I’ve been in the interior design industry for nearly 20 years (what!?) and have seen countless renovations from start to finish by this point. All in all, it was a really great experience, but no matter how seasoned you are, there’s always something to learn along the way. It has given me a whole new perspective on what my clients are going through.
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Since we launched our kitchen, we’ve received a few questions (here, if you’d like!). I intended to put together a short post to address some frequently asked questions – Including the amount we spent, whether you have any regrets, and why you didn’t create a panel-ready appliance. If you have any other questions feel free to leave a comment below – we will try to answer!
Q: Where should I start renoing my kitchen?
I think this alone is worth an entire article, but given the brevity… I almost always start my projects with a serious Pinterest session (follow me). here :). First, he pins everything that speaks to me to one board. From there, take a step back and see if there are any themes that stand out. Whether it’s a distinct color palette, a distinct design style, or noticing subtleties like “most photos have a slab backsplash”, something always comes to mind over and over again. The overall look I’m after. Then create a mood board that you can refer to again and again throughout the design process. This is a great way to hone in on the direction you want to go and stick with it.
Q: If you’d like to share…how much did the kitchen reno cost?
I also did some cosmetic work on the rest of the main floor (new flooring, new paint, etc.), updated the laundry room, and created a playroom in the basement. know We have such a great working relationship that our contractor signed a contract with us. If I were to guess, we spent about $125,000 total (labor, materials, appliances, lighting, etc.).
Q: Have you made any structural changes to accommodate the new layout?
no! We originally planned to swap the positions of the doors and windows. This will give your kitchen a completely different layout (you can see what I mean in this post if you want). But that required permits, required structural approvals, and as a result had to work on some external work… It led to an incredible amount of scope creep and was really eating up our budget. I was. We ultimately decided to try and work within the existing constraints of the layout of the house. In the end, we don’t feel like we made a big concession. Win win!
Q: Do you have any regrets?
Mainly, I so I’m thrilled where we landed – renovating our kitchen has truly been a complete game changer in a way I didn’t even expect….but yes some minor regrets there is. We are planning a full article on this, so stay tuned. Of course, I am my own worst critic. very Detailed. I’ll share it either way as food for thought in case someone finds themselves in the same situation in the future.
Q: Should I use the same color for cabinet hardware and lighting?
I hate it! I love mixing metals and playing around with different materials for hardware and lighting fixtures. I tend to stick to 2-3 metals and try to sprinkle them in different spots throughout the space for consistency. For example, I created brushed gold cabinet hardware and back door hardware. Black light fixtures and wall hooks. and a chrome faucet picked up by silver elements in stainless steel appliances.
Q: Farmhouse Sink Details – Do you use cast iron or fireclay?
Both have their pros and cons, and I’ve used both many times. Ultimately, though, fireclay is nominally more durable and usually lighter, making it easier to install than cast iron.went together This one But honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong either way.
Q: Where is the microwave?
I don’t actually have one. Ours broke 10 years ago and never replaced. Indeed, they have always amazed me. When it broke, we decided to see what life would be like without it. I didn’t miss it at all-once neither. For a long time, we used the countertop toaster his oven for things we couldn’t just toss in a pan on the stovetop. Our new stove now has a second, smaller baking oven (instead of a warming drawer) that we use to reheat most things.
Q: Are the range hoods plastered? Who made them?
MDF, painted. Custom made by our cabinet maker, Ma Belle Kitchens.
Q: What color did you choose for the cabinet color?
We are working harder to keep all links and sources up to date. All the details are at the bottom of this public post. But our cabinets are Benjamin Moore – Inukshuk painted.
Q: Where did you find the frame for your canvas art?
Amazon(here)! It was a last minute purchase that arrived just hours before the photo shoot. I legit love it, it’s beautiful and works well, but I’m guessing the gold in the place (it feels a bit like a match – I peel my eyes off and the wooden one or darken it/give it a little character with some rubbing and buffing). If you’re looking for one yourself, I found this frame called a “canvas floater frame”.
Q: What’s the most useful kitchen upgrade? What’s overrated?
New appliances! Super functional giant sink! Soft close cabinets/drawers! Large pantry (was a problem as there was none before)! Built-in eat-in area (so great for toddlers – we were all going back and forth to the dining room – not a big deal, but a small annoyance multiple times each day). I don’t think any of them are overrated…after years of debating whether or not to do it, I’m supremely happy that I pulled the trigger.
Q: Why didn’t you make panel-compatible home appliances?
Honestly, this is one of my regrets. Ultimately it came down to timing and budget. As I say, this is very much something I do because I don’t do part of the experience. I made a last-minute choice for appliances, and very limited ones were available at the time. Looking back, I wish I had waited for the panel-ready version. But I will elaborate on this in my regrets post.
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