A family kitchen does not fail because of the wrong tile choice, but because of poor planning – not taking into account where and how often family members will walk while meals are being prepared. Before selecting any particular material or finish, visualize the new kitchen and the traffic flows within it.
Think of where your child will be while you prepare breakfast, where they will go to get their favorite juice, or where you will sit to enjoy your morning coffee in peace. After identifying these flows, optimize your new kitchen’s layout to resolve any potential conflicts between the family members’ traffic patterns. For example, the route to the microwave is bound to become your child’s main thoroughfare, and the distance between the pantry and the cooking zone will dictate how often your children will have to walk through the hot zone. If they must enter the kitchen’s working triangle to access the fridge, the layout is at fault, not the child – they should be able to move through the kitchen safely without complicated instructions.
The classic kitchen triangle (fridge, cooktop, sink) is only optimal for one cook. The family cooktop zone has to be complemented with additional work zones for other family members. The kitchen should be broken into zones: child snack and drink zone, cooking zone, prep zone, plus the social zone of the island for the kids to gather and do homework.
If your cooking, prep, and child’s zones are not thoughtfully placed, the kitchen will not work efficiently. Think about materials that are long-lasting and easy to clean.
The materials selected for your kitchen will define how much maintenance it will need in the next decade. Engineered quartz is a logical choice for benchtops due to its non-porous surface that resists staining, while Dekton is ultra-tough and highly resistant to heat and UV – great if you have an outdoor kitchen. Marble is sublime in the showrooms but requires daily maintenance – keep it in your bathrooms only. For cabinetry, avoid painted timber finishes in favor of polyurethane or thermo-wrapped doors that are easier to clean. Anti-fingerprint laminates are a bonus for the lower cabinets that kids can access. Cabinet hardware needs to be high-quality, with soft-close dampers – you will have thousands of cabinet openings and closings in a family kitchen.
Storage in the family kitchen is a top priority (94% renovators report upgrading cabinetry, 54% reported installing deep-drawers or organizers in their kitchens during the renovation, Houzz Kitchen Trends Study). The practical storage solutions in the family kitchen outweigh beauty any day. Under-bench storage is where much of the kitchen’s organisation happens. A standard drawer organizer with pegs enables you to access all your essential items – think cutlery, serving ware, and utensils. A family kitchen has to have accessible storage for the children – dedicate a couple of lower drawers to their plates, cups, and breakfast cereals. The more stuff the kids can access on their own, the better.
Appliance garages are the unsung storage heroes of the kitchen. Your appliances garage will make small appliances – blender, toaster, and coffee maker – disappear behind the counter in one second. The appliances garage is a tall cabinet with either tambour or lift-up doors. It is a small feature that can make the kitchen much more convenient. Islands in your kitchen should be multifunctional. Dedicate one side of the island to the cooking and prep functions (cooktop, sink if space allows), and the other side to the kids with a breakfast bar. If the island is double-depth, you can fit drawers on the cooking side and a bin storage system on the other side to hide the recycling station or store extra supplies.
Preparing your home for renovation should be a project of its own. Many families greatly underestimate the importance of this stage and overpay for the services because of it. Declutter your kitchen weeks before the renovations commence. Empty everything out and give away any rarely used items – if your family has not used the coffee machine or blender in the past year, it may not need to return to the new kitchen. Sort out all the remaining items, grouping small appliances, utensils, and gadgets in one place. Now, go over your new cabinetry plan and mark which items will go where. You may find that you have enough space for your everyday plates in the lower cabinets, while the second stack of glasses can stay in the overhead cabinetry. Take a few hours and invest in this task – you will save weeks of unpacking and organizing later. At this stage, it is also important to seek local advice. When researching kitchen renovations perth residents can benefit from established industry professionals who understand local approvals, council regulations, and regional considerations.
Preparing a temporary kitchen area is the most important task before any renovations. Set it up in advance so your family can continue preparing meals as if nothing happened. The best option is to use your laundry cupboard, if you have one, to store your appliances and utensils. Alternatively, the garage is a great place to set up your temporary kitchen. Get yourself a microwave, electric frying pan, slow cooker or multi-cooker, or a couple of electric hot plates – whatever suits your budget. You will also need a mini-fridge if your kitchen is being renovated. Get a kettle and a toaster if possible. Set up a washing station in the area for the dishes and cutlery. Sort out your cupboards and drawers to see where you will place your pantry supplies, small appliances, utensils, and cutlery.
Families who prepare carefully for their kitchen renovations can avoid the cost and stress of eating out by setting up their own temporary kitchen. Families who do not may find themselves relying on takeaway meals.
Coordinating the construction process ensures your family’s wellbeing throughout the renovations.
Seal off all other rooms by covering doors and vents with thick plastic sheets.
Renovation dust contains extremely fine particles that can get inside your furniture via vents and ruin it, so it is not worth the risk. Get new air-conditioning filters and change them often. If you have children or anyone with respiratory issues, consider staying elsewhere for the first few days after the demolition has started.
Keep children and pets away from the worksite with caution tape and temporary fences.
Explain to your children why they cannot enter the construction zone – safety comes first. Your builders have to feel safe too, so that the renovation proceeds smoothly. Think about the unknown costs during your kitchen renovation. Older homes tend to have unknown issues that come up once the renovations start. Your renovator may discover old plumbing that has to be replaced with new ones, subfloor issues under the old cabinetry, or electrical issues that need to be addressed before new appliances are installed. These are all expected finds when renovating older homes. Always have an additional 15-20% in your renovation budget to address any unexpected costs. That way, if your builder runs into issues behind the walls or under the floor, you will be less likely to compromise on your material choices. Families who set a realistic renovation budget without an additional safety net tend to compromise on the materials they want for their new kitchen.
Speak with your builder about their common renovation finds – this depends on how old your home is. A good builder will help you identify potential problems and set aside money to address them.
Lighting in the kitchen is often underestimated – it is the most common design mistake in the family kitchen renovations. Single large pendant lights do not illuminate the kitchen’s work zones and make the kitchen appear cramped.
Install task lighting underneath your upper cabinets to illuminate the kitchen bench areas where you will be chopping and prepping food. Additional pendants or recessed lights are great lighting additions above the kitchen island: they will allow you to do your homework or have your meals away from the main kitchen workspace. If your kitchen is your main dining room, consider installing pendant lights to create a focal point. The ambient lighting is also essential – it is easier to achieve with accent lights on a dimmer and should complement your task lighting. Having different levels of lighting enables you to switch between your morning breakfast nook, afternoon homework sessions, and evening dinner parties in an instant.
Getting to the end result you desire in your family kitchen renovation requires hard work and thoughtful consideration. This is why the smart family renovators focus on creating a kitchen that suits their needs rather than buying the latest design magazine spread. Such families visualize their kitchen’s traffic flows to eliminate any possible conflicts. They also choose high-performance materials that stand the test of time. The smart renovators also prepare their temporary kitchen area and consider all costs before committing to their renovation plans. All these tasks are crucial in achieving the desired renovation result. The design vision and the practical planning are equally important: each supports the other.
Leave a Reply