How to Turn Your Dream NYC Kitchen Design Into a Reality

Table of contents

• Dream Kitchen Remodeling Tips
• 1. Don’t Choose Brands, Choose Quality
• 2. Get To Know Your Contractor First
• 3. Plan For The Stress
• Kitchen Renovation Contractors in NYC

Looking to build your dream kitchen design in New York City, but unsure of where to start? Ask yourself two key questions: What kind of style do you prefer? What style don't you like? You might find these answers harder to define than you originally thought.

When trying to settle on your dream kitchen design, consider the top three things you dislike about your current kitchen. Does it lack storage, have poor functionality, or have too small a sink? Make these the focus as you choose the kitchen design that fits you best. Everyone has a preference, but not everyone knows how to convey that into a functional everyday aesthetic. Get some ideas by browsing Houzz or our Kitchen Before/After gallery and take note of the kitchen styles that appeal to you most.

For example, you might think you want everything to be the same two or three colors until you see a farmhouse-style kitchen (like the one in our recent Brooklyn Condo Renovation) with its eclectic mix of colors and finishes. Or, you might think traditional is the way to go until you see how a modern kitchen uses exotic, highly polished wood trims and finishes for a more classically modern style (like the kitchen you see via our Prospect Heights Condo Renovation).

Once you decide on the look, the next step is to decide how involved you want to be in the process. You can hire labor-only contractors and purchase your own materials, or you can hire a design-build contractor like Gallery to manage and build your dream kitchen, from start to finish. From there, all you have to do is make decisions.

After the kitchen renovation plan is established, set a realistic budget by speaking with a few contractors or firms. More than 30 percent of young buyers exceed their budgets on renovation projects because they don’t set reasonable goals from the beginning. An experienced firm can help you set and stick to a more realistic budget.

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[#Dream]Dream Kitchen Remodeling Tips[#Dream]

Knowing how you want your dream kitchen to look is one thing, but knowing how to plan a kitchen renovation is another animal altogether. To help focus your efforts and ensure that your dream kitchen doesn’t turn into a nightmare, follow these three tips:

[#Choose]1. Don’t choose brand, choose quality[#Choose]

Luxury is likely an important part of your dream kitchen, but insisting on specific brands because of their popularity will push you way past your budget. Plenty of lesser-known brands offer equal or higher-quality appliances and finishes at a fraction of the cost of prominent brands.

Part of the reason is you aren’t paying New York City showroom prices. However, such brands can be challenging to find and even more challenging to choose between. Working with an all-inclusive design-build firm will give you access to a wide variety of the highest-quality appliances at prices well within your budget. Plus, we always pass along our vendor discount.

[#First]2. Get to know your contractor first[#First]

Spend time with your contractor before hiring, and trust your intuition. Make sure you’re comfortable with them being in your home for a month or more. If not, you’ll pay dearly for ignoring your gut feeling, no matter how attractive the proposal might be.

Besides your gut, trust whatever level of knowledge the contractor displays. A seasoned full-service contractor will not only be able to provide an accurate and detailed quote, but will also discuss hidden costs you won’t be able to avoid and hiccups that might interrupt the timeline.

[#Plan]3. Plan for the stress[#Plan]

Designing and building your dream kitchen is exciting, fun, and extremely rewarding — but the renovation process can also be stressful, frustrating, and inconvenient. Even with an ideal contractor guiding the project, you’ll have to consider how the project will affect your living situation and daily routine.

You might also consider some specifics of your original dream kitchen design might not pan out as expected. Before starting, accept that “close to what you want” is just as good as “exactly what you want” when renovation and remodeling. With the right contractor on your team, compromises could turn out even better than your original plan.

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[#Kitchen]Kitchen renovation contractors in new york city[#Kitchen]

Turning your dream kitchen into a reality doesn’t happen overnight. Prior to starting any home renovation in NYC, take time to ask yourself what you really want and what’s realistic. A full-service design-build firm like Gallery will help guide the reno and ensure your dream kitchen doesn’t turn into a nightmare. We handle every aspect of the project from interior design and architectural planning to building board management and construction.

Ready to renovate? Contact us today to speak with one of our design consultants.