Looeeze Grossman, the founder of The Used Kitchen Company, has been helping people find the perfect kitchen to renovate their home for nearly 20 years.
However, during that time, Looeeze has also seen people make some big mistakes when renovating their kitchens.
Looeeze has shared exclusively with Express.co.uk the biggest mistakes she sees people make when renovating their kitchens and how to avoid them.
Working out your budget before you start – and stick to it
Renovating a kitchen is an exciting yet costly process, and it’s far too easy to go over your budget.
Whether wanting to splash out on expensive handles or worktops or facing unexpected labour costs, staying within budget can be challenging.
Looeeze said the “key” to working out your budget is to work out your maximum planned spending and then reserve 10 percent of that amount as a “contingency fund”.
She said: “This strategy accounts for the inevitable unforeseen expenses, such as additional plumbing or electrical work, or last-minute upgrades like a wine fridge or steam oven.
“By planning ahead with a contingency fund, homeowners can achieve their dream kitchens without the financial stress of going over budget.
“It’s also worth considering used and ex-display styles. These options provide significant saving of up to 50-70 percent off RRP. This approach makes a high-end kitchen more accessible, freeing up funds to spend on tiles and lighting, as worktops and appliances are often included within the kitchen.”
Research – cheap isn’t always cheap
When researching a new kitchen, visiting multiple showrooms and seeing the quality and finish of the units is crucial, according to Looeeze.
In fact, there is often very little difference between brands and homeowners may find colours and finishes they prefer when they actually visit a showroom.
The kitchen expert also urged homeowners not to be swayed by price alone as sometimes the cheapest option is the best quality and can have hidden extras.
Looeeze continued: “A common mistake homeowners make is getting over-excited and settling for the first quote they receive, often influenced by attractive computer-generated images.
“These can be enticing, but they can’t reflect the true quality and durability of the materials. Always shop around, compare different options, and look at hinges, drawer boxes and runners to check out the long-term durability, to ensure you’re making a wise investment.
“I might sound totally neurotic but you can’t go wrong with an Excel spreadsheet to keep tabs on your research and compare options.
“Make a list of everything you want to accommodate in your kitchens from a drawer for your sewing kit to storage for spices and somewhere to put your vases.
“Homeowners frequently overlook their storage needs when planning their new kitchen. In particular when it comes to storing awkwardly shaped items like vacuum cleaners, brooms, vases, and spices, and annoyingly these items often end up stacked precariously or relocated to inconvenient spots throughout your home.
“To avoid this, write a list of everything you need to find a home for and then share it with your designer and check that they can be accommodated. Little things, like can the shelf heights be moved? And can you actually reach the top shelf in your cupboards to actually use them? are all things to be considered.”
Have plenty of storage
While sleek, minimalist designs are visually appealing, they may lack practical storage. Ensure your kitchen has ample space for pots, pans, and small appliances.
Drawers are definitely the way to go and although more expensive than cupboards, you can use and see everything in them.
Before investing in the latest piece of “must-have” equipment, Looeeze urges, ask yourself how much storage space is needed to accommodate the air fryer, smoothie maker or ice maker you can’t live without.
Storage is essential in a kitchen; you can never really have enough. This is where substance really should come above style.
Make sure you have plenty of workspace
Looeeze said: “Many home renovators underestimate the need for workspace. We always advise our buyers to go for more than they think they need.
“There’s nothing worse than being on top of one another in the kitchen while one tries to do the dishes and the other prepping the dinner.
“Have as much workspace as your kitchen will allow, you can never have too much. Space to accommodate food prep, cooking, and serving, not to mention the pile of mail and kids wanting to hang with you whilst you cook. Plenty of workspaces can only enhance your kitchen’s functionality.”
Triangle of fridge/oven/hob
Looeeze said while this may not seem important when renovating a kitchen, it is “an absolute must”.
Homeowners need to have a flow between their fridge, oven and hob to ensure doors can open fully without obstruction and that there’s enough space to transfer items between these three key areas smoothly.
Tripping over your open oven door while walking into a fridge door with a piping hot tray of potatoes is not ideal.
When designing your kitchen, map these three areas out with the designer and triple-check your measurements so that everything has enough space to open.
Choose your colours wisely
Certain colours may be at the top of your wish list now, but they can quickly become outdated.
Neutral shades will likely last for years and can be jazzed up with bolder accessories which can easily be updated one they go out of style.
If you’re buying a used kitchen, wooden kitchens offer the most flexibility allowing you to paint and re-paint them as required.
Make sure to use a professional fitter
Looeeze said: “Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, it will add to your budget but is it essential? Yes. Not using a professional kitchen fitter is a false economy. It may seem to be a simple process, but there is an art when it comes to installing a kitchen.
“Cutting corners when installing your kitchen, often results in all sorts of issues including misalignment of units and drawers not functioning properly and you’ll spend more money putting it right than you did having it installed in the first place.”
