Kitchen Workbook: When to Pick Fixtures and Finishes
Many homeowners think designing a kitchen starts with picking items like
appliances, flooring, cabinet finishes, countertops, faucets and
lighting ... and to a point it does. But I try to keep my clients from
worrying about many of these items until after the space planning
is complete. The huge number of options can be distracting, and it can
be overwhelming for most homeowners to make all these decisions at once.
You may think you want a cooktop and separate double oven, but it may
not be the best appliance package for the design, and at some point
you'll be faced with that decision. Getting overcommitted too early on
can stifle creativity and hinder your progress in getting the best
kitchen design for your home.
For some, it's like being a kid in a candy store. They like everything and can't stay focused on what's right for the overall aesthetic or design. For others, it's paralyzing. They get so worried about picking the wrong finish or fixture that they have trouble making decisions or focusing on other important aspects of the job at hand.
Even though we always start with inspiration photos to get an idea of what the client wants the kitchen to look like, I often shelve most of those until after the preliminary plans are complete.
I view kitchen remodels as a series of small, layered choices. Here are some ideas for how and when to make them after space planning is complete.
1. Appliances, Sinks and Lighting
I recommend that clients select appliances and sinks during the preliminary design phase, which often comes before selecting the rest of the finishes and fixtures. This is so the plans can reflect the proper sizes, which will in turn affect the cabinetry layout.
Also, I recommend picking the type and amount of lighting fixtures during this phase: cans, semi-flush mounts, how many pendants over the island and so on, in order to complete the lighting plans so the contractor to provide estimates. Most people haven't actually picked what style pendant light yet, but at least the decision about number is done.
It's also time to decide whether or not you want a prep sink in addition to your main sink. At this point, by the way, it's fine if you decide to change from a 36-inch range to a cooktop and wall oven.
By the time you get to final construction documents or order cabinets, however, these decisions must be finalized. The nice thing is that there are now a few big decisions that you can check off your list.
As you can see from comparing the first two photos here, the decision on how many pendants to use affects how many junction boxes you need on the ceiling — and that decision needs to be made before plans get approved for permits and before the contractor closes up the drywall after rough electrical is done.
This is why the professional you hired may focus you on figuring out the lighting plan before picking out the countertops.
You might have selected your appliances earlier in the design phase, in terms of manufacturer, model number and size, but remember that stainless isn't the only option. Some companies offer a vintage finish like this black with brass accents, while others offer a wide array of enameled colors. Choices like this can determine the look and feel of your kitchen in one sweeping gesture. Other finish selections to be noted here are the full-height marble backsplash, the farmhouse sink, fabric in the upper glass insert cabinets, the heavy crown molding and the freestanding island.
Browse more photos in this article.
For some, it's like being a kid in a candy store. They like everything and can't stay focused on what's right for the overall aesthetic or design. For others, it's paralyzing. They get so worried about picking the wrong finish or fixture that they have trouble making decisions or focusing on other important aspects of the job at hand.
Even though we always start with inspiration photos to get an idea of what the client wants the kitchen to look like, I often shelve most of those until after the preliminary plans are complete.
I view kitchen remodels as a series of small, layered choices. Here are some ideas for how and when to make them after space planning is complete.
1. Appliances, Sinks and Lighting
I recommend that clients select appliances and sinks during the preliminary design phase, which often comes before selecting the rest of the finishes and fixtures. This is so the plans can reflect the proper sizes, which will in turn affect the cabinetry layout.
Also, I recommend picking the type and amount of lighting fixtures during this phase: cans, semi-flush mounts, how many pendants over the island and so on, in order to complete the lighting plans so the contractor to provide estimates. Most people haven't actually picked what style pendant light yet, but at least the decision about number is done.
It's also time to decide whether or not you want a prep sink in addition to your main sink. At this point, by the way, it's fine if you decide to change from a 36-inch range to a cooktop and wall oven.
By the time you get to final construction documents or order cabinets, however, these decisions must be finalized. The nice thing is that there are now a few big decisions that you can check off your list.
As you can see from comparing the first two photos here, the decision on how many pendants to use affects how many junction boxes you need on the ceiling — and that decision needs to be made before plans get approved for permits and before the contractor closes up the drywall after rough electrical is done.
This is why the professional you hired may focus you on figuring out the lighting plan before picking out the countertops.
You might have selected your appliances earlier in the design phase, in terms of manufacturer, model number and size, but remember that stainless isn't the only option. Some companies offer a vintage finish like this black with brass accents, while others offer a wide array of enameled colors. Choices like this can determine the look and feel of your kitchen in one sweeping gesture. Other finish selections to be noted here are the full-height marble backsplash, the farmhouse sink, fabric in the upper glass insert cabinets, the heavy crown molding and the freestanding island.
Browse more photos in this article.
