Top kitchen renovation ideas that should be on your must-have list

Now, don’t get us wrong – we’re not saying that your project should use all of the kitchen renovation ideas on this list. We recommend that you decide what your priorities are – based on your lifestyle, needs, and functionality you want from your kitchen renovation.

Our interior design team will work with your kitchen renovation ideas and interior design vision while balancing your budget

The good news is that we’ll help guide your kitchen renovation selections and home design to ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck. Our interior design team will identify areas where it makes sense to splurge, save, or go somewhere in between.

With our interior designer leading the way to help you streamline your kitchen renovation ideas, we also help by

• Maximizing your floor plan and storage space while also considering the kitchen design aesthetic
• We pull samples in a range of kitchen renovation materials and options within your renovation budget
• If something is on your must-have list, we work to ensure it makes sense for your kitchen renovation – based on your home value and budget
• We want to help make the most of your budget, so when there are opportunities to save, we’ll let you know 
• And, sometimes you just “want what you want” – so we do our best to make it happen for you
• We help bring your vision and ideas to life by guiding you with professionalism and integrity

Now let’s get to the fun stuff! It’s time to get those inspirational juices flowing! Here are some of the most sought-after kitchen renovation ideas and kitchen design requests that we get from our customers.

Kitchen renovation ideas: Accessible storage for everyday-use kitchen appliances / hidden storage

Everyone knows a solid kitchen design has plenty of storage. The best kinds of storage allow you to keep things hidden while remaining convenient and accessible. Some of our top picks to help you get the most out of the storage space you have – while also keeping things neat and tidy are

• Appliance garage to keep your everyday use items close by, but not visibly cluttered on the countertop
• Oversized or deep sliding drawers for stashing away pots and pans
• Built-in storage inserts or dividers are perfect for keeping your cutting boards upright
• A pull-out spice rack to keep your spices, oils, and vinegars organized

Kitchen renovation ideas: Hidden waste bins (in cabinetry)

Imagine completing the kitchen renovation of your dreams only to forget that you don’t have a spot for the trash can and recycling. These are fast becoming a default feature in the kitchens we renovate for our customers, something as simple as a slide-out hidden waste bin cabinet well-placed within your kitchen work triangle – can make life just that much better for your busy family.

Kitchen renovation ideas: Kitchen island or peninsula with eat-in seating… bonus style points if it’s a waterfall edge countertop

One of the best kitchen renovation ideas to increase the functionality, workspace, and storage space is to add a kitchen island or peninsula. Which one – island or peninsula – that’s best for your renovation usually comes down to the size, flow, and layout of your kitchen.

Your kitchen island (or peninsula) brings so much more than just an increase in storage and workspace, though. Kitchen renovation ideas for islands are nearly endless, with potential upgrades, including

• Primary sink or additional prep sink, usually with the dishwasher next to the sink
• Appliances like a stovetop, oven, microwave, or a wine refrigerator
• An eat-in area for your kitchen with bar-style seating – perfect for friends and family to gather around
• And an increase in elegance and durability with your countertop angled 90 degrees to cascade to your floor below, known as a waterfall countertop

Kitchen renovation ideas: Speaking of countertops – the material matters – quartz and granite are durable, long-lasting bets

While we love the look of marble as much as the next home renovation company, in many situations it’s just not practical. We encourage our customers as much as possible to look at quartz or granite options which are durable; being much easier to maintain and clean. 

Each countertop material comes in a wide range of colours, finishes, patterns, and thicknesses – and our interior designer is dedicated to matching you to the material that you fancy the most. And, of course, if you have your heart set on a different countertop material – we will gladly work with that as well.

Kitchen renovation ideas: A well-planned “work triangle” for everyday kitchen meals and prep – strategically designed, functional devoted prep space

Not planning your layout to meet the needs of you and your family can be the biggest regret when completing a kitchen renovation. My team will always have our minds on how you will use your home in the future. Our talented interior design and build teams have years of experience creating stunning layouts that are as functional as they are pleasing to look at.

Some of the top kitchen renovation ideas and kitchen design requests include

• Creating a “work triangle” – that’s your sink/dishwasher area, range and stove top area, and refrigerator – so that multiple people can be involved in meal prep, while also ensuring the space is efficient for a solo cooking effort
• Depending on the size of your kitchen renovation and the style of your home, your workspace may increase to have multiple work triangles – imagine a second sink with a countertop prep area, and walk-in pantry, or a dedicated workspace for baking, just as some examples

While following “rules” when it comes to your kitchen renovation is important, we look to the “work triangle” as more of a guideline. When this concept was first introduced, kitchens were often much smaller, and meal prep usually wasn’t part of a family’s activities together. 

In today’s kitchens, it’s often the heart and soul of your home – with multiple family members participating in meal prep. Chances are you use your kitchen for much more than just creating meals – entertaining, dining, and working. Whatever you need from your kitchen, just know that we’ll be able to work with your ideas and help execute your vision during the renovation.

Kitchen renovation ideas: Durable sink, faucet, and dishwasher combination

We are firm believers in using quality products that are built to last. Some of the hardest working areas of your home are found in the kitchen. We’ve listed a few here, but we always recommend our customers don’t skimp on durability when it comes to their sinks, faucet, and dishwasher.

Due to the nature of these products – one second hot, the next cold, and with constant moisture – you want something that will last. We’ll help you avoid products that you’ll need to replace in 6 months!

Kitchen renovation ideas: Multiple lighting sources (pendant, chandelier, pot lighting, under cabinetry, etc.)

