January 23, 2023 | Kitchen
Did you know a minor kitchen remodel can have an average ROI of 98.5 percent?
Minor kitchen remodels can include anything from a new coat of paint to buying new appliances. Major kitchen remodels have a history of high returns as well, though, and provide a much more drastic result. No matter which you’re opting for, though, there are a few things you can include, and we’re here to tell you all about them.
Read on to learn 10 of the best luxury kitchen remodel ideas.
1. Custom Cabinetry
With custom kitchen cabinetry, the possibilities are endless. Here are just a few ideas you can get started with:
- Narrow pull-out drawer
- Built-in refrigerator
- On-counter garage
- Corner storage
- Deep drawers
- Custom pantry
- Open shelving
- Open cabinetry
- Tray storage cabinet
Narrow Drawer
If there’s a small space you can’t quite figure out what to do with, adding a narrow pull-out drawer is perfect. It allows you to make the most of little space, and it’s great for adding convenience.
Most come divided into sections, making it a great spot for spices, pans, or extra dishes that don’t have a home. You can also opt for an addition with utensil holders to get those extra containers off the counter. Whether it’s your spatulas, tongs, or baking utensils, a narrow storage pull-out can help you contain it all.
On-Counter Garage
If this doesn’t sound familiar, an on-counter garage is essential a small cubby space that’s hidden in plain sight.
It’s perfect for small appliances like a coffee maker or rice cooker. You can tuck things away when they’re not in use and then pull it all forward when you’re ready to get started. If you don’t have room for an actual coffee bar, this is a great way to maximize space.
The cabinet can even be installed in front of an outlet to keep cords contained and make use a lot easier.
Corner Storage
Having a corner cabinet is essentially like having a big lazy Susan under the countertop.
The carousel design offers the perfect place to store things like mixing bowls, large pots, storage containers, or even spices and dried goods. You don’t have to worry about finding a home for all of it in your cabinets, as it’ll all be within easy reach whenever you need it.
If you have kids, you can even place their snacks or meal essentials here to allow them easy access when they’re feeling hungry. It’s a great way to include everyone in meal preparation and cooking.
2. Pet-Friendly Features
If you have a pet, you know they’re family. You want the best for them, and keeping them in mind when building your dream kitchen is a great way to do exactly that. Built-in features to store food, beds, dishes, and more are perfect for this.
For small animals, opting for a small nook that’s easy for them to access is perfect. It keeps their dishes out of the way while still allowing them the freedom to dive in nose-first whenever it’s necessary. For larger pets, creating a custom solution like slide-out bowls for feeding time is a great way to keep things out of the way.
3. Steam Oven
If you bake bread or want to help limit the oils in your diet, steam ovens are a great way to do exactly that. They’re perfect for creating a moist environment without added oils, making your food healthier in more ways than one.
The steam heats food at a lower temperature, meaning heat-sensitive nutrients can be preserved, so you’re not missing out on valuable nutrition.
A steam oven is a great way to get fast, crisp results without added fats and the dangers of a microwave.
4. High-Style Faucet
Faucets come in a lot of different styles and finishes, so finding one that matches your kitchen is easy, but a high-style faucet brings an entirely new level of luxury. This is especially true if you have a smaller sink to work in.
The higher style gives you more room to do dishes, place large pots, and perform other activities that would be a struggle with a shorter faucet.
The possibilities with pull-down options are even wider. If your sink won’t accommodate large pots, you can place it next to the sink and use the sprayer to fill things up. Additionally, dishes and even produce are a lot easier to clean and rinse.
5. Island
Not only do kitchen islands provide more space for preparation and small appliances, but you’ll also have more options for cook utensils and other specialty tools. If you need extra space for bar stools and dining chairs, a kitchen island can accommodate that as well.
Islands are also a great way to add extra value to your kitchen remodel.
The value comes from adding extra fixtures, like a sink, cooktop, and hood range. These aren’t mandatory additions, but they have the potential to pack a huge punch with their effect on your overall kitchen design. Pre-fabricated choices are always an option, but they’re not going to add as much value as a custom option complete with plumbing and electrical additions will.
6. Ample Lighting
While seemingly small, learning how to play with lighting and layer it within a space makes a huge difference in the overall feeling of your kitchen. There are three types of lighting — ambient, accent, and task — and it’s essential to use all of them within the space. This is going to make the difference between a well-lit space you enjoy cooking in and one that you want to just drop everything in and leave.
Ambient
Also called general lighting, ambient lighting gives the kitchen an overall glow. You can see this with recessed lighting or mounted fixtures. They’re meant to provide what natural light can’t.
