10 Things No One Tells You About Upgrading Your Kitchen
It’s one of the biggest projects in the home, so consider these key points before you begin your kitchen renovation
Kitchen upgrades are one of the most popular topics on Houzz – and they’re a major project. So before you embark on your renovation, scroll down to read some of the things that even the most design-savvy homeowners might have overlooked.
2. A fully functioning temporary kitchen could save your sanity
In the initial talks with your professional, discuss options for a temporary kitchen if you plan to live in during the renovation. It’s not always possible to have anything too elaborate, but definitely go for the best you can.
Ask your pro to come and look around your home to see where this could best be located. Go all-out for a sink with running water, ideally hot and cold (this can often be done with a pipe from a neighbouring bathroom or utility room) and ask about the feasibility of plumbing-in your dishwasher.
The room hosting the temporary kitchen will need redecorating afterwards, but the effort will be worth it – especially if your renovation involves significant building work.
More: Should I Live On-site During My Kitchen Renovation
In the initial talks with your professional, discuss options for a temporary kitchen if you plan to live in during the renovation. It’s not always possible to have anything too elaborate, but definitely go for the best you can.
Ask your pro to come and look around your home to see where this could best be located. Go all-out for a sink with running water, ideally hot and cold (this can often be done with a pipe from a neighbouring bathroom or utility room) and ask about the feasibility of plumbing-in your dishwasher.
The room hosting the temporary kitchen will need redecorating afterwards, but the effort will be worth it – especially if your renovation involves significant building work.
More: Should I Live On-site During My Kitchen Renovation
3. You’ll probably need to hire a portable loo
You’ll already feel as if you’re camping out at home if you’re staying put for the duration. Can you also cope with sharing the bathroom with a team of contractors for weeks or potentially months on end?
Many contractors and design and build companies will, in fact, insist on a portaloo for their teams. The organisation of this may be on you and the cost almost certainly will be, so factor it into your budget from the outset.
To see more from any of the designers whose photos are featured in this article, click on the image, then on Learn More if you’re in the app, and follow the links to the professional’s profile.
You’ll already feel as if you’re camping out at home if you’re staying put for the duration. Can you also cope with sharing the bathroom with a team of contractors for weeks or potentially months on end?
Many contractors and design and build companies will, in fact, insist on a portaloo for their teams. The organisation of this may be on you and the cost almost certainly will be, so factor it into your budget from the outset.
To see more from any of the designers whose photos are featured in this article, click on the image, then on Learn More if you’re in the app, and follow the links to the professional’s profile.
4. Architectural advice on window locations is worth its weight in gold
This is particularly relevant if you’re having an extension built. The desire for a brighter kitchen frequently comes high on the list of wants in our Houzz Tours, but you won’t enjoy all the light if your new windows turn the space into a greenhouse in summer.
Discuss options with your professional, who should factor the orientation of your kitchen into their plans. If you’re limited, ensure you’ve agreed a way to reduce glare and heat, whether that’s a brise-soleil, awnings, trees or glazing treatments.
Glazing over prep and cooking areas while having a solid ceiling over dining and lounging areas, as seen here, may be a good solution.
More: How to Avoid an Extension That’s Too Hot and Too Bright
This is particularly relevant if you’re having an extension built. The desire for a brighter kitchen frequently comes high on the list of wants in our Houzz Tours, but you won’t enjoy all the light if your new windows turn the space into a greenhouse in summer.
Discuss options with your professional, who should factor the orientation of your kitchen into their plans. If you’re limited, ensure you’ve agreed a way to reduce glare and heat, whether that’s a brise-soleil, awnings, trees or glazing treatments.
Glazing over prep and cooking areas while having a solid ceiling over dining and lounging areas, as seen here, may be a good solution.
More: How to Avoid an Extension That’s Too Hot and Too Bright
5. Your kitchen will reflect your chosen pro as well as you
It’s key to hire the right pro. This much may seem obvious, but perhaps less so when you consider that it really has to go beyond sourcing a professional who is simply available and reliable.
Of course, most good pros will be expert at flexing to meet a variety of client tastes and needs. However, the process is likely to be more relaxed on both sides if you work with pros who you feel ‘get’ your style.
If you want an unconventional, colourful design, seek out pros whose trademark work looks like your dream kitchen. On Houzz, not only can you save photos you like into ideabooks, but also individual pros you come across on your travels around the platform.
