A polished kitchen remodel doesn’t demand replacing every appliance. The key is to apply a few design strategies to your appliance selection and appliance installation.
One of the questions we often encounter with clients it, ‘What appliances do I need to replace during a kitchen remodel?”
The answer is, it’s up to you. Replacing some or all of your kitchen appliances isn’t mandatory. For example, you may want to save your refrigerator or dishwasher. That’s completely doable.
But, it does take a little bit of extra consideration to make sure your remodel looks beautiful and polished.
4 Tips & Insights for Keeping Your Appliances During Your Kitchen Remodel
1. Coordinate Materials & Colors
To help all of your appliances go together visually, we like to coordinate the materials and colors being used. Typically, this means sticking with either a stainless or black finish.
Another color that has become popular is slate. Slate is kind of a darker graphite color. If you can’t match the color of your appliances perfectly, think about staying in the same color family.
2. Consider Fully Integrate Appliances
When you fully integrate your appliance, you place a cabinet panel on the front of the appliance. This makes your appliance blend in with your cabinetry, eliminating the worry of, “Will your saved oven match your new refrigerator?”
Does a fully integrated appliance stick out from the cabinets? Nope! At least, not if you’re working with a skilled contractor. During the appliance installation process, any integrated appliance will be placed so the cabinet front is flush with the rest of your new cabinetry.
3. Pick Handles in the Same Design Family
Handles may seem like a silly detail. They aren’t. The handle of an appliance is the most prominent feature.
Pairing an ultra-industrial refrigerator handle with a sleek modern stove handle is visually jarring. This is why whenever we work with a customer who wants to save an appliance, we always recommend the new appliances have handles in the same design family.
This simple detail can really make a difference in creating a cohesive look.
4. “What if I want to keep all of my appliances during my kitchen remodel?”
If you have a matching set of kitchen appliances you are happy with and wish to keep, that’s a relatively easy design move. This allows us to focus on picking cabinets that will work with your appliances.
This is also the most affordable option. Because while the appliance selection process can be fun, it can also take a big chunk of your remodeling budget. By saving your old appliances, you can save on the overall cost of your remodel or invest more in other areas, like an elegant backsplash or new flooring.
7 Kitchen Appliances to Consider
1. Cooktops (aka Stoves)
In the world of cooktops, there are three main types: gas, electric or induction. Which one is best for you? That’s really a personal choice.
Professional chefs tend to swear by gas. However, induction heat has been gaining popularity for its impressive efficiency and ability to boil water in just minutes. That being said, electric appliances tend to be the most affordable option.
Furthermore, if your remodeling budget is a major concern, we always recommend you stick with what your kitchen is currently equipped to handle. Adding features, like a gas line, can substantially increase the cost of your project.
2. Range Hoods
It’s always a good idea to have some sort of ventilation system in your kitchen. This is typically your range hood, which sits above your cooktop.
The range hood helps you expel odors and smoke that may occur while cooking. The necessary size and strength of your range hood will depend on the size and seriousness of your cooktop.
3. Ovens
There are two types of ovens: convections ovens, which circulate heat throughout the space using a fan, and traditional ovens, which distributes heat from a single heat source (the bottom of your oven).
Convection ovens have the decided benefit of cooking food faster and more evenly. However, traditional bakers will prefer a conventional oven with its bake, roast, and broil features.
In an ideal world, you would have both a convection oven and a traditional oven. However, you may also want to consider an oven (or two ovens, because double ovens are the holy grail of ovens) that offers both convection heat and traditional heat.
4. Sinks
For many folks, sinks are sinks. We think of them a little differently. The side, mount, and style of your sink can drastically impact the function and beauty of your kitchen. Materials range from stainless steel and enameled cast iron to quartz and composite acrylic.
We like to keep sinks within the same color family as the rest of the kitchen. Additionally, we like to help clients weigh the pros and cons of a single sink or a double sink. Having two basins side-by-side can allow you to have dishwater in one and rinse dishes in the other. However, this often cuts down on the size of your large soaking area. If you are frequently washing large items, a farmhouse sink many be the better way to go.
5. Refrigerators and Freezers
Compressors are the biggest consideration when looking at refrigerator and freezer quality. The compressor’s job is simple, keep your refrigerator and freezer cold.
The most common and affordable options for any kitchen is the freestanding fridge and freezer combo. Some of these units have only one compressor. This means the compressor is doing double duty. Higher end freestanding units will have dual-compressor. While these are more expensive, they typically keep food fresh for longer.
You can also purchase counter-depth refrigerator and freezer combos. These are ideal when you’re planning integrate your appliances, as they fit flush with your countertops.
6. Dishwashers
Traditional dishwashers have doors that pull out on a hinge at the bottom of the dishwasher. Alternatively, drawer dishwashers are gaining popularity. While they often offer less space, drawer dishwashers can be placed at any desired height, eliminating the need to bend over for loading and unloading.
Another option some homeowners have begun exploring is adding a second, smaller dishwasher within their wet bar. This can be ideal if you frequently host parties and want to speed up the cleanup process.
7. Microwaves
Microwaves can be placed in a wide variety of locations. On a countertop. Built into your cabinet as a door or drawer. Next to your ovens. You can also choose from a traditional microwave or a convection microwave that doubles as an oven. This can be nice if you want the ability to expand your cooking potential, for say, a party or large family gathering.
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