Kitchen Renovation & Mistakes To Avoid

Kitchen renovation might be among your most important investments (that can last for years, not only helps increase your entire house’s value, but also level up your lifestyle). However, during 27 years in this business, we have heard many sad stories about homeowners in Singapore who suffered really terrible & stressful experiences during their kitchen remodeling.

Below are #11 most common mistakes people make when renovating their kitchens (you will probably want to carefully check to avoid repeating them on your own project).

#1. Kitchen Renovation Common Mistake: Not Enough Storage Spaces

One of the most common mistakes when renovating your kitchen is to underestimate your demand for storage space. Take advantage of all storage opportunities you possibly have, even small add-ons such as cabinets, roll-out drawers, and tray dividers, … Wall-mounted pegboard is also a quite smart solution to increase your store space (and for decoration purposes as well) that you can consider.

#2. Don’t Keep Your Budget Under Control When Remodeling Your Kitchen

The expense to remodel your kitchen can quickly & easily rack up (especially if you don’t have a strict plan to manage your budget). A simple tip given is never to spend more than 15% of your house’s value on kitchen renovation. Additionally, kitchen cabinets may account for up to one-third of the total reno cost, so please keep it in mind before spending on other stuff.

#3. Leaving Kitchen Appliances Till Last

Shopping for kitchen appliances might not be the most interesting task during your kitchen remodeling journey, but perhaps, it’s the most important step many people forget to plan from the beginning. That’s true, we can see how much easier it is to pick your cabinets & countertops (with dimensions) to fit your existing refrigerators, induction/gas hops, dishwashing machines, and microwaves, … (Imagine that you did the whole thing in reverse, that could be a disaster).

#4. Kitchen Renovation Worst Mistake: Doing The Whole Thing Alone

Even if you’re going to implement your DIY kitchen renovation, you still should consult with an expert for some benefits below:

• Monitor & refine your remodeling plan: telling you what works and what doesn’t.
• Recommend you some reliable brands & wise choice of materials.
• Provide you with some tips & ideas you’ve possibly never heard about.

(And if you don’t know, Weiken is regconised as the most trusted reno expert in Singapore with over 27+ years in operation).

#5. Focus Too Much On Kitchen Design

At Weiken, we always strictly require beauty and aesthetic elements for all of our designs. However, the great balance between a design’s appearance & functionality is much more important (especially for kitchen remodeling).

#6. Lack Of Lighting

Everyone agrees on the importance of having enough lighting in the kitchen. Additionally, for specific tasks and use purposes, you may want to have different & proper lights, such as when preparing meals, chopping vegetables, manipulating kitchen appliances (task lighting), having dinner (soft lighting), and showing off your kitchen in normal condition (LED accent lighting).

#7. Overlook The Ventilation

The ventilation system is always a significant element to focus on during the renovation process, especially for open kitchens. A good ventilation system can not only prevent food odors from getting out into the air and sticking to the walls & furniture but also remove extra heat, smoke & moisture.

#8. Wrong Placement Of Kitchen Island

The kitchen island is an amazing solution to expand your preparation area. However, if your kitchen space is quite limited (with lots of appliances installed), an improper placement of the kitchen island may bring many troubles to you. For example, if the island is too close to other units (refrigerators, stovetops, …), it will badly affect the traffic flow inside your kitchen.

(For safety, you should leave at least 4 feet of space surrounding the island – that’s to allow a proper & convenient traffic flow and permit any kitchen components’ doors to easily open when being placed opposite to the island).

#9. Not Enough Counter Space

Try asking a housewife and she will tell you how frustrating & uncomfortable to cook in a kitchen lacking counter spaces. This normally comes together with mistake #3 above, that’s when you didn’t plan for all appliances & tools placed on the countertop at the beginning of the renovation process. There are, however, some cases where you prioritize aesthetics rather than functionality, but you still need to carefully consider them before engaging with the option of narrow counter space.

#10. Wrong Kitchen Flooring Choice

Never save your money by spending on cheap & thin flooring materials (that won’t last and perhaps will cost you extra for fixing). Modern vinyl flooring (from Floor Xpert, for example, with typical features: scratch resistance & water resistance) is definitely the best choice nowadays.

#11. Use Improper Types Of Paint

There are quite many types of painting in the market, that’s why you should clearly understand what the correct type to use for different purposes. For example: the latex-based type should be used for wall painting, while gloss paint is specific for metal & vinyl surfaces.

