How to Prevent Buyer’s Remorse when Remodelling Your Kitchen
How to Prevent Buyer’s Remorse when Remodelling Your Kitchen
At Archant, we’re keenly aware that remodelling a kitchen is a big undertaking. As homeowners, it’s not a project we need to tackle very often. Ideally, you want to do it once and get it right the first time. It would be unfortunate to spend the time and money to renovate and not be truly satisfied with the results.
Yet if you search the web, you’ll find all sorts of stories from people who have had nightmarish kitchen remodelling experiences. We say this not to scare you, but to prevent you from making the same mistakes. The silver lining here is in learning how to best prepare yourself for a successful kitchen remodel.
At Archant, our goal is to make sure that your renovation goes exactly as planned. We don’t strive to simply meet your expectations, but rather exceed them.
Planning to Remodel Your Kitchen in 2023?
If you’ve decided that 2023 is the ideal time to remodel your kitchen in New Zealand, you’re in the right place. Keep reading to discover the top five ways to prevent buyer’s remorse when remodelling your space. By following these helpful guidelines, you can rest easy.
When all is said and done, we know you’ll be thrilled with the outcome. The kitchen of your dreams is well within reach. Let’s dive in and find out how to make it a reality.
1) Choose Materials that Last
When shopping for the various elements that will go into your kitchen, it can be tempting to focus solely on price in order to save. And while this approach may save money at the front of your project, it can actually cost more in the long term.
As the consumer, you are empowered by the wealth of available options to consider. Shop around and make sure you ask about the different ranges for each aspect of the design. Many manufacturers offer a good, better, best selection.
Also, be sure to ask questions about the warranty duration for each item. This is where a bit of research goes a long way. The answers will clue you in on the potential durability and build quality. Put simply, renovating a kitchen is quite the undertaking and you don’t want to go through the inconvenience and cost of labour to replace something that didn’t last.
2) Don’t Choose Form over Function
Incorporating great design and innovative products into your space can be exciting, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of functionality. There’s a fine line between adding a new product because it’s trendy and choosing an item that will enhance the overall usability of your space. Ideally, you want whatever items you select to be a smart blend of both.
When it comes to big-ticket items like the benchtop and flooring, you may want to opt for something more classic and timeless. This way, it never goes out of style, and will really stand the test of time.
This still leaves plenty of opportunities to be bold and impart your personal aesthetic into the room. From the colour palette to the hardware you choose, these are all easy to change if need be. As such, we do recommend taking risks but doing so in a measured way.
3) Prioritise Storage
There’s nothing quite as frustrating as not having enough storage space for your essential items in a kitchen. Yet, many customers underestimate the amount of storage needed. This article offers a few helpful measurements as basic starting points.
“For one and two person households there should ideally be at least a length of 2.7m of base cabinets, and approximately 2.4m of overhead cabinets. A kitchen for a household with three or more people should have 2.7m of base cabinet storage, and approximately 3.3m of wall cupboards.”
How you end up reaching that amount of storage will look different in every space. For some it will involve large pantry areas, while others have enough room for ample cabinet space.
You may also want to consider a kitchen island with storage underneath which can become a valuable addition. Whatever configuration you decide on, be sure to keep storage as a top priority and the entire household will benefit.
4) Focus on the Workflow
Is there a particular problem that you’re trying to address with this remodel? The planning stage is the perfect opportunity to consider what changes will enhance the overall workflow. In a busy kitchen the efficiency of your layout is a key consideration.
Some design experts recommend a theory called the “triangle”. This is where you position the sink, stove, and refrigerator in a three-point triangular layout that’s easy to navigate.
You’ll want to measure carefully and make sure there’s adequate clearance for your cabinets to open properly, as well as room to walk. Think about how you use your kitchen when your meal prepping, cleaning, and entertaining. Remember, the layout is not easy to change afterward so be sure that it works for you and your family.
5) Take Your Time and Plan
One of the main causes of buyer’s remorse in a kitchen remodel is rushing the process. if you don’t take the time to measure properly or think carefully through all the various elements you can make mistakes rather easily. Considering that this renovation will be in place for many years it makes a lot of sense to take your time and be intentional with every aspect of the project.
Here is a free downloadable checklist to make sure you don’t leave anything out. There’s also great value in creating moodboards which can really help to provide clarity on the finished result. This sort of visual outline can also help to communicate clearly with the suppliers, designers, and professionals to achieve the desired outcome.
Is there Such Thing as a Perfect Remodel?
While perfection is somewhat of an elusive idea, we do believe these steps above can absolutely help you get there. The process can be fun, exciting, and sometimes challenging, but we believe a bit of organisation and having the right team around you can make all the difference. If you can visualise the ideal kitchen remodel, we can help you get there.
Each year we work with thousands of clients around New Zealand to turn their kitchens into inspiring spaces. Why not let the next transformation be yours?
Let’s Discuss Your Kitchen Remodel
As you can see, remodelling your kitchen can indeed be a rewarding experience if done properly. If you have specific questions about how to best approach your space, our New Zealand showrooms are staffed with experts who are happy to offer guidance every step of the way. From sinks, taps, benchtops, islands, splashbacks, decorative surfaces, stylish handles, and more, we want to make your dream kitchen a reality.
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