What you will learn from this episode: 

• Considering what kind of cook you are now and will be in the future before planning your kitchen renovation

• What appliances to consider and what kind of storage you will need

• What kind of esthetics should you add to your kitchen?

• How much space should you allow for guests/children?

In today’s episode, I will be talking about a room that got a lot of scrutiny in the stay-at-home months – the kitchen. Cooking 3 meals a day, with everybody home, is something not many of us have ever done before last year. That being said everyone wants a kitchen that really works for them.

I have been hearing about people experimenting with classes, and new recipes. We have all spent more time in our kitchens this past year, and I have had some clients that have come to enjoy cooking, and now want to their kitchen to be able to better support their new hobby.

I will be going over the ultimate question checklist that will prepare you to create a kitchen renovation that functions for your unique needs.

Most people are what I might call part-time cooks. People that cook for large family gatherings a few times a year, maybe a do large Sunday breakfasts. But it seems like this all at home cooking has spurred this growing group of what I’m calling hobby chefs. But designing a kitchen for a part-time cook and a chef hobbyist is completely different. Someone who likes to bake then someone who spends more time on the range-top or roasting in the oven. 

If it is your goal to renovate your kitchen this year, I challenge you to thoughtfully consider what kind of cooking do you want to do, or more importantly, hope to do in the future.

These answers will determine the space you need to allocate and how that space will be laid out. There are a lot of things to consider before starting your kitchen renovation. If you have children who like to help you could create a space that would allow them to be up beside you, but not directly in front of the stove top, what kind of messes will you be making? That will determine what kind of countertops would be best suited for you.

Do you like to be alone while cooking, or would you like your kitchen to allow for people to be around you, or have a place to sit?

You have to consider the place for each one of your appliances. These will be in a fixed place, so their place needs to be planned in out in advance. Depending on what kind of cooking you do or plan to do in the future, there are multiple appliances that you could consider having in your kitchen.

You will need to have outlets for these appliances, and have them easily accessible. Will you be cooking on your island? You will need to have outlets there.

And then I talk about lighting. There are 3 different kinds of lighting you can add to your kitchen. Tasks lighting is what I put under cabinets, so you can read your recipe books. Then there is decorative lighting, that would primarily be above the kitchen island. This lighting is more for looks, and usually doesn’t put off enough light, so you need ceiling light as well.

So many times I see progress come to an abrupt halt because my clients start looking at magazines, TV shows, their friends homes, and start comparing and second guessing their decisions. I spend a lot of time talking my clients out of second guessing their dreams and decisions. I want to tell you, there are no bad choices, we all live in our own homes for a reason, so long as it’s functional and supports your needs.

In the coming weeks I will be rolling out a custom course that will actually train you to manage your home renovations like a pro. Stay tuned for more information!

Like this Episode?

• Be sure to check out Episode #10: How to Create The Home Office You Need

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