The 5 Biggest Kitchen Design Mistakes… and how to avoid them

Planning your kitchen and cabinetry design is one of the most important aspects of a home renovation or new build process. As we all know, the kitchen is the heart of the home, where guests naturally congregate and where you spend time every single day. In fact, a home just simply isn’t a home without one. That’s why this month we want to help you out by telling you the 5 biggest kitchen design mistakes we come across and how you can avoid spending thousands of dollars trying to fix them.

1. Ignoring the work triangle

Functionality of your space is the number one thing we consider when planning a kitchen remodel. One of the key elements to this is the work triangle. What’s this you might ask? Sometimes called the “Golden Triangle” or “Kitchen Triangle” this design theory has been around since the mid-twentieth century and describes a triangle shape between your sink, the refrigerator, and the stove. The basic idea is that there is a flow between the three spaces while also allowing room between each to create separate work zones. The triangle doesn’t have to be completely equal on each side (an isosceles or scalene shape works too for those who remember grade 12 geometry) Other kitchen zones to consider? The pantry zone, prep zone, and possibly dining, entertainment and work  zones (hello COVID). It all depends on the unique way you and your family use your space and then designing around it. 

2. Not choosing your appliances first

This is a big one. You may think that you can save your trip to the appliance store for the end of the project when your entire vision has come together, but this is actually the first stop you need to make. Choosing what size your appliances will be and if you will be incorporating a wall oven, built in coffee machine, or oversized fridge, are all integral to the design process. Similarly, problems can arise if you change your mind too late in the process and swap one of these out. Cabinetry is created with very precise measurements and even the smallest change in your appliance selection can throw the whole design off.

3. Not choosing your plumbing and fixtures in advance 

Choosing your plumbing and fixtures is one of the most exciting parts of a kitchen design and the good news is this is the second stop on your list! Whether you go with a farmhouse sink, a built in hot water faucet or choose champagne bronze fixtures  vs black matte fixtures will all lay the groundwork for your overall design aesthetic and functionality of the space.

4. Not hiring a general contractor and trying to do it yourself

If you are undergoing a large renovation project then hiring a general contractor is essential to staying on time and budget. Even if you read a thousand design magazines each month and watch every HGTV show you can find, there are still bound to be things that you overlook. Things such as city requirements, electrical socket placement and gables are all things that may not make splashy headlines but are still just as important to ensuring your project goes smoothly.  Also making sure that you, as well as your general contractor, have clear communication with your cabinetry supplier is very important so that you can make sure every detail of your dream kitchen is realized. 

5. Having unrealistic expectations about the timeline 

We all love the HGTV shows and they are a great place to get inspiration for your project. What they are not so great for? Creating unrealistic expectations for the length of time and the true process of a kitchen remodel. As much as we would all like to “move that bus” after going on vacation for a week and arrive at a brand new sparkling home, the truth is these projects evolve step by step and you will be there making decisions at every stage. You need to make sure that you are 100% satisfied with each selection you make so that your project can stay on time and on budget. If you rush your decisions, you might spend thousands of dollars trying to fix them at a later date.

We hope this article will help you avoid any of the common mistakes we see with kitchen remodels. Our goal is to help you create a space you will love for generations to come and the only way that can be done is by giving your project that attention it deserves every step of the way. Interested in chatting to us about what is possible in your space? Email us at design@heronwood.ca to set up your free consultation.

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