Fad or function – kitchen renovation dos and don’ts.

Worthwhile kitchen renovation add-on’s

The day has finally arrived.

Renovating a kitchen is one of the most exciting but daunting parts of home ownership. Prospective buyers are often swayed by the “wet rooms” of the home, being bathrooms and kitchens, so if you do the renovations right, you might just be adding immense value to your property.

This is also why kitchen renovations are traditionally so expensive.

So, let’s say that you have done your research, set your budget and saved up for this. Now the day has arrived and you are ready to rip out that split-level 70’s kitchen island and you can make your culinary dreams a reality.

Before you commit to designs, we suggest you look into what is functional and what is just a fad.

Fads:

Open shelving

Instagram ready, yes. Practical? Nope, nope, nope. These look really good and work well if you live alone in a completely dust free and pest free world. If you are the world’s neatest human and you have infinite time to arrange and maintain your chosen aesthetic and decant all your pantry staples into those super pretty mason jars with the handwritten labels. If, however, you are a normal human living in a normal world with ants and dust, and you have normal food like boxes of cornflakes and bags of pasta, this is not the way to go.

These shelves are more work than wow. If you love the cottagey feel of exposed wood and glass bottles, then opt for a smaller “display shelf” where you keep some of your more aesthetically pleasing items like jars of lentils and that pretty tin of olive oil. For your jungle oats and jams and canned food – get a cupboard with a door that closes.

Wonky pop-up power supplies.

This is something we saw a lot of in the 2010’s. Those in-counter power supplies that you twist and pull up when you need to plug in your blender. Now as handy as it is to have plug access in the middle of your workspace, these twist and pull mechanisms are not durable. And when it comes to electricity, we don’t like unreliable connections. A better option is having a fixed power supply sunk into the counter, with a cover that slides or clicks over it. This means the cover moves, and not the wires/connections.

Over-customised appliances storage

Building a special storage nook that perfectly fits your Kitchen Aid but won’t take an air fryer, or that’s tall enough for your Nespresso machine, but can’t fit a Soda-stream is just a waste of money. Don’t get hung up on one appliance, rather build a few “cubbies” that can “hide” more than one thing, to help keep your counters clean.

Impractical “breakfast nook” seating

A couple of years ago the “breakfast nook” was all the rage. But – unless you have the space for a decent sized table and comfortable easy to use chairs or benches, rather give this trend a skip. Nothing is worse than trying to eat around a cramped table with slim benches you have to scoot into.

Wooden countertops directly next to washing up spaces

If you are looking for longevity, keep wood away from your wet spaces. Even professionally sealed wood can still get water damages over the years and once again – the cost of eventually resurfacing your counters isn’t worth it. You can get the same warm, earthy vibes with the right granite or composite material and add wooden accents in other spaces.

Moving pipes and plumbing (layout) unless absolutely necessary.

The cost benefit analysis of redoing plumbing without it being completely necessary just doesn’t add up. Unless your washing machine is currently in the middle of your kitchen, simply work with the basics that are already in place.

Functional:

Farmhouse sinks.

Minimalist, pretty, suits a wide variety of styles…these large, angular sinks still make sense. They work with any style of fitting and most importantly they are big enough to house even a family sized pile of dirty dishes. If you’ve got the space, opting for a bigger kitchen sink is well worth it.

Under-cabinet lighting/sectional lighting

The value of great value should never be underestimated as the right lighting can elevate your living space, and the same is true for your kitchen. Look at where you usually stand to prepare food, and ensure that you’ll get light from the from or top instead of a central light fitting that will cast shadows over your workspace.

Cable management options for wall mounted power supplies.

One of the fads we mentioned above is unreliable power supplies. It is worth taking the time to plan where your everyday appliances go (toaster, kettle) and then sorting out their cables that snake towards the wall.

Device charging spaces/stands

Cell phones are the new cookbooks, which means that having a charging space in your kitchen makes sense. Keep it away from heat and moisture and you’re ready for that FoodTok sourdough tutorial.

Deep drawers for pots, pans, and appliances:

Storing your heavy cooking utensils in drawers that pull out instead of cupboards that need you to crouch down, is a game changer. These drawers allow you to see all the way to the back with a single pull and you’ll never go back to dark low cupboards again.

Think twice and spend wisely.

What your kitchen looks like in the end is up to you, your contractor and your budget – but be sure to only spend money on functional features that will enhance your home and works for your lifestyle.

Take these tips as suggestions and remember the Homemakers golden rule:

It’s your home, you make the rules!