Avoid These 13 Mistakes When Renovating Your Dream Kitchen

AD It YourselfAvoid These 13 Mistakes When Renovating Your Dream KitchenNine experts teach us the tricks of the trade

By Terri Williams

February 24, 2022

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A very stylish and modern kitchen stove and counter.Photo: Cavan Images via Getty Images

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Designing your dream kitchen can be an exciting renovation project that may involve knocking down walls, and selecting everything from flooring to backsplashes to appliances. It’s usually a fun but complex process with many components; you can easily overlook details that can result in major problems down the line—and may cause you to go over budget. So, we spoke with nine experts, including architects, designers, and flooring professionals to find the kitchen renovation mistakes you should avoid. Scroll down for 13 of their absolute deal breakers.

Failing to plan

According to Michael Menn, architect, homebuilder, and home remodeler in Northbrook, Illinois, the biggest mistake that most homeowners make during a kitchen renovation is failing to plan properly. A successful kitchen remodel requires an end goal and vision. Menn explains that he’s not talking about a pretty picture of what you want the kitchen to look like. “Decide what your life—and your family’s life—will look like in this new space, because the kitchen must perform to [meet] those ends.”

Underestimating the cost

In addition to planning, Menn says failing to create an accurate budget is another huge mistake. “Whatever you think you want to spend, you will spend more, so have a 15 to 20 percent contingency,” he warns. “Take the time and do as much research as possible on flooring, countertops, cabinetry, lighting, accessories, appliances, etcetera, since most people rush when making these decisions.”

Choosing appliances after cabinetry

Real estate broker Egypt Sherrod, one of the hosts of HGTV’s new show, Married to Real Estate, tells us it’s a mistake to choose your appliances after the cabinetry has already been installed. As she explains, “When it comes to designing a kitchen, measurements are crucial, and a one-to-two-inch difference can make or break an installment.” So, you need to know your appliance measurements before the cabinet specifications are made. Sherrod adds, “This allows for the specs of the appliances to be properly taken into consideration when laying everything out.”

Installing cabinets before floors

The order of installation is also important as it relates to your cabinetry and floors, and Paul Henthorn, owner of Slaughterbeck Floors in Campbell, California, recommends installing the floors after the cabinetry when possible. “If cabinets are installed on top of a hardwood floor, there are at least two potential problems,” he explains. “The floor loses the ability to expand and contract, making cupping or peaking more of a reality, and it makes it very hard to remove the floor without damaging cabinets, should it need to be replaced or repaired.” Also, he says that installing the floors after cabinets also minimizes the risk that the floors will be damaged from the cabinet installation.

Choosing the wrong flooring

If you plan to use hardwood floors in your new kitchen, Henthorn stresses that the wood selection is very important. “Select wood that is treated with the proper finish; a pre-finished sealed hardwood is a good choice.” He also mentions that hardwood can be slippery, whereas a textured finish like hand-scraped, distressed, or reclaimed wood can help provide more traction while also covering up damage from kitchen wear and tear. He recommends selecting a wood with “a high Janka hardness rating—1500+—such as hickory, so it can withstand frequent use and drops while minimizing damage.”

Henthorn also says the kitchen is the most accident-prone area in the house, so it’s important to protect the areas where slips are most likely to happen. “Use rugs or pads in front of the fridge, sink, dishwasher, and pantry.”

What about cork flooring? Henthorn explains that cork is most commonly used in kitchens, since it is soft, sound absorbing, and green. “However, cork does easily fade in the sun, so you may want to consider the sun exposure,” he warns.

Ignoring the kitchen triangle

Regardless of how stylish your kitchen looks, Sherrod says it won’t be functional if your key appliances are too far away from each other. “Ideally, you should create a chef’s triangle between your stove, sink, and refrigerator, so that they are all within a few feet from one another,” she says. “Installing those three primary work elements close to each other—but not too close—makes the kitchen more efficient and easier to use, while cutting down on unnecessary steps.”  

Improperly wiring kitchen outlets

There’s also a safety mistake you should avoid when designing or redesigning a kitchen: improperly wiring all of your kitchen outlets to 15 amp breakers, according to builder Mike Jackson, another one of the hosts of HGTV’s Married to Real Estate. “Kitchens should have at least two to three accessible outlets on dedicated 20 amp outlets—and preferably, all of the kitchen counter outlets should be on a dedicated 20 amp outlet,” he explains. “These outlets should be on an Arc fault and ground fault circuit protector to prevent electrical fires or injuries.”

