The other day, in my private design group and on my LinkedIn profile, I posted a question…
If you had to choose between the following kitchen updates, which would you be most excited about?
The options were:
- High-end appliances
- Custom cabinetry
- New flooring and counters
- An updated layout
I was absolutely thrilled to see so many of you sharing thoughts and preferences…in fact, it was the most popular poll I’ve ever posted!!
Kitchens are more than a place to cook, after all…they’re a reflection of how we live and a source of DAILY joy.
So, now that you’ve shared your preferences about which updates are most important to you, learn which of these can be done in isolation, and which go together to make your dream kitchen a reality…
1: High-End Appliances
Your kitchen appliances provide the heartbeat of your kitchen. Just imagine walking into a space that feels like it belongs in a cooking show…the chef-grade appliances gleam under the crisp and bright lighting. A smart refrigerator quietly hums when you open it, then it tells you what to put where, and what to add to your shopping list.
The location of all the appliances allows you to cook while the family trudges through. The kids sit at the bar with their homework. You have your dual-dishwasher half empty already as you easily put things away. Your induction cooktop responds to your voice command as you turn up the heat on tonight’s dinner, and the custom oven hood above it automatically turns on.
Can you switch appliances out and nothing else?
If you JUST want to swap out appliances, it can be done!
Upgrading to high-end kitchen appliances provides a SIGNIFICANT improvement to your day-to-day that can transform your cooking experience.
If you’re sticking to the same sizes and locations for your appliances, then the switch can be an easy update. Just swap out the old for the new, and you have an automatic kitchen facelift…
What happens if the appliances aren’t the same size (or going in the same locations)?
High-end appliances do often come with new dimensions and additional features that require adjustments. If this update is important to you, here’s how to be prepared:
- A larger fridge, for instance, might need custom cabinetry adjustments
- An advanced range might necessitate better ventilation, impacting your kitchen layout and cabinetry
- ANYTHING that changes the footprint of an appliance will impact flooring, too
2: Custom Cabinetry
Custom cabinetry is your ticket to tailored elegance and efficiency. It’s what turns a kitchen into a space that perfectly suits your storage needs and the way you flow through the space. Every drawer and cupboard is exactly where you need it. The whole set-up is seamless.
This dream kitchen is also perfectly organized and style conscious, because custom cabinetry comes with custom aesthetics, too.
Can you get custom cabinets and nothing else?
It’s possible, yes!
If your existing cabinet layout really does work well, you can keep your flooring and appliances and just pull the old cabinets to replace them with the new, custom ones.
What if the cabinet layout needs an update?
Custom cabinetry often opens the door to other updates, though. If you’re changing the cabinet layout so that the right things can be stored near where you actually use them, these functional changes will impact the overall layout of your cabinets and your whole kitchen.
That means impacting counters, flooring, and possibly appliances, too. Cabinets often start a domino effect that can lead to a full kitchen makeover…but maybe that’s what your kitchen really needs.
3: New Flooring and Counters
Consider your kitchen flooring and counters the foundation of your kitchen’s style. These are the surfaces that give your overall aesthetic its “look.” Whether you dream of sleek marble, warm hardwood, or tactile tile, these elements set the tone for the rest of the space.
Those of you who chose “new flooring and counters” as the “most exciting update” understand that the right materials can transform a “blah” space into an extraordinary one.
Can you update flooring and counters and nothing else?
Absolutely! This one is easier to do solo than some of the other updates.
If you’re truly happy with your current floorplan and cabinets, then this straightforward update can breathe new life into any kitchen that’s drab and dated.
What if something else in the kitchen needs to be updated, too?
New flooring and counters can lead to other updates, even if you don’t think you “need” another kitchen update right now.
For example, if you’re changing the height of your counters (yes, you can do that—is someone in your home particularly tall or short?!) then you might need to adjust your cabinets, too.
Or, new flooring could mean removing and re-installing base cabinets and appliances. This could then lead to the discovery of hidden issues, too…
And, really, once you start a kitchen renovation, it’s easy to see how seamless the process can be if you update more things at once.
