Questions about your Kitchen Remodel: What you didn’t know you needed to know!

Questions about your Kitchen Remodel: What you didn’t know you needed to know!

When remodeling your kitchen there are certain decisions that are fairly obvious to the average consumer. For example: Do I want stained or painted cabinetry? What scope of construction will my project entail (full gut/renovation, sprucing up existing cabinets, new paint, new countertops, etc.)? What is the overall style I want to achieve? These large scale opinions are fairly easy for clients to determine early on in their project planning. However, as any distinguished designer can tell you, the small details are just as important to achieving your dream kitchen. Here I will address some issues for you to consider while planning your kitchen remodel details, things you did not know you needed to consider.

Selecting the finishes of your fixtures:

The rules of everything needing to have “an exact match” have been thrown out during recent years. Designers and clients are now mixing and matching finishes in and amongst their hardware, plumbing fixtures, and lighting. The choices are limitless and there are practical usage considerations to be made that go above and beyond the basics of being aesthetically pleasing. Brushed finishes hide smudges and droplets far better than their polished counterparts.

 

Hardware:

What will look and function best? The sheer number of styles and finishes available for decorative hardware can be overwhelming. It is best to have your designer guide you through the selection process, as there are many things to consider. Size is a major consideration, and it is not uncommon for us to use 3-5 varying lengths within a single kitchen. You want to make sure that the handle to drawer/door proportion looks and feels correct. No tiny handles on huge drawers. This is another area in which mixing and matching is allowed.

Codes, laws, and permits……oh my:

It is important to find out what codes in your area pertain to construction; preferably before it is time for an inspection. Some cities have codes that dictate the way hood fans must be ventilated or disposals in the sink may need to drain. The city in which you live probably has their own electrical codes as well. These are definitely things to consider beforehand, as they can affect your design layout. These issues can also cause headaches on the back end, if not planned for properly.

Type of sink and mounting style:

The farm sink of today is not your grandmother’s farm sink. Deciding the type of sink you’d like is the first step: under-mount, drop in (self-rimming), triple/chef styles, and farm sinks are among the most popular choices. Think about how much you use your sink and what it is used for primarily. If you are a heavy duty scrubber and are very rough on your sink, then the ceramic ones may not be for you. The other consideration about the sink is how to mount it. If you are planning to have laminate countertops the sink will need to be dropped in and cannot be under-mounted, due to contact of water and the wooden sublayer of the top. Mounting a farm sink can be tricky too and can pose a water damage threat to the front of the cabinet if not protected. This is why we, at Walker Woodworking, recommend sitting any farm sink with an exposed front on a piece of your selected stone countertop. We also always request your specific sink at our shop during construction to ensure a proper fit.

 

Finishes and edges of your stone surfaces:

The basic materials of the countertops and tile you select are important, however, the texture that you choose to finish them in can change the entire look. Polished stone or tile will give more of a modern or transitional look to your kitchen. Whereas, tumbled, textured, or honed stone surfaces can lend to a traditional old-world feeling. Along that same line, you will need to consider the edge profile for your countertops. The straight line of an eased, squared, or pencil edge lends to a clean and modern style. While either a bullnose edge or an ogee offers a touch of softness blending more with the classical elements of a classic look.

As you can see there are many things to consider when beginning to plan the details of your kitchen. You can rest assured knowing that our design staff will assist you with any and all of these decisions that you wish.

If you would like to schedule a consultation please call Jan 704.434.0823 or contact us through our website.

Article by guest blogger: Jeneane Beaver, Former Designer at Walker Woodworking

“Having worked with Walker Woodworking for 7 years, I have the opportunity to share my experiences as a designer as well as a client, I remodeled my own kitchen in 2012.”  ~ Jeneane Beaver

If you are only in the dreaming stage of beginning to plan for a new kitchen? We would love to talk to you and work with you to fine-tune your very own remodel plan.  If you’re ready to be further from dreaming and closer to construction, call Walker Woodworking today 704.434.0823.

Please feel free to add a comment about your own personal experience with keeping your new kitchen clean.