Learn from Our Heroes' Kitchen Renovation Mistakes

Tonya Veselova, a tour organizer, together with her family, budgetedly decorated a 200 square meter house, and almost everything was done by hand. However, there were no mistakes free of regret. We share them with you.

Wooden Kitchen Cabinet

They didn't save on the kitchen, so they installed a wooden cabinet and worktop made of ash wood. Now Tonya is convinced that this was the biggest mistake in the entire renovation: the countertop cracked significantly, and the kitchen cabinet shrank due to moisture.

"Natural wood is a very impractical material," Tonya shares. "It shrinks, the countertop cracked in many places, and one of the doors even bent slightly from humidity. The only thing that pleases me is that our kitchen is super eco-friendly."

Improper Storage Systems

"After a typical urban apartment, the kitchen size seemed enormous," Tonya explains. "We thought that in these cabinets everything would fit, and we didn't bother with storage systems. But now we realize that we could have approached the layout more responsibly and rationally use storage spaces. I try to organize things, even in sliding drawers, but it's very hard: our kitchen furniture has non-standard sizes, and finding internal organizers for them is impossible."

"About eight years ago, we were looking for a plot through newspaper ads," Tonya recounts. "After inspecting the site, we always asked for real reviews from local residents – grandmothers and grandfathers. At that time, there was no convenient Domklik app from Sber, which contains a unique database of photos and announcements only from verified owners. Also, in the app you can save your searches, subscribe to them, and as soon as a suitable option appears, the app will notify you immediately."

Kitchen Backsplash and Stainless Steel Appliances

Stainless steel in the interior looks vibrant but does not create unnecessary noise. The glossy surface reflects light and visually expands space. But there are nuances. Such surfaces are very prone to marks: oil drops, water stains, and any spots will show up immediately. "You need to be prepared for this side of stainless steel," Tonya advises. "And stains are easily handled with a special cloth for stainless steel."

Stainless steel was also chosen for appliances. "We have a saying: touch the refrigerator with your finger – you'll cut your finger," Tonya laughs. "You must open it strictly by the handle to avoid leaving marks. As for the microwave, I've learned to open it with the back of my hand!"

"We had long thought about insurance, but always postponed the issue for later," Tonya shares. "We didn't know that insurance could provide comprehensive home protection until we learned about the policy from SberInsurance. The policy protects against flooding, fire, emergencies, liability to neighbors, and other risks. We also liked that the purchase can be made in the SberBank Online app or on sberbankins.ru. It's fast and very convenient!"

Kitchen Sink Opposite the Window

"As with many women, probably, the sink by the window was an essential element of the dream kitchen," Tonya shares. "But honestly, it's not a practical solution. However, dreams are dreams—they must come true despite everything."

For example, it's inconvenient to open the window; the windowsill becomes useless, and a drying rack can't be placed above it, so they have to take space for drying from the work surface.