4: Updated Layout
To TRULY reimagine your space, a new kitchen layout could better suit your cooking style and your family or social needs in truly exceptional ways.
Maybe you need an open concept that flows into the living area (and updates your home for the 21st century!!)…or, maybe you envision social cooking around an Evo griddle that your family can bond over…or, maybe you have the most awkward island EVER, and need to reconfigure it entirely for the way YOU cook…
Can you update the layout and nothing else?
This one is tricky…no, if you update the floorplan and layout, there will almost always be something else that changes.
For example, even a new island might mean you move plumbing and electrical, and it will definitely mean updated flooring…
Changing your kitchen layout almost always means other updates. That also means that new cabinetry, appliances, flooring, and counters can all be part of your dream now, because they will be affected anyway.
This is an opportunity!! It’s your fresh start to create the kitchen of your dreams…
How to Prioritize Your Kitchen Renovation Updates
Ok…now, you see how these updates weave into one another (but not always).
Renovating a kitchen can end up feeling like a game of dominoes…one change sets another off. This can be overwhelming if you aren’t sure where to start.
How do you make the right choice…for your home and for your family?
There are certain key design and lifestyle considerations that can help you focus on what’s most important and determine whether it’s time for a full-gut renovation or a targeted facelift.
Here’s what to consider:
- Functionality — how do you use the kitchen daily? Do you need more storage, better appliances, or an efficient layout?
- Aesthetics — if your style has evolved but your kitchen hasn’t, it might be time for a significant change.
- Longevity — consider the age and condition of all appliances, fixtures and finishes in your kitchen.
- Family needs — your kitchen should nurture your family’s nutrition and time together.
- Entertaining — if you host often, or when you do, it’s a BIG deal, an updated layout could be essential. Consider how your kitchen could serve your social needs.
Now, here’s a simple exercise to put it all together…
To decide whether to prioritize a targeted facelift or a full-kitchen re-do, here’s what you do:
- List your pain points…target the top five things that frustrate you about your kitchen. Be specific and honest.
- Categorize each point based on whether it’s resolved with high-end appliances, custom cabinetry, flooring and counter updates, or a new layout. Some might overlap.
- Assess whether the possible solutions would fall into the “stand-alone” category or would have implications on other updates.
- Rank how much each pain point affects your daily life. The higher the impact, the more something should be prioritized.
- Consult a kitchen renovation professional like us. If you’re in the area, inquire with us about the kind of renovations that could meet your needs.
No matter which kitchen update excites you the most, it’s clear that each of these elements is interconnected in a kitchen that truly supports your dream.
Any change in one area could lead to adjustments in another, but that’s usually an opportunity to get more specific about what you need, want, and crave.
If you weren’t part of the original poll, join my private design group now and tell me which update you would be most excited about!!
See you there…
Robin Burrill, RID, NCIDQ, ASID, IDS, CAPS
CEO and Principal Designer
Signature Home Services
About the author
Robin Burrill, RID, NCIDQ, ASID, IDS, CAPS, is an award-winning professional kitchen, bath, and interior designer. Robin and her husband, Robert Mathews, have owned Signature Home Services, Inc. for nearly three decades, establishing a superior in-house team with a widespread reputation for delivering meticulous design to their many repeat clients.
In 2022, the national publication, Kitchen and Bath Design News magazine, named Robin to their Top Innovator list in recognition of her achievements in the field of kitchen and bath design. In 2024, she was named one of the Fall 2024 Market Pros and “tastemakers” by ANDMORE at High Point Market. Also in 2024, Fixr identified her as one of the Top Professional Interior Designers for their nationwide audience. Over her extensive career, Robin has been quoted in Architectural Digest and Forbes multiple times; her design work has been featured in top national trade publications; and she has been interviewed for Designers Today magazine’s “Profiles in Design” video series, among others. Widely respected for the depth of her knowledge, Robin is a sought after speaker and judge for many design industry events.
In 2023, Robin designed a bench for Charleston Forge, making her foray into product design. Robin currently serves as a volunteer on the board of the Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter of the Interior Design Society.
