Top 10 Reasons to Start a Kitchen Renovation
The Consumer Affairs Research Team reported that: “a whopping 49 percent of homeowners underwent a kitchen renovation to encourage more family time.” It might be the best reason to renovate your kitchen, but it certainly isn’t the only one. The kitchen and bath design professionals at Swartz Kitchens & Baths have rounded up the top 10 reasons to start a kitchen renovation whether you’ve been in your house decades, or you just purchased a fixer-upper. They just might give you that extra push to get started on a kitchen renovation.
1. Deteriorating Conditions
Safety concerns are the most obvious (and most necessary) reason to start a kitchen renovation. If you recently bought a fixer upper, there are likely a few places where deterioration has created potential hazards. The kitchen is host to hot stove tops and sharp knives, yet it’s also the place where congregate. Safety is of the utmost importance, so it’s imperative to attend to any safety concerns — from loose floorboards to outdated appliances to sketchy plumbing.
There are two likely reasons that your kitchen shows signs of deterioration: you just bought a fixer-upper or you’ve lived in your home for a long time. If you just bought a fixer-upper, you’re probably acutely aware of the problem areas in your kitchen. On the other hand, if you’ve lived in your home for a long time, the signs might have snuck up on you. If the laminate floor is peeling away around the edges, your avocado stove has gone kaput, or you must hit the faucet with a wrench two times and recite a poem for the water to flow (stranger things have happened), it’s time for a kitchen renovation.
2. Prioritizing Family and Fun
We all have our priorities, and your kitchen should reflect yours. Whether you prioritize family, entertaining, cleanliness, or style, there are ways to plan your kitchen renovation accordingly. If family is your main priority, you can design a kitchen with extra seating at a large island where everyone can gather, or an open concept kitchen that leads into the living room so you’re a part of the action while preparing and cleaning up meals. If cleanliness is your priority, you can design extra storage or a scullery so your kitchen never feels cluttered or messy (at least not too messy). If you want to stay current with style trends or make sure your home is in tip top shape for your annual Thanksgiving dinner, you can prioritize design aesthetic when creating your space. If your current kitchen does not match your priorities, it may be time to consider a kitchen renovation.
3. Getting a Fresh Look
Even if your kitchen isn’t full of safety hazards and appliances on their last legs, it still might be outdated. There are a few signs to look out for in an outdated kitchen, including blank walls without a backsplash, floors that show a lot of wear and tear, outdated color schemes, and old-fashioned cabinets or countertops. If any of these describe your current kitchen, it’s time to modernize with a kitchen renovation. You can look forward to features like extra seating, energy efficient appliances, bold and beautiful colors (on cabinets, appliances, backsplashes, and more), unique lighting fixtures and a better workflow. Remember: it’s been over 20 years since the year 2000, so it’s high time to bring your kitchen up to date!
4. Orienting the Kitchen for Maximum Convenience
Is your kitchen oriented in a way that makes sense for your lifestyle and for maximum convenience? Is it set up so that you don’t have to hike from the fridge to the sink to the oven and back again every few minutes? You want this triangle of commonly used appliances to be designed in a way that optimizes space and convenience while you’re cooking. Each of these appliances should be close enough together to use them easily, while still allowing ample room to move around and open doors. You may also want to think about orienting your floor plan so you can keep an eye on another room or interact with guests while cooking. A kitchen renovation can ensure that your space will be conveniently designed to match your lifestyle.
5. Customizing to Meet Your Needs
Kitchen renovations still happen even when a kitchen doesn’t present safety concerns or need major updates. At Swartz Kitchens & Baths, we often see customers who want to customize a kitchen to suit their lifestyle by incorporating their must-have features. Maybe you’ve taken up baking and your current kitchen does not have counter space (or storage space) for your shiny new Kitchenaid mixer. Perhaps the once-trendy hanging rack for your pots and pans has become nothing more than a dust catcher for pots and pans that are just aging in place. Or, speaking of dust, maybe that unused space between the top of your old cabinets and the ceiling makes you cringe. Customizing your kitchen to suit your lifestyle, hobbies, and preferences will allow you to make the most out of your home.
6. Increasing Value
Some design trends seemed like good ideas when they were in vogue, but now that you’re planning to sell or refinance your home, those outdated trends have become glaringly obvious. Whether it is the black and white checkered floor, the dark wood cabinets, or the rooster designs on the backsplash, an outdated kitchen will detract from the value of your home. On the other hand, completing a kitchen renovation can significantly increase the value of your home. So why not go for it?!
