If you dream of a beautiful custom kitchen, you are not alone. About 58% of homeowners report that if they could design a beautiful custom kitchen in their home they would be happier with their home, according to Better Homes and Gardens. Kitchen renovations top the list of home renovation projects year after year. The goal of any kitchen renovation should be to create a space that is aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional. These tips will help you to have the best of both worlds.
Many Benefits of a Custom Kitchen
According to the REA, one of the best ways to add value to your home is to renovate the kitchen. You can expect to get an ROI (return on investment) from kitchen renovation of about 25%. Of course, monetary value is not the only benefit of rehabbing your kitchen to create a beautiful custom kitchen. About 75% of homeowners surveyed that had remodeled their kitchens report that they ate healthier after the remodel, according to the Home Builders Association.
Of course, adding value to your home and eating better should be reason enough to create a beautiful custom kitchen, but there are more reasons. Once you have the kitchen that you want, you will fall back in love with your house again. You will want to be in the kitchen more and expand your cooking abilities. Ultimately, the biggest benefit of creating a beautiful custom kitchen is that it will improve your quality of life in your home. Being happy with your kitchen is important. Feeling proud of your home and enjoying cooking in it is hard to beat.
Thoughtful Design
A beautiful custom kitchen starts with connecting with the right kitchen design services. Even if you plan on doing some of the work in the kitchen as a DIY project (not recommended), it is worth investing in a professional kitchen design service. Professional design services have the expertise to make the most of the space that you have in your kitchen.
The designer will consider things like your lifestyle, and how you utilize the kitchen. They will get to know you before they start any of the design work to create a beautiful custom kitchen design that fits your lifestyle perfectly. A company that focuses solely on kitchen remodeling will likely have a design team on staff that can help you to get a beautiful custom kitchen that will complement your lifestyle.
Choosing Functional Materials
To have a beautiful custom kitchen, it does not mean that you must sacrifice function. What it means is that you must choose the right materials. For example, you may have a vision for your kitchen that includes white marble countertops. The fact is that white marble countertops are visually stunning, but they can be difficult to work around. A better option would be quartz kitchen countertops or granite kitchen countertops because they are more durable and more forgiving in a busy kitchen.
Choosing materials that give you the aesthetic that you want and that can stand up to use, is essential when you are trying to create a beautiful custom kitchen. You do not want a kitchen with all the shows that you are too afraid to cook in because you do not want to ruin the countertops. Granite, quartz, and composites are all great options that will give you the look without the worry of marble. You want to choose natural stone or quartz kitchen countertops that can provide you with a durable workspace.
The same rule applies to flooring, kitchen cabinetry, and appliances. Choose materials that look great but offer reliable functions that will not fold under pressure. For example, you may love the appearance of hardwood floors in the kitchen, but the kitchen may not be the best place for wood floors. You can get the same hardwood look with high-quality vinyl planks that can tolerate moisture, spills, and heat far better.
Function and Kitchen Cabinetry
Designing a beautiful custom kitchen is an ideal opportunity to focus on custom kitchen cabinets. Kitchen cabinetry is essential to a highly functional kitchen where you will enjoy cooking. When there is a place for everything and there is easy access to all the tools you need, it makes cooking a breeze. There are so many ways you can customize your kitchen with cabinetry. Cabinetry is a key feature in some of the most beautiful custom kitchens.
A good tip for choosing cabinets for your kitchen is to try to avoid a look that is too trendy. You do not want to “over stylize” your kitchen by installing cabinets that are too trendy, because once the trend ends, your kitchen will feel outdated. For example, there was a time not too long ago when “distressed and glazed” cabinets were a big trend, but not so much anymore. Another trend that has fallen to the wayside is open shelving in the kitchen. People are moving away from open shelving and focusing more on a classic look.
Choose the cabinet profile first (doors) and then choose your colors. The cabinet color will set the tone for the kitchen because cabinetry takes up a lot of real estate in the kitchen. Try to choose cabinetry that you can see yourself living with for a while.
Don’t Do This
A beautiful custom kitchen does not have to have appliances that you find in restaurants. Don’t invest in commercial grade equipment for your kitchen even if you throw a dinner party a month for 20 people. There is no need to go commercial or to design a “chefs’ kitchen” to have a beautiful custom kitchen. As a matter of fact, most real estate agents warn against going with the chef’s kitchen style because you never regain the money that you invest in that sub-zero fridge.