Trying to find online deals for critical items

Pamela O’Brien, principal designer at Pamela Hope Designs, in Houston, warns against looking for bargains online as it relates to critical items like plumbing and appliances.

“Currently there are significant delays and a large amount of damage in shipping,” O’Brien explains. “How will the online vendor handle a dented refrigerator that was dropped off in front of your home?” Another concern is accurate lead times. She notes that “even high-quality vendors are having trouble keeping information up-to-date on their websites and items advertised as ‘in stock, ready to ship’ may not be available for months or at all.”

She recommends ordering from a trusted vendor— ideally, someone you can contact directly if there are delays or the item arrives damaged. “Waiting on a key part or item can waylay your entire construction schedule,” she adds.

Failing to plan for deliveries

When you’re ordering parts, supplies, and construction materials from various sources, O’Brien says you need a plan for when and how these items will arrive—and where you will store them. As she elaborates, “With timelines extended out for many items, you might end up with a countertop that you have to purchase now, but won’t have appliances for eight months, so what will you do with the countertop in the meantime?”

O’Brien also points out that some items arrive in large boxes, crates, or even on pallets. “Can you accept palletized deliveries at your home? Many of us can’t,” she adds. If a truck leaves your new refrigerator at the curb, she says it’s up to you to get it into your home.

However, O’Brien says you have more flexibility if you order from an appliance, plumbing, and lighting showroom. “They will receive and store your goods and deliver them to you when you are ready, often at no additional cost.” Also, if there’s any damage, she says the showroom is responsible for getting a replacement or substitute.

Assuming you can just paint your cabinets

Painting your existing kitchen cabinets (or even the fridge) can help you save a lot of money. However, Lanna Ali-Hassan, owner and principal designer at Beyond the Box Interiors in Washington, D.C., says there are several important questions you need to ask yourself before you go this route. “Is the current layout functional? Is the door style outdated? Are the cabinets made from a material that can be painted?”

If you compromise on functionality and style, she warns that you may regret your decision in a few years. “If you do move forward, it is important to prep the cabinets properly or the paint might not adhere well,” Ali-Hassan adds 

Being too trendy

While we all like to keep up with the latest trends, Ali-Hassan warns that trends, by definition, are here today and gone tomorrow. “It is important to not incorporate too many trendy items into the design unless they can easily be swapped out in a few years,” she says. “Larger items, such as cabinetry and even countertops, should be a style that is somewhat timeless so you don’t have to endure a major remodel once the trend fades away.” Ali-Hassan recommends focusing on backsplash tile, cabinet hardware, and lighting for your trendy choices.  

For example, you may want to avoid using too many open shelves. “They are trendy and look nice and clean when you see them online, but the reality is, you are always going to need more storage than you think. You don’t want to see a lot of the kitchen items displayed on an open shelf,” says Nastaran Mousavi, partner and principal architect at Studio Banaa in San Francisco. She recommends putting a few above the sink or close to a window to hold some plants, but otherwise relying on cabinets with doors for your storage needs.

Underestimating storage

Most people underestimate storage space in general, according to John Starck, CEO and president of Showcase Kitchens in Manhasset, New York. “Aside from the obvious need for large storage areas for pots and pans and small kitchen appliances, like blenders, most homeowners miscalculate space needed for other items.” He recommends looking for ways to add storage spaces, like pull-out spice racks flanking the range, or under-counter storage on the center island. 

Not having enough clearance

More than likely, you’re going to have appliances (an air fryer, gourmet coffee maker, fancy stand mixer, etcetera) on the countertop. “Make sure you allow enough height between the top of the counter and bottom of the upper cabinets,” Mousavi advises. “The typical height is 18 inches, but you may have to go up to 20 inches to allow for some taller appliances, plus some room to access the top of the appliance.”

But that’s not the only type of clearance you need to think about. “Make sure you can open the dishwasher without blocking access to the sink, and you can open your oven without blocking flow in the kitchen,” says Sarah Gaffney, design manager and project designer at Next Stage Design in San Jose, California. “Another issue is cabinet doors opening against each other; clearances are a technical detail that some DIYers don’t consider when designing a space, but it has a huge impact on the functionality of a kitchen.”  

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