5 Steps to a Successful Kitchen Home Addition

Kitchen additions are one of the more popular home improvement projects. Whether it’s due to a lack of space or a growing desire to create your dream kitchen, adding an addition is a great way to reconstruct your space for your needs. If you’re considering a kitchen home addition, we’ve broken the five important steps in the planning process.

1. Consider Your Options Before you go ahead with your kitchen addition, make sure you have explored all of your options. Many people find that rearranging their space or utilizing underused space will allow them to work with their existing kitchen footprint, thus eliminating the need for a large construction project.You can also consider a remodel of your current space. For example, many homeowners have found success in creating an open floor plan by eliminating interior walls and combining their kitchen and living spaces for a multi-functional space.Another option to avoid costly foundation or roof work is by making a new space that hangs off the side of the house. Using a cantilevered micro-addition or a “bump-out” is a great way to add just right amount of space to a kitchen.
2. Gather Inspiration Once you have decided that an addition is the best option for you, it’s time to figure out exactly what you’re looking for in your kitchen addition. This is your chance to build your very own dream kitchen, so utilize sources like popular home magazines, websites, home tours, and local building supply stores for inspiration.
3. Set a Budget and Construct a Plan Look at your finances and come up with a realistic budget. Know that this number might change throughout the process, so try and stay slightly below your budget to account for any unexpected costs. Chances are you’re planning this kitchen addition because you’re lacking space, so constructing a layout that fits your household’s lifestyle is crucial. Additions can be built in any direction, so consider the layout that will work best for you. In this step of the process, you’ll want to hire a designer who fits your aesthetic to draw up the plans.

4. Select Your Team An addition is a big project involving many different professionals. There are a number of different options to consider when selecting your team. The first option is hiring a design-build firm, which will give you an architect and a contractor all in one. The architect will construct the blueprints for your addition and the contractor will assemble the team to build the addition. Because the design and construction professionals are able to overlap, the process is able to flow seamlessly and often quicker than an alternative option.Alternatively, many homeowners decide to hire separate architects and contractors. You can hire a sole-proprietor architect to simply draw up your plans or a full-service architect that will manage the process and approve contractor invoices. Whichever options you decide on, make sure you are choosing qualified professionals with good recommendations.5. Choose Your Materials A successful home addition seamlessly blends with your existing structure. If your home has specific design elements, you’ll likely want to replicate those in your addition. Matching finishing materials such as roofing, siding, and trim is crucial in keeping things cohesive. In this step of the process, a good contractor will be able to aid you in your choices. For the interior elements, a kitchen designer will be able to assist you in choosing the right interior materials such as cabinets, flooring, lighting, and appliances.