Pro Panel: The 8 Biggest Kitchen Blunders
We've asked a panel of experts to share some of the most common mistakes kitchen renovators make
Georgia Madden
22 July 2017
Renovating a kitchen can be an exciting time, but with so many decisions to make, it’s easy to go wrong. We’ve asked three experts to share the most common errors people make when renovating their kitchens, and how you can steer clear of them. And to add a little design inspo into the mix, we’ve illustrated each of the points with examples of beautifully designed kitchens to show you what’s possible when a kitchen reno is done right.
We’ve accompanied this story with images of homes that have delightful kitchens to fuel your design thinking.
We’ve accompanied this story with images of homes that have delightful kitchens to fuel your design thinking.
Jenefer Macleod, principal designer at interior design firm eat.bathe.live
1. Blunder: Rushing things through
Poor planning and hurrying through the design process are the reasons behind most kitchen renovating disasters.
1. Blunder: Rushing things through
Poor planning and hurrying through the design process are the reasons behind most kitchen renovating disasters.
Solution: Slow down
Take your time when planning and designing your kitchen, and be careful not to leave important decisions to the last minute.
Select and order kitchen appliances well in advance and make sure your kitchen designer and manufacturer have all the details and dimensions prior to issuing the final drawings for construction.
Take your time when planning and designing your kitchen, and be careful not to leave important decisions to the last minute.
Select and order kitchen appliances well in advance and make sure your kitchen designer and manufacturer have all the details and dimensions prior to issuing the final drawings for construction.
It usually takes more than one appointment to refine details such as the layout, functionality and finishes of the kitchen. You’ll usually have an initial meeting with the designer where you’ll set out the brief, and the designer will then go away and create the concepts. This will be followed by another meeting to discuss and refine the design, following which the designer will issue the final set of documents. You’ll then have a last run-through meeting where any final changes can be made.
Ensure you understand 100 percent of what you’re getting before signing off on construction drawings.
Planning a kitchen renovation? Find specialist kitchen designers near you, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
Ensure you understand 100 percent of what you’re getting before signing off on construction drawings.
Planning a kitchen renovation? Find specialist kitchen designers near you, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
2. Blunder: Settling for inferior hardware
Good-quality accessories and hardware, such as pull-out corner units, drawer dividers, soft-close runners and door hinges, often get excluded from kitchen designs due to budget constraints. But this can be a false economy in the long-run as features such as these can make a big difference to your kitchen, boosting its storage potential, and making the space far more pleasant to use.
Good-quality accessories and hardware, such as pull-out corner units, drawer dividers, soft-close runners and door hinges, often get excluded from kitchen designs due to budget constraints. But this can be a false economy in the long-run as features such as these can make a big difference to your kitchen, boosting its storage potential, and making the space far more pleasant to use.
These features do add to the overall cost of a new kitchen, but they’re worth the extra outlay, particularly if you’re a keen cook.
Solution: Know your options
Ensure you ask your kitchen designer about all the storage and hardware options available so you can make a fully informed choice.
If you don’t specify exactly what you want, you may end up with less-than-ideal hardware and storage solutions, which can be a missed opportunity – think a set-up that consists of more cupboards than drawers, drawers without inserts, and no soft-closing hardware. If budget is a concern, focus on those features that you feel will make the most difference to your experience of the kitchen.
Ensure you ask your kitchen designer about all the storage and hardware options available so you can make a fully informed choice.
If you don’t specify exactly what you want, you may end up with less-than-ideal hardware and storage solutions, which can be a missed opportunity – think a set-up that consists of more cupboards than drawers, drawers without inserts, and no soft-closing hardware. If budget is a concern, focus on those features that you feel will make the most difference to your experience of the kitchen.
3. Blunder: Forgetting the practical considerations
People can often get so caught up in the aesthetics of the design they forget about the practical side of things, which can result in a kitchen that’s less functional than it ought to be.
People can often get so caught up in the aesthetics of the design they forget about the practical side of things, which can result in a kitchen that’s less functional than it ought to be.
Solution: Put function first
Even before your initial appointment with your kitchen designer, start thinking about the practicalities of the kitchen and how you want it to perform.
Ask yourself, how many people will be using the kitchen at once? How tall are the users? How do you cook – for example, will you need a lot of bench space for baking or a high-powered range hood for cooking curries? Do you plan to leave your benchtop appliances out on display or do you want them hidden away? Will the kitchen be used just for cooking, as a hub for family meals or a place where the kids will do their homework and display school notes? What frustrates you about your current kitchen and is there anything you like about it?
