When to Pick Kitchen Fixtures and Finishes
Is it tap first and sink second, or should cabinets lead the way? Here’s a timeline for your kitchen renovation
Rebekah Zaveloff
20 May 2021
Many homeowners think designing a kitchen starts with choosing items such as appliances, flooring, cabinet finishes, worktops, taps and lighting – and to a point it does. But I try to keep my clients from worrying about many of these items until after the space planning is complete. The huge number of options can be distracting, and it can be overwhelming to make all these decisions at once. Getting overcommitted too early can stifle creativity and hinder your progress in getting the best kitchen design for your home.
For some, choosing kitchen fixtures and finishes is like being a kid in a candy store. They like everything and can’t stay focused on what’s right for the overall aesthetic or design. For others, it’s paralysing. They get so worried about picking the wrong finish or fixture that they have trouble making decisions or focusing on other important aspects of the job at hand.
Even though we always start a kitchen renovation with inspiration photos to get an overall idea of what the client wants the kitchen to look like, I often shelve most of those until after the preliminary plans are complete. I view kitchen renovations as a series of small, layered choices. Here are some ideas for how and when to make them after space planning is complete.
Even though we always start a kitchen renovation with inspiration photos to get an overall idea of what the client wants the kitchen to look like, I often shelve most of those until after the preliminary plans are complete. I view kitchen renovations as a series of small, layered choices. Here are some ideas for how and when to make them after space planning is complete.
1. Appliances, sinks and lighting
I recommend that clients select appliances and sinks during the preliminary design phase, which often comes before choosing the rest of the finishes and fixtures. This is so the plans can reflect the proper sizes, which will in turn affect the cabinetry layout.
Also, I recommend choosing the type and amount of lighting fixtures during this phase: ceiling spots, semi-flush mounts, how many pendants over the island and so on, in order to complete the lighting plans so the contractor can provide estimates. Most people haven’t actually picked what style pendant light yet, but at least the decision about number is done.
I recommend that clients select appliances and sinks during the preliminary design phase, which often comes before choosing the rest of the finishes and fixtures. This is so the plans can reflect the proper sizes, which will in turn affect the cabinetry layout.
Also, I recommend choosing the type and amount of lighting fixtures during this phase: ceiling spots, semi-flush mounts, how many pendants over the island and so on, in order to complete the lighting plans so the contractor can provide estimates. Most people haven’t actually picked what style pendant light yet, but at least the decision about number is done.
It’s also time to decide whether or not you want a prep sink in addition to your main sink. At this point, by the way, it’s fine if you decide to change from a 900mm range cooker to a hob and wall oven.
By the time you get to final construction documents or order cabinets, however, these decisions must be finalised. The nice thing is that there are now a few big decisions you can check off your list.
The decision on how many pendants to use affects how many junction boxes you’ll need on the ceiling – and that decision needs to be made before plans get approved for permits and before the contractor closes up the plasterboard after the rough electrical is done.
This is why the professional you hired may focus you on working out the lighting plan before picking out the worktops.
By the time you get to final construction documents or order cabinets, however, these decisions must be finalised. The nice thing is that there are now a few big decisions you can check off your list.
The decision on how many pendants to use affects how many junction boxes you’ll need on the ceiling – and that decision needs to be made before plans get approved for permits and before the contractor closes up the plasterboard after the rough electrical is done.
This is why the professional you hired may focus you on working out the lighting plan before picking out the worktops.
You might have selected your appliances earlier in the design phase, in terms of manufacturer, model number and size, but remember that stainless-steel isn’t the only option. Some companies offer a vintage finish, while others sell range cookers in coloured enamels. Choices like this can determine the look and feel of your kitchen in one sweeping gesture.
2. Cabinets, worktops and tiles
Depending on what type of professional you hired, or whether you’re doing your own kitchen, you may start the finishes and fixture selection process from a different jumping-off point.
Rather than picking the cabinet wood species and finish colour by itself, and then picking worktops and tiles, I like to have my clients work on an overall palette of materials at the same time. Layer the materials and create collages of patterns, textures and colours to see what works best together.
A client might have the idea they want a “white kitchen”, meaning white cabinets, but there are many “whites” out there, and what you mix them with really makes a huge impact on what the overall kitchen will look like.
Depending on what type of professional you hired, or whether you’re doing your own kitchen, you may start the finishes and fixture selection process from a different jumping-off point.
Rather than picking the cabinet wood species and finish colour by itself, and then picking worktops and tiles, I like to have my clients work on an overall palette of materials at the same time. Layer the materials and create collages of patterns, textures and colours to see what works best together.
A client might have the idea they want a “white kitchen”, meaning white cabinets, but there are many “whites” out there, and what you mix them with really makes a huge impact on what the overall kitchen will look like.
For the modernists out there, you’d think picking finishes and fixtures would be easier, with less adornment and fewer decisions to make. For some this might be true, but I find that for others this style can be just as challenging. It’s all about restraint and editing, and that’s hard.
The small choices in this kitchen include sleek appliances, non-invasive lighting, the full-height splashback and the waterfall-style island worktop.
The small choices in this kitchen include sleek appliances, non-invasive lighting, the full-height splashback and the waterfall-style island worktop.
