Remodeling your kitchen is an exciting experience. Most homeowners only remodel a kitchen once in their lifetime. Since it such a big investment, it makes sense to spend a lot of time carefully considering what materials will go into your kitchen. It's important to source materials that will have longevity and functionality, paired with the perfect aesthetics for your kitchen.
The three most impactful selections are going to be your cabinets, countertops and appliances. That's not to say your flooring, backsplash, or fixtures are any less important, but those will affect the design the most. Here are some important features to keep an eye out for, so you know you are getting what you deserve.
Cabinets: The KCMA performs extensive testing to certify cabinet makers who get to bear their name, and you can see their quality standards here: A161.1 Quality Certification (kcma.org)
You can search their website to see if your desired cabinet manufacturer is on their list.
Some highly recommended cabinet features to have are:
3/4" shelving
Dovetail drawers
All wood construction (no furniture board)
Soft-close drawers and doors
Full extension drawers
Countertops: Countertops typically come in three sizes (1, 2 or 3 centimeters) and they need to withstand heat, scratches, stains, and chipping. The two most common are quartz and granite, but other popular choices are marble, soapstone, and solid surface.
Some quality features to look for are:
Durability - quartz and granite will be the top contenders
Aesthetics - quartz and granite stand out again
Maintenance - quartz wins over granite, because granite needs to be sealed periodically
Appliances: There are many appliances to choose from, so it's important to work with a brand that offers great warranties and customer service that honors those warranties. Sub-Zero gets a stellar reputation for customer service, but they come with a hefty price tag. There are many other competitive brands that stand out such as Wolf (a subsidiary of Subzero), Dacor, Miele and Thermador. We recommend our customers visit a reputable appliance showroom and visually see the appliances they are interested in and ask about their warranties and reliability.
Sink: There are a handful of materials available for sinks, such as stainless steel, fire clay, cast iron and granite composite. Each style can typically be mounted as a drop-in, undermount, or farmhouse/apron front sink. Make sure you work with a material that complements your desired level of durability and maintenance. Stainless steel is tried and true, and easy to clean. Fire clay and cast iron have a warm, natural look and both are a solid material. That being said, if a dish slips out of your hand, they can be chipped and need to be repaired by a professional. Composite sinks offer a lot of color variability, but they also run the risk of cracking and usually require a full replacement. Each will have its own benefits and drawbacks. Make sure the appearance complements the rest of the kitchen and make sure they come with a reliable warranty and customer service.
Faucet: Its best to work with a reliable brand when it comes to faucets. Cheaper faucets can leak, causing more damage than expected, which is especially risky once new cabinets and flooring are installed. The faucet you select should preferably have commercial-grade ceramic cartridges with a brass sleeve. Not many homeowners worry about the internal components, but it's to consider more than the looks. Moen and Delta are two of our preferred brands for anything plumbing fixture related.
Flooring: Make sure you work with a flooring that is durable. Kitchen's see a lot of foot traffic and spills, so that rules out carpet right away. Good flooring choices are tile, hardwood, luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and waterproof laminate (in order of our recommendation). Tile can be the most durable, but it also will be the biggest investment (which is typically well worth it). The options are endless when it comes to the appearance of the tile, it has great resale value, and it will last a long time if cared for properly. The downside is the grout joints will require periodic cleaning. Hardwood will look great, offers a feeling of warmth and can be customized to match your cabinets, but water and wood are not very friendly to each other, so spills need to be cleaned quickly to minimize damage. LVP is waterproof and can look great, but it doesn't accurately mimic the feeling of wood under foot and it's not as durable as tile. That being said, it comes in a lot of great colors and varieties. Laminate would be our last recommendation, as it has been recently developed to replicate the durability of LVP by adding waterproofing, but at the end of the day it is still compressed cardboard and that brings with it inherent risks regarding longevity.
Backsplash: Subway tile still remains one of the most popular backsplash choices today. A more recent option that is becoming popular is using the countertop material to create a seamless backsplash with a visually seamless appearance. Both options are great choices for a backsplash, and the options are virtually endless. If you prefer less cleaning, the seamless backsplash will be the way to go, but it will be the more expensive of the two and might be a little trendier.
Concluding Thoughts
Make sure you spend the time researching what materials to incorporate into your kitchen. Looking through kitchen magazines or design websites is always a great place to get started for inspiration. When it comes time to select materials make sure you work with reputable manufacturers who have warranties to back their products. Better yet, work with a design-build kitchen remodeler like us who has already done all of the legwork for you. We have a network of reliable vendors eager to meet you.
And if you have any questions at all, schedule your stress-free consultation.
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