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Remodelling Kitchen: Balancing Functionality and Aesthetics
May 22, 2021
By Mrinmoy Dey
The key to a successful remodelling project lies in having a clear plan entailing the extent of renovation required to meet the user requirements keeping in mind the budget constraint.
Creating a dream kitchen is by no means an easy feat. It takes a lot of planning and time to get it right. But then again, over a period of time even the most meticulously designed kitchens tend to be predictable and may not be as efficient as it was at the beginning. This might be due to changes in the way the user uses the kitchens, the family composition or a completely new set of people moving in. In such situations, remodelling the kitchen to suit the user requirements works well.
Extent of remodelling
Deciding when to plan the renovation or how much of a makeover is needed can be tricky. Gauri Shah, Principal Architect, Facilis says, “A kitchen that is used for a period of maybe above 5-7 years should be thought of remodelling. As the requirements, family composition, the way of using, the person using it and lastly the trends do change over a period of this time.”
Swanzal Kak Kapoor, Design Principal, Saka Studio explains the process that goes behind selecting a renovation plan. “We are always conscious of how resources are being consumed in a particular kitchen. We would evaluate the space very carefully to decide the optimum renovation. We do not believe in discarding old things just because they are old. If they are functional, then they are usually refurbished. Usually, it is the structural problems that we try to put right. Things like plumbing issues, seepage, electrical problems are given top priority in renovation projects.”
Photo Credit: Facilis, Mumbai
Often in renovation projects, clients already have an idea of what they want the end result to be like. However, an architect or designer has to improvise on those briefs and make it not only practical but also better. Gauri explains, “Clients do come with a brief with clarity, as they know exactly what they don’t want according to the previous kitchen that they were using. But many a time they are not aware about the products, finishes, appliances that are available in today’s time. So, I prefer educating the clients by making them visit reputed experience centres of products, finishes and appliances. I insist on choosing the above prior to the starting of my planning/ designing anything because any change in the above may completely change my whole planning. Besides this, the client’s clarity completely transforms into a need and his whole approach towards remodelling changes.”
"We do not believe in discarding old things just because they are old. If they are functional, then they are usually refurbished. Usually, it is the structural problems that we try to put right. Things like plumbing issues, seepage, electrical problems are given top priority in renovation projects."
Swanzal Kak Kapoor
Design Principal
Saka Studio
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Challenges of Remodelling
Remodelling a kitchen is very different from building a new one from scratch. Gauri explains the difference between starting from scratch and remodelling, “Remodelling is generally difficult than ones to be done from scratch. There may be few mistakes related to the levels, right angles, details in civil work, electricals that need to be understood properly and then the solutions have to be thought of. Even if the old work is perfect, retaining a certain percentage and blend in the new work is always challenging. Like maybe the finish of the carpentry work needs to match the kitchen dado (which is been concluded to retain) or maybe an addition of a chimney in the renovation will involve ducting which may not be existing in absence of a chimney, the position of the entry door may not be alterable for a reason that the layout of the rest of the house may not change.”
Swanzal agrees, “In remodelling projects, we have to document the existing kitchen very carefully, pay a lot of attention to all the micro details before coming up with an effective design. Many of our projects involve clients who want a fresh look because they have outgrown their kitchen, then we have to examine the possibilities within the existing framework that can be done.”
Photo Credit: Facilis, Mumbai
Selecting the right renovation design
The first cue in selecting the right renovation plan is setting the primary goal – whether it will be a chef’s kitchen, entertaining space, show kitchen or regular heavy duty Indian kitchen. These will have different impacts on the final kitchen design. Also, having a list of features and must-haves helps in drawing the initial design plan. For instance, things like a double oven or a separate cooktop need to be incorporated in the design well in advance. Starting with all this information upfront reduces the number of designs that will have to be done.
A Kitchen is designed keeping in user lifestyle and food habits. But when someone moves into an apartment previously occupied by another one, the kitchen may not suit the new owner and may necessitate remodelling. During such instance, factors like Vastu to height of the persons who are going to use the kitchen everything plays a significant role in the renovation design.
Gauri opines, “Vaastu is being considered to be a driving force in decision making nowadays. For an existing kitchen, I would say the cooking direction needs to be checked. Then, after speaking to the lady of the house, I would initiate a brief about the ways of cooking, time spent in the kitchen, kitchen for personal use or used by maids majority of the time, whether the house of the lady is a homemaker/ working and the height of the lady. All these factors will contribute to the kitchen designing.”
She further states that the easiest way to plan kitchen renovations is to keep the civil work untouched and involve only carpentry work so that things move faster and the ‘lifeline’ of the house i.e. kitchen turns functional at the earliest. “But to get the maximum out of that renovation one should opt for a complete makeover rather than opting for a partial renovation.”