Introduction

“Hello everyone, my name is Lucas and I am an interior designer from Weiken.com. Using one of my latest project as reference, I will be sharing with you some design tips for your next renovation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5QYVtDv-PM This project is a 4 Room HDB in Teban Gardens for a young couple. The design brief was to create a wide common living space not only for future children, but also for their dogs and cats. Scandinavian designs with contemporary elements are the couple’s preferred style and used throughout the apartment.

Living Room Design

The wide living space is achieved by combining one of the bedrooms with the living room. The effect of this widened spaced is visible right upon entrance and facilitates interaction between all users in the living room.

If space allows, a platform can not only be used as a space for storage, but also acts as a fine gesture to sensually demarcate a more private area from another. Allowing you to carve spaces out such as a lounge or a study area.

If you also have pets at home, cabinets with terracing steps can function both as a storage, and also play area for your pets to entertain themselves when you are away.

Bathroom Design

Now if the main colour scheme of the house is generally subtle, bathroom walls are one of the areas to be bold. In this project, we’ve chosen glossy fish-scale tiles with Japanese patchwork patterns to contrast with its environment.

HDB Yard Design

As for yards, new HDB units generally do not come with windows. It is often a good idea to install for safety of children and preventing rain from getting in during thunderstorms.

Kitchen Design

When it comes to kitchen, functionality will be the most critical. Maximise storage if you a lot of cookwares, and maximise the number of drawers to easier access to stored items. If you’re looking for hobs with minimal maintenance, you may want to choose an induction hob over gas hob as its flat glass top is much easier to clean.

Final Words

All you have seen today are generated in an 3D software. For the best immersion, you will be able see your future home up close even before construction through a Virtual walk-through during the design stage. 360 degrees 3D images will also be available for you to access on your mobile phone or computer anytime you want to have the best understanding of the design. So, if you are still looking for a reliable interior designer, feel free to send an enquiry to Weiken.com and I, Lucas, will be pleased to assist you.

Always feel like you’re running out of space? Here’s some smart renovation hacks for you to try during your 2-Room BTO renovation.

After you’ve gotten your house keys, you’ll probably be stressed out about doing renovation as you attempt to fit in everything in your cosy home. It may be a challenge but with proper planning and renovation, a smaller space could also be as functional as larger spaces.

Whether you are preparing for your 2-Room BTO renovation or renovation for any smaller spaces, the below ideas will help to make better use of your small space.

Table Of Content

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  1. Tear Down The Walls
  
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  2. Keep It Light
  
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  3. Mirror Mirror, On The Wall
  
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  4. Use A Foldable or Pull-out Dining Table
  
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  5. Re-purpose Your Bomb Shelter
  

1. Tear Down The Walls

Click The Photo To Zoom In!
Project: 590A ANG MO KIO ST 51

During your 2-Room BTO renovation, it may be a good idea to get rid of the walls and embrace an open-concept as the reduced barriers allows you to maximise space. Think about it, do you really require a wall between your kitchen and living room? Or a wall between your bedroom and living room even?

In order to create a practical  spaces (comfortable to live), sometimes you need to think out of the box and take bold steps. So, why don’t you try tearing down the unnecessary walls and converting them to partitions, glass-door dividers or sliding doors.

2. Keep It Light

Click The Photo To Zoom In!
Project: 591A ANG MO KIO STREET 51

One of the quicker ways to make the existing space look larger would be to make use of light color paints . Try painting the ceilings in light colors to create an illusion of increased ceiling height.

When planning for your 2-Room BTO renovation, make your home seem more spacious by using a consistent color throughout the various walls. The illusion of a larger space is created because the eyes are allowed to travel throughout and around the house because the room is painted with lighter colors.

When contrasting or different colors are painted on the walls, the human eyes tend to pause whenever the color changes. This causes the size of the room to seem smaller because the edges are emphasised. Or in other ways, you notice the boundaries. Whereas the space appears to continue when the same color is consistently utilised throughout the house, reducing the boundaries. 

3. Mirror Mirror, On The Wall

Click The Photo To Zoom In!
Project: 16 SHAN ROAD

If an intricate and sophisticated renovation plan is not within your budget, how about creating an illusion of maximised space instead?

Incorporating mirrors into your renovation plan could do wonders by making your room look larger. Simply find the focal point and place some mirrors that angle toward it; this provides an illusion of depth.

• In the day, the usage of mirrors can help reflect sunlight and natural light, making the room look brighter.
• During the night, the mirrors can also reflect artificial light into the house, making the room feel less dull.

If you’re looking to make your home feel even warmer and cosier, you can also try placing the mirrors near the windows to bounce outdoor light deep into the room.

Don’t want to include placement of standing mirrors that occupy space into your 2-Room BTO renovation plan? Then try placing mirrors on the walls or even table tops instead — it helps to give an open feel to your house.

