KITCHEN REMODEL DESIGN MISTAKES TO AVOID | DON’T MAKE THESE 5 MISTAKES! 

What is your opinion on the pot filler? Team for or team against!?

Currently in a reno & I was hell bendy on not having the refrigerator built in because I thought…”no one uses those cabinets”….now I’m going to build it in because it looks sooo much better 🙃

You are right NOT TO GET the pot filler, those things will always eventually leak (according to my plumber friend). Just walk around and get your water. Saved you 2K!!!

I think one of the most important design specifications for your kitchen is good lighting. A well lit kitchen is essential. Good under cabinet lighting, lighting that illuminates your work area/task lighting, island/peninsula lighting etc, are key. Consider how a light might cast a shadow where you will be working, will a ceiling fan cause a strobe effect.

I’ve been on the fence about the pot filler bc it’s not really necessary. You convinced me! Thank you for the nudge. I was being indecisive and now I’m going for it👍

We opted to take our kitchen backsplash up and around the window. It creates visual appeal and a sense of flow. I agree with you on this option.

I cannot emphasize enough how important the big single sink is! You can wash a big pan with a handle flat in the bottom. Once you’ve had the big farm sink, you’ll never go back to a ridiculous divided sink.

Wow! a lot of great content. Side note: your choice of blouse is very distracting and takes away from your message on good design.

No dishwasher in my kitchen. I have a dual sink, but is a bit small for things like half sheet pans and my cast iron skillet. It's doable. For my 1950's small kitchen I opted for more storage and I have 3 children and a husband that help with dishes so it works for us. More storage for all my cake decorating supplies was a must.

I’m doing a remodel right now. Cabinets going in even as I write! I avoided ALL the mistakes! Yay!!

Lol! I agree with your double sink issue! Even if you wash your dishes in the sink a partition is not helpful at all it just limits the area to work on

Great tips! I love a big sink. I use some enormously big pots and pans; some are cast iron and can't be put in the dishwasher. Also some of the big electric appliances need to be carefully hand washed. If I was stuck with a double sink, I would have to wash some of this stuff with the garden hose outside. I am getting ready for a remodel and we are putting a 2nd sink in the island. It's nice to have options for people who use their kitchen differently.

You are so right about the sink! I'm not sure who likes washing a crock pot or a dutch oven/pot in a divided sink but it is not easy. We are just beginning our kitchen renovation and a large stainless steel farmstyle (SINGLE BOWL) sink is what we're getting. :) I agree with cabinets or molding going up to the ceiling too. It just looks more professional - AND not dust will gather! Knowing exactly what you want and researching what looks best in your kitchen is key - don't get something that is so taste specific it will look dated in 2 years. Love your backsplash btw. :)

Doing a renovation this summer. The house was built with soffits (that did not have drywall behind them- insulation was blown in from the attic), but I wanted cabinets that are ceiling height, because I am nearly 6’, and my ceiling are only 8’,, so had someone take out the soffits and put in rough drywall. Doesn’t match the rest of the wall or ceiling at the moment, but will be covered by the new cabinets and crown molding when added, so not a huge issue for me at the moment. It’s only a temporary situation.

Nice tips! We just updated our Kitchen, it’s hard living 3 mos without a kitchen! But we went all out and everything retrofitting to modern appliances and cabinets. It’s worth it! Thanks 😊

We’re currently in the process of renovating our kitchen and I’ve done most of your tips 👏🏾

Well let’s discuss about the sink… It’s functionality is not solely for washing dishes but to cook. I still want my sink to be double sink but the new double sinks now have the dividers a little lower so you could wash you baking sheets easier. I still want a double sink cause if I’m washing chicken on one side at least the other 1/2 could be used for other things. Double sinks would avoid me getting sick from mixing meat and whatever I’m doing on the other side. Also sinks should have round corners for easy clean up. I know that the trend is to have one really big sink with rectangular corners, but the owner of a kitchen cabinet store suggested to me once that avoid those trendy sinks as it would be cleaning up nightmares! Kitchen is really a personal space, you do what works for you and make sure it is functional. Sometimes trendy stuffs work but not just the one big sink. I still love a double sink! Dishwashing? Well you have a dish washer to do the work! Sinks supposed to help you wash your veggies and meat And etc…my two cents cause I cook! I know what is functional and what is not in sinks!