Whether your home doesn’t get a lot of sunlight or you need lighting for the evening, ambient lighting can help. They’re great for lighting up a space, but not for giving you extra sight in dark corners when you’re cooking.
When you’re looking at your lighting options, be sure to check the fixture’s wattage. It’s essential to ensure it’s sufficient to light the space, otherwise, it’s going to constantly feel dim when you’re inside. That’s not the only way you can add extra lighting, though.
Accent
Accent lighting is mostly used for aesthetics, but it’s a great way to place focal points throughout your kitchen. Typically, you’ll see this with pendant lighting above kitchen islands or track lighting that points to specific corners. They’re perfect for adding visual interest to your space that still serves an important purpose.
It’s also going to attract guests with little effort. If you host gatherings often, giving your dining area better lighting is going to draw guests into that space and away from where you’re attempting to cook. With small kitchens, this is especially useful, as it’s going to help you preserve precious space and give you a bigger prep area.
Task
Finally, we’ve come to task lighting. This is the most underrated type of lighting, but also the most useful. In the kitchen, this can most commonly look like under-cabinet LEDs you can turn on during meal prep times. Lighting up dark corners of your kitchen is more useful than you might think, and it’s going to make cutting produce a lot easier.
You can even get creative with LED lighting under the cabinets closest to the floor. Opting for something automatic will help when you’re first waking up, or during those late-night snack moments. You won’t have to think about it, but you’ll have subtle tracking to illuminate your way to that morning cup of coffee.
No matter how you choose to utilize task lighting, you’re going to help yourself in the future by preserving eyesight and helping to prevent eye strain.
7. Matching Finishes
This might seem small, but matching your kitchen’s finishes together is a great way to bring cohesivity to the space. Small details have the power to make or break a space and matching cabinet pulls up with the faucet, appliances, and even lighting can bring a new life into an already luxurious space.
It also allows you to add more changes throughout the rest of the kitchen. If you’ve mixed elements in other parts of the kitchen, you can use the finishes to balance out any visual disturbance it’s caused. When everything is mismatched, it can get overwhelming.
This is an easy, yet effective way to bring a sense of peace and familiarity into your kitchen regardless of everything else that’s going on. That’s not the only consideration you should make, though.
8. Pot Filler
If you want to skip filling your pots at the sink, investing in a faucet that goes right over your stove is a great thing to do. You’ll be able to keep your countertops and sink open for extra preparation and cleaning, and you won’t have to move about the kitchen as much while cooking.
Pot fillers are especially great if you enjoy streamlining your cook times. Also called a pasta arm, they help reduce any potential strain that heavy pots can add to cooking, and you might even be more motivated to cook with the extra ease you’re gaining.
If you want to know the numbers, a US gallon weighs just over eight pounds, and the average seven to eight-inch pot can hold one gallon of water. If you’re big on family spaghetti dinners, or you cook things in bulk, that’s a lot of extra, unnecessary weight to carry around.
9. Drawer Dishwashers
Disguising your dishwasher with drawers is a great way to not only lighten your loads but also hide the appliance itself. You can either opt to replace your dishwasher as a whole or use these in addition to the full-size appliance.
They’re great for the kitchen, or in places you wouldn’t normally think of. Whether it’s a butler’s pantry or near a preparation space in a large question, the addition of an extra dishwasher can be a huge convenience when you don’t have a lot of things to wash.
If you have a small kitchen, though, these are the perfect size on their own. You can even get double-drawer units, offering a lot more versatility than single-drawer appliances do. They’re especially great for running two loads at the same time, meaning you can separate your dishes more easily.
Pots have different washing demands than glassware does, and it’s important to accommodate those needs. Double-drawer dishwashers offer that versatility without the bulk that comes with regular appliances.
10. Warmer Drawer
Whether you host dinner parties or love baking, warmer drawers can help you out. They’re available as part of large kitchen ranges or as standalone appliances, and they serve several different purposes.
They can be used to keep your breakfast warm for late mornings on the go, store pizza or other food for guests, or you can even warm towels for those precious self-care nights. Whether you cook often or not, you can find a function for this appliance in your kitchen.
When not in use, warming drawers can give you extra storage space for pots, pans, or extra bakeware that you can never quite find a home for.
Prioritize Your Kitchen Remodel
With your kitchen remodel, it’s essential not to neglect the little details. Whether it’s layered lighting or matching finishes throughout the space, those little details can make all the difference. Even if you never cook, it’s nice to have a counter to set your takeout on every night when you’re home.
If you’re ready to get started, we’re here to help. Contact us today to learn more.