(Bonus Tip: Also try to opt for furnitures with mirrored surfaces or doors as much as possible to make smaller spaces feel larger). 

4. Use A Foldable or Pull-out Dining Table

Photo Credit: Hafele

If you wish to go an extra mile to save even more space, typical dining tables are not the best option. Instead, if you don’t have a lot of people living in your home, try to opt for space-saving dining tables.

Such dining tables include wall-mounted tables or even extendable pull-out tables. Both types of tables will also provide you great flexibility in space usage.

When you need to use the dining area for other purposes, simply keep the table away. Then pull it out again and you’re ready to host your guests for a sumptuous dinner!

5. Re-purpose Your Bomb Shelter

It’s a well-known secret that many of us simply use our bomb shelters as store rooms. Instead of doing that, why not make it part of your renovation plan and turn it into a space that you’ll actually love – while not breaking any rules of drilling or hacking.

This is a pretty good tip to try during your home renovation. Here are some good ideas that will help inspire you when making the plan.

Idea #1: Mini Library

Photo Credit: contemporist.com

Ideal for both parents and the inner bookworm in you. Not able to fit in a full-sized library? Fret not, simply transform your BTO bomb shelter into a mini walk-in library for yourself or for your children. And this is one way you can make better use of the bomb-shelter in your house. 

Idea #2: Hidden Walk-In Wardrobe

Photo Credit: Good Housekeeping

Instead of using the bomb shelter in your home as a storeroom, you could even convert it into the walk-in wardrobe that you’d always dreamed of. Remember, a smaller living space doesn’t translate into having to sacrifice the furniture or renovation style you want – all you need to do is find ways to make these items as multi-functional as possible.

Idea #3: Pet Room

Photo Credit: Musely

Another great way to maximise space by re-purposing your bomb shelter would be to convert it into a pet room. If you’re currently using your bomb shelter solely as a storeroom, how about clearing out the clutter and creating a pet room for your furkids?

The bomb shelter may not be spacious enough to be used as a full-fledged bedroom, but it may just be the perfect spot for your pets! Wouldn’t be a much warmer nest for them as compared to metal cages? Not forgetting, you could even store your pet’s food and belongings in the very same pet room.

And if you do not prefer having your pets roam around while you’re out for work, just add a pet-safe gate at the bomb shelter entrance. Of course, do remember to leave the bomb shelter door open to allow proper air ventilation while your precious fur kids rest in their very own pet room.

Some homeowners require nothing more than a basic kitchen where there’s just enough cabinets, counters and appliances to serve food on the table. But, if you’re a fan of Master Chef who loves to cook and spends most of the time in the kitchen, then there are scores of kitchen interior design and renovation ideas that will transform your kitchen into a place where you enjoy to work in.

As one of the best interior design firms in Singapore, we take kitchen remodels seriously. We believe that even if you don’t do much of the cooking, the style and functionality of your kitchen is more important than ever. After all, it’s where you start with your day – sip your first coffee and read newspapers in the morning.

So, where to begin? We share the best tips on how to upgrade your kitchen like a 5-star chef.

Choose Functionality Over Style

Although style and functionality go hand in hand, it’s essential to put purpose first. So, when renovating a kitchen, position the sink adjacent to the cooktop and countertop to form a triangle.

Because we engage these fixtures the most out of any other in the kitchen, they should be no more than 6 ft. apart to guarantee ease of movement when preparing food.

Maximise Kitchen Island

Part workspace, part dining table, part storage – a kitchen island just serves multiple purposes. Smartly placed in the centre of the room, it provides an additional countertop for cooking as well as storage – hooks, shelves and drawers – for your kitchenware. It also proves to be a great place to gather everyone when dining.

For best results, consider an island that offers all these conveniences, and pair it with seating that matches the overall design. When all these are considered, make sure that the island leaves enough space to ensure easy access to the kitchen.

Invest In Your Storage

In kitchen renovation, it’s not merely a question of having an adequate amount of storage, you also need to identify the types of storage you actually need. So, it pays to get these details right. Here are some of the typical options you can consider:

• Open shelves – The absence of cabinet doors make an open shelving a great way to display all your kitchenware and supplies in fancy containers. Install shelves from the countertops all the way to the ceiling to make good use of the vertical space.
• Overhead cabinets – Installing overhead cabinets is also a great way to maximise the space between the countertop and the ceiling, while at the same time conceal clutter that you may not have time to organise.
• Concealed storage – Creating concealed cabinets is a recurring approach we take on many of our interior design projects. It offers a barely-there look on the cabinets, thanks to the absence of handles on the surface.