"Do it right the first time" are words to live by when remodeling. I had a conflict with my contractor who wouldn't run the cabinets to the ceiling (part of the original plan) and I have always regretted giving in to him. I could go on, but contractors seem to come in only two kinds: horrible or heaven sent!

This is what we did. Kitchen cabinets were taken to a car body shop and painted with white car paint. We used invisacook induction stove. The cooktop is under a granite countertop. We went higher end with SubZero. These refrigerators run for 25 to 30 years. two compressors, and air scrubbers. This has cabinet panels. The big mistake is the pull-out trash bins. The tracks in every single one we bought has failed.

Definitely agree about taking cabinets to the ceiling. The stacked cabinet look with glass, like you have, looks amazing.

Actually have a friend who has a pot filler and hates it because the water is never fresh since it doesn’t get used often enough.

THANK YOU!!! I have a small kitchen and I hate all that wasted space above my cabinets. I don’t hate it enough to remodel…yet, but one day soon.

The pot fillers are a personal choice. I think they are unsightly. Your kitchen looks beautiful and clean without it.

The only one I really disagree with is the sink. We have one big sink right now, and we absolutely HATE it. We really really wish we had a double sink and that one one of the things high on our priorities for our new kitchen. Absolutely need a double sink. But hey, that's just us. *shrugs*

The most important thing we did in our renovation was ask where we would be walking. We have a separate dining room, and there are cupboards with dishes right next to the dining room door. When dinner is over, dirty dishes are collected and rinsed in a small sink right next to the dishwasher. The dishwasher is also close to the dining room. Things that need hand-washing are washed in a double sink close to the stove and close to the cupboards around the stove, where they are stored. Cleanup is efficient, and we are not bumping into one another.

Love these tips. Redoing my kitchen right now. No pot filler though, the sink is so close and I dont like the look with smaller ranges. Great if your cooktop is 36 inch or more. I spend my days inspecting restaurants so I was sure torn but I'm so old...... fashioned. I love to display beautiful vases with dust collecting silk hydrangeas at the kitchen corners on the upper cabinets and other weird eye catching trinkets. Perhaps and ode to my grandmother. Ps Love the out takes! Perhaps a pot filler in another year when I add the mini snack bar and water line to my new larger living room. Shared wall so it will work.

I was so skeptical when I clicked on this video but your perspective is so helpful!

Always had double sink. With one big sink i would put some kind of tub inside to keep from overfilling wash water while rinsing.

I watched this video a long time ago and now I’m watching it again as I’m going through a kitchen renovation. I must have taken a lot from the first watch because we have done everything suggested in this video 😂

Just starting our kitchen reno, excellent points! Thanks!!!

Wow, I actually disagreed with most of this! I think your kitchen looks great, but the kitchen should definitely suit the cook. I love a double sink and use both halves all the time. Unless you kitchen is huge, I don’t see the sense in a pot filler. We are building now and will have a pantry, so I don’t want upper cabinets at all, I’d rather have the openness. And that “cheap” granite you showed looks to me like one of the more expensive exotics. I think it’s gorgeous, and I can’t imagine preferring engineered stone over real granite.

Thanks for the video. I agree with everything except the counter depth refrigerator.where you get less for more money.

Love these tips! I did all of them except the pot filler, I didn’t mind it because My stove is close to the sink, however as I get older and it gets harder to lift heavy pots, I do think it would be nice. 👏🏻👏🏻

Woah. This video blew my mind. I didn’t even know pot fillers existed!!! Great tips thank you!!

