Can you design a kitchen from Pinterest or Instagram? I mean it seems easy enough, right? It's all there in full color... all the saved images you love! The cabinet style, the open shelving, the sink, faucet and paint colors.... how hard can it be? And obviously you'll be working with a cabinet maker to layout your kitchen and create your cabinet design, so surely you can replicate this... right?
Well, I wish it were that easy! Often times what looks good on TV and social media just doesn't work for you and your house. It's almost like falling in love with a new hairstyle you see on someone else... until you take a stab at it and think nope, not gonna work with this hair, lol.
There is much to consider when designing your own kitchen. First of all, you want your new kitchen to be uniquely yours and function for your family based on a number of factors. Whether you are remodeling or building a new home, every kitchen has its own quirky design limitations be it square footage, shape, ceiling height, amount of natural light, existing flooring, etc. All of this has to be taken into account throughout the design process.
In addition to cabinetry, someone has to decide on paint and trim colors, appliances, final cabinet design, plumbing fixtures, countertops, backsplash material, hood design, lighting, hardware and flooring if remodeling. This is where inspiration and reality collide because the materials you have fallen in love with need to meet the following check list:
lifestyle
budget
project timing
materials and resources available in your area
how your dream kitchen will work and blend with the rest of your house
Saved inspiration images are a great way to see how colors and materials work together but in the end you need to have a thorough understanding of how much those materials cost and how they will function for you and your family. Unfortunately kitchen design mistakes are the most expensive to make.
The other BIG part of designing your own kitchen is project management. This includes knowing where to source materials, pros and cons of material options (like you'll have to oil that gorgeous soapstone countertop every year), how to keep all the moving parts organized and how to work with vendors and contractors.
If you're going to be building a new home or remodeling your kitchen at some point, I have a free guide that will help! You can download it here "10 Steps to Design Your Dream Kitchen like a Pro." You will find this to be a great resource and insight into the kitchen design process.
If you would like to get on my waitlist to be the first to hear about the next release of my DIY KITCHEN DESIGN PROGRAM where I teach busy moms how to design their own kitchens like a pro, drop me an email at hello@robinjohnsoninteriors.com. Can't wait to hear from you!