At that initial consultation, give your kitchen designer as much information as possible about your lifestyle and how you plan to use the kitchen.
Even before your initial appointment with your kitchen designer, start thinking about the practicalities of the kitchen and how you want it to perform.
Ask yourself, how many people will be using the kitchen at once? How tall are the users? How do you cook – for example, will you need a lot of bench space for baking or a high-powered range hood for cooking curries? Do you plan to leave your benchtop appliances out on display or do you want them hidden away? Will the kitchen be used just for cooking, as a hub for family meals or a place where the kids will do their homework and display school notes? What frustrates you about your current kitchen and is there anything you like about it?
At that initial consultation, give your kitchen designer as much information as possible about your lifestyle and how you plan to use the kitchen.
Rachel Gilding, communications and design specialist at Beaumont Tiles
4. Blunder: Poor preparation
Some of the most common mistakes we see people making when tiling their kitchen come from a lack of preparation before the tiles are actually laid, for example not ordering the right quantity of tiles. This can be a costly mistake in terms of both budget and time. It’s recommended that you buy 10 percent more square metreage than the area to be tiled.
4. Blunder: Poor preparation
Some of the most common mistakes we see people making when tiling their kitchen come from a lack of preparation before the tiles are actually laid, for example not ordering the right quantity of tiles. This can be a costly mistake in terms of both budget and time. It’s recommended that you buy 10 percent more square metreage than the area to be tiled.
Solution: Do your research
Patience and preparation before tiling are key. Do your research, talk to the experts, and learn what to expect when having a space tiled. Most of the work needed for a perfectly tiled area is done before the first tile is laid.
Measure twice and make sure you purchase enough tiles to cover the space, and then some extra to allow for cuts and tile mishaps.
Tip: Have a few tiles laid out in your kitchen to ensure that grout lines run in a direction that suits the space.
Patience and preparation before tiling are key. Do your research, talk to the experts, and learn what to expect when having a space tiled. Most of the work needed for a perfectly tiled area is done before the first tile is laid.
Measure twice and make sure you purchase enough tiles to cover the space, and then some extra to allow for cuts and tile mishaps.
Tip: Have a few tiles laid out in your kitchen to ensure that grout lines run in a direction that suits the space.
5. Blunder: Choosing the wrong type of tiles
Another common mistake is laying the wrong tile or product for the space. Things such as choosing a tile with the wrong slip rating or laying floor tiles on a wall can appear fine when you’re laying them, but you’ll soon notice problems when you’re living in the space.
Another common mistake is laying the wrong tile or product for the space. Things such as choosing a tile with the wrong slip rating or laying floor tiles on a wall can appear fine when you’re laying them, but you’ll soon notice problems when you’re living in the space.
Tiles: Beaumont Tiles
Solution: Be specific about placement
Be clear about where the tiles are going to be used. For example, you wouldn’t want a heavy floor tile on a splashback, but there may be a suitable alternative that matches your chosen style if you’re clear about where it’s going.
Solution: Be specific about placement
Be clear about where the tiles are going to be used. For example, you wouldn’t want a heavy floor tile on a splashback, but there may be a suitable alternative that matches your chosen style if you’re clear about where it’s going.
6. Blunder: Selecting a clashing style
It’s surprisingly common for people to forget about the furniture and other finishes in a room when selecting tiles. Tiles can be a beautiful way to finish a floor, but not when they clash with other elements in a room.
It’s surprisingly common for people to forget about the furniture and other finishes in a room when selecting tiles. Tiles can be a beautiful way to finish a floor, but not when they clash with other elements in a room.
Solution: Factor in surrounding furniture and finishes
When selecting tiles, keep in mind the look you’re trying to achieve and be confident in your choice. It’s also a good idea to go to the showroom armed with a mood board of the other elements in the kitchen, such as furniture and joinery, to make sure your chosen tile blends in well.
A good rule of thumb is to avoid conflicting patterns, particularly between the walls and floor. If you’ve chosen richly patterned flooring, opt for simple wall colours; if you have a bold feature wall, choose simple floor tiles.
When selecting tiles, keep in mind the look you’re trying to achieve and be confident in your choice. It’s also a good idea to go to the showroom armed with a mood board of the other elements in the kitchen, such as furniture and joinery, to make sure your chosen tile blends in well.