Tip Order current samples of the materials you’re considering. Get a door sample with your style and finish for final approval. Make sure you go to the stone supplier and view and tag the actual slab of marble for your worktops, and make sure you order a current control sample of tile for your splashback. All these extra steps will cut down on costly mistakes.
Using decorative tiles in the kitchen is a great way to express your personality and style, but proportion and scale are critical. Tiles are a pretty permanent decision – once they’re up, they’re expensive to change. You or your designer should do colour and pattern studies, and look at them alongside photos and samples, to be absolutely sure you’re making the right choices.
3. Flooring
Matching the floor stain colour is one of the most challenging phases of a project. If you have original floors and plan to refinish just the kitchen – or are laying new wood floors to match the old for continuity – don’t expect a perfect match. Many floors in old homes are made of old-growth wood, and flooring is manufactured differently now. The natural patina of an old floor is also nearly impossible to match. Companies offering reclaimed wood floors can make that matching process easier.
Matching the floor stain colour is one of the most challenging phases of a project. If you have original floors and plan to refinish just the kitchen – or are laying new wood floors to match the old for continuity – don’t expect a perfect match. Many floors in old homes are made of old-growth wood, and flooring is manufactured differently now. The natural patina of an old floor is also nearly impossible to match. Companies offering reclaimed wood floors can make that matching process easier.
Testing is the best way to get a close match. Even if you’re not trying to match new to old, doing stain tests on samples of the actual flooring is the best way to get it right.
If you’re doing tile or stone floors, work on picking those materials at the same time as cabinets, splashback and worktops. The relationships among these materials is critical. It’s tough to mix different types of stone and tile unless you want your kitchen to look like a showroom.
If you’re doing tile or stone floors, work on picking those materials at the same time as cabinets, splashback and worktops. The relationships among these materials is critical. It’s tough to mix different types of stone and tile unless you want your kitchen to look like a showroom.
4. Paint colours
Once I’ve worked with the client to pick the collage of materials for the kitchen, we lay these out to focus on paint colours. The reason this phase often comes a bit later is that the kitchen might be under construction and still have the old paint colour on the walls. The floors may be covered in that pinkish-red rosin paper, which can affect the look of the colour on the walls.
When looking at your paint swatches, be sure your walls are primed white. If you plan to paint your window and door casings, prime them white, too. If you’re keeping them as they are, make sure they’re free of dust. Any amount of colour in the room can throw off the new wall colour sample tests.
Pick your paint shades next to the other materials, including pulling back a section of the protective floor covering to get a good sense of how the colours work with the new stain.
Once I’ve worked with the client to pick the collage of materials for the kitchen, we lay these out to focus on paint colours. The reason this phase often comes a bit later is that the kitchen might be under construction and still have the old paint colour on the walls. The floors may be covered in that pinkish-red rosin paper, which can affect the look of the colour on the walls.
When looking at your paint swatches, be sure your walls are primed white. If you plan to paint your window and door casings, prime them white, too. If you’re keeping them as they are, make sure they’re free of dust. Any amount of colour in the room can throw off the new wall colour sample tests.
Pick your paint shades next to the other materials, including pulling back a section of the protective floor covering to get a good sense of how the colours work with the new stain.
5. Decorative details
Details such as shaped cabinet doors, niches for spices and oils, and decorative lighting should all be considered while working on the design development and finish and fixture selection.
Details such as shaped cabinet doors, niches for spices and oils, and decorative lighting should all be considered while working on the design development and finish and fixture selection.
6. Furnishings and accessories
Choosing bar stools and tables and chairs for a kitchen-diner usually comes at the end, but this is also important. Think about adding patina and texture through vintage pieces if you can find them. And don’t forget about items such as decorative plate racks, artwork and rugs or runners. Small touches like this can add a lot of character to a newly renovated kitchen.
Tell us…
Is this a helpful checklist of items you need to consider for your kitchen renovation? Share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments.
Choosing bar stools and tables and chairs for a kitchen-diner usually comes at the end, but this is also important. Think about adding patina and texture through vintage pieces if you can find them. And don’t forget about items such as decorative plate racks, artwork and rugs or runners. Small touches like this can add a lot of character to a newly renovated kitchen.
Tell us…
Is this a helpful checklist of items you need to consider for your kitchen renovation? Share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments.
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We’re working with a designer at a remodel company and all finishes (including tile and paint) had to be done early before final sign off; as we wait months for materials to all come in (they won’t start construction until everything is ready) I’m having doubts and second guesses. We’re to far in to the process now but I really wish we had we had worked with a design firm. We initially thought our budget wasn’t big enough to work with an interior designer and I won’t make that mistake again.
Keir, we did our kitchen last year. We worked with our contractor and a designer at the cabinet company. I really like how the kitchen turned out, but we made some significant mistakes. Most importantly, we didn't change our floors.
We're now hiring an interior designer to help us plan our future projects. We want to redo our floors, doors, baseboards, bathrooms, family room, and laundry. She's going to design our home, do the drawings, and help us select materials. Then, we'll be able to get quotes from contractors that are all for the same thing. Once the project starts, she'll come by to make sure the contractor is following the design plan.
I think it's going to work out much better than projects we've done in the past because we'll have a plan. We'll be able to do it in stages and still have a cohesive home.
A current consideration are the supply issues with appliances. Lead times of six months for some European brands are not uncommon, and this needs to factored in to avoid delays and disappointment.