Kitchen Remodel Checklist 

This Kitchen Remodel Checklist is a tool to help generate ideas for how you want your kitchen to look and perform. It will also help you and your designer in selecting, layout, and designing the kitchen cabinetry. You can copy or print out this checklist. Then, feel free to bring the completed checklist to our showroom or meet to go over the items with us, your designer, or your general contractor. So let’s get started identifying the components in your dream kitchen!

YOUR OVERALL REMODELING GOAL

What Would You Say Your Goal is For Your Kitchen Renovation? (check all that apply.)

• Meet your and your family’s evolving needs (study space, meal prep, entertaining, aging-in-place.)
• Improve functionality and convenience
• Upgrade to suit your style and/or replace aging finishes
• Boost your home’s resale value
• Increase energy & water savings, minimize maintenance and household costs

Cooking and Preparing Food

Do you want others to be able to cook / prep food simultaneously? Maybe incorporate an additional work triangle?

Is your cooking style more downhome or gourmet? Do you bake?

What type of food prep would you be doing? Daily heat & serve or full-course meals? Weekend family meals or quantity cooking? Do you entertain regularly?

Is the primary cook left-handed or right-handed?

Does the primary cook have any additional needs – like a lower counter height, accessible sink and cabinets, or easy-grasp handles? 

Entertaining and Eating Spaces

Do you like family and guests welcomed into the kitchen to help and visit, nearby, or separated from the kitchen?

Do you want family members/guests to eat at a kitchen table or kitchen counter or in a separate dining room or family room? Do small children need to be considered? Dining for how many people? 

Do you use caterers to prepare, serve and clean up meals for entertainment?

Secondary Activities and Amenities

Are there any other uses you would like incorporated into your kitchen planning? (Highlight or Circle all that apply). 

Part 2: SPACE PLANNING FOR YOUR KITCHEN

In this section, we will look at the current structure of your kitchen and decide if there are changes that need to be made. Take some notes with these questions as prompts. 

Plumbing

Does any plumbing (supply lines and waste) need to be moved to accommodate the cabinetry, or does the cabinetry need to conform to existing plumbing? Will there be additional plumbing (e.g., for a pot filler faucet)? Does the gas supply need to be brought in or relocated?

NOTES ON PLUMBING: 

Electrical

Does any wiring (including outlets and GFI) need to be moved to accommodate the cabinetry, or does the cabinetry need to conform to existing electrical? In addition to general overhead lighting, would you like task lighting, under cabinet lighting, over cabinet lighting, or in cabinet lighting? Computer/phone charging station? Are the switches where you would like them to be? Do you have enough outlets? Is the power supply adequate for the equipment? 

NOTES ON ELECTRICAL: 

Kitchen Island or Peninsula

Would you like to add an island? Keep in mind that any island may require electrical, gas, or plumbing connections. Consider pendant lighting over the island. Will there be a sink, cooktop, or wine cooler in the island? 

NOTES ON AN ISLAND INSTALLATION: 

Structural 

Are the views from the kitchen to the interior and exterior where you want them? Does the kitchen relate to adjacent rooms the way you would like? Do you want to move or eliminate partition walls? Design a great room? Bring in greater light and a greater feeling of space in another way – such as a skylight or solar tube? 

NOTES ON POSSIBLE STRUCTURAL CHANGES: 

Equipment

Following is a list of desired equipment you might want to incorporate. Highlight or circle all that apply.

NOTES ON OTHER EQUIPMENT:

Part 3: KITCHEN CABINETRY AND STORAGE 

Style, Appearance, and Finishes

In this section, we get to the fun part. Choosing the style and finishes for your new cabinets. We also cover practical storage considerations to make your new cabinetry and your kitchen functional and useful. 

How would you describe your style? Modern and sleek. Transitional with some detailing. Or more formal and traditional? 

What cabinet door styles do you prefer? Sleek European slab doors, Shaker 5-Panel doors, Beadboard, Louvered, Glass inset, Arched, or Inset with fine furniture detailing? 

What finishes do you like? Laminate, wood, painted? A combination? 

Is there a color you prefer? Bright white, mid-tones, natural wood, deeper or black? A combination? Colors to avoid? 

Storage Systems

What cooking equipment needs to be accommodated? Pots, pans, utensils, others?

What small appliances need to be accommodated? Blender, wok, toaster, coffeemaker, tea maker, can opener, electric frypan, griddle, crock-pot, food processor, others?

Special Storage Facilities to Consider. (highlight or circle all that apply:)

Part 4: OTHER MATERIALS AND FINISHES

Rounding out with a look at the other material and finish choices you might be making as part of your kitchen renovation. You will want your flooring, countertop, and backsplash choices to coordinate with your cabinetry choices. We have designer-created boards to get you started. We can also check out cabinet door and finish samples for you to take shopping.