7. Acting on Inspiration
You might consider a kitchen renovation simply if you feel inspired by what you see while watching your favorite design shows, scrolling on Instagram, or just living life. The way we see it, you might as well let the inspiration flow! A kitchen renovation takes a lot of work, but it’s also a great way to get creative, learn new things, and bring out the highest potential in your home.
8. Cashing in on Incentives
You may be able to get the best bang for your buck when it comes to kitchen renovations. If you research and plan wisely, you can score great deals on appliance bundles, refinance your mortgage to fund a home improvement project, or save with better interest rates and energy rebates.
9. Integrating the Kitchen with Other Rooms
In the past, kitchens were often closed off from the rest of the house. Nobody wanted the mess of the kitchen to show while they were hosting a dinner party, but unfortunately that made it impossible for the chef to interact with the rest of the party. These days, people seem to care more about spending quality time together and less about keeping up appearances (we all know there will be a mess when dinner is being prepared!). By integrating the kitchen into the rest of the house, you will make a better flow from one room to the next while ensuring that everyone can stay connected and engaged with each other (even when they’re in different rooms).
10. Personalizing Your Space
Last, but certainly not least, is personalization. While customization is about taking the time to design a kitchen that suits your specific needs and lifestyle for years to come, personalization is all about making your space feel more like you. What colors bring you joy? What features make your heart sing? Which materials feel right? These are some of the questions you can ask when personalizing your kitchen renovation. Most people tend to play it safe by using neutral colors and designs in a kitchen renovation to avoid mistakes and appeal to a wider audience for re-sale. It can be scary to take the leap and personalize your kitchen, but it’s so worth it. In some cases, something as simple as replacing the countertops with a new material creates a space that feels more like you (marbled quartz, anyone?).
Getting Started
If you’re contemplating a kitchen renovation, reach out to our design professionals. You can look forward to great advice, new ideas, and perhaps some newfound inspiration. The Swartz Kitchens & Baths team looks forward to helping you bring your kitchen renovation to life.
Top 10 Reasons to Start a Kitchen Renovation
The Consumer Affairs Research Team reported that: “a whopping 49 percent of homeowners underwent a kitchen renovation to encourage more family time.” It might be the best reason to renovate your kitchen, but it certainly isn’t the only one. The kitchen and bath design professionals at Swartz Kitchens & Baths have rounded up the top 10 reasons to start a kitchen renovation whether you’ve been in your house decades, or you just purchased a fixer-upper. They just might give you that extra push to get started on a kitchen renovation.
1. Deteriorating Conditions
Safety concerns are the most obvious (and most necessary) reason to start a kitchen renovation. If you recently bought a fixer upper, there are likely a few places where deterioration has created potential hazards. The kitchen is host to hot stove tops and sharp knives, yet it’s also the place where congregate. Safety is of the utmost importance, so it’s imperative to attend to any safety concerns — from loose floorboards to outdated appliances to sketchy plumbing.
There are two likely reasons that your kitchen shows signs of deterioration: you just bought a fixer-upper or you’ve lived in your home for a long time. If you just bought a fixer-upper, you’re probably acutely aware of the problem areas in your kitchen. On the other hand, if you’ve lived in your home for a long time, the signs might have snuck up on you. If the laminate floor is peeling away around the edges, your avocado stove has gone kaput, or you must hit the faucet with a wrench two times and recite a poem for the water to flow (stranger things have happened), it’s time for a kitchen renovation.
2. Prioritizing Family and Fun
We all have our priorities, and your kitchen should reflect yours. Whether you prioritize family, entertaining, cleanliness, or style, there are ways to plan your kitchen renovation accordingly. If family is your main priority, you can design a kitchen with extra seating at a large island where everyone can gather, or an open concept kitchen that leads into the living room so you’re a part of the action while preparing and cleaning up meals. If cleanliness is your priority, you can design extra storage or a scullery so your kitchen never feels cluttered or messy (at least not too messy). If you want to stay current with style trends or make sure your home is in tip top shape for your annual Thanksgiving dinner, you can prioritize design aesthetic when creating your space. If your current kitchen does not match your priorities, it may be time to consider a kitchen renovation.