I have 42” cabinets. I still have the space above. I love to see the crown molding and have light accent with accent piece. basically, it’s the Open shelf concepts but not taking up cabinets space. I rather have more cabinets because I cook a lot have a lot of pots and pans, large dishes. I don’t want to see you so I keep them in the cabinet. The only mistake I’ve made in my renovation, is listen to designers I don’t know shit. You are the one who cooks in your kitchen. You know what you want, and you are paying for it! And paying alot for it! So if a cabinet like like should open to the right you make sure if opens that way! Stay on top of things. They tell you it will be ok but insist on meeting the designers and contractor and yourself before that last signing of paperwork!

Disagree on the pot filler. Have one now (was already in when we purchased) and only use it to soak dirty pots NOT for cooking. Unless you are using it multiple times a day, the water just sits in the pipes. At best that will result in odd taste and at worst a bacteria issue.

“You’ll be paying the contractor to do it already it won’t be that much more” Nah I’ll be doing it myself. Also 2k is a lot to run water to over the stove! I’m going to run water myself because it only about 4 feet from the sink water line so I can tie into that

I agree with cabinets that go up to the ceiling. A must!

I agree 1000% with everything you said , im literally fighting tooth and nails with some clients about every single thing you mentioned

I have never been a fan of the pot filler trend. You have to lug a heavy pot to the sink to empty the water anyway. I, personally, just fill my pot with a pitcher while the empty pot sits on the counter next to the stove or on the stove itself. I think, in the long run, you will be glad you did not get the pot filler. I have never quite understood why someone would want something that could possibly leak water or become layered with a film of grease over their stove. Because, eventually, everything breaks and needs some sort of repair. Better to repair a leaking faucet over a basin rather than over an expensive range.

Excellent points! Very good advice!!! Thanks!!!

Great video. I wonder about pot fillers, though, with induction ranges. Water and electricity seem like they shouldn't go together...

Good tips! However, I love having a double sink. Rinsed but not washed items go on the left... and I hand wash on the right. Plus I use my dishwasher for everything except pots, pans and plastic.

Hi Christina. I really enjoyed your suggestions,Thank you,l can’t help noticing though that your all units look low to the worktop…Positives,…Don’t have to reach up so far,Negatives…Can you fit a nespresso or toaster,or kettle etc underneath? Greetings from UK

Mistake #3 is my favorite. The double sink is pointless, IMO. I can never get my pots fully in there and it's just annoying.

I have questions. Who actually uses a pot filler? And if you do, how do you dump the huge 5 gallon pot when you done? I have and love my double sink. One side is huge. The other side is still pretty good size and has the garbage disposal in it. I have a single sink in our log home elsewhere and it drives me crazy. What do you do if you need to dump coffee out while you are washing dishes? Some items just do not belong in a dishwasher( really good knives). About the refrigerator...is that pricy when you need to buy/ replace the actual unit? Where to source that?

We're looking at houses, and my biggest kitchen complaint is how many people have renovated very poorly. As in, taking walls down for that "open concept" feel but not designing everything to fit into the new space properly, so the fridge is in the old dining room around the corner, or the double oven is actually in a hallway, or shaker cabinets and that grey/white monotone farmhouse look in a midcentury classic. Not all houses are open concept or trendy, nor do they need to be, especially if you're sacrificing the functionality or authenticity of the era

Really great pinned photos! You def did your homework in choosing beautiful and under used photos!

Great video. I appreciate all of these suggestions. I definitely will be incorporating some of your ideas as I start to re design my kitchen. Do you have a video where you suggest certain cabinet conveniences? Thanks

Doing a budget-friendly remodel right now on a very 80s kitchen. I couldn't afford new cabinets to get them to the ceiling so I had my contractor cover the soffit and put nice moulding on it. It looks more built-in and custom and only cost about $400 total. Could be way cheaper if you do it yourself instead of hiring out.

Thank you so much. I agree with everything you said.

What if you like you cabinets shorter due to your design style, I find that it looks more modern where mine is French cottage and I prefer it this way ! 💋

So.. I have 14foot ceilings? Not practical to put cabinets to my ceiling. How would you reach them? A 12 foot ladder.

