Renovating a kitchen is equal parts exciting and daunting, and I'm not just talking about the challenge of upending your daily routine or relocating the contents of your fridge into a dorm room-sized mini-fridge that now lives in your bathroom. With countless decisions to make about layout, finishes, and appliances, it’s easy for homeowners to feel overwhelmed, especially if they’re working against the clock to prepare their space for a major event or the holiday season.
Recognizing the potential for decision fatigue, CAFÉ™ Appliances recently launched the Style Studio, a service offering tailored guidance from top designers to help homeowners tackle 100 design dilemmas this month. (They even have tips on how to set up a temporary kitchen.) Who would know how to navigate this stressful time better than experienced renovators? We tapped them to share some of their strategies for making the renovation process more enjoyable.
Setting Up for Stress-Free Decisions
One of the biggest sources of stress during a kitchen renovation project is feeling unprepared to make decisions. Elizabeth P. Lord, founder of Elizabeth P. Lord Residential Design LLC, highlights that taking the time to plan well before construction begins is always important. “The absolute best way to avoid stress and decision fatigue during the design process is to give yourself adequate time to make educated choices for your entire project,” she explains. For many homeowners, there’s a temptation to rush into a project to meet a personal goal or take advantage of seasonal deals; however, this approach often leads to stress and compromises in design choices that can be costly to change later.
She also points out that having a detailed contingency plan helps homeowners gain confidence in their decisions. “Allocating enough time during the design phase, prior to the start of a remodeling project, will not only alleviate the stress associated with making decisions, but it also gives homeowners the confidence to make the right decisions that work best for them,” she says. This planning period not only prevents the need for hasty choices but also fosters a more satisfying design outcome.
Leveraging Professional Guidance
Another approach to reducing renovation stress is to lean on professional expertise. Isabel Ladd of Isabel Ladd Interiors understands the burden of decision fatigue and tries to take that weight off her clients by managing the intricate details of the design for them. “As an interior designer and expert in the field, I ward off stress and decision fatigue for my clients by making the design and construction decisions for them, and simply asking them to ‘thumbs up’ the bigger decisions so there are no surprises,” she says.
For those who aren’t working directly with a designer or project manager, she recommends taking advantage of complimentary resources like the CAFÉ Style Studio. “For those seeking to mitigate stress and decision fatigue on their own, I encourage them to use free, professional resources. Style Studio by CAFÉ Appliances, for instance, is an initiative to help kitchen renovators in this exact predicament,” Ladd notes. By relying on expert advice, homeowners can rest assured that their designs are cohesive and functional, while avoiding potential issues mid-project due to decision fatigue.
Prioritizing Functional and Aesthetic Harmony
Balancing functionality with aesthetics can be challenging, and the process often brings an unexpected bit of stress. Rushed decisions, like choosing materials simply because they’re “in stock,” can lead to design compromises that homeowners may regret. Elizabeth acknowledges that this is a common source of stress if contractor timelines are too tight. She notes that giving oneself ample time not only results in a beautiful kitchen remodel, but in a house that truly works for the homeowner’s daily needs. “This ultimately leads to happier clients who have buy-in into how the space functions and the aesthetics,” she highlights.
CAFÉ Appliances is helping homeowners achieve this harmony through their Style Studio initiative, which offers support from designers trained to resolve these common dilemmas. By guiding homeowners in choosing appliances, colors, and layouts that suit their individual needs, Style Studio’s experts streamline the process and prevent the urge to make choices that might only be convenient in the short term, whether it be because of costs, or a timeline driven by custom cabinets.
