How Not to Ruin Your New Kitchen: 11 Pro Tips

After a major kitchen renovation, nobody wants to face the need to redo everything soon. We decided to find out with experts how to decorate a kitchen that's ready for daily use and not 'kill' it in the coming years.

Choose the 'right' finishing materials

Among the most wear-resistant materials for the kitchen, designer Tatiana Bezverkhiya highlights tiles: "One of the "indestructible" materials. An excellent choice in terms of durability and strength." Tiles made from ceramic, ceramic granite or natural stone can be used to finish floors and walls (hood).

In addition to tiles, according to the expert, a suitable floor covering is self-leveling floor: "It's durable and resistant to any impact."

Another durable type of finish is linoleum. It has a fairly long service life and is convenient to use.Design: Ivan Pоздняков

Pay attention to tile joints

Improperly chosen grout can quickly lose its appearance and require renewal. If the material and the builder's skills allow, you can choose a seamless laying method or stop at minimal joint width.

Designer Tatiana Bezverkhiya advises: "Before starting work, always read the instructions on the package, as different mixes are suitable for floor, wall, cabinet door or interior surface finishing, including special mortars for bathtubs or a particular type of tile."

One important point to consider during the design project stage is the correct color of grout matching the tile.

When laying light tiles on the hood or floor, you can choose a contrasting dark or accent color grout: this is an up-to-date design trick and it's easier to maintain than white.

If you prefer a light color palette, choose grout slightly darker than the tiles: this will enhance practicality and highlight the chosen layout.

Decide on cabinet doors

Many experts and flat owners agree that matte surfaces are more practical and easier to maintain.

However, designer Alena Timofeeva is confident that glossy cabinet doors no longer need to be feared: "Modern materials have given us glossy cabinet doors that don't retain fingerprints. There are also satin and matte surfaces, which are for those who love perfect cleanliness. These surfaces don't require special care."

Many people are afraid of white cabinet doors: they think that every drop and drip will be visible. However, dirt on dark cabinets is just as visible (or even more so).

Designer Alena Timofeeva believes that white cabinet doors should be preferred:

White cabinet color is the most practical: all stains are immediately visible, and nothing will dry out or "float" later. Photo: Stadshem

Decorate the hood practically

The most common material for hood finishing is ceramic tiles. Designer Tatiana Bezverkhiya insists: this is a practical choice. "Despite the fact that it's the most traditional approach, it's still trendy. Tiles don't fear water or fire and hardly wear out."

As an alternative, you can consider a glass hood. Besides external qualities, it has many other advantages: eco-friendliness, ease of installation and removal, and no joints.Photo: Instagram @casavoguebrasil

"There are many options for materials that can be used to decorate the hood area: tiles, mosaic, glass, mirror, sheet ceramic granite and thin marble, stone and more. An original and affordable solution can be wallpaper covered with transparent or colored glass", — shares the opinion of designer Zhenya Zhdanova.

If you don't like hoods, you can protect the space near the sink and cooktop from oil and water droplets using special metal panels offered by some kitchen range manufacturers. Photo: Instagram @zhenya_zhdanova

Choose a practical material for the countertop

The most practical materials:

• natural and artificial stone;
• countertop laid with ceramic granite or tiles;
• solid, durable, expensive wood species.

Designer Zhenya Zhdanova prefers to use quartz for countertops:

My favorite material for countertops. It's resistant to mechanical damage and doesn't absorb liquids. You can spill red wine on it, and it won't soak in. You can remove the stain with a regular damp cloth.

"Quartz also has many finishing options. You can easily find a color and pattern that will harmoniously blend with your kitchen cabinet doors.

Perhaps the only downside of quartz is that it comes in sheets 1.5×3 meters, and if your kitchen is longer, you'll have to join different pieces, and the seam will be visible. In this case, consider artificial stone that, thanks to the baking technology, joins almost seamlessly", — advises the designer.

Think about the range hood

If you're still unsure whether you need a range hood, our answer is: yes, you need it! The more powerful the better.

According to designer Natalia Tarasevich, having a range hood is essential. Especially in apartments where the kitchen connects to the dining room or living room.

A range hood in the kitchen is necessary. It solves several tasks: removing odors, combustion products, vapors and other harmful substances formed during cooking on the stove or in the oven, as well as purifying the air.

"Daily cooking requires at least frequent cleaning in the kitchen. If you don't fight the grease on kitchen furniture in time, it will be harder to remove later", — warns the designer.

Do you cook so frequently that even the most modern and powerful range hood won't be enough? We have a couple of life hacks for you:

• when planning the cabinet set, position upper cabinets as high and far from the cooktop as possible;
• use special protective screens to avoid splashes during cooking.

Protect the kitchen from household damage

It's not always easy to use the kitchen carefully: sometimes we're in a hurry, drop items, slam cabinet doors. To avoid household damage to furniture, we recommend:

• installing soft-close mechanisms, door and drawer closers;
• combining open and closed storage (to have quick access to frequently used items);
• choosing countertops and sinks from materials that don't fear household mechanical impacts;
• providing quick access to hot plate stands, if your countertop isn't ready to handle a hot pan.

Take care of internal aesthetics

Even the most careful housewife's internal cabinet parts will get dirty and scratched. How to avoid this:

• use special protective mats;
• use storage accessories (shelf inserts, rails, magnetic strips, special knife holders).

Avoid water stains

Faucets, filtered water taps and other kitchen fixtures can get stained from water drips. To avoid this:

• determine the hardness of your water: you might need additional filtration or a water softening system;
• choose cleaning products based on materials and water quality;
• install taps with coatings that don't show water stains;
• buy special products, preventing the formation of water stains, fingerprints, etc.

Designer Natalia Tarasevich also advises to carefully choose household chemicals: for most surfaces, aggressive products with abrasive particles won't work.

Faucets for filtration and taps should only be cleaned with special products suitable for maintaining these materials. Otherwise, there's a risk of damaging them. Regular maintenance will extend the lifespan of plumbing and filters.Design: Ekaterina Urazova

Maintain surfaces

Glossy surfaces and chrome with stainless steel often get scratched — how to prevent this?

• Choose cleaning products that match the material.
• Avoid aggressive chemicals with abrasive particles.
• Use soft fabrics and sponges for delicate surfaces.

There are cases where workers still manage to damage the kitchen cabinet during renovation, not carefully wiping off dirt and construction dust.

Natalia Tarasevich believes that such situations are the responsibility of the team: "Qualified and reliable construction teams are responsible for everything that happens during the renovation, and they should replace anything damaged".

The most sensitive to construction dust elements of the setup are installed last, the expert notes:

Usually all taps and sinks made from stainless steel are installed at the final stage of construction and renovation work, when there's no dust or construction waste. Be prepared

Sometimes purchased furniture and appliances don't fit or disappoint with defects. To avoid losing warranty coupons, receipts and quickly return anything of poor quality, it's important to organize document storage in advance.

This sorting will allow you to find the right receipt, invoice and solve the supplier issue quickly in case of need.

Designer Tatiana Bezverkhiya advises: "Before starting the project implementation, I recommend creating a separate folder (on the computer and on the shelf, i.e. physical) for purchases, where you can put all documents. Sort by main blocks: doors, windows, decor, furniture, equipment and appliances, finishing materials, lighting and electricity".