Top 6 Kitchen Renovation Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Anne-Marie Brunet, CMKBD, CAPS

I’ve done many renovation projects for, and with, clients in my many years of business.

Here is my list of the top six mistakes that I hear about from clients when embarking on kitchen renovations. These objections/mistakes also apply to any type of renovation.

Of course, when clients raise these objections, it opens up important discussions on why they should never skip these important steps.

Trust your designer and you’ll have a successful project!

…counting down the top six kitchen renovation mistakes…

6. Not wanting to get a permit

If you’re not moving any electrical or plumbing, then you don’t need a permit. Your project falls into the ‘face-lift’ category and not the renovation category.

If your plan calls for a major design shift and we’re moving plumbing, electrical, walls, etc. DO NOT SKIMP on the permit. Any reputable designer or trade will not take on your project period.

Depending on the scope of work and your municipality, building permits currently start as low as @ $18.50 per $1000.00 value of construction. Check with your municipality for exact costs.

That building permit is there to protect you in case of any potential catastrophes. Building inspectors know who’s doing good work and who isn’t. It’s in your best interest to have as many good people on your team to protect your investment.

Another point to consider for getting a building permit is that your insurance company most likely will not cover you in case of a fire or flood if they consider the work to be done ‘on the sly’ or ‘under the table’, ie: no building permit or inspections registered with the city or municipality.

You probably wouldn’t build a new house without getting it inspected, right? Then why take the risk when you’re moving or altering important building infrastructure?

5. Not being realistic about spatial considerations

Most clients we’ve worked with really don’t have great spatial perception, hence one of the reasons they want to work with us. I’ve had clients think they can fit a double 48″ refrigerator unit in a 10×12 kitchen.
If you really want that big of a fridge or that professional six-burner cooktop in your small kitchen, you need to be prepared to steal space from another room.

I cannot in good conscience create a design if we don’t even meet the basic functional standards for kitchens.

The other thing I get asked a lot for are islands. There are minimum space requirements to include an island in a kitchen, and unless you meet those minimum requirements it’s not going to happen, unless you are prepared to steal space from an adjacent room.

4. Being ‘too trendy’—unless you have loads of money to spend!

Jumping onto the latest trending style may not be in your best interest. If you’re trying to stay ahead of ‘the Joneses‘, be aware that kitchen trends last about five years max. This is for the really trendy stuff.

So while you’re falling in love with the all-grey trend or all of the open shelving look, just remember it will get ‘old’ before you do.

See Mistake No. 3 below for a continuation of this trend mistake.

3. Not considering adjacent rooms when selecting the ‘new look’ for your renovation

This piggy-backs on the ‘too trendy’ comment above.

If you’re living in a home where the architectural style is quite evident (e.g. Tudor, Georgian, Federal, Colonial, etc.), and you’re looking to renovate the kitchen (or insert other room here), it’s probably not a good idea to put in a super modern red lacquered Italian kitchen.

Nothing screams bad Reno more than incorporating incongruous selections and forcing a different style in this type of classic environment. Doing so will only serve to disassociate your kitchen from all the other rooms in the house and make it look out of place, ultimately hurting the value of your home.

So please be considerate of your home’s style. If you don’t know exactly what you’re working with or what it’s called, please call us and we’ll help you sort it out. A two-hour consultation with a design professional will give you the guidance and confidence you need to proceed with joy and excitement.

Whether you’re just doing one room of the whole house, I would still caution you to balance your home’s architectural style with your ‘wish list’. There is a fine line and a balance to be struck when mixing modern and traditional elements, and most people aren’t skilled at creating that yin-yang relationship.

You don’t want to end up with a hot mess, disappointed, with a lot of money down the drain, and the value of your house destroyed or seriously impacted.

2. Choosing the wrong finishes or colours for materials

A great example of where this sometimes goes wrong is with white or cream-coloured kitchens. Countertops, tile, marble, and paint colours (just to name a few)—while all in the white or cream family—all behave differently under the same lighting. Each colour has different undertones that sometimes just don’t work together when placed close together in a room.

It’s imperative to look at all of your selected materials in your space, and during different times of the day—or at least in the morning and evening light—and, if possible under whatever type of new lighting source you’re putting in (LED, vintage, or other).

Choosing materials in the store guarantees they will NOT look the same in your space.

Material finishes (e.g. glossy or matte) also behave differently under different types of lighting. Glossy finishes tend to reflect whatever other colour is around them. If you want a shiny white countertop and glossy red cabinet, your countertop might take on a ‘blush’ shade in certain areas when viewed from different angles or under different lighting.

Another consideration is the orientation of the windows in the room (i.e. north, south, east, west). Different light spectrums from different window orientations will affect the colours of your selections in your kitchen, and in any space for that matter.

…and the #1 kitchen renovation mistake I see too often is…

1. Buying appliances before the floor plan layout are even considered, drawn, and approved

Please don’t do this. Most people do not have an appreciation for the volume and physical footprint that appliances take up in a space.

By all means, tell me what your preferences are, and I will do my best to get you what you want, but maybe that 48” wide fridge is just not gonna fit in your small kitchen. You might have to compromise and go with a 36” fridge. The same goes for your range or cooktop.

As a Certified Master Kitchen Designer, I must work within the appliance manufacturer’s clearance specifications for a variety of reasons:

• Complying with local building codes
• For your appliance to function correctly
• So I don’t void your warranty
• And we don’t burn your house down!

If you are renovating a small kitchen, click here to learn more about how to choose the right fridge.
Visit this small kitchen renovation to see how we improved the function and beauty of this small space.
And this small Victorian Cottage kitchen makeover is a masterclass in small-space design and small appliance selection. It won us a Top 3 position in a recent Design Competition.

Ready to transform your kitchen into the heart of your home without the costly missteps?

Let’s talk through your goals in a complimentary discovery session tailored for discerning homeowners.
We’ll walk you through the process and help you set a realistic budget for your ‘wish list’.

Spaces are limited to ensure boutique-level service and attention to detail.

Your crew did such an excellent job. I have rarely seen a team work so well, who are kind, polite, meticulous and very clean. I am so happy with the results!
-Claudette M.
Cornwall, Ont.

Serving busy professionals in Cornwall, Brockville, Ottawa and surrounding areas.