Planning a Kitchen Remodel in Maryland? Here Are 7 Mistakes You Should Avoid

Are you struggling to cook in an outdated '80s kitchen that doesn't function properly and looks even worse? It's time to plan a kitchen remodel for your home! Many homeowners in Maryland—especially avid cooks—consider the kitchen the most important area in their house. But when it doesn't suit your unique needs or sense of style, it’s less of a dream kitchen and more like a place you can't wait to escape from.

Planning a kitchen remodel is fun, but it can also be pretty challenging. There's a lot to remember in the planning phase that can make or break your kitchen remodeling project, and it's easy to get distracted and forget about some more critical—but less exciting–parts of your remodeling design. This guide covers seven mistakes that you should absolutely avoid when outlining your plan.

Whether you just want to make a few minor adjustments to how your room looks and operates, or you're thinking about designing a major remodel that involves building a whole new kitchen from scratch, you can rely on the Maryland kitchen remodeling experts at Mr. Handyman of Anne Arundel and North PG to carry out your plan flawlessly.

1. Failing to Design for Your Needs

It may sound obvious, but when you're paging through beautiful, glossy photos to get remodeling ideas, it's easy to get carried away and forget to center your plan around the things your family actually needs. Consider how the space is typically used in your household. If you mostly use it as a place to unpack takeout boxes—not that there's anything wrong with that—your needs for appliances, counter space, and so on, will be different from someone who loves cooking elaborate eight-course meals for all their friends. Focus on a design that is perfectly suited for you, because after all, that's the biggest advantage of a custom kitchen remodel.

2. Not Padding Your Remodeling Budget

You may think you have every last dollar of your kitchen remodel plan accounted for, but unexpected costs are notorious for popping up during renovations. You may find water damage inside the wall that needs to be addressed, or discover an improperly completed installation that should be brought up to code. That's why a realistic budget should include a little padding. We suggest aiming for 30% more than what you think the project will cost. That way, any surprise additional costs can be dealt with stress-free—and if you don't end up needing it, you've got the start of a fund for other easy home improvements!

3. Choosing the Wrong Tile

Most kitchen remodels in Maryland include at least some kind of tile repair or installation work on the floor or wall. Tile is a durable, functional, and attractive option that protects your walls and subfloor from water damage. Yet, picking the right tile can feel overwhelming when you see all the colors, shapes, sizes, textures, patterns, and materials available to choose from.

One important consideration for Maryland homeowners is how much maintenance you're willing to do to upkeep your tiled surfaces. A natural stone material such as slate, for example, is strikingly beautiful and can serve as a conversation piece. However, it needs to be resealed regularly to keep it in prime condition. It's also a more expensive choice, and can be particularly difficult to maintain in messy, high-traffic areas. Ceramic on the other hand, is an affordable option that may not be as flashy, but is highly durable and virtually maintenance-free. Don't forget the backsplash! Different areas have different durability requirements. While glass tile is too delicate for the floor, it's the perfect solution to add some color and depth to the wall.

4. Neglecting Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinets take up a huge amount of real estate in the room, and provide critical storage space. So, it’s important to make sure they are included in your kitchen remodel plan. If you'd like to change the layout of your cabinets and countertops or install new ones, custom cabinets are an excellent option. Our handymen are experienced with custom carpentry, and can install a new set of custom cabinets that are tailored to your practical needs and design vision. If you've ever wished your cabinets went all the way to the ceiling so you don't have to dust up there, or that the cutlery drawer was closer to the dishwasher, this is your chance to address those types of problems and get a room that functions perfectly for you.

If you like the layout of your current cabinetry and the cabinet boxes are in decent condition, but you want a new look to match the rest of your space, consider refacing instead of a total replacement. By changing just the cabinet doors and drawer fronts, or even just swapping the paint color, you can save money and make a drastic impact on the room’s appearance.

5. Forgetting About Lighting and Ventilation

Lighting and ventilation are crucial considerations for every Maryland kitchen remodel project. The kitchen is a highly utilitarian room. You need adequate lighting to see what you're doing, and ventilation to help rid the room of cooking steam (or smoke, if you're not the most attentive cook). Make sure you have ventilation installed and that it works properly. Also consider adding light fixtures for both ambient lighting, to illuminate the overall room, and task lighting, to highlight areas such as your prep space on the counter, stove, and sink.

6. Taking Away Storage Space

Pots, pans, dishes, cutlery, food, small appliances, and that endless supply of plastic containers and lids that don't match—there's so much that needs to be stored. While you may not be able to put in additional storage space with a kitchen remodel, removing existing storage space would be a huge mistake. If you end up eliminating a cabinet or two, make sure you add that storage capacity back in some other way.

Possible options for increasing storage in your kitchen include:

• Large pantry cupboard for storing dry goods

• Kitchen island

• Hanging pot rack

• Pull-out cutting board

• Turn tables in corner cabinets

• Fold-down table to add dining space to a tiny room

7. Keeping the Room Closed Off

Don’t forget about the other parts of your home while creating your kitchen remodeling plan. If your house has an older layout, your kitchen is probably closed off from the living room, family room, and dining room. That doesn't work for you? It doesn't have to stay that way.

If you want to be able to keep an eye on the kids in the family room while you're cooking, or socialize with guests in the dining room while you whip up some hors d'oeuvres, removing a non-load-bearing wall or creating a pass-through is a possibility while remodeling. Doing so will open up the entire space and make it easier to see and participate in what's happening in other rooms. Easier access to the dining room will also make setting and clearing the dinner table a lot more efficient.

Got Your Kitchen Remodel Plan? We Will Make It a Reality!

Whether you're in Crofton, Pasadena, Odenton, or another nearby community, you can trust the service professionals at Mr. Handyman of Anne Arundel and North PG for expert Maryland kitchen remodel services, floor to ceiling.

Pick up the phone and give us a call today at 410-593-1456 to make a service request, or to chat with our friendly customer service staff about what we can do to enhance your home and make your life easier!