What You Need to Know Before Starting Your Kitchen Remodel

As a contractor, I often meet homeowners who aren’t sure where to start with their kitchen renovation. There are so many factors that go into providing an accurate quote and timeline, and there are the most common items I discuss with clients before I am able to accurately quote a remodel.  By addressing these items in advance, you can ensure your kitchen not only meets your needs and expectations but also stays within a budget you’re comfortable with.

While you can approach these decisions in any order that works for you, I’ve arranged the following decisions in a sequence that ensures foundational choices—those that impact later decisions—are made first, creating a logical flow to the process.

1. Determine Your Color Scheme Early

The color scheme is the foundation of your kitchen’s design, setting the tone and style for the entire space. Choosing a palette that reflects your personal style and complements the rest of your home is essential. This decision will influence your selections for cabinetry, countertops, flooring, and even appliances. Planning your color scheme early ensures all elements work together seamlessly, helping you avoid costly last-minute changes.

It’s also important to consider how trends and tastes may evolve over time. Elements like paint, drawer pulls, light fixtures, and faucets are relatively easy and affordable to update for a fresh look down the road. However, changes to cabinetry, countertops, flooring, and appliances can be significantly more expensive. While you might be open to a future remodel, being mindful of these potential costs now can help guide smarter, longer-lasting decisions for your color scheme.

2. Think About Kitchen Usage and Traffic Flow

Understanding how you use your kitchen is critical to designing a space that fits your lifestyle as well as selecting materials that make sense. Key questions to ask yourself include:

• Do you entertain guests often and need extra prep space?
• How many people typically cook at once? Will an island inhibit the number of people able to fit in your kitchen?
• Do you need open walkways for smooth traffic flow? 
• Is the kitchen a common entry or exit point of your home? Is it common to have athletic shoes, work boots, or high heels walking on the floor which may impact the type of flooring you select. If it is common for paperwork, homework, and mail to be managed in your kitchen, that may impact the layout of your space.

3. Plan the Layout Carefully

Your kitchen layout significantly affects the cost and timeline of your remodel, especially if changes require moving utilities like plumbing, gas, or electrical lines. Your layout should reflect the usage and traffic flow of your kitchen. 

Your first decision is determining whether to keep your existing layout or changing the layout. Retaining the current layout is often more cost-effective since it avoids the need to relocate major components. However, if you’re changing the layout, ensure you have clear ideas about appliance placement and desired layout as this decision may require moving walls, structural changes, and utility movement.

Clearance is a critical consideration in any kitchen remodel. Door and drawer clearances are often overlooked but are essential for ensuring the functionality of your space. Planning for proper clearances from the start can help you avoid these costly and frustrating adjustments.

Here are some key points to consider:

• Make sure cabinet doors, appliance doors, and drawers don’t collide.
• Check that your lighting fixtures do not obstruct doors.
• If you’re adding an island, ensure there’s at least 36–48 inches of clearance on all sides for smooth movement and accessibility.  In my experience islands work best in spaces of at least 12’ or homes with an open space concept. 

4. Preferences

During your planning and layout, you will have the opportunity to make decisions based on your personal preferences. For example, some people prefer cabinets over drawers or vice versa for things like pots and pans storage. 

Also, how you handle counter cabinets. Corners can be tricky spaces to utilize effectively. Consider options like:

• Lazy Susans: A traditional solution that uses a circular tray for storage. 
• Corner Drawers: Triangular or diagonal drawers that use corner space efficiently.
• Pull-Out Shelving: Extends shelves outward for easier access to deep corner cabinets. 

5. Choose Materials Wisely

The materials you select for countertops, flooring, and backsplashes play a significant role in both the cost and durability of your kitchen. Here are some things to consider:

• Countertops: Options range from budget-friendly laminate to premium materials like quartz or natural stone. Each has its own price range, maintenance needs, and aesthetic appeal. 
• Flooring: Think about traffic levels and durability. Tile, hardwood, and luxury vinyl are popular choices, each offering unique advantages depending on usage.
• Backsplash and Cabinet Finishes: Decide whether you want low-maintenance, durable materials or more intricate designs that may require additional upkeep.

When determining your materials, think about your lifestyle and expectations. For example, wood floors, especially softer woods like Eastern white pine (review the Janka scale for wood hardness), may end up with gouges or dings from use. Some people like tile countertops, but they can be harder to keep clean and may require re-grouting as the grout becomes stained.  Certain countertop materials are heat resistant but need extra care taken at higher temperatures while some require regular sealing. If you have younger children and pets running through your kitchen, you may want to consider harder wood cabinets and consider colors that will be more forgiving of messes. 

7. Address Commonly Missed Details

Some details often slip through the cracks during planning but can cause issues if overlooked:

• Adequate lighting: Include task lighting for workspaces and ambient lighting for the overall mood.
• Ventilation: Proper exhaust and ventilation systems are essential for maintaining air quality and avoiding odors. This is especially important over your stove. 
• Outlet Placement: Consider the placement of outlets for small appliances, charging stations, and other electrical needs.

Ready to Start Your Dream Kitchen?

A kitchen remodel is a significant investment, and thoughtful planning can make all the difference in the result. At Casper Builders, we work hand in hand with you to help you create the kitchen of your dreams that will blend functionality and style, tailored to your unique needs. Contact us today to discuss your vision and let us help you create the kitchen of your dreams.