Balancing Beauty and Function With a Remodel

When remodeling a kitchen or bathroom, many people focus on how they want the space to look without thinking about how they’ll actually use it every day. A successful remodel should balance both appearance and functionality to create a space that’s both beautiful and practical. Here are some things to keep in mind about each room:

Kitchen
The layout of your kitchen plays a major role in how efficiently it functions. Before finalizing a design, consider these questions:

• How often do you cook? If you frequently make food, you may need more workspace and storage.
• Do you entertain guests? If hosting is a priority, features like additional seating or a larger kitchen island may be important.
• How does the workflow feel? The placement of key areas like the stove, sink, and refrigerator should allow you to move easily through the space instead of constantly walking back and forth.

Bathroom
While moving a sink, toilet or shower can improve the appearance of a bathroom, relocating plumbing and electrical connections may add high costs and complexity to the project. Before making changes, consider these questions:

• Will this improve the way the bathroom functions?
• Is the added cost worth the design change?
• Does the new layout fit within your overall budget?