Kitchen Remodel Tips: How to Create a Beautiful and Functional Kitchen

How to Elevate Your Kitchen Design

Today I wanted to share some of the things I learned during my kitchen renovation process and give you some kitchen remodel tips.

This was my first kitchen renovation, I designed the whole kitchen myself and I’m pretty proud of how it came out. You can see the kitchen before and after pictures in this post and check out how much it all cost in my Kitchen renovation cost  post.

I still have to pinch myself every time I walk in here. So here are a couple of tips for you, if like me, you are about to tackle a huge renovation and DIY most of it (and by DIY I mean my amazing Hubby and Father in law!).

1. Closing the gap above kitchen cabinets

Before closing the gap on top of cabinets…

After adding the molding and closing the gap above the cabinets. 

When I was talking to the cabinet maker they gave me the option to add the trim above the cabinet. I would still end up with a gap above the cabinets since I have 9ft ceilings. I ditched the trim provided by the cabinet company and instead I hire someone to add the molding and bought the molding myself.

I bought the molding at a local hardware store and went with a 7in molding. My molding guy added a 12in piece of wood to close the gap from cabinets to ceiling. After the gap was closed, he added the 7in molding on top (where the ceiling met the wood) and a small molding where the cabinet met the wood.

Closing the gap above the cabinets makes the cabinetry look custom made and gives the kitchen an overall finished look. I spent around 1k in molding and another 1200 in labor. However I bought the molding for the whole house and labor as well. For the kitchen I would say it was around 400.

2. Invest in a Kitchen Range Hood

Kitchen design ideas, Kitchen Island with drawers
Kitchen island with drawers

Kitchen range hood, stove top with pot filler aboveThe range hood is the focal point of the kitchen!

Another priority of mine was to have a range hood. If you have space in your kitchen, consider adding the range hood instead of the microwave combo. Most gourmet kitchens have range hood, they are definitely not cheap, but worth every penny.

At first I didn’t like the one my cabinetry provided. I researched everywhere for a more affordable option but in the end the most affordable one was through the cabinetry company.

I have to say that it’s has grown on me and is now one of my favorite things in the kitchen. Do consider that if you are doing the range hood you will need a range hood insert and an outside vent.

3. Consider Paneled Appliances

Panel ready dishwasher A look at my paneled dishwasher with brass hardware and my gorgeous Rohl brass faucet . 

Another way to elevate the kitchen design is to go with paneled ready appliances. First, make sure your cabinet maker has this option. I love the panel ready dish washer we choose and I regret not going with the panel ready refrigerator 😭😭 more on that later.

In my view, the less stainless steel in your kitchen the better, lol. Of course some people love stainless steel, and that is ok.

4. Tile All The Way

white kitchen cabinets, brass faucet and brass kitchen hardware

Farmhouse sink, marble subway tile. Cone pendants, white quartz countertops

When we were doing the kitchen backsplash, I kind of had to fight with the contractor. He wanted to end the backsplash in the window area around where the upper cabinets start.

That is pretty much the norm I think. However, I think it looks better when the tile goes all they way and frames the window. Stoping the tile halfway divides the wall and the view. On the other hand, extending the tile will bring your attention up. What do you prefer?

5. Add Kitchen Drawer whenever possible

how to organize kitchen drawers

If there is one thing I was adamant about it was to have as many kitchen drawers as possible. You will want that too! Kitchen drawers just make life a lot easier. Organizing your kitchen drawers it’s a lot easier then organizing bottom cabinets. It’s also much easier to access. You can see my How to organize kitchen drawers here for all my tips on how to keep your kitchen organized!
how to organize kitchen drawershow to organize kitchen drawers

Some Mistakes to Avoid:

1. Make Sure to Account for Under Cabinet Lighting

When you are doing a renovation this big and starting from scratch it’s easy to overlook a couple things. In the midst of the reno I needed to figure it out the under cabinet lighting, but couldn’t make up my mind and wasn’t sure what to go with. We ended up not planning for it.

Now, I have to hire an electrician to come and see if we are going to be able to add. So don’t forget about lighting and specifically where the power source will be located! I will write a post once I do the lights with some tips so you don’t commit the same mistake I did.