With the no double sink idea is that also important for a kitchen remodel that needs to be done (because it's horrible & outdated) for better resale of a house?

I just plumbed in my pot filler. $35 of copper from HD and 2hrs of sweating pipe. The only reason you can’t put it in after the backsplash is you need to install wood blocking behind the drywall . I’d just bust out that tile and do it your self.

I would have overhead cabinets next to my cooktop. The cook-top is one of the most used items in the kitchen, need to a place for everything I there

Very good information. We are in the process of renovating ours and pretty much-doing everything except the refrigerator part. Thank you.

Late to the vid but I agree with all those…. If you really want the pot filler, get it…. I really want under floor heating the en-suite bathroom

Building in the fridge doesn't work in my small kitchen, and probably doesn't work in a lot of kitchens, but if it does, go for it!

Cabinets that go up look very nice, I don't use my cabinets that are all the way to the top. Backsplash to me is very important. Depending what your hood looks like. I agree go all the way up with the backsplash. I bought a double basin in my renovated kitchen a couple years ago which I hate. I'm building a house and I went with ONE BIG OLD SINK. You should go with a counter depth fridge that looks very nice. You can have a bigger fridge in your garage. I don't think people are going to the granite and quartz warehouse, picking whatever. That stuff is pretty expensive. Some people have different taste. I personally do not like granite. It is too busy for my eyes. I love quartz. I think it's a personal preference. When it comes to countertops. And let's not forget concrete, butcher block and stainless steel These are also good choices for counter tops. I would have to agree with your husband on a pot filler, I love my pot filler it looks beautiful and in my new kitchen I also added it. I cook a lot and I use my pot filler a lot. But those are the things you have to think about. One of the things I wish I would have done during construction was to get rid of the ugly ass wall outlets. They are ugly and take away from my beautiful backsplash. I waited to long and it would have been a very expensive fix. Another thing I didn't end up doing was wall mounted faucets for sink in my kitchen. I did it in my bathroom. One thing I added to my new kitchen is an ice machine. I entertain a lot and live on a lake so it was important to always have ice for my coolers.oh one more thing I have a very large island and had two electrical popups that come out. On each side they are awesome. These are the little things that people don't think about and later you can't change it.

I agree with the small double sink i hate those too!!

I have a double sink and can't wait to get rid of it. I want a deep single sink so my pots are easier to clean.

We’re building our first new home. My pot filler is my favorite thing.

Cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling are great for the average to tall person but it's a waste for us short people. I refuse to carry my step stool around the kitchen to get the things I need. I lived in a house with cabinets like this and just left the top two shelves of all the cabinets empty.

I forgot to mention... I had granite installed I. 2007 removed in 2018 because colors were out of style. Replaced it with a beautiful solid color of Quartz stone. Several months in, l noticed 2 separate awful nicks... and then a third nick later ... after spending a lot on it as we have a lot of counterspace underneath 28 cabinet doors! Went back to granite it in 2021. Done with quartz!

We are building and will have a black faucet and pot filler with white cabinets. Black and White Island. I’m not sure about the hardware for the cabinets. Rather brushed gold or brushed stainless would look best. I’m not wanting black hardware. What are your thoughts? Thanks

Double sink every time. One is my clean sink nearest to where I am prepping and the other is my dirty sink near to the dishwasher. I also use my clean sink to put in my rinsed dishes in for drying which means that I don't need to have a drainer on show on the counter top...ugh! Having two sinks is so needed when I have hot water or dirty items in one sink and the kids come along wanting some cold water or to wash some fruit...they can use the 2nd sink. I also might have a board or knife which I've used for meat which I drop into my dirty sink and still have my clean sink available for me or the kids. With a double sink, you can have style...and substance.