One of the major mistakes homeowners make when they are designing a beautiful custom kitchen is over-investing in appliances. It is important that you have appliances that you are happy with and that you will use, but that does not mean you have to take out a second mortgage to afford them. Stick with trusted brands that will get the job done. The fact is, every appliance has an expected life span, which means that no matter how much you invest in your appliances, they will eventually need to be replaced. When it comes to appliances, “eventually” means about 10-15 years, regardless of the appliance or the cost.
There are a few other things that you don’t want to do when you are designing a beautiful custom kitchen. Do not add a pot hanger over the island. It is not practical, and it is just not done anymore. Stay away from the all-white kitchen. White on white was one of those trends that are on its way out. Farmhouse or skirted sinks are another “use to be in style” kitchen item. Before you make any decisions about appliances or fixtures, be sure that you do your research. You do not want to invest a lot of money now only to feel buyer’s remorse in a year or two.
Put Some Thought Into Your Pantry
A beautiful custom kitchen should have a pantry. A pantry is a great space to keep dry goods and ingredients and provide shelf space to keep appliances off the countertop. A pantry never goes out of style and it is like a room within a room. Work with the kitchen design team to figure out how you can create a pantry space in your kitchen.
You may be thinking that your kitchen is too small to make room for a pantry, but you may be pleasantly surprised to hear what a design team can come up with. You do not have to have a sprawling pantry (although that would be nice), you just need some space to store food and to catch the overflow of appliances.
Remember the goal is to create a space that is both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional. Giving up some of the floor space in the kitchen to have a pantry is well worth it. A beautiful custom kitchen is often an exercise in compromise. You may have to go with a smaller island to make space for a pantry, but it would be worth it.
Don’t Skimp on Lighting
Lighting is an essential element in a high-functioning kitchen. Incorporate flexible lighting options into your kitchen design. If you are like most homeowners, your kitchen gets a lot of use beyond cooking and meal time. Kitchens are a favorite place for everyone in the household to gather and do other things like homework, pay bills, or just sit and relax. Flexible lighting ensures that all the activities that typically occur in your kitchen have just the right lighting.
A few examples of flexible lighting options include pendant lighting over the counters, lighting over workspaces, lighting near the cooking area, and other areas. Flexible lighting considers all the areas of the kitchen that need a separate source of light. The right kitchen remodeling services will help you to choose lighting that is functional and that enhances your beautiful custom kitchen.
If You Want Professional Results, Do This
This is the era of DIY. DIY kitchen remodeling is a popular activity among homeowners. However, it is not always the best possible option. A beautiful custom kitchen requires a lot of planning, it also can require permits, wiring, plumbing, and other professional expertise. In other words, unless you have a history of kitchen remodeling and a background in kitchen remodeling services that is necessary to get professional results, this is a project you should leave up to the pros.
There is a wide range of reasons why hiring home remodeling contractors that specialize in kitchen remodeling is the right option. First is the amount of time it takes to do the project the right way. It takes approximately three weeks for a professional contractor to finish a beautiful custom kitchen, and that is three weeks of full-time work. If you do not have eight hours a day to dedicate to the project and a full three weeks to put in the project, then you do not have the time to do the project yourself.
Next is the cost. You may be thinking that you could save so much money by doing the work yourself. You may save a lot less than you think. Contractors get special pricing on materials; they also have a network of suppliers. As a consumer, you do not have the benefit of getting lower prices on materials nor do you have a network of suppliers to make sure you can get the materials. You may face long delays trying to find the materials that you need.
Finally, the warranty that you get from a professional makes going with a professional worthwhile. If you go with a professional and there is a problem down the road, they will come back and repair it. If you do it yourself, and there is a problem down the road, you will have to figure out what the problem is and then try to repair it. Additionally, many homeowners find out the hard way that they are a bit over their head with the project and wind up having to hire a professional after the fact to fix their mistakes.
If you want a beautiful custom kitchen that you and your family will use and enjoy, go with a team of professionals that can get the project done. Connect with a trusted contractor that specializes in custom kitchens and you will get the kitchen that you want and that you will actually cook in.
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