Kitchen Remodeling Design Traps
Planning on a totally new kitchen remodeling design for your outdated kitchen? Congratulations! Not only is it a good financial investment, but it is also a great opportunity to show off your personal style savvy. Ok, so you don’t have to tell everyone you took advantage of some kitchen design plans - YOU made the final decisions. Just remember not to fall into any of the following kitchen remodeling design pitfalls:
You Want What your Neighbor Has.
There’s a reason why you keep baking cookies and fruitcake for your neighbor: you want to have another excuse to check out her gorgeous, ultra-modern, sleek kitchen. After six consecutive visits, you managed to sneak off with the brand model numbers and now you’re frantically searching kitchen remodeling online for the stores where you can order the exact same items. STOP. Consider- really consider- whether that new kitchen you are envisioning is really “you.” By choosing carefully and realistically, you will choose a kitchen remodeling design that is comfortable for you, and one that enhances, not clashes with, your house.
You Update your Kitchen Piecemeal.
This is a bit more difficult to deal with. Kitchen remodeling can be expensive, and you may feel it is a smarter move financially to upgrade a few appliances or kitchen elements at a time. Especially if you are doing your kitchen remodeling online, you will be more tempted to tackle the entire project one at a time. This will work fine for changing one or two old appliances. But if you are considering more of a whole kitchen remodeling design based on a theme, then you may be better off changing everything at one go.
Consider the likely scenario that your online kitchen layout style preferences can change over time. You may update the countertops to granite in January, only to decide years later that you wish you stayed with laminate to match the cabinets you are now eyeing. Or, you installed new cabinets without updating the stove and range, only to find later the cabinets aren’t spaced right or the wall needs rewiring for a future range
Bigger is Better!
We live in a society that encourages us to “super size” things- hamburgers, Costco, muscle trucks. Bigger is often associated with comfort and luxury. When it comes to kitchen remodeling design, you might be tempted to follow those airy, open designs you saw online to expand your kitchen. This could mean knocking down wall cabinets to “open” the kitchen. Now come back to reality. You will lose valuable storage space knocking down wall cabinets. Also, can you really justify having a bigger kitchen? If you have a large family, then perhaps yes. But more times, a bigger kitchen is a bigger hassle trying to rush from point A to point B.
Going with the Lowest Bid.
When it is time to bring your kitchen remodeling design to fruition, you should get quotes from at least 3 contractors. Remember you are hiring contractors to work for you, so they should be well qualified. Do your duty beforehand and ask them for reliable references; also, check with coworkers or neighbors for any contractor horror stories. When you get the quotes back, do not instantly go for the lowest bid.
Unfortunately, many unscrupulous contractors give a low ball estimate upfront, but as the kitchen remodeling project wears on and on, the contractor starts adding in a bunch of new costs. Next thing you know, your bill has tripled, or worse. Thus, do not go by price alone. Agree to a time line, list all costs line by line, and make sure you work out payment so you are not paying all at once.
Keep these factors in mind while creating your kitchen designs online. Find some styles you like in kitchen remodeling online sites, but see if you can “recreate” them in your own kitchen. Keep your cool and soon you’ll have a kitchen you’re proud to cook, eat, and relax in!
Kitchen Plans Online Deals