Regarding the pot filler: If you are making small pots of pasta or potatoes then taking them from the sink to the stove top is no big deal. But say if you have a huge pot for lobsters or a seafood boil it is really heavy with water to take from the sink to the stove top... so with a pot filler you can fill up 10 gallons so easily right at the stove. Then after the lobsters are done you take the lobsters out but you still have a huge pot of scalding water which is really heavy to take back to the sink to dump it out. That's not very good. So the thing to do would be to get a smaller pot and bail out the big pot like you would a leaking rowboat until it becomes light enough to lift and bring to the kitchen sink. As long as you put a drop cloth down between the stove and the sink it shouldn't be a problem with dripping fish water. You know, maybe I should rethink getting that pot filler for big pots?

Have you considered getting lavalier mic for your videos? It would eliminate the echo. Nice video BTW.

I loved your mistakes. I have an old farm house did Ikea cabinets they go almost to the ceiling Should I put up crown molding to make them go to the ceiling? I did butcher block counters and a 37" Farm sink. I love, love the sink. I love how big it is and it is Ikea for $129. I couldn't believe the quality.

As I live in a tropical zone, I'd prefer not having upper cabinets and instead having a very functional pantry for storage. Then, you can have more windows and wall lightening in the kitchen.

I agree with all of your suggestions, especially the built-in fridge and cabinets to the ceiling. I'm going to remodel in a few years, and unfortunately have to contend with a soffit between the upper cabinets and ceiling that has a vent and some wiring running through it. :-(

Really great video! Thank you!👍💝👍 I like the kitchen behind you.💖

Open shelves look beautiful but very hard to maintain

Fridges that are set back end up much smaller. If you don't the entra space 👍, if you have a large family, you'd be better off with the standard depth.

That kitchen looks good

Another mistake to avoid: Never buy a pleather button-up blouse. The kitchen tips were great though! Merry Christmas!

I goin to do kitchen renovation and I love to make epoxy floor what you think about

I have a small L-shaped kitchen that I’m renovating. Short end is the refrigerator. Long end has sink, dishwasher and range/oven. Is it a mistake to go with white appliances to make the kitchen look as big as possible? I’m concerned that stainless steel might break the continuous look of white cabinets.

I’d love a pot filler but no water on that side so I wonder how much it would cost to run a line?

I’m a fan of decorations on top of the kitchen cabinets, I’m about to start a kitchen remodel and saw your tip about taking the cabinets all the up. What is your advice about decorations on top?

I will like to have the cabinets all the way to the ceiling but we have wood between the cabinets and the ceiling which have pipes inside them. Any ideas?

We don't cook much pasta....I want to put a potfiller at the coffee station!

We are in the process of choosing kitchen sinks and what’s your advice about a granite composite sink vs stainless steel?

You still have to carry pot across to empty it. But now it is burning hot. I don't get the point of pot filler

Your thoughts on having the cooktop or range and hood in the island?

When my grandparents built there house a few years ago, the fridge stuck out about a foot, so my grandparents cut into there pantry and rebuilt the wall just to have a fridge that didn’t stick out

Often cabinets are not taken all the way to the ceiling bcs the ceiling is not level especially in old homes like mine, and this would become very obvious if the cabinet meets the ceiling.

You are a crack up!! Loved this video💛💛

2k for a pot filler is some of our whole room makeovers and overtime. Not only that, but more plumbing, more problems in the future

Cabinets Upto the ceiling are not really functional. I am 5ft 4” tall and can barely reach the 2nd shelf of my cabinet. So I do see the point having cabinets upto the ceiling.

MY CABINETS DONT GO ALL THE WAY TO THE CEILING ANS ITS NO BIG DEAL! HOW DARE YOU SAY SOMETHING SO MEAN 😭

I just found this and I love this. Subscribed. Also love the blue on you!

do you really miss the pot filler? we have to decide if to get one, should we?

Very good advice!

Nice info TY☺️

Built in fridges are more than 3 times the price of a normal fridge.

Today my decision has to be to renovate two bathrooms or my kitchen. Too sad cant do everything.

Lots of Great Ideas!

Pot fillers are dumb! Why, lol you still have to drain that pasta water!