For many people, the kitchen is the heart and soul of your home, the room you spend most of your time in. Designer Missy Schukraft of Offshore Design Build, Inc. says that it is usually the first room people choose to renovate. She and business partner Bud Schafle, a licensed contractor, specialize in renovating historic homes and have some kitchen renovation tips for culinary whizzes and takeout titans alike.
Before you begin a kitchen renovation, ask yourself how the kitchen is going to be used and be realistic about what works for your lifestyle. For instance, many people want marble countertops, but unless you are up for sealing them frequently or are OK with scratches, marble is not an ideal choice. “Marble is a soft stone that reacts with acid,” says Schukraft. Since so many things you use in the kitchen are acidic, marble quickly becomes marked up. Schukraft says that quartz or quartzite are beautiful, easy to care for options.
You can find unexpected ways to add extra flair to your kitchen with your stove or backsplash. Schukraft says many of their clients choose La Cornue or unusual stoves, which become the focal point of the kitchen. Likewise, the backsplash can show off your design personality while being functional. For instance, a mirrored backsplash can make a kitchen sparkle and add light. As a bonus, it’s easy to clean.
One of the latest — and if you have kids, maybe the greatest — ideas in kitchen renovation is adding a drink or beverage center. It’s not for you, but for your children. Adjacent to the kitchen, the center has a small refrigerator or refrigerated drawer along with storage for sippy cups, lids and snacks so children can help themselves while parents are cooking dinner.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when doing a kitchen renovation includes putting the stovetop in middle of the island and going too big. “If an island is too big, it gets in the way, and if a kitchen is too big, it can hinder functionality,” says Schukraft. “Ideally, the refrigerator, sink and stove should form a triangle and all be no more than 9 feet from each other.”
See more images from this kitchen, renovated by Offshore Design Build, Inc., below.