2. Planning the Kitchen Layout

This might be a silly mistake, or a matter of personal preference. When planning the kitchen layout, the only requirement I had was to have the dishwasher on the right side of sink. Which it mean the garbage had to go on the other side.

However, with that, the garbage is kind of far from the stove. Sometimes I wish I had the garbage in between the sink and stove. Mostly because when you doing eggs and stuff it would be nice to have the garbage within reach.

So if you can, try to imagine what it would be like to cook in your new kitchen and where you want each main appliance and accessories to go. There is never enough planning when redoing a kitchen!

3. Panel Ready Refrigerator

kitchen with large island and appliances wall

See what I mean???! It would have been so amazing if I had done the panel ready refrigerator! 

Ok, my biggest regret is not having done the panel ready refrigerator… At the time we were looking at appliances, we had already spent so much that I didn’t feel like it was worth spending another 1k in a panel ready refrigerator.

Now, I really wish I had done it. We did go over budget but what is another 1k when you already spent so much, right?!! I think the pantry/appliances wall would have been so much prettier if I had gone with the panel ready. I even look at this one that was very well priced, but ended up not going with it… Oh well. Lesson learned…

I promise the next kitchen post will be Kitchen renovation cost. I’m kind of dreading writing it because I don’t want to face it lol!! But I will do it. Thank you so much for stopping by and let me know in the comments if you have any specific questions on the renovation!

With Love,
Ceres

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13 Comments

  1. Shirley
    September 18, 2018 / 10:33 am

    I love your kitchen!! It is very much in line with what I want to do for my next kitchen. However, I wanted to ask if the white cabinets are getting hard to maintain. My current kitchen has dark cabinets and even though I am a fairly tidy person, I do find missed food spots. Food seems to camouflage better on dark surfaces. Are you having any regrets going all white. I am considering doing the majority of my cabinets in white with a dark colored island. Any regrets or thoughts, please let me know.

    Thanks!

    • Ceres
      Author
      September 25, 2018 / 6:29 am

      Shirley! Thanks for asking! I actually had dark cabinets on my last kitchen. I think the all white is actually easier and less maintenance! I had to clean the dark cabinets all the time cause you could see everything. White is a lot more forgiving! Good luck on urs! 😘

  2. Kate
    October 14, 2018 / 3:18 am

    Hi- I love love your dream kitchen! I have to decide on my counters this week- are yours quartz? Marble? If you will, please let me know where you got them and the name. They are beautiful! Thank you!

    • Ceres
      Author
      October 14, 2018 / 4:55 pm

      Hi Kate! They are quartz, I have all the deets about them on my first kitchen post! And linked the sources too 😘

  3. February 26, 2019 / 8:38 pm

    I loved the aesthetic tips you have for a kitchen here. We’re hoping to remodel our kitchen space this summer, so this is helpful. I hadn’t noticed the gaps above the cabinets until I read this, but now I want to get rid of them fast! They don’t look good.

  4. October 21, 2019 / 1:54 pm

    Thank you for your tip to add as many kitchen drawers as possible to give as much space as possible. My brother is doing some home renovations in his kitchen. He wants help with the custom design. I’ll be sure to pass this tip onto him so he can have enough storage.

  5. June 30, 2020 / 12:28 am

    My wife has entrusted me with making design plans for our kitchen renovation project and I want to know what are some good things to take note of. I really loved your example of adding kitchen drawers whenever possible because we’ve been receiving a lot of cookware gifts from my Aunt recently and having an easy storage place for these would make the kitchen experience much more comfortable. I’ll be sure to keep your article in mind whenever shopping for materials and supplies for the remodel like countertops and cabinets. Thank you!

    • Ceres
      Author
      July 2, 2020 / 12:33 pm

      Congrats on the new kitchen!!

  6. Elise
    December 12, 2020 / 12:46 am

    Such a gorgeous kitchen! I am currently renovating my own kitchen and I would love the same splashback tiles you have used. Could you please tell where you purchased them from? Thanks a million! x

  7. Nancy
    September 23, 2022 / 11:23 am

    I am sure you have linked the pot filler and faucet, but I can’t seem to find. Your kitchen is BEAUTIFUL, thank you so much for sharing.

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