We renovated our kitchen two years ago. The project took nine weeks and we had five kids at home for most of it. Here is what I planned correctly, what I wish I had done differently, and the decisions I am grateful for every single day.
What I Planned Around
Three meals a day for seven people. That single sentence drove every decision. I walked through a typical Monday — breakfast, packed lunches, dinner — and identified every friction point in our existing kitchen. That list became my renovation brief, not the mood board I had on my phone.
The Best Layout Decision
We added 18 inches to the island. That sounds small. It was transformative. The island went from not quite enough to everyone can work here at once. My oldest two do homework at one end while I prep dinner at the other. That 18 inches cost about $400 in additional countertop and cabinetry. Best money we spent on the entire project.
The Three-Circuit Lighting Plan
We hired an electrician to run three new circuits: one for island pendants, one for under-cabinet LED strips, and one for the overhead — all on separate dimmers. Before the renovation, one switch controlled everything. After, three switches handle every cooking scenario. The electrician cost $800. Worth every dollar ten times over.
What I Would Change
I chose polished chrome for the sink fixtures because they looked beautiful in the showroom. With five kids at a kitchen sink, that means wiping chrome twice a day. Brushed nickel everywhere in the next kitchen.
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