Get The Lighting Right

You can’t cook like a five-star chef if you can’t see your kitchen properly. The solution to bring in adequate light is to make sure that you’re making the most out of natural light. Often it means installing shelves across and above the windows to keep them from blocking the light penetrating through.

Additionally, while overhead lighting may be a given, it may be insufficient in the kitchen as it has the possibility to cast shadows on the workspace. It can be solved as simply as by placing lights on the bottom of the overhead cabinets to illuminate the area where you prepare food.

Give Your Kitchen A Personality

Just as you would add personal touches to your living room, pouring your character into your kitchen will not only create a space that is truly functional but one that is the focal point of your home.

It can be achieved by planning everything down to the last detail from the paint colours, window dressings, flooring, materials and finishes – and while you’re after exceptional styles, you should also opt for ones that are durable and handles signs of wear and tear beautifully for years to come.

Kitchen renovations, while they can be costly and time-consuming, are always worth the dollars you spend to transform your space into a 5-star-worthy kitchen. So, it goes without saying that if you want your kitchen renovated, you want to do it the right way – and Weiken can help you with just that.

The successful Kevin Kwan book series Crazy Rich Asians that has recently been adapted into a multi-million box office film romps through the fictitious, opulent world of Asia’s super wealthy and their upper-class living in luxury properties.

In the series, Nick Young is portrayed as the protagonist who hails from a crazy rich, but secretive family in Singapore. But, no matter how fictitious his character may sound, many of the elements the author details were actually based on real-life encounters with Singapore’s super-rich – an upper-class of society that the masses can only imagine in magazines and on social media.

But, while the Kevin Kwan books speak a seemingly far-fetched truth, the city-state is actually home to millions of dollar worth of properties only the crazy rich can afford. Now, while you may not fall under this upper-class, you can and deserve to enjoy the grandeur of a luxury home even without spending the money you don’t have.

In this article, Weiken, an award-winning interior design firm in Singapore is revealing the secrets on how to achieve a million dollar-looking home without breaking the bank!

Add Lightning

Lighting is one of the essential elements in a space, but it’s also one that’s often overlooked. When upgrading your home, you’ll want to create depth in the room by having additional light sources such as table lamps and pendant lights. You can also place candles in reflective glass containers for a cheaper alternative to lamp shades.

Invest In Textiles

Another easy way to spruce up your room is to invest in textiles such as throw pillows and cushions. Now, while these may seem costly upfront, there are many ways you can save a few bucks like by hitting up your local fabric store to hunt for discounted textiles and sew them yourself if you’re feeling crafty. These can instantly make your room feel more cosy and luxurious.

Upgrade Your Window Treatments

Many expensive homes indulge the conveniences of having high ceilings and towering windows that flood the interior with natural light. Get this look by hanging your curtains as high and as close to the ceiling as possible and make sure that they’re long enough to touch the floor. Finally, for that warm and cosy feel, opt for sheer curtains that will soften the light when penetrating through.

Display A Large-Scale Art

A large-scale, attention-grabbing piece of art can imbue your space with an instant lux feel. If you’re on a budget, you can check out thrift stores for bargain artworks. But, if you’re feeling artsy, you can also do it yourself! All you need is an oversized canvas and the medium of your choice. After all, you don’t need to spend a lot to own an impressive piece of art.

Play With Textures

For a look that’s collected rather than matchy-matchy, mix up a variety of textures such as glass, wood, metal and textiles. You can make a trip to discount home furnishing stores for faux fur blankets, sheepskin throws and statement area rugs to achieve a look that is both elegant and luxurious without breaking the bank.

Replace Or Add Mouldings

To wrap this list, make your home look and feel more expensive by improving its interior architecture. We don’t mean a full renovation though. Simply add mouldings to your walls to create a distinct character to your space. But, if you already have mouldings in place, then you might want to replace them with something thicker for a more elegant look. You can opt to hire a professional for this job.

Final Tips

• Commit to a unified palette

A coordinating palette makes a home feel more intimate and intentional. Pick a palette and stick with it. So, whenever you come across affordable pieces that match your colour scheme, you can easily buy them knowing that they will blend perfectly with your existing interior.

• Go minimal

Living in an age when minimalism is coveted has its own perks. You are urged to make a space look more expensive by putting less in it – and buying fewer pieces means saving the money you could have spent on more accessories that you may not really need.

Of course, every interior design is individual to your home and to you. If you’re on a tight budget but are looking to upgrade your space into something the crazy rich will love, you can trust Weiken to give you the best advice on how to do exactly just that.