If sustainability is key, find professionals with experience of or enthusiasm for working this way, rather than assuming you’ll be able to fit each other’s moulds. Your stress levels and your finished kitchen will be all the better for it.
It’s key to hire the right pro. This much may seem obvious, but perhaps less so when you consider that it really has to go beyond sourcing a professional who is simply available and reliable.
Of course, most good pros will be expert at flexing to meet a variety of client tastes and needs. However, the process is likely to be more relaxed on both sides if you work with pros who you feel ‘get’ your style.
If you want an unconventional, colourful design, seek out pros whose trademark work looks like your dream kitchen. On Houzz, not only can you save photos you like into ideabooks, but also individual pros you come across on your travels around the platform.
If sustainability is key, find professionals with experience of or enthusiasm for working this way, rather than assuming you’ll be able to fit each other’s moulds. Your stress levels and your finished kitchen will be all the better for it.
6. There’s a socket hierarchy
Some kitchen sockets are in permanent use – if you have a worktop toaster or coffee-maker, radio or kettle plugged into them, for example. These full sockets never look that pretty and you’ll probably find you’ll tuck them and their cables behind small appliances, pretty trays, chopping boards and so on.
Factor this into your layout and put occasionally used sockets – the ones you’re likely to plug the hand blender, electric whisk or sandwich toaster into – in the more prominent locations where power is needed. Go for (at least) one more double socket that you think you’ll need, too.
Bear in mind, also, that sexy switches and sockets can really add up cost-wise and you may have other wish list items you’d rather prioritise. If you have pale walls, standard white plastic ones will disappear into the paintwork, or you could splash out on stylish ones just for those that will be most visible.
Either way, this is a detail you can easily upgrade down the line when you’ve saved up more money.
Some kitchen sockets are in permanent use – if you have a worktop toaster or coffee-maker, radio or kettle plugged into them, for example. These full sockets never look that pretty and you’ll probably find you’ll tuck them and their cables behind small appliances, pretty trays, chopping boards and so on.
Factor this into your layout and put occasionally used sockets – the ones you’re likely to plug the hand blender, electric whisk or sandwich toaster into – in the more prominent locations where power is needed. Go for (at least) one more double socket that you think you’ll need, too.
Bear in mind, also, that sexy switches and sockets can really add up cost-wise and you may have other wish list items you’d rather prioritise. If you have pale walls, standard white plastic ones will disappear into the paintwork, or you could splash out on stylish ones just for those that will be most visible.
Either way, this is a detail you can easily upgrade down the line when you’ve saved up more money.
7. You might be able to reconfigure what you already have
Kitchens cabinets are expensive – opting to reuse what you already have, if it’s sturdy, will save a large chunk of your budget. Solid wood doors are easy to repaint, but even trickier surfaces can often be professionally sprayed in a fresh colour. If the carcasses are sound, you could be onto a winner.
A good joiner will be able to reconfigure the layout and add any new sections, and worktops are relatively simple to replace. There’s also a growing market in quality second-hand kitchens out there. Plus you can source reconditioned appliances for a fraction of the price.
Kitchens cabinets are expensive – opting to reuse what you already have, if it’s sturdy, will save a large chunk of your budget. Solid wood doors are easy to repaint, but even trickier surfaces can often be professionally sprayed in a fresh colour. If the carcasses are sound, you could be onto a winner.
A good joiner will be able to reconfigure the layout and add any new sections, and worktops are relatively simple to replace. There’s also a growing market in quality second-hand kitchens out there. Plus you can source reconditioned appliances for a fraction of the price.
8. Appliances need to be compatible with your units
In most cases, there will be no problem with your oven, fridge or dishwasher fitting neatly into a suitable, standard-size unit.
However, you might have spotted microwaves behind larder doors in photos across Houzz and this arrangement is more complex than it looks. If a microwave is to live in a cupboard, it needs either to be an integrated design, or the cabinet needs to provide suitable clearance and ventilation for it. In other words, you can’t just put a regular microwave inside a regular cupboard.
Check, too, that your dishwasher is compatible with your cabinets and your oven will fit – some off-the-peg kitchens have design quirks or dimensions that mean you can only fit them with integrated appliances bought from the same store.
