20 Questions to Ask Yourself
Before You Talk to a Kitchen Designer
Are you thinking of redesigning your kitchen but are not sure where to begin? Reimagining your kitchen space can be an overwhelming thought, and you may think of it as a pipe dream. However, your dream kitchen does not have to remain in your imagination. Investing in a kitchen remodel takes time, patience, and excellent preparation!
Redesigning a kitchen is not a simple matter, especially if your goal involves a complete overhaul. It would be best to outline your project’s full scope before you begin consulting with a professional kitchen designer.
Any successful remodel usually has a common denominator, a well-developed plan for the project. This requires asking yourself every possible question you can think of so that you will be well prepared. The following is a comprehensive list of 20 questions to ask yourself before talking with a kitchen designer.
1. Do I want a simple update or a major remodel?
Maybe you want to swap out your cabinets. Perhaps you want to replace the laminate flooring with tile. These can be easier options and projects you might be able to handle on your own. However, if you are thinking of making significant renovations, things can quickly begin to get more complicated. Communicating with an expert designer is highly-recommended for major kitchen remodels.
2. Why do I want to redesign my kitchen?
There are usually two main reasons homeowners want to renovate parts of their home.
The first is to prepare your home for the market. What buyerwants to cook in an outdated kitchen? Upgrading a kitchen is integral to selling a home quickly and at the price-tag you want.
This leads to the second reason most homeowners want to remodel their kitchen. According to a 2019 Houzz Survey, over eighty percent of homeowners choose to redesign their kitchen to improve the overall design and functionality.
3. How much am I able to spend?
Unfortunately, the cost of an average kitchen improvement project can be difficult to estimate. A recent study indicated that a kitchen remodeling project’s cost could range from fourteen-thousand to over one-hundred-thousand dollars. The cost for your kitchen will depend on whether you want a simple update or a full-luxury upgrade.
4. Do I want to keep anything?
Maybe there are some aspects of your current kitchen that you like. If so, make sure what you want to change doesn’t impact those things you want to keep. For instance, maybe you want to upgrade your larger appliances. However, to do so might impact the surrounding cabinets and countertops.
5. What do I want to get rid of?
Make a list of all the things you want to change. Then discuss the changes with the design professional you choose to work with. It is important to remember that the more you change, the greater the impact on your project budget.
6. How do I use my kitchen?
Are you rarely in your kitchen? Then small details may not matter to you. Your focus might just be on aesthetics. However, if you love to cook, bake, and host dinner parties, efficient and functional kitchen space is essential.
7. Will I host people in it?
Work with your design professional to consider space, island placement, flooring, furniture, and smooth accessibility in kitchens where you plan to entertain.
8. Is my kitchen a family gathering place?
Maybe your children do homework in your kitchen, or it’s an area where your family generally gathers. The smaller details can impact their comfort. Consider eased countertop edges or knob-free touch-latch cabinets and drawers.
9. Am I, or do I want to be a chef?
If you love to cook, make sure you have the best appliances to work with. Is your oven or refrigerator outdated? Do you have an electric stove but would rather have a gas cooktop? Do you need a built-in chopping board?
10. Do I often grill outside?
Do you use your outdoor patio for grilling? Make sure you have smooth access to your patio. Consider what type of doors you want and whether your patio needs some redesign love as well.
11. How much updating do I want to do?
Consider again the reasons you are upgrading. Selling your home has a different design aspect, such as meeting the current trends for consumer wants and needs. However, if you are remodeling your dream kitchen, make sure to incorporate all the kitchen technologies you need.
12. Am I particular about appliances?
Want tech-savvy upgrades? From touch-screen features to mobile device connectivity, today’s kitchen appliances can do so much more. Consider these options when choosing your appliances.
13. How much storage space do I need?
Do you grocery shop daily, weekly, or monthly? How quickly do you go through your groceries? Do you need to consider an extended food pantry? Answers to these questions will help you choose what types of cabinets you need and how large your refrigerator and freezer need to be.
14. Do I have a particular style in mind?
Design styles can range from a classic vintage look to a more sleek and modern option. Maybe you want a balance of timeless elegance with subtle contemporary characteristics. These details will add to the overall aesthetics of your new kitchen.
15. What kind of material do I want?
If you desire a rustic look, incorporating brick and wood into your design would be a great choice. For a more distinguished style, consider using granite or marble to tie everything together. Design style and type of material should go hand in hand when remodeling any part of your home.
16. Do I prefer a specific color palette?
Some people prefer uniformity by choosing two-tone options for their whole kitchen. Maybe you prefer eye-catching designs. This could mean different color palettes for the cabinets, countertops, floors, walls, and ceiling. An experienced kitchen designer can help you identify the colors and textures that will work well together in your entire space.
17. What type of flooring do I prefer?
There are many options available for flooring, from hardwood to tile to linoleum. Regardless of which one you prefer, remember to consider the overall design style of your kitchen.
18. Do I have specific lighting needs in mind?
The lighting in any room has a lot to do with the placement of the windows and doors. If you get sufficient natural light in your kitchen, having just a couple of light fixtures may be enough. However, if you only have one small window, incorporating more ceiling lights into your space might make more sense.
19. Do I want greater access to other areas of my home?
If you are looking for more open living spaces, redesigning your kitchen could include opening up a wall to your family room. You should also consider replacing doors and windows in the areas you are remodeling.
20. Should I contact a professional kitchen designer?
Get the dream kitchen you want by working with someone who cares about your home just as much as you do. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) conducted a study regarding kitchen renovations and discovered that over fifty percent of homeowners needed to consult with an expert to complete their redesign. You will likely have questions that require the assistance of a specialist. Remember, the more complicated the project, the more likely it is that you should utilize all your resources, including consultation with a professional kitchen designer.
