- March 20, 2024
- Juliane
The kitchen is the hardest working spot in our homes. Beyond being a space for cooking, it’s a place where memories are made, conversations flow, and where your resident chef can prepare their latest creation (whether that be you, your spouse or one of your kids). So, it’s understandable that after around 25 years of hard work, even the most beloved kitchen may start to show signs of wear and tear or become outdated. While a kitchen remodel can seem overwhelming, and they are at times, the opportunity to bring in some fantastic upgrades shouldn’t be overlooked.
In this blog post, we’ll list our favorite upgrades to consider when remodeling your kitchen and why it’s a worthwhile investment for any homeowner.
1. Designing a better layout:
As the years have gone by, our kitchens have become the hub of our homes and have steadily increased in size. For those of us in an older home, we have to contend with some seriously questionable layouts too. Before you start replacing what you have with the same, consider opening up the room, moving walls, and even adding an island if possible. Remodeling your kitchen using a zone style layout is an innovative design approach that divides your kitchen into five distinct zones. Each zone has its own unique purpose – from food preparation to storage and cleanup. By strategically organizing your kitchen according to these zones, you can streamline your workflow, minimize clutter, and turn cooking into a delightful experience. With designated areas for every culinary task, you’ll find efficiency and enjoyment converging like never before.
2. Proper ventilation:
Many older homes are not designed with proper ventilation for today’s powerful cooktops and ranges. When considering an upgrade to your cooktop, especially from electric to gas, you want to make the necessary updates to your ventilation system too. As you shop for your appliances there are guidelines based on the power of the cooktop, heat source, and room size that you can reference. For a gas cooktop you want at least 100 CFM for every 10,000 BTU of burner power. Range hoods come in many different styles and can be beautifully integrated into your design.
3. Quartz Countertops:
Quartz countertops have been around for several years now, and they are still one of the most durable and carefree surfaces you can install in your kitchen. With superior stain resistance compared to natural stones like marble and the light and bright design options we all love, it’s an easy upgrade to make. They are low maintenance, non porous, and very durable. There are several brands and price points to choose from that offer all of the benefits listed above. Style plays the biggest part when it comes to selecting which quartz countertop is best for your kitchen. There are hundreds of looks and colors to choose from.
4. Multi-level Lighting:
Most of the time, when we think of selecting lighting for our kitchen we start and end with the island lights. They are only part of the story though. When redoing your kitchen, be sure to think about all of the lighting. For a room like the kitchen, there is an opportunity to create multiple layers of lighting that can adjust to how the space is being used. I always like to start with adding recessed lighting. This provides consistent, efficient, and discreet general lighting to the entire room that doesn’t affect the aesthetics. Next I like to add any decorative lighting. This can include pendant lights over the island, flush mounts in the center of the room and wall sconces. Anything that can have a finish and design to it that will add to the look and feel of the room. Lastly, I always try to add under cabinet lights. They provide bright, clean light right where you need it. Under cabinet lights can also bring out the design in your backsplash and provide ambient light when you want it. By having a choice in where your light source is coming from it gives you control over how a kitchen looks and feels throughout the day. Installing dimmers on all of these layers provides even more control.
5. Built In Appliances:
There are so many appliances that can be integrated into your cabinets you would be amazed. I remember the first time I saw a panel ready dishwasher and thought this was as good as it gets 🙂 Now, your fridge can be discreetly integrated with cabinet panels. Your coffee machine can be seamlessly built into your wall cabinets. Even your cooktop can be hidden under your countertop and almost invisible when not in use. Drawers with USB connections can house all of your tablets and phones while charging, the list goes on. Many of these upgrades are especially helpful when you have a smaller kitchen or want a cleaner more modern feel to your design. For older homes, it means we can hide our modern conveniences and keep the historical feel of our kitchen without sacrifice.
In conclusion, if you are considering a kitchen remodel, be sure to think about some of the things you don’t like about your current space and how a few upgrades will make a new design truly transformative. From the layout and finishes to the appliances, there are many ways to improve this vital room in your home. A remodel is the perfect time to choose some key upgrades!
Not only will it make your time in the kitchen a better experience, but it will help keep your home up to date and increase the value for years to come. So, embark on this journey of culinary creativity and let your kitchen become the vibrant heart of your home once again.
