AVOIDING DESIGN MISTAKES
We work with clients with all levels of renovating experience, from homeowners who have never taken on a project to near experts who plan to install the kitchen themselves. Regardless of your skill or experience level, there are some common mistakes that can affect any kitchen renovation.
Read below as we highlight some of the most common mistakes, from errors with kitchen plans and kitchen layouts to not enough workable space or lighting.
Failure to plan
Kitchen planning is an essential step of the renovation process. You need to plan not just for your new kitchen design but also for how you and your family will use the space. Before you start ripping out cabinets and walls, it's vital that you know what you can achieve with your planned budget and available space.
Oversizing important elements
Bigger is not always better; it's an easy trap to fall into and imagine your new space with large and impressive elements without understanding how they will affect the use of the space. Kitchen islands, for example, are an essential component of the design, but you should make sure they don't encroach on the space around them; any kitchen island deeper than 1.2m will also make it difficult to reach the middle.
Not enough storage
"We have too much storage space" is a sentence we have never heard in our years and years in kitchen renovations. When you come to one of our showrooms and talk with our expert kitchen designers, we will ensure that the design we create has enough storage to suit your needs. Not only do you need to take into account what you currently store in your kitchen, but you should also plan for how your space will need to adapt in the future. 5 years ago, for example, no one knew what an air fryer was, and now we are finding more and more clients want to ensure they have enough space for the appliance. You also need to ensure you have enough space to store all your large items together to make your kitchen functional; this might mean a large pull-out drawer for pans, extra shelves for glassware, or a pull-out garbage and recycling bin drawer.
Also understanding what the real problem is before trying to squeeze too many cabinets in a small space. Is it a case of limited storage space or do you need to have 3 sets of saucepans. Take stock of what you have and maybe it is time to rethink what you are trying to store.
Poor lighting
Modern kitchens are truly the beating heart of every house. As the space must serve many functions, you should also add multiple lighting options to serve multiple functions. What does this look like?
Ambient lighting
Ideally, a warm yellow colour temperature will make the room feel cosier and create a mood for the space. Ambient lighting is the light you keep once cooking has finished. Think lamps, wall sconces, or hanging pendant lights.
Work lighting
The kitchen is primarily a workspace, so you should ensure you have enough light to see and get jobs done. Large-format fluorescent lights are the most common form of lighting, but you should also keep in mind lights for walk-in pantry and under-cabinet lighting to avoid creating any under-lit areas in your new space.
Focusing too much on trends
Now, this one is a tough one because part of the fun of renovating is visiting kitchen showrooms and checking out design information from magazines, Instagram and Pinterest accounts. We recommend not adding anything too trendy that can't easily be swapped out when styles change. For the largest and, therefore, most expensive items in your kitchen: benchtops, cabinets and flooring, you should aim for a timeless look that will stay stylish for years to come. If you want to follow a bold, stylish trend, cabinet hardware, tiles splashback, or feature lighting fixtures are an excellent place to start, as they are moderately priced and can be updated to give your space a refresh in the future.
Most importantly, kitchen planning should be fun, and it is your chance to make a fully functional space that looks great and that you'll love for years to come. Head to one of our kitchen showrooms and talk to the team about what you want in your space, and our kitchen designers will show you our wide range of kitchen displays and give you all the tips you need to make your project a success