A good rule of thumb is to avoid conflicting patterns, particularly between the walls and floor. If you’ve chosen richly patterned flooring, opt for simple wall colours; if you have a bold feature wall, choose simple floor tiles.
Ilan El, founder and creative director at Ilanel Lighting Atelier
7. Blunder: Putting lighting in the wrong spots
Placing lights above the walkways in the kitchen and not over the benchtops – where they’re actually needed – is one of the most common mistakes people make. As a result, you end up with shadows over your sink and prep areas, making it nearly impossible to see what you’re doing.
Another common pitfall is choosing looks over function; renovators often select pretty pendants that don’t actually emit enough light over benchtops.
7. Blunder: Putting lighting in the wrong spots
Placing lights above the walkways in the kitchen and not over the benchtops – where they’re actually needed – is one of the most common mistakes people make. As a result, you end up with shadows over your sink and prep areas, making it nearly impossible to see what you’re doing.
Another common pitfall is choosing looks over function; renovators often select pretty pendants that don’t actually emit enough light over benchtops.
Solution: Focus on how you’ll use the space
Think about where you’ll need to see clearly in the kitchen, such as your cooking, washing and prep zones, and select the appropriate fittings. Make sure the globes you choose emit sufficient light, then make sure you position them in the right spots. For example, if you’re choosing ceiling downlights, place them centrally over benchtops.
Adding lighting beneath overhead cabinetry is another way to boost visibility in your prep and cooking zones. It can also create great mood lighting at night in an open-plan kitchen, once the cooking is done.
Think about where you’ll need to see clearly in the kitchen, such as your cooking, washing and prep zones, and select the appropriate fittings. Make sure the globes you choose emit sufficient light, then make sure you position them in the right spots. For example, if you’re choosing ceiling downlights, place them centrally over benchtops.
Adding lighting beneath overhead cabinetry is another way to boost visibility in your prep and cooking zones. It can also create great mood lighting at night in an open-plan kitchen, once the cooking is done.
8. Blunder: Choosing cold, clinical light
When a kitchen feels cold, uninviting and commercial, it often comes down to poor lighting choices. The kitchen is the heart of most homes, so it’s important to choose a warm light that will create a welcoming feel.
When a kitchen feels cold, uninviting and commercial, it often comes down to poor lighting choices. The kitchen is the heart of most homes, so it’s important to choose a warm light that will create a welcoming feel.
Solution: Go for warmth
Look at the temperature of light bulbs, which is measured in kelvins and is marked on the packaging. Light globes of 2,000-3,000K will give you a warm white light, perfect for a cosy kitchen. Opt for low-glare styles.
A good mix of indirect (or ambient) lighting paired with task lights for prep zones will set a practical yet welcoming tone in the kitchen. Having them on separate dimmable switches makes it easy to alter the mood when cooking or relaxing.
Tip: Be wary of shiny benchtops that can reflect glare back at you when you’re prepping meals.
Look at the temperature of light bulbs, which is measured in kelvins and is marked on the packaging. Light globes of 2,000-3,000K will give you a warm white light, perfect for a cosy kitchen. Opt for low-glare styles.
A good mix of indirect (or ambient) lighting paired with task lights for prep zones will set a practical yet welcoming tone in the kitchen. Having them on separate dimmable switches makes it easy to alter the mood when cooking or relaxing.
Tip: Be wary of shiny benchtops that can reflect glare back at you when you’re prepping meals.
Your turn
What was your biggest kitchen reno mistake? Tell us about it in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, share it, save it, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to steer clear of other common renovating blunders? Don’t miss this Pro Panel: Biggest Bathroom Blunders
What was your biggest kitchen reno mistake? Tell us about it in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, share it, save it, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to steer clear of other common renovating blunders? Don’t miss this Pro Panel: Biggest Bathroom Blunders
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In this article, there are two sections on tile. I have read so many posts about people agonizing on getting just the right tile for a backsplash. It seems tile backsplashes are a given, but like high heels, a real pain. If function is the most important, why bother at all? What is really so terrible about a simple 4" backsplash, to keep the water in check, and then just a washable paint that can be repainted for a fresh coat or a change of color? Why are we torturing ourselves? Help me understand. I really want to know what it is I am forgetting to consider.
We used our 600mm square floor tiles as a splashback and they were the perfect choice in a small room. I don't understand why you would use small tiles with lots of white grout.
If you are building a home.. make sure your kitchen is not in a hallway.. with an island sink facing a wall.