Reimagining your next remodel? Look no further for inspiration! We’ve teamed up with CEO and Creative Director, Bria Hammel of Bria Hammel Interiors, and asked her to share her best kitchen renovation tips and tricks that will inspire you to take your design game up a notch. From choosing intricate design details that seamlessly fit your lifestyle, to showcasing statement-making appliances, read on for Bria’s process for mastering your kitchen remodel.

Bria Hammel Interiors’ Kitchen Renovation Process + Tips

Out of all the spaces in the home, our favorite to design is the kitchen. Not only is it the most purposeful space in the home and the place where everyone tends to gather and connect, but when updated and beautiful, can make your entire home feel fresh and current. Because it holds so much weight, it can also be one of the more difficult spaces to tackle – especially when renovating a current space to create a new vision.

It’s safe to say that we’ve designed our fair share of kitchens over the years, so we’ve perfected our process of renovating a kitchen with ease. Today, we’re excited to partner with Thermador to share our guidelines with you all as well as before/after examples from our MN Classic Cottage. project! Let’s dive into it, shall we?

TIP #1: FUNCTION FIRST

A smart, functioning layout is important in any space but especially in a kitchen. Before any of the selections are made, make a list of all the ways you envision yourself using the room. Are you an avid cook? Do you love entertaining? Will your space need an island with barstools? Utilizing creativity, a designer and custom cabinet maker will allow you to come up with the floor plan to suit you and your family’s needs.

Choosing design details and products that fit your lifestyle are key to designing the perfect custom kitchen that you’ll love for years to come. If you adore hosting, consider investing in a warming drawer for timing your gatherings perfectly. If your family is always on-the-go, opt for a speed oven which is smaller in size and faster in cooking speed. If you can’t live without a morning latte, perhaps a built-in coffee machine is the perfect piece for you!

Always remember: Your refrigerator, sink, oven, and stovetops should all be easily accessible and have adequate countertop space by each one for stress-free use with a large enough path between them to create an easy walkway.

TIP #2: A SMART TIMELINE

Our initial mood board for our MN Classic Cottage kitchen.

We suggest having all of your selections made before the actual construction and demolition starts. This really allows your whole process to run a lot more smoothly and efficiently. It actually ends up speeding up the process because if you have everything ordered, contractors can get in there and work quickly because they aren’t waiting on anything to come in. In what order should you select things? That is completely up to you! However, we do find it easier to knock out the bigger items like cabinetry, lighting, and appliances first to avoid any special planning revisions.

TIP #3: HIGHLIGHT THE BEST, HIDE THE REST

As a way to clear your countertops, we often like to hide your smaller appliances (i.e. coffee maker, toaster, microwave, etc.) in cabinetry so that it’s not sitting out and taking up valuable space. Also nicknamed “appliance garages”, features like this are a great idea for smaller kitchens. Then, you can let your beautiful appliances (like ranges, ovens, wine fridges, etc.) shine and act as an extension of your overall design.

Knowing how precious square footage is in a kitchen, Thermador has a wide range of products designed to save you space! From 30” ranges, built-in coffee machines (our favorite!), and wine columns – not one inch will go to waste in a smaller kitchen while still keeping a high level of design.

TIP #4: PACK A PUNCH

If you’re renovating a space and are unable to create more square feet, make up for it in style! Smaller spaces are the perfect opportunity to focus on every tiny detail. From custom window treatments, a unique tile backsplash, to luxurious countertops, making every detail a priority can really help the room pack a punch. In our MN Classic Cottage project, we did just that by incorporating a gorgeous custom range hood over the range!

Did you know that Thermador offers a blue knob kit? Whether you’re completing a full kitchen remodel just looking to add a pop of color to your existing Thermador appliances, these blue knobs are the perfect, easy selection!

If you’re preparing for a kitchen renovation, we hope these guidelines help you create a space with ease. And, if you have any additional questions, please feel free to drop them in the comments below!

Photography by: Spacecrafting Photography