The Dos and Don’ts of Kitchen Renovations in Singapore
Kitchen renovations don’t come cheap considering the many aspects that go into making the space functional and what needs to be done to suit your household’s cooking habits. Considering the hefty financial investment, you’re about to make, it makes sense to learn all about the dos and don’ts of kitchen renovations before you dive right into it.
At Redbrick Homes, we want to help homeowners in Singapore make the right choices when it comes to their renovation journey. So, whether you are a new homeowner looking to renovate your BTO home from scratch or planning to refurbish that resale condominium or HDB flat, make sure you save this helpful list of things to take note of for kitchen renovations before you get started.
Do: Plan for Sufficient Storage Space
One of the top regrets many homeowners have after their kitchen renovations is not accounting for enough storage space.
The lesson here is to not just plan for what you have now but also consider what other storage needs you might have further down the road – after all, you can’t just magically create more storage over the next few years without having to undergo another round of renovations.
Tip: Don’t have much space? Utilize smart kitchen storage ideas like pull-out swivel shelves, separate compartments within drawers, or organisers that allow you to effectively reach items hidden away at the back of the cabinets or hard-to-retrieve corners.
Do: Invest in Good Flooring
For households that cook often, the kitchen is one of the areas in the home with the heaviest footfall. On top of that, add on the spills and oily fumes that are ever so common in the kitchen, and you can imagine the extent of wear and tear in the area compared to any other zones in the home.
Now considering that, doesn’t it make sense to invest in good flooring that is durable and can last a long time?
Some flooring tips for the kitchen include:
- Pick durable, scratch and stain resistant, and easy to maintain materials like ceramic porcelain tiles or quality vinyl flooring.
- For tiles, opt for mid-size tiles to reduce the number of grout lines for easier cleaning.
- For aesthetics, try to pick darker colours or patterned tiles to help mask stains, dirt or wear and tear over time.
Do: Consider Your Workflow in The Kitchen
Everyone has a different way of working in the kitchen, so it’s best to highlight your workflow habits to your designer ahead of time to incorporate them into the design to avoid a generic layout that may not work for your specific needs.
Here are some things you should highlight to your designer to help them come up with a personalized kitchen layout:
- What is your workflow in the kitchen like?
- How much counter space do you normally use when preparing food and cooking?
- How many people normally cook in the kitchen?
- Is your kitchen only for cooking or also for entertaining?
Do: Ensure Proper Ventilation in The Kitchen
Whether you have an open or closed concept kitchen, you want to make sure you have planned for proper ventilation in the space to prevent greasy fumes and odours from escaping out into the living space and minimizing the build-up of grease and grime on the walls.
One of the most critical things to do is to invest in a powerful hood to be strategically placed over your hob, to filter the greasy odours when you cook.
Don’t: Focus on Style but Not Substance
The simple truth is that the kitchen is an area where functionality is more important than aesthetics – after all, a pretty but unusable kitchen space is not going to be very useful for anyone.
Therefore, in choosing designs and materials for kitchen renovations, any responsible interior designer will always advise you to go for the more durable and functional option.
For instance, when it comes to kitchen countertop materials, natural stone may look aesthetic but it’s porous, and high in maintenance compared to most other materials like engineered quartz or solid surface.
Don’t: Leave Buying Your Kitchen Appliances till The End
In most cases, interior designers or contractors in Singapore will always ask you for kitchen appliance measurements to factor them into their layout and customized carpentry plans.
The reason is simple, they need the measurements for the various appliances so they know how much space to leave for the appliances and that they can build around them. For homeowners who plan to build customized carpentry to house their kitchen appliances, it is important to let your designer know the measurements upfront.
Once the designs have been fixed, and the frames manufactured, it’s going to be hard to make changes to your choice of appliances without having to go back to scratch, and possibly paying up more.
Common appliances that they will need measurements for include the hob, hood, sink, refrigerator, built-in oven, dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer.
Don’t: Neglect the Importance of Electrical Outlet Placement
While it is easy to default to the normal placements and configurations suggested by your interior designer, the choice of electrical outlet placements is very much a personal decision that depends on your usage of appliances in the kitchen.
If you don’t plan to have many electrical appliances in use at any one point in time, then it may not make sense to have too many outlets. However, if you are a household that utilizes many electrical appliances, like electric water kettles, rice cookers, air fryers, juicers, microwave ovens, and more, then you probably want to plan for more electrical outlets that are strategically placed where you normally utilize these appliances.
Planning For a Kitchen Renovation Overhaul?
Want to find an experienced interior design firm in Singapore who can help with coming up with a well-thought-out and customized kitchen renovation plan for you?
Find your perfect interior designer match at Redbrick Homes today!
