We’re getting ready to do a gut reno of our kitchen. (For those who are new here, we rent in NYC and own a small weekend house upstate.) It’s circa-1996 and small, and boy do I hate the corner cabinets. So, let’s talk! If you’ve done a renovation, two questions: 1. What do you wish you'd known before you started? 2. What did you change/add that you regret? And if you’re only dreaming about making changes, like I’ve been for years, what would you most like to do?
Lower drawers instead of cabinets! So much more functional. I got a huge sink and I love it. Most of my advice has to do with how to live in a house while you’re remodeling it and it sounds like luckily you will not have to experience that!
If I were remodeling my kitchen I would do a one basin sink, soft close cabinets, under cabinet lighting, replace microwave with hood, and is get a fancy sparkling water faucet.
The real dream wish list is auto closing cabinets. Why are they always open?
We are due for a reno in a year or so. I want 2 ovens, a cure for our corner cabinets, a sink that doesn't spill water all over (we have a corner faucet, maybe that's the problem? there's always water everywhere). I absolutely want a designer too.
Oh and I want better spice storage, mine is always a moment away from an avalanche.
Work with a designer if you can! Honestly it was the best money we could have spent and we wished we had used her for picking colors too. There are so many decisions to make in a kitchen reno and layout and function are key. In addition to lower drawers for pots, pans, and dishes, pull outs over the fridge (for stuff you don’t use a ton or need to keep away from little hands). Pull out trash/recycling. Make as many of choices/selections as you can before you start demo. Also cabinets that go to the ceiling. Since you cook professionally, you’ll use the storage, trust me!
Hmmm. There is a LOT I like about the existing kitchen, but I get needing to make changes that work better. Look at lower cabinet set-ups that make storing things like sheet pans, baking stones, cooling racks easier and less frustrating. If you have space like at an outer end of these cabinet runs ... maybe a big pantry-style cabinet? That's what we did with the space where the washer/dryer used to be (gah! who wants dirty underpants near the kitchen???). We also have a couple of banks of tiny drawers for spices and long utensils. While I do love having tile countertops that can withstand heat / cold, etc., cleaning the grout is a real chore.
We used an online kitchen designer that was very cost effective and utilized IKEA cabinetry - that was our budget but we got an amazing kitchen out of it. https://inspiredkitchendesign.com/ was the online kitchen design service. The problem is our floor tile was installed wall to wall with those big slate tiles and had the cabinets over all the tile. This was a mistake as now we've had problems with big tiles coming up and the whole floor must be redone due to the material choice AND inexperienced/defective install by our contractor. This means all the tile will have to be diamond cut around the base of the cabinets - a labor intensive and costly endeavor. The snap-together water-resistant and super durable vinyl plank is a great choice that we will eventually replace our defective floor tile installation.
Make sure the sink sits on a 36" cabinet so you can get a double sink. I also love all but two of my lower cabinets are drawers because you can pull them out to see everything and grab pots and containers easily. You don't have to lay on the floor and dig around and empty the entire cabinet to get to everything!
Lower drawers instead of cabinets! So much more functional. I got a huge sink and I love it. Most of my advice has to do with how to live in a house while you’re remodeling it and it sounds like luckily you will not have to experience that!
If I were remodeling my kitchen I would do a one basin sink, soft close cabinets, under cabinet lighting, replace microwave with hood, and is get a fancy sparkling water faucet.
The real dream wish list is auto closing cabinets. Why are they always open?
We are due for a reno in a year or so. I want 2 ovens, a cure for our corner cabinets, a sink that doesn't spill water all over (we have a corner faucet, maybe that's the problem? there's always water everywhere). I absolutely want a designer too.
Oh and I want better spice storage, mine is always a moment away from an avalanche.
Work with a designer if you can! Honestly it was the best money we could have spent and we wished we had used her for picking colors too. There are so many decisions to make in a kitchen reno and layout and function are key. In addition to lower drawers for pots, pans, and dishes, pull outs over the fridge (for stuff you don’t use a ton or need to keep away from little hands). Pull out trash/recycling. Make as many of choices/selections as you can before you start demo. Also cabinets that go to the ceiling. Since you cook professionally, you’ll use the storage, trust me!
Hmmm. There is a LOT I like about the existing kitchen, but I get needing to make changes that work better. Look at lower cabinet set-ups that make storing things like sheet pans, baking stones, cooling racks easier and less frustrating. If you have space like at an outer end of these cabinet runs ... maybe a big pantry-style cabinet? That's what we did with the space where the washer/dryer used to be (gah! who wants dirty underpants near the kitchen???). We also have a couple of banks of tiny drawers for spices and long utensils. While I do love having tile countertops that can withstand heat / cold, etc., cleaning the grout is a real chore.
We used an online kitchen designer that was very cost effective and utilized IKEA cabinetry - that was our budget but we got an amazing kitchen out of it. https://inspiredkitchendesign.com/ was the online kitchen design service. The problem is our floor tile was installed wall to wall with those big slate tiles and had the cabinets over all the tile. This was a mistake as now we've had problems with big tiles coming up and the whole floor must be redone due to the material choice AND inexperienced/defective install by our contractor. This means all the tile will have to be diamond cut around the base of the cabinets - a labor intensive and costly endeavor. The snap-together water-resistant and super durable vinyl plank is a great choice that we will eventually replace our defective floor tile installation.
For those corner cabinets, look for a Lemans shelf. We renovated last year and this works so much better than a lazy Susan.
https://www.wayfair.com/VauthSagel--Blind-Corner-%7C-CORNERSTONE-Maxx-KIT-1-L-for-cabinet-800mm-Maple-silver-in--1000mm-Tray-for-39-Cabinets-Lefthanded-in--Scalea-Maple-silver-900074327-L903-K~W001784401.html?refid=GX444304437720-W001784401&device=c&ptid=932711843447&network=g&targetid=pla-932711843447&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=69348898&fdid=1817&PiID%5B%5D=928938373&PiID%5B%5D=928938368&gclid=CjwKCAiAkan9BRAqEiwAP9X6UZVI2jz7Ect9pcInF-Yc3coPyxJDCLF8KTkgad-WchuamgLCq5A7YxoC6sEQAvD_BwE
Make sure the sink sits on a 36" cabinet so you can get a double sink. I also love all but two of my lower cabinets are drawers because you can pull them out to see everything and grab pots and containers easily. You don't have to lay on the floor and dig around and empty the entire cabinet to get to everything!