Remodeled your kitchen? -- What are your lessons learned?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any tips from someone with a small kitchen? Like a DC rowhouse? We're not doing 2 sinks, 2 dishwashers, wall oven, etc

Maximize your storage space with toe-kick drawers for sheet pans etc https://www.diamondatlowes.com/products/organization/push-to-open-and-close-toekick-drawer
Make sure all your drawers are doubled/tiered https://www.designcraftcabinets.com/product/tiered-storage/
Look at european appliances like the Bosch benchmark series fridge - counter depth, 30" w but 84" h so good capacity without using all your wall space

I am guessing toe kicks cannot be added after the fact. Love them.

I think you can get a handyman to fit them to existing cabinets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Love my induction cooktop.

Love my quartz backsplash that is the same as my quartz countertop—so easy to clean with no grout lines!

Love my wood cabinetry that is warm without being yellow or orangey.

Love my dishwasher drawers.

What wood cabinets did you use (make and color?).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Height. We increased the height between the counter and the bottom of the cabinets. I love this as a blender can go anywhere.

I love this, too, as I no longer have to worry about what coffeemaker will fit. Though it does put more of your upper cabinet space out of reach unless you are tall. I'm okay with the compromise and love having ample space under the upper cabinets.

[Anonymous]

I did an extra-deep counter, 30", on on the wall that has my sink and fridge, so there's extra room behind the sink for plants and things, and a standard-depth fridge appears counter depth.

If you do this, be sure the installers make the cutout for the sink close to the front lip of the counter as it would be anyway, rather than centering it back to front. You don't want to lose that extra depth at the back of the counter and end up with a sink that's uncomfortably far back.

[Anonymous]

We did our own design which worked out really well. I balanced what we liked, what works with the space, and what is up to date but works with the style of the house in choosing the colors, layout and heights. Years ago we had done a kitchen and focused just on what we liked from pictures at the design place. The outcome was fine but it didn’t transform the space. This time we focused more on what we wanted to be different and worked in the space.

We removed a doorway and pony wall that was not load bearing. This was the only thing I was nervous about in terms of what it would look like and was so happy with the result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love my induction range and drawer microwave. Also love my water filter. I can't drink anyone else's water because mine is so good.
Hate my faucet, I ran out of money and didn't get the sprayer. Also not fond of my white cabinets that are already chipping. The designer chose them but I am wondering if he had some overstock laying around.
Love the look of my soapstone counters but they get spots on them from hard water and have to be cleaned with spray cleaner constantly. Damp sponge won't do a thing.

Has anyone done honed granite instead of soapstone? I love the look and feel of soapstone but am concerned about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two dishwashers. One on each side of the sink.

This is such a flex. If you have the space, you'll never regret this choice.

[Anonymous]

The right kitchen designer makes all the difference; ours was an architect who loved to cook and had ideas or opinions about where everything should go for maximum efficiency. Biggest regret--our backsplash. We were traveling while the kitchen was under construction and didn't have time to pick out tile so we just left it with drywall. It's a very clean look, but totally impractical around the sink. If I had known more at the time, I would have continued the quartz up the wall. Second biggest regret--not upgrading the range. The one we had was in perfect condition, but we still should have swapped it out.

[Anonymous]

A shallow wide pantry is much better than a square or narrow deep pantry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any tips from someone with a small kitchen? Like a DC rowhouse? We're not doing 2 sinks, 2 dishwashers, wall oven, etc

Maximize your storage space with toe-kick drawers for sheet pans etc https://www.diamondatlowes.com/products/organization/push-to-open-and-close-toekick-drawer
Make sure all your drawers are doubled/tiered https://www.designcraftcabinets.com/product/tiered-storage/
Look at european appliances like the Bosch benchmark series fridge - counter depth, 30" w but 84" h so good capacity without using all your wall space

I am guessing toe kicks cannot be added after the fact. Love them.

I think you can get a handyman to fit them to existing cabinets.

They can cut the baseboard and add this although it's harder to do once the counter top is on it.

[Anonymous]

Cabinets that have maximum front opening sizes are important. Otherwise you have to fit smaller drawers into them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Height. We increased the height between the counter and the bottom of the cabinets. I love this as a blender can go anywhere.

I love this, too, as I no longer have to worry about what coffeemaker will fit. Though it does put more of your upper cabinet space out of reach unless you are tall. I'm okay with the compromise and love having ample space under the upper cabinets.

Don't do this if you are short. I already have a hard time reaching taller cabinet shelves when they are the minimum height from the countertop. I store my blender in a cabinet. I don't use it every day and don't need it out. But also it still fits between the two cabinets to store.