Your pro will already know all this and more, so lean on them.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
In most cases, there will be no problem with your oven, fridge or dishwasher fitting neatly into a suitable, standard-size unit.
However, you might have spotted microwaves behind larder doors in photos across Houzz and this arrangement is more complex than it looks. If a microwave is to live in a cupboard, it needs either to be an integrated design, or the cabinet needs to provide suitable clearance and ventilation for it. In other words, you can’t just put a regular microwave inside a regular cupboard.
Check, too, that your dishwasher is compatible with your cabinets and your oven will fit – some off-the-peg kitchens have design quirks or dimensions that mean you can only fit them with integrated appliances bought from the same store.
Your pro will already know all this and more, so lean on them.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
9. You don’t always need ceiling spotlights
The key to good, long-lasting kitchen lighting is flexibility. Most of us use our kitchens for multiple purposes, each requiring different lighting. You won’t necessarily need overhead spotlights if they’re adding to your electrical budget or simply not your bag.
Instead, consider track lighting, a flexible-arm pendant (both seen here), wall lights, and LED strips over a worktop. A rechargeable table lamp or two can provide atmosphere and be added retrospectively.
The key to good, long-lasting kitchen lighting is flexibility. Most of us use our kitchens for multiple purposes, each requiring different lighting. You won’t necessarily need overhead spotlights if they’re adding to your electrical budget or simply not your bag.
Instead, consider track lighting, a flexible-arm pendant (both seen here), wall lights, and LED strips over a worktop. A rechargeable table lamp or two can provide atmosphere and be added retrospectively.
10. There may be (small) regrets
A kitchen has so many elements to consider and the whole process – from inception to planning to those final touches – can be long. It’s not surprising that your ideas may evolve and tastes may shift.
As such, there are bound to be details you think you could have approached differently, or ideas you come across that you didn’t think of at the time. This is normal. Try to frame your ‘regrets’, instead, as potential refinements or refreshes down the line.
To make this more feasible, think hard about which things you’ll be able to change and which will be difficult. Opting for timeless choices for flooring, tiling, worktops and so on is sensible. You can afford to be more flighty with paint colours, light fittings, cabinet hardware and freestanding furniture.
Remember, too, that small items such as rugs, artwork, tea towels and decorative accessories can quickly make a huge difference to the feel of a room.
When thinking about what constitutes ‘timeless’, bear in mind that this doesn’t necessarily need to mean ‘classic’ – rather, it should reflect you rather than passing trends.
Tell us…
What lessons would you pass on from having renovated a kitchen? Share your tips in the Comments.
A kitchen has so many elements to consider and the whole process – from inception to planning to those final touches – can be long. It’s not surprising that your ideas may evolve and tastes may shift.
As such, there are bound to be details you think you could have approached differently, or ideas you come across that you didn’t think of at the time. This is normal. Try to frame your ‘regrets’, instead, as potential refinements or refreshes down the line.
To make this more feasible, think hard about which things you’ll be able to change and which will be difficult. Opting for timeless choices for flooring, tiling, worktops and so on is sensible. You can afford to be more flighty with paint colours, light fittings, cabinet hardware and freestanding furniture.
Remember, too, that small items such as rugs, artwork, tea towels and decorative accessories can quickly make a huge difference to the feel of a room.
When thinking about what constitutes ‘timeless’, bear in mind that this doesn’t necessarily need to mean ‘classic’ – rather, it should reflect you rather than passing trends.
Tell us…
What lessons would you pass on from having renovated a kitchen? Share your tips in the Comments.
We’ve probably all watched enough TV renovation shows to know how rare it is for building projects to come in bang on budget. In a multiple-trade renovation, there’s the chance of numerous curveballs. Also, if extending is part of the project, you’ll need to anticipate such things as rogue tree roots or external drains possibly prompting significant additional work.
The good news is that your pro should be able to predict a lot of the sorts of things that could arise, providing an associated cost or estimate for each to help you shape your budget.
However, there’s another reason it may all cost more than you’d hoped – and that one is down to you. A new kitchen is a big investment and something you’ll want to stand the test of time. As such, last-minute upgrades when it comes to finishes or fixtures are common.
This is what contingency funds are for: reserve at least 10% for essential extra costs that may arise, and more, if possible, to cover the optional ones incurred as your ideas evolve along the way.
Find reviewed kitchen designers in your area on Houzz.