Lighting is the key to taking a good renovation over the top! We recommend layering your light sources and using multiple lighting sources that will help you establish the look you want. Some of our top kitchen design requests for lighting are

• Recessed and pot lighting: This type of lighting is installed in your ceiling and provides even, overall illumination to your space
• Pendant lighting: Pendant lights hang from the ceiling and are available in a variety of styles and sizes. They can be used to create a focal point above a kitchen island or dining table
• Under-cabinet lighting: These lights are installed underneath cabinets and provide task lighting for food preparation areas. They can also create a warm ambiance in the kitchen
• Chandeliers: Chandeliers can add elegance and sophistication to a kitchen, particularly in larger spaces, or if your kitchen is adjacent or attached to your dining area
• Track lighting: This type of lighting involves a track mounted on the ceiling with adjustable light fixtures. It can be used to highlight specific areas or objects in the kitchen
• Sconces: Wall-mounted sconces can add a decorative element to the kitchen and provide ambient lighting
• Strip lighting: These lights are installed in a long strip and can be used to create a dramatic effect under cabinets or in other areas of the kitchen
• Dimmer switches: Not a lighting source, but part of your lighting functionality – dimmer switches allow for flexibility in lighting, enabling you to adjust the brightness to your liking

When choosing your kitchen lighting, it is important to consider the overall design aesthetic of your space, along with what you’ll be doing in the space. A combination of different lighting types can be used to achieve your desired effect. Usually, there’s no such thing as too much lighting, especially when it comes to spaces in your home that you use throughout different times of the day.

Kitchen renovation ideas: Pantry space (or walk-in or butler’s pantry if there’s room) with sliding or pocket door

If your kitchen has room for it, we highly encourage our customers to let us design a dedicated pantry space as part of their kitchen renovation.

We typically design pantry spaces as large floor-to-ceiling cabinets with special functionality and design so that the drawers and shelves are easily accessible. You can take your pantry cabinets to the next level with storage features like additional drawer dividers, cabinet expansion pullouts on wheels or tracks, and lazy Susans.

However, if your home has the space for it, a walk-in pantry can be a massive upgrade. It lends itself to becoming a near-perfect storage solution. Within your walk-in pantry, there’s almost no limit to what you can do – including things like additional appliances, sinks, decorative displays, or simply more room for food or pots and pans. Other shelving configurations or storage solutions can add even more functional space for everything you need to be close to your kitchen.

A butler’s pantry is a separate room that is typically located between your kitchen and dining room. It provides additional storage space for your dishes, glassware, and other entertaining essentials.

Finally, we can look to remove the accessibility issues or design challenges by incorporating a pocket door for your pantry.

Kitchen renovation ideas: Custom range hood or other panel-ready appliances

Fully embrace your kitchen design and style with a custom range hood that becomes one of the many focal points. When you steer clear of the stainless steel options, a custom range hood that matches the rest of your kitchen design aesthetic perfectly, makes a statement.

Why stop at the range hood? Investigate other options for the rest of your appliances, allowing your refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, microwave, and more – to blend in seamlessly with your kitchen cabinetry.

If you’re seeking a sleek and elegant style for your kitchen renovation, panel-ready appliances may be just the idea you need.

Kitchen renovation ideas: Pot-filler tap

While it may sound like a novelty, for most, many of our clients, a pot-filler tap directly above their stovetop is a necessity. It just makes so much sense! If we’re opening up any of your walls as part of your kitchen renovation, don’t sleep on this idea.

In many situations, it’s a relatively quick adjustment to your plumbing – and trust us, you’ll be glad you asked about it!

Bonus kitchen renovation ideas and design requests, but not necessarily must-haves

Hey, with a list of winning kitchen renovation ideas above – some ideas just need to be runner-ups. Again, it comes down to your preferences, your family’s needs, and your lifestyle – what do you want from your home?

Some of our runner-up kitchen renovation ideas are listed below, for you to ponder.

Wine refrigerator

A dedicated wine refrigerator tucked away as part of your kitchen renovation layout is the perfect way to bring out your inner sommelier. Include it as part of your kitchen island or in another section of cabinetry – keeping it close, means you don’t have to miss a moment while entertaining friends and family.

Coffee bar

Similar to the wire fridge for the sommelier – having a coffee bar (corner, nook, cranny) is a dream for all the wanna-be baristas! Why spend +$5 on a frothy latte when you can make your own, in your home? The best part is you don’t need to leave the house on those chilly Winnipeg mornings – just roast, grind, press, froth, and serve.

Commercial range, induction cooktop elements, or single ovens

If your idea of a good time is whipping up your favourite cuisine or baking decadent desserts, appliance upgrades are a must. Look into higher-end models, learn about their features, and then make your decisions with confidence.

Smart technology

It’s here to stay so you might as well embrace it! Making smart technology-related decisions can be as simple as USB charging ports along with your electrical plugs – to smart refrigerators that help you create your weekly grocery list.

Hands-free faucet

A hands-free faucet is very close to making our “must-have” kitchen renovation ideas list! It’s the perfect innovation for those times your hands are messy and contaminated – and it’s also convenient even when they’re not.

By no means do you need to agree with all the ideas we’ve included in the list above – but we hope that we’ve inspired you to think about what you want in your space and for your home design.

Our design-build team will build your dream kitchen renovation, according to your kitchen renovation ideas list

When you’re ready, bring your kitchen renovation ideas and interior design requests to us! Our design-build team looks forward to taking it on and making it happen with confidence. We’re here to design-build your vision with our guidance, integrity, and craftsmanship. Reach out to us today and start the conversation by contacting us for your new kitchen renovation!