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Must-Have Kitchen Design Information for Your Remodel | Home Indeed

Have you been thinking about remodeling your Cedar Falls, IA kitchen? Remodeling your kitchen can make a huge impact on your quality of life and even increase the value of your home, but before you can begin, you should think about your kitchen must-haves! Which ones are just wants versus needs, so you can prioritize based on your budget. Even then, there are other factors you will need to consider before going forward with your kitchen remodeling project.

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That’s why we are going to give you some remodeling kitchen ideas, as well as some information about kitchen layout and design, and the one kitchen remodeling mistake you must avoid.

Let’s get started.

What Should Be Included in a Kitchen Design?

When thinking about your new kitchen design, don’t forget to include your kitchen remodel must-haves. Then, include those must-have kitchen features along with the following components and considerations:

  • Convenience and function
  • Storage
  • Cabinets and counter space
  • Lighting
  • Ventilation
  • Flooring
  • Appliances

Now let’s talk about your new kitchen layout!

How Do You Layout a Kitchen Remodel?

When thinking about remodeling kitchen ideas, you should first consider the functionality of a kitchen and how you want it to flow. A poorly designed kitchen could result in years of endless inconveniences, chaos, and could even be dangerous. Here are some factors to consider:

  • Traffic flow
  • Distance between the main kitchen components and their functions
  • Create task zones (traffic flow, meal prep, cooking, serving)
  • Functionality, you don’t want the refrigerator too far from the prep area or the stove across the room from the sink
  • Spacing between the kitchen island and the meal prep area
  • Proper appliance and cabinet door swings
  • Build the kitchen around the sink
  • Consider storage areas (pantry, small appliances, baking accessories, a cleaning supply cabinet or closet)

When thinking about your kitchen cabinet features and all your other kitchen must-haves, this is where the services of a professional design-build team can be priceless. A design-build team will help ensure you get the kitchen of your dreams while avoiding any costly mistakes (more about that in a moment).

What are the Latest Trends in Kitchen Remodeling?

If you want some kitchen remodeling ideas, here is what’s trending:

1. Smart Kitchens

Smart kitchens are all the rage – you’ve seen the commercials! Smart kitchens have integrated technology that can do almost anything except prepare your food. Smart features can control the stove, refrigerator, sink, lighting, and more. Smart features can be a huge help for busy families or families with aging adults.

2. Quartz Countertops

Quartz countertops have been trending for a while now and don't show signs of fading anytime soon! Quartz countertops are extremely durable and can last for just about, well, ever. Additionally, they are easy to maintain and are anti-microbial. These days, quartz countertops come in a wide variety of colors and finishes from which you can choose.

3. Decorative Backsplashes

Tile backsplashes (not subway tiles) but larger slabs of tile that have different styles, patterns, and textures. This includes quartz, wood, glass, stainless steel, and even copper.

4. Double Kitchen Islands

With more people opting for removing walls and creating open spaces, double islands are filling in the gap. A double island can be used to create more prep, storage, serving, and eating areas where needed. Double kitchen islands can also be ideal for large families, or households that love to host dinner parties! If your home motto is “the more the merrier”, a double island may be for you!

 

5. Storage Solutions

In some kitchens, there is lots of wasted space due to poor layout in the design stage. With a kitchen remodel, these spaces can now be transformed into unique storage solutions! These solutions start with dedicated kitchen cabinet features such as:

  • Appliance garages for small appliances
  • Designated drawer dividers for utensils, spices
  • Specialty spaces for roll-out trays, pots and pans, lids, caddies
  • Built-in waste basket bins for trash and recyclables
  • Wine coolers cabinets

What Should You Not Forget When Designing a Kitchen?

There are a variety of factors people often forget to include in their kitchen designs. For example, planning enough counter space and underestimating how much storage they will need. Some folks also tend to underestimate how much lighting will be needed or to rework the existing lighting to function with the new kitchen features.

Also, it’s sometimes common to forget to plan for enough plugs and power sources — power sources can now include USB outlets, smart outlets, and other necessary power needs. Proper ventilation for appliances and planning for kitchen traffic flow as part of the new kitchen remodel are also key subjects during the design stage!

We could go on and on about what not to do when designing a kitchen, but here are a few more often forgotten design mishaps, just for good measure:

  • Not measuring the appliances, which could lead to protrusions or not being able to open and close cabinet and appliance doors and drawers properly or all the way
  • Not leaving enough or leaving too much space between the sink and the stove. 
  • Not maximizing the vertical wall space.

The One Kitchen Remodeling Mistake You Must Avoid!

While considering the various kitchen designs you have bouncing around in your head, please remember one thing – measuring! Accurately measuring your kitchen is the number one most important factor of a well-designed kitchen. If you get the measuring wrong, it will affect the entire design, and you don’t want to have to pay for major changes because the measurements were off and everything you ordered was based on those incorrect measurements.

So, how do you avoid such monumental mistakes?

You hire a professional design-build team to take your unique kitchen designs and bring them to life. The cost of enlisting the help of a design-build team will generally pay for itself. This is because most people who don’t perform design-build remodeling for a living usually make one or more costly mistakes.

What’s Next?

Are you ready to remodel but would like some kitchen addition ideas or some unique kitchen and bath options first? Or perhaps you would just like to talk with someone about kitchen must-haves for your remodel. If so, please Contact Home Indeed today.

Why Home Indeed?

Well, because we have professional design-build teams that work together to make your construction experience extraordinary. We promise to put what matters most to you first. Together we will make something special – the one place in the world that’s yours: your home.

And that’s not all… we have two home remodeling showrooms, in Cedar Falls and Independence, IA where you can shop for all your kitchen must-haves under one roof. No more driving around town dragging samples from here and there trying to make your kitchen addition ideas all fit together into the perfect design. Here, you can compare all your design options side-by-side. Yes, it really is as easy as that! Are you ready to get started?

You may also like: Virtually Plan & Visualize Your Cedar Falls Remodel; What You Should Consider Before Remodeling Your Cedar Falls Kitchen; How to Choose the Best Materials for Your Remodeling Project

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