Are you on your way to your dream kitchen? I have had the pleasure to help many new and existing home owners here in Victoria, BC with their kitchen updates. Have a look at our 10 Renovation Tips on today’s blog to help prepare you for the journey ahead.

A beautiful, yet practical kitchen which ticks all the boxes. Image: Brooke Hatfield Design

1. Quality materials

Use materials that are going to hold up to a lot of use. A kitchen takes a beating day to day so ensure the drawer hinges and hardware will still work well years from now.

2. Wood or painted cabinets

This is a big question. And then, what wood or what colour? Wood may seem like a more expensive option but with all the labour involved in painting several coats of paint for painted cabinets it isn’t necessarily so. Wood will add warmth to your kitchen but be careful not to overdo it or it can feel heavy. With both options, make sure you get the cabinet maker to make up a sample so you can see the end product

Wooden kitchens don’t have to look dated anymore, we love this light and modern wooden kitchen. Image: Project Interiors

3. Durable countertops

Natural stone will always be a good option but nowadays there is manufactured stone such as quartz. Some people are drawn to these as they have a uniformity to them which they find appealing. When you choose a sample you know the end product will be the same. With granite or marble you need to go to the distributor to choose the slab to be used on your project. Marble needs some maintenance so some may not like that in a kitchen. It is porous and will therefore stain more readily. It also can chip more easily than a stone counter. Laminate is an inexpensive option but it won’t hold up to heat the way a stone counter will. Just know each counter’s limitations before you commit.

It is well worth investing in a durable countertop and quality hardware. Image: Counter top Depot

4. Storage

Do an inventory of your kitchen items to ensure you have enough storage. Optimize the hardware available such as magic corners from Richelieu Hardware ( www.richelieu.com) for those blind corners and pantry pullouts.

Magic corners are truly magical for storage solutions. Image: Cabinet parts

5. Trends

Trends are great but be careful not to get TOO trendy. Perhaps don’t go for a super trendy tile for a backsplash as down the road it may date and it is a messy and pricey item to change. Using a more trendy pendant over the island may be a good option as long as you choose wisely. If you tire of it in 5 years it is not as large an expense or won’t take a large reno to change

Choosing a timeless backsplash tile is always a wise decision. Image: Bedrosian tile

6. Appliances

If you are not a foodie or a gourmet cook then pass on the 6 burner stove. And do you really need a sub zero fridge? There are many less expensive options that look great and will help the budget. Appliances can be a real budget buster!

7. Lighting/electrical - Plan well!!

You should have 3 layers of light in your kitchen-ambient, task and accent/ decorative. Ambient light is usually overhead lighting so you can see where you are going and for safety. Task lighting is often under counter lighting or over the island lighting that helps you be able to see your prep area better than the overhead lighting. Accent or decorative lighting can be directional lighting that highlights a nice piece of art or surface-there will be spill over light which will add to the layers of light in the room

8. Architectural details

Is your space traditional or contemporary? If it is traditional, then you may use more architectural details such as cornices , crown mouldings, pediments etc. The more traditional your style the more architectural details you will likely use.

Architectural feature and style go hand in hand - make sure you consider these with your next kitchen update. Image: We heart it

9. Style

Keep style within the style of the existing house- If you live in a very contemporary house you likely will not want to add a very traditional kitchen. You want your home to have flow from one area to the other so keeping this in mind when renovating is imperative. You can certainly UPDATE the finishes but just be cognizant of the overall style of the house.

10. Have a contingency fund

This is always a good idea. When the contractor prices out the project he does not know what lies behind the walls. Make sure you have enough in the budget for the unexpected. If you allow for this ahead of time, you will feel far less stress if it turns out the electrical or plumbing needs more updating that originally thought. AND if all does go seamlessly and there is a bit extra in the budget at the end you may decide you can now splurge on that great light that will just make your kitchen sing!!!

Having a contingency plan and ideas is always a great approach. Image: Olivia Smith

If you not sure how about how to create your dream kitchen, then get in touch! I would be happy to assist with making sure you get the kitchen of your dreams.