First Step To A Worry-Free Kitchen Makeover

I'm kicking off a four post series that takes a look into the process of a kitchen makeover.  As a design professional,  I know firsthand that for many homeowners the thought of a kitchen renovation is accompanied by anxiety over all the decisions that need to be made.  In this series, I'll be sharing my advice and tips for each stage of a kitchen renovation to help put your worries to rest.  

 

 

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Starting today with the very first step in a worry-free kitchen renovation, establishing your goals.  Once you have clear goals in mind for your new kitchen, every decision you are faced with along the way will be easier to make.   At the very beginning of your project ask yourself, "What am I trying to achieve in my new kitchen?"  Write down your answer and post it somewhere for the duration of your project.  It may sound silly but every time you need to make a decision, read your goal and the right choice will become more clear.

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Sometimes determining your goals requires some thought and research.  If you are just beginning to consider a kitchen makeover, the Sub-Zero and Wolf Design Photo Gallery is a great place visit for inspiration.  The gallery offers a ton of inspirational images and designer stories that could help you determine what your ultimate goals are for your own kitchen.  For instance, I found these images in the Sub-Zero and Wolf Design Photo Gallery and they really spoke to me on a personal level.  This kitchen was designed for a growing family residing in an open concept home. Many of the features in this space reminded me of my main objectives when designing my own kitchen makeover two years ago.

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 In the very early stages of my kitchen project,  I determined that I had two main goals.   First, I wanted a kitchen that was conducive to busy family life.  Secondly, I wanted our bland builder-grade kitchen to have a more custom look to match the custom detail applied throughout the rest of our home.   Keeping these two goals in mind all the decisions that followed were easy to make. 

 

 

 

(My kitchen "before") 

 

 

(My kitchen "after") 

 

 

For example, when it came time to choose my new floor the options were endless.  When I applied my goals to the vast array of products available,  I was able to narrow the options down to the products that were ultra-durable and gave me the custom look I wanted.  I ended up choosing a family friendly laminate that looks like hand-scraped hardwood.  It is suitable for our lifestyle and it lends itself to the custom look I was after.  The decision was made easily and I am so happy with our new floors. 

 

 

 

 

(My kitchen "after") 

 

 

Another example was when we had to decide how to change our builder grade cabinets.  I considered my goals of family friendliness and achieving a custom look and the right choice was obvious.  I chose  to extend the height of our stock grade cabinets with trim and molding to create the illusion of tall custom cabinetry.  We finished them with an ultra-durable, washable paint which is a great choice for a family with small children.

 

 

 

(My kitchen "after")

 

 

 

The concept of setting clear goals also holds true when I begin a kitchen makeover for a client.  I always start by helping them define their goals.  Some of the most common goals of my clients are, creating a kitchen that is conducive to family life, creating a kitchen that embraces a passion for cooking, creating an updated kitchen on a budget, creating a kitchen that depicts a certain style, or creating a space that works well for entertaining.  If they are unsure of their goals or how they will translate into a new space, we will go in search of inspiration.

Let's circle back to the Design Photo Gallery to find beautiful kitchens designed around some of the most common goals.  Here are some examples:

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  The gorgeous images of this kitchen and the wonderful story told by the designer would be great inspiration for someone looking to design their kitchen around a passion for cooking.

 

 

 

 

 

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This kitchen was designed around the homeowner's love of hosting large parties and entertaining family and friends.  So many wonderful ideas for creating a kitchen for the entertainer can be found in this space.

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This photo is a great representation of a kitchen that was designed with the goal of achieving a certain style. 

 

Visiting Sub-Zero and Wolf's Design Photo Gallery and reading through the stories of each project may help you understand what your goals are and how they can be achieved.  Once your goals are established and written down, you're ready to move on to the next step in the kitchen renovation process.  Stay tuned for the next post in this series where I will offer my tips for finding design inspiration and using it to create your kitchen design plan. 

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, tell me what your goals would be in designing your new kitchen? 

 

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