Each reworking challenge has one factor in frequent: It’ll require you to make of choices alongside the way in which. Inevitably, a number of the selections you make shall be belongings you’ll proceed to like for years and others shall be belongings you’ll want you probably did otherwise. In my expertise, reflecting on the belongings you want you probably did otherwise helps you higher perceive your preferences over time. It helps inform design selections you’ll make in future initiatives.
A number of the largest reworking initiatives we’ve tackled in our two homes have been our kitchens. Since 2015, we’ve completed three whole kitchen remodels (with the assist of our contractors)—one in our present residence and two in our earlier residence.
In the present day I’m sharing what I remorse from every of those kitchen reworking initiatives and the way I’d method them otherwise now.
First Kitchen Rework: 2015
These are two issues I’d have completed otherwise in our first kitchen transform.
Chosen a Totally different Sort of Flooring
The flooring on this kitchen is the principle factor I’d have completed otherwise. We put in a pretty cement tile flooring, unaware of the problems it could quickly current. The first challenge was that the highest of the tile was porous and, subsequently, it stained virtually instantly. Whereas I cherished the design, the quantity of noticeable put on left quite a bit to be desired, particularly from Joe’s perspective.
Overhauled Our Method to Storage and Group
Once we reworked this kitchen in 2015, our solely “baby” was Winnie. By the tip of 2017, we had two children underneath the age of two. Because of the inflow of “child stuff,” the way in which we utilized this area utterly modified. There have been points with storage—partially due to the comparatively compact footprint of the kitchen and partially as a result of we weren’t utilizing our cupboard space as properly as we might have.
With two youthful children, I wasn’t internet hosting almost as a lot as I had been earlier than, but issues like serving dishes nonetheless took up prime actual property within the kitchen. Our storage and group method didn’t work for our fresh way of life, and altering it could have undoubtedly improved the way in which we interacted with the kitchen in our on a regular basis lives.
Second Kitchen Rework: 2019
Once we reworked our kitchen a second time in 2019, we had been seeking to handle the 2 points listed above create a greater move from the kitchen to the remainder of the principle flooring. Wanting again, there aren’t very many particular issues I’d have completed otherwise on this kitchen. It served its goal very well throughout our final yr in our residence and was a key promoting level when we bought this home in 2020. My greatest remorse is extra about how I approached the design course of.
Once I was designing this kitchen, I made selections extra from the lens of my job as a content material creator than from the lens of an individual who was going to be residing within the area. I sought out others’ opinions reasonably than trusting my very own imaginative and prescient, and the design course of was much less pleasant than it might have been. Reflecting again on this course of has been a great reminder to observe my intestine once I’m designing my residence.
Third Kitchen Rework: 2021
I’ve a lot love for this kitchen. We had good causes for making each one of many design selections on this area, a lot of which got here all the way down to funds and product availability. But as with all area, the extra you reside in it, the extra you discover belongings you may wish to change. Understanding what I do know now, these are three issues I’d have completed otherwise in our present kitchen.
Put in Customized Cabinetry
I want I’d have spent the additional cash on customized cabinetry, which we opted to not do due to funds constraints. The cupboards we’ve do the job completely nicely, though they do require a little bit of repairs. The paint on our cupboards is chipping in some areas—my hunch is that it is because we opted to attempt a paintable cupboard prototype which wasn’t but publicly accessible.
Put in the Flooring I *Actually* Wished
Don’t get me unsuitable: I really like the flooring we chosen for our kitchen. It’s pretty and has held up very well on this high-traffic area. But I want we might have gone with the flooring I wished on the very begin of this challenge.
From the onset of our kitchen transform, I wished to put in flooring in a diamond sample utilizing two completely different sorts of marble. Sadly, we didn’t have the contact or the correct suppliers to make it occur in an economical method. I believe if I’d have saved searching for the correct match, I might have made it work. The ethical of the story right here could be to know when a delay or further work is price it!
Chosen an Classic Desk As an alternative of an Island
The island we opted for in our kitchen’s eating space is purposeful and affords extra storage, which I really like. Nevertheless, over time, I’ve continued to consider my first selection for this area: an old-fashioned desk. I’ve at all times wished the eating space to really feel extra separate from the cooking aspect of the kitchen, and there’s one thing concerning the type of an old-fashioned desk that feels so relaxed and charming to me.
Understanding how we really operate the island, I additionally want I’d have chosen a special countertop. I’m completely frosty with the marble in our kitchen creating a patina over time, however I’m discovering myself much less forgiving relating to the butcher block countertop we put in on the island. I plan to sand it down and apply a coat of mineral oil this spring!