3. Getting a Fresh Look
Even if your kitchen isn’t full of safety hazards and appliances on their last legs, it still might be outdated. There are a few signs to look out for in an outdated kitchen, including blank walls without a backsplash, floors that show a lot of wear and tear, outdated color schemes, and old-fashioned cabinets or countertops. If any of these describe your current kitchen, it’s time to modernize with a kitchen renovation. You can look forward to features like extra seating, energy efficient appliances, bold and beautiful colors (on cabinets, appliances, backsplashes, and more), unique lighting fixtures and a better workflow. Remember: it’s been over 20 years since the year 2000, so it’s high time to bring your kitchen up to date!
4. Orienting the Kitchen for Maximum Convenience
Is your kitchen oriented in a way that makes sense for your lifestyle and for maximum convenience? Is it set up so that you don’t have to hike from the fridge to the sink to the oven and back again every few minutes? You want this triangle of commonly used appliances to be designed in a way that optimizes space and convenience while you’re cooking. Each of these appliances should be close enough together to use them easily, while still allowing ample room to move around and open doors. You may also want to think about orienting your floor plan so you can keep an eye on another room or interact with guests while cooking. A kitchen renovation can ensure that your space will be conveniently designed to match your lifestyle.
5. Customizing to Meet Your Needs
Kitchen renovations still happen even when a kitchen doesn’t present safety concerns or need major updates. At Swartz Kitchens & Baths, we often see customers who want to customize a kitchen to suit their lifestyle by incorporating their must-have features. Maybe you’ve taken up baking and your current kitchen does not have counter space (or storage space) for your shiny new Kitchenaid mixer. Perhaps the once-trendy hanging rack for your pots and pans has become nothing more than a dust catcher for pots and pans that are just aging in place. Or, speaking of dust, maybe that unused space between the top of your old cabinets and the ceiling makes you cringe. Customizing your kitchen to suit your lifestyle, hobbies, and preferences will allow you to make the most out of your home.
6. Increasing Value
Some design trends seemed like good ideas when they were in vogue, but now that you’re planning to sell or refinance your home, those outdated trends have become glaringly obvious. Whether it is the black and white checkered floor, the dark wood cabinets, or the rooster designs on the backsplash, an outdated kitchen will detract from the value of your home. On the other hand, completing a kitchen renovation can significantly increase the value of your home. So why not go for it?!
7. Acting on Inspiration
You might consider a kitchen renovation simply if you feel inspired by what you see while watching your favorite design shows, scrolling on Instagram, or just living life. The way we see it, you might as well let the inspiration flow! A kitchen renovation takes a lot of work, but it’s also a great way to get creative, learn new things, and bring out the highest potential in your home.
8. Cashing in on Incentives
You may be able to get the best bang for your buck when it comes to kitchen renovations. If you research and plan wisely, you can score great deals on appliance bundles, refinance your mortgage to fund a home improvement project, or save with better interest rates and energy rebates.
9. Integrating the Kitchen with Other Rooms
In the past, kitchens were often closed off from the rest of the house. Nobody wanted the mess of the kitchen to show while they were hosting a dinner party, but unfortunately that made it impossible for the chef to interact with the rest of the party. These days, people seem to care more about spending quality time together and less about keeping up appearances (we all know there will be a mess when dinner is being prepared!). By integrating the kitchen into the rest of the house, you will make a better flow from one room to the next while ensuring that everyone can stay connected and engaged with each other (even when they’re in different rooms).
10. Personalizing Your Space
Last, but certainly not least, is personalization. While customization is about taking the time to design a kitchen that suits your specific needs and lifestyle for years to come, personalization is all about making your space feel more like you. What colors bring you joy? What features make your heart sing? Which materials feel right? These are some of the questions you can ask when personalizing your kitchen renovation. Most people tend to play it safe by using neutral colors and designs in a kitchen renovation to avoid mistakes and appeal to a wider audience for re-sale. It can be scary to take the leap and personalize your kitchen, but it’s so worth it. In some cases, something as simple as replacing the countertops with a new material creates a space that feels more like you (marbled quartz, anyone?).
Getting Started
If you’re contemplating a kitchen renovation, reach out to our design professionals. You can look forward to great advice, new ideas, and perhaps some newfound inspiration. The Swartz Kitchens & Baths team looks forward to helping you bring your kitchen renovation to life.