5. Evaluate your cleaning vs aesthetic needs
Glass doors on the fridge or cabinets may look gorgeous, but that’s only if you keep them spotless. Are you ready to commit time every week to cleaning them? If the answer is no, then don’t even bother. When selecting appliances and materials for cabinetry, countertops, and floors, you must always think in terms of a balance between their visual appeal and upkeep. Not a single large purchasing decision should be made without such consideration.
6. Identify a focal point
There needs to be a natural flow to your space. Each function needs to be accounted for. However, once you identify those elements and incorporate them in your decision making process, take a step back and try to imagine the end result. What is everything designed around? What is the focal point? Is it the dining area? Is it a kitchen island? Once you have a vision of that, you will need to make design decisions that are in harmony with the focal point. The last thing you want is for your kitchen to feel cluttered and disorganized.
7. Familiarize yourself with current trends, but don’t get caught up in them
It is always advisable to flip through a couple of magazines or a Pinterest board for inspiration before starting on any remodeling project. However, don’t get too obsessed by the sleek trendy designs in these pictures. Do you really need that giant expensive stove you saw on a Pinterest board when the most sophisticated meal you cook is a grilled cheese sandwich? Will you enjoy spending time in a space painted bright yellow and black for the next 5-10 years or will you get tired of the contrasts? Trends come and go, sometimes faster than a remodeling process itself. Timeless pieces and a design authentic to your taste and needs will ensure your satisfaction with the end result.
8. Don’t play too safe either
Don’t be afraid to experiment. We don’t suggest to go with a psychedelic wall design or anything too out of the ordinary, but don’t waste the remodeling opportunity on a boring design that only marginally improves the look and feel of your old kitchen. There is a way to find a balance between experimenting and playing it safe. For example, when it comes to tiles, go with a safer option. They are more expensive and difficult to replace. However, when it comes to a chandelier, you can experiment.
Are there any tips that you could provide based on your experience? Make sure to share them with us and the readers in the comments section below.
Founded in 2010, arcbazar.com is owned and operated by a dedicated executive team and web-developers. Our aim is to help our peers, young designers and architects finding exciting design opportunities from design conscious individuals. Our name arcbazar, is inspired by the idea of a bazaar for architecture – a vibrant space for an exchange and negotiation of design services. We are based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and are working around the clock as we prepare the matching of designers with exciting projects of our clients.