There are a lot of elements that bring a kitchen design together, and when you’re remodeling your kitchen, it can feel overwhelming to make sure you get the design perfect. You might think that there are too many things to keep track of, and you might forget one and ruin the whole design. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive kitchen design checklist. While we won’t go into detail for every design element here, we’ll provide you with a list of items you’ll want to think about when remodeling and designing your kitchen.
Cabinet Design Elements
Cabinets are a huge part of your kitchen, and it’s vital that their design is chosen with care. There are also many choices when it comes to your cabinets. Be sure to have a well-thought-out kitchen design before trying to make selections. Be aware that each decision comes with a cost difference as well.
- cabinet door style
- door profile design
- material of the cabinets
- cabinet finish: stain or paint
- cabinet hardware
- hardware finish
- hardware placement
- soft-close vs. standard close
- additional organization elements
Countertop Essentials
When you walk into a kitchen, the countertops are probably the first things you notice. They are the jewel on the necklace of kitchen design, and they can either be showstopping details or blend into the design elements. However, there might be more to countertop design than you think, and to achieve the perfect countertop design, you’ll have five things to consider.
- type of material
- color of that material
- finish of the material
- thickness of the countertop
- edge profile
Backsplash Details
The kitchen backsplash is another part of the overall kitchen design that can either be an eye-catching choice or something that flows with the rest of the design and allows a different part of the design to shine. The layout of the tiles is a whole other design topic on its own, but you’ll also be choosing other details of your kitchen backsplash.
- type of material
- size of the tiles
- color of the tiles
- grout tile
- grout color
Vital Flooring Components
This might not apply to everyone. You can undoubtedly remodel your kitchen without redoing your floors. However, if you want to redo the floors or if your situation requires you to, here are the details you’ll be selecting when it comes to your kitchen floor design.
- type of material
- (if tile) size of tile
- color and style of material
- finish
- grout type (if tile)
- grout color (if tile)
- transition options
Plumbing, Including the Kitchen Sink
Besides the bathroom, the kitchen has the most plumbing in the whole house. Depending on your needs, you might need more or less plumbing. The more options you include, the more you’ll have to choose, and it will be vital that you choose styles and finishes that go well together and with the overall aesthetic of your kitchen design.
- primary sink
- type of material
- single or double bowl
- primary faucet finish
- pot filler?
- secondary sink?
Lighting Layers
Getting the lighting design right is more than choosing the ideal fixtures to suit your design style. While that’s important, you’ll also need to consider the three lighting types and how to correctly layer the lighting within your kitchen. This is a design element that can really make or break your aesthetic. The three types of lighting are general lighting, task, and mood. General lighting gets you in and out of a room and is typically canned or recessed lighting. Task lighting is lighting that helps you complete specific tasks such as under-cabinet lighting. Finally, mood lighting helps set the mood and create a general feeling within the room. This might simply be putting dimmers on switches to be able to control the brightness of your lights. Of course, you’ll also have to choose the styles and aesthetics of your lighting fixtures.
- how many lights
- style of light fixtures
- light fixture finish
- switch place style
Appliance Choices
While everything in a kitchen works and is vital to the useability of the room, the appliances are the workhorses of the kitchen. You probably know about the essential appliances, but look through this list and ensure you don’t forget anything. When choosing new appliances, you’ll also have to consider if you’d like to have a custom door to match your cabinets. That might lower your options, but it brings a very custom look to the kitchen and might bring your whole aesthetic together.
- cooktop
- rangehood
- refrigerator
- oven
- microwave
- dishwasher
- small appliances
- coffee maker
- toaster
- slow cooker
- instapot
Designing a kitchen is a huge undertaking and one that can become too much very quickly. We, of course, recommend hiring a professional designer to ensure your design is perfect. We have an in-house designer that can work with you and our craftsmen to design and create your new kitchen design. With the right professionals by your side, no detail will be forgotten, and you’ll have the help of someone who can bring a sense of peace to what is likely one of the most stressful times as a homeowner.
