The Kitchen Questionnaire

If you are considering to take on a kitchen renovation, it is an amazing invest you will be making for your home, family and value of your home.  Even though it is worth it, it will be a large undertaking and once it is done, you will not be redoing it for many years to come, if at all.  So it is worth taking the time to get it right, but your money towards the the investments that give you the biggest return in regards to your enjoyment and function out of your kitchen.   Before you start conceptualizing your new kitchen, focus on what you know about your existing kitchen, learn what works and what doesn’t work.  Here are tips to how we think you can take a total inventory of your kitchen needs: Once you have answered our questions, print it out and read through these sections to see what your responses mean and how you should proceed.

What 5 items do you want to keep (list as many as you need)

What 5 items is a must change?

In your existing kitchen:

  • Does it have enough space.  Look at these items below and see if what you have works for you?  Measure your space and save these notes.  If you feel like it is not enough.  Ask yourself what you need, is it 25%, 50% or even double?  Be realistic, think about what you need, not what you want.  

    • Overall 

    • Counter Top

    • Pantry

    • Dish, Glass & Utensil Storage

    • Pots & Pans

    • Utensils

    • Fridge/ Freezer space

  • How many people are typically in your kitchen at once and does this work?

    • Do you often find that you get traffic jams, where are they and why.

    • How many people are cooking?

    • How many people are in the kitchen at one time on a regular basis.

    • Do you entertain often?

Are you keeping the existing footprint of your kitchen? Will you need to open and move walls & utilities?

Do you know what type of layout you want? Will it have an island?

  • Knowing the preliminary layout of the kitchen can easily help you with understanding your budget. If changing the existing layout is part of your plan, know there will be a significant increase in the cost as you might have to move electrical, plumbing or duct work to accommodate the new plan.

Are your work areas efficient?

  • In your prep area are you close enough to the sink, the trash, cutting boards and utensil?

  • In your coffee area are you close to your mugs, coffee and filters? How far is it from the sink(water) and fridge (milk or cream)

  • In your cleanup area, are you close to the sink, trash and dishwasher? How far is the Dishwasher from the most common items you wash in the dishwasher ? (plates, glasses, mugs and cutlery)

  • Are your spices and oils near your stove?

  • Are the oven mitts near the oven?

  • How far are you willing to walk for your baggies and Tupperware? How often will you need to get to them?

  • Kids cups, plates and snacks. Are they stored in an area they can reach?

  • Are there appliances you use daily that you want to make sure are accessible? (blender, food processor).

    • We try to keep as many appliances off the counters as possible and like to store them in an appliance hutch or cabinet with a outlet inside so you can just open the door and pull it out to use,

Are there Features or Main Appliances that you require to add (an island, banquette, open shelving, Steam oven, built in microwave)?

What countertop appliances need to sit on your counter and what will be able to be stored away?

  • Counter Top Appliances (example : Toaster, Tea Kettle, Coffee Machine, Microwave)

  • Appliances to be stored in hutches or cabinets for easy access (example: Blender, Food Processor, Milk Steamer, Hand Blender)

  • Appliances to be stored away in a pantry or area that does not take up first priority cabinet space (example: Crockpot, Air fryer, Pressure Cooker, Bread Machine)

How often do you cook?  

How practical do your materials need to be?

  • How often do you cook?

  • How stain, heat and scratch resistant do your counters need to be?

  • Will your backsplash be covered in Marinara sauce often (and if it does will that kill you?)

  • Will you island often be sat at?

Are you happy with your lighting?

What is your budget?

If you don’t know :

Full gut renovation : Replacing all cabinets, counters, lighting, flooring

Facelift: Keeping cabinets, touching up cabinet paint, replacing hardware, maybe counters and backsplash)

Spruce up: New hardware, light fixture, stools and accessories 

What is your timeline? If so, is it flexible?

What are 5 words that would describe your style

How do you want to feel when you are in your kitchen?

What is your largest priority in regards to the design of the space?