We are getting very close to wrapping up one of our latest projects….a Kitchen renovation. We were hired to completely redesign and renovate the Kitchen as well as the adjacent Dining Room and Keeping Room. I thought I would share the progress and how we got started with the finish selections. A Kitchen renovation can be very intimidating project to tackle but it doesn’t have to be if you know exactly where to start and how to select the proper finishes. An Interior Designer that has been through the steps a thousand times can be your best investment when renovating a Kitchen.
Before:
During:
Since this picture was taken we have installed the countertops, backsplash tile, appliances, pluming and light fixtures. We are currently waiting for the furniture to arrive for the adjacent Keeping Room. It is scheduled to be delivered this month….yeah!! Once we install the furniture, hang the window treatments, place the artwork and accessories I’ll be ready to have the space professionally photographed. I’ll share the after shots with you just as soon as its complete! For a little sneak peek, here’s a concept board showing the design direction:
Typically my list for prioritizing finish selections for Kitchen remodels, renovations and new build outs fluctuates a bit project by project. And I guess it should considering no two projects are ever the same. We only concentrate on finishes once the layout is perfected keeping flow and function in the forefront of planning. And the lighting design is meticulously laid out to highlight all those great design details. This proper preplanning allows for functional perfection.
For this particular renovation, we started with the flooring, just keep in mind that this is not always the case. See my list below on how we tackled the tedious task of selecting finishes for this Kitchen renovation…how do you narrow it down when there are a million choices? Here’s how we handled it:
1. Flooring: I typically wouldn’t start here but in this case our decision was dictated by the flooring used in the adjacent rooms. Homeowners usually have a strong opinion in what type of floor they want…whether it be hardwood, natural stone, or something more environmentally friendly like cork or bamboo. This being a small Kitchen we didn’t want to chop up the space by selecting a different floor than the rest of the house. We chose to go with hardwood to create flow and continuity. Once we had an idea of the flooring “direction”, we moved on to the cabinets.
2. Cabinets: If homeowners have done some homework in pulling magazine cuttings and printing inspiration photos off of the internet they should have a good idea on the overall look they want for their cabinets. Interior Designers can help direct the decision by listening to how the homeowner want their Kitchen to “look” and “feel”….maybe open and airy, rich and traditional or clean and contemporary just to name a few. These homeowners knew they wanted crisp, clean and white (but what shade of white was the question?) In this case we went with the homes existing trim color which was very warm and creamy. They already loved this color so it was a no brainer!
3. Countertops: Once we determined the color and style of the cabinetry, we then moved on to the selection of the countertops. Before we even visited a showroom or stone yard we determined a concept. This is always helpful in order to stay focused and on task. Do they want a crisp clean look, a classic coordination, or are the countertops the showstopper in the space? In this case they wanted a monochromatic look that wasn’t too busy. I was there to make sure the undertones in the granite worked with our cabinet color.
4: Backsplash tile: There are literally thousands of choices in tile so saving this selection for this stage in the project made it much easier. If we had opted for a busy countertop then I would have suggested going with a simple backsplash tile coordinating the undertones in the tile with the countertops and cabinets. In this case we stayed with our monochromatic concept and went with a cream colored subway tile.
5. Hardware: I like to save this for last because so many things can dictate the overall style and finish of the cabinet hardware. The granite may have metallic specs in it or the backsplash tile might have bronze accents. You should let some of these selections help guide your decision with hardware. Lighting might also play a roll in your final choice. In this Kitchen, we went with stainless hardware that related to the stainless steel appliances.
And there you have it, my quick guide to selecting finishes for a Kitchen remodel or renovation. If you’re thinking about starting a Kitchen project and are feeling overwhelmed with all of the choices and decisions, I love to be involved and help you out. Give me a call today at (678) 316-0113 to set up a design consultation. You can also contact me here to see how we should get started.
