you may have an idea for what you want, but will often discover they have conflicting ideas on the budget, design, and the overall goal of what is actually to be achieved.
To help you sort things out and get ahead of your thoughts and ideas before you being, here is a list of the top ten questions to ask yourself before you set sail on your journey to renovation.
Find Your WHY: Why do you want to renovate your kitchen:
Do you want to update the style because it seems old and tired? Do you feel you are missing out when it comes to storage space? Are you getting ready to sell and you want to update to make it more appealing? No matter what your reasoning is, take time out to sit down and think about in what you have right now. Think about what you want from the renovation as well as what you need from it. Making a list will help you clarify the differences between what you want and what you actually need..
How Are You Living?
The point to this question is to gather insights into your daily lifestyle and how you operate within your home. To answer this question you must sit down and think about your routine daily and weekly. Do you like to cook at home? Do you always eat breakfast before you start your day? Do you do a lot of entertaining? Do you enjoy small intimate spaces that help spark conversations? Is your kitchen the central hub inside your home? This will help you gain a deeper understanding of what is most important in your life and how it can be built into your kitchen environment.
Is Your Budget Smaller than Your Wish List?
Defining your budget during a renovation project can be a challenging discussion. It is best to have it in the early stages and get it out of the way. Most often what someone wishes for and what they can actually afford are two entirely different things. When it comes to remodeling your kitchen think of it as putting up a tent. Sure you could fill it with everything imaginable, but it all has to fit. There are often two ways to go when planning your budget. You can set up a master plan and price out everything to be done in one project or you can create multiple projects that are staggered over time as money becomes more available.
There are many ways that you can make sure the cost of renovating your kitchen will actually meet your budget. It is very easy for costs to get away from you in a kitchen remodel. You have to consider any required structural work that is based on the existing conditions. You also have to add up electrical, plumbing, lighting, flooring, backsplashes, countertops, appliances, and cabinetry. This will give you a good measure of what is affordable to you.
How Many People Utilize the Kitchen in Your Home?
The overall kitchen design is dictated by several important factors. Are their young children, teenagers, or elderly people in the household who will be in and out of the kitchen? Will there always be just one person cooking or will one or more people work on cooking together at the same time.
Will the Kitchen be utilized for things besides preparing and cooking meals?
Is the kitchen an all-round living space? Will children be doing homework at the table? Are you going to host social gatherings where people will play cards or games at the kitchen table? Do you host formal gatherings often? Do you work from home and utilize the dining room table as your home office workspace? Considering what type of activities you will host in your kitchen will help you iron out what improvements you need to make to accommodate your lifestyle.
Is the Kitchen where you will be “dining” most often?
Is this area more casual and could benefit from island styled seating, or does it need to be more formal and have a separate dining table? How many people do you want to accommodate at one time on a regular basis in your kitchen? If you are a busy mom who is often hosting after school events or book and coupon clubs a more casual set up may be a better fit. Although, if you do a lot of entertaining for your corporate coworkers or clients, then you may go with a bit more formal of a setting.
How Much Storage do You Need?
Decisions related to storage are related to the amount of groceries you purchase. You also want to consider how much space you need for dishes, glassware, pots-n-pans, utensils, microwave and kitchen gadgets such as coffee pots and mixers. Take inventory of these items and see how frequently you use them. Factor in items you would use more if you only had the space. This is another area where considering children, teens, and elderly comes in to play in relation to their accessibility of items.
Are You Going to Upgrade Your Appliances?
Take time to consider whether electric vs. gas, double ovens, adding more refrigeration/freezer space, and appliances that are integrated into the cabinetry. Also consider whether or not you will use appliances that are more commercial looking or a brand that is more streamlined.
What Kind of Style do You Like?
Are you looking for transitional, traditional, modern, or contemporary? Is your style more rich and eclectic or minimalistic? Don’t be limited by your homes overall style. Think about what you would like to have. A variety of styles can be merged together in a complementary fashion.
What Colors and Materials do You Prefer?
Gathering a general idea of the color palette you want in your kitchen will help you select the right cabinetry and appliances. Also consider the materials such as woods, natural stones, lacquers, metal or glass tiles. Consider whether or not you are gravitating towards a look that is more raw and textured or polished and shiny.