"Remodelling are generally difficult than ones to be done from scratch. There may be few mistakes related to the levels, right angles, details in civil work, electricals that needs to be understood properly and then the solutions have to be thought of. Even if the old work is perfect, retaining a certain percentage and blend in the new work is always challenging."
Gauri Shah
Principal Architect
Facilis
Balancing functionality and aesthetics
While remodelling, if there is an option to open the kitchen and the renovation costs within the budget, then it is always a good decision to go for it. It gives a lot more freedom in furniture placement and allows for more natural light in the space. However, opening up the kitchen will involve quite a few structural changes and that can really stretch the budget.
When renovating a kitchen, changing the basics is not always a good idea. There is a reason why the work triangle is so popular, because it works. If the zoning in the kitchen works, it is advisable to not change that too much. This is because at the end of the day a kitchen also has to be functional and serve its purpose. It makes no sense to remodel a kitchen space in terms of aesthetics only to sacrifice on functionality. Do not confuse uniqueness with beauty because it can lead to overspending or losing the functionality of the space.
Swanzal explains that the work triangle in a kitchen is essential and while remodelling a kitchen it is important to keep the functionality of the space in mind. “The relationship between the cooking space, the sink and switches form the work triangle in a kitchen. The flow and connectivity between these have to be maintained. The countertop has to be functional so that a person can work efficiently in that space.”
Photo Credit: Facilis, Mumbai
Lighting plays a big role in the look and feel of any room. While remodelling kitchen space, 3 main types of lighting options are available i.e. ambient, task and accent lighting. Ambient lighting is going to be predominantly made up of the kitchen’s ceiling fixtures, while task lighting is going to consist of lighting that is specialised lighting for work. Undercabinet lighting is a very useful task lighting as it shines directly on the countertop workspace. Accent lighting is going to be all the beautiful extra lighting that will add drama to the kitchen and create the desired mood. One way to add a nice detail on the ceiling is by installing cove lighting.
A kitchen is not just about aesthetics but also functionality and this is especially true for countertops. It is not something that will just sit there and look pretty; it will get used, and used often. Upkeep can ultimately be the deciding factor because materials like marble countertops are porous and require preventative maintenance on occasion to prevent staining. While remodelling an old kitchen, materials like engineered stone are given preference. They require little to no maintenance and are having plenty of options to increase the aesthetic quotient.
Apart from countertop, engineered stone is an excellent choice for kitchen floors as well. If the remodelling plan involves opening up the kitchen, then the biggest challenge is transitioning the floor in the new open concept kitchen. Usually, the material of the living room or dining room extends into the new kitchen space. If the remodelling design involves transitioning from tile to wood or carpet, creating a border out of a second size or type of tile helps create a much smoother transition.
"Even if someone is moving into an older apartment then they have to keep in mind their lifestyle and requirements before deciding on a remodelling plan. This is important because the appliances in a kitchen are going through a lot of innovations. So, the old appliances get outdated very fast and hence remodelling of the kitchen is quite essential."
Haresh P. Lakhani
Principal Designer
HP Lakhani Associates
Setting a budget for remodelling
Perhaps the most important aspect of kitchen remodelling is deciding on the budget. Any type of remodelling will require some budget, but the trick is not to go overboard because usually kitchen remodelling is done on par with the home’s resale value. It is better to decide in advance how much will be spent on each aspect of the kitchen renovation. Materials make about 80% of the average kitchen remodel cost.
Haresh P. Lakhani, Principal Designer, HP Lakhani Associates says, “Even if someone is moving into an older apartment then they have to keep in mind their lifestyle and requirements before deciding on a remodelling plan. When setting a budget for the renovation of the whole apartment a small budget needs to be allocated for the remodelling of the kitchen also.”
He further adds, “This is important because the appliances in a kitchen are going through a lot of innovations. So, the old appliances get outdated very fast and hence remodelling of the kitchen is quite essential. The gadgets and appliances for kitchen available these days are way advanced than what was available even a few years ago. While renovating, it is better to invest in appliances that have better efficiency as it will also reduce power consumption.”
Photo Credit: HP Lakhani Associates, Hyderabad
More structural changes mean the makeover costs will go up significantly. An easy solution to keeping costs down is avoiding any major structural alterations. Things like keeping the sink where it is and leaving the doors where they are can help keep costs down. Cabinets take up a large chunk of the typical kitchen remodel budget. One way to save on the cabinet is by kitchen cabinet refacing. This involves keeping most of the original cabinet boxes and replacing the drawer and door faces for a completely new look.
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