Kitchen Remodeling Nightmares-and How to Avoid Them

Thursday, June 26th, 2014 by Danny Peterson

Ask any realtor or any remodeler and you will get the same answer: If you want to remodel a room in your home to add significant value to the property, you need to choose the kitchen. The kitchen is the room in which most families spend the most time, and it is truly the focal point of any property. Thus, the kitchen is the place where a home remodeling project can have the biggest impact. Unfortunately, it is also the place where you can do the most damage.

Simply put, kitchen remodeling is not an easy task; it requires careful planning and strategic execution, plus a strong vision of what you want your new kitchen to look like. This is why most homeowners undertake serious kitchen remodels only by working with remodeling professionals.

Forgetting Function

Embarking on a major kitchen remodel without professional assistance, meanwhile, can lead to a true kitchen nightmare. One of the most common nightmares: Finding that your newly remodeled kitchen looks great, but lacks basic functionality. In other words, many homeowners get so excited about their new cabinetry or their new tile that they totally forget about the fact that they’re going to need to cook and to eat in this kitchen! This can manifest in many ways, of course—a dishwasher that’s placed so close to a cabinet that you cannot open both at the same time, or a new range that’s installed without an exhaust fan, leaving your kitchen to fill with smoke or steam any time you cook. The moral of the story is simply that, when remodeling, you need to think about more than just the look. Homeowners in Bowie or elsewhere need to consider actual kitchen use, as well.

Over-designing

Another common kitchen remodeling nightmare is over-design. Simply put, a lot of homeowners believe that they need to go big or go home. They assume that, since they’re remodeling their kitchen, they might as well go to the extreme—but that can often result in a kitchen that’s too busy, too garish, or—again—not very functional. A stylish kitchen does not need to be overly complex, and in most cases it isn’t. There is much to be said for simplicity. Picking some basic colors and appliances and then letting their vibe dictate the mood of the room can often be the best approach.

Ignoring the Size of the Kitchen

Some homeowners hate having a small kitchen—and when it comes time to remodel, they might even try to ignore their kitchen’s small size, filling it past capacity with appliances and cooking surfaces. A better philosophy: Whatever the size of your kitchen, make it work for you. Rather than over- or underfilling it, work with a remodeler or a design professional to make the most out of the space you have.

Not Investing in the Right Appliances

When you remodel your kitchen, it’s an ideal time to invest in some new appliances. You might decide to scrimp in this area, in order to save money, and that’s fine—but you run the risk of being terribly disappointed down the road, especially if your remodeled kitchen makes it hard for you to retroactively change the appliances. Here is just one example: Do you need an oversized refrigerator to accommodate the needs of your family? If so, the time to get it is when you’re remodeling—otherwise, you might find that you don’t have the room amongst your cabinets and other appliances for the fridge you really want. Better to plan on those big appliances now than find out they’re not viable options later!

Not Calling the Shots

For all of this, though, the biggest kitchen remodeling nightmare of all is allowing someone else to call the shots. You may be working with a professional remodeler—in fact, you should be—but remember that you’re ultimately the one who has to use this kitchen every day. You need to make sure that whatever kitchen you end up with, you’re happy with it!