Would We Do It All Again? Lessons From Using Our New Kitchen Every Day
Above: Every inch of this kitchen was designed with function in mind.
We lived through the demo. We obsessed over cabinet depths and outlet placement. And now, months later, we’ve actually lived in the kitchen. This post is a behind-the-scenes look at what worked, what we’d change, and what real-life use has taught us about smart kitchen layout, storage, and renovation decisions. If you’re planning your own kitchen reno — or wondering what you’ll wish you knew — here’s everything I’ve learned, the hard way.
Cool Functional Features
I spent a lot of time thinking about how we use the kitchen and what we need to store. Every inch was thought out:
Drawers, drawers, drawers — as many as possible, with dividers and inserts to maximize every square inch.
Pull-outs for spices and spatulas.
A 4-bin pull-out for garbage.
A pull-out for cat food and accessories.
Fancy corner cabinet pull-outs.
A dedicated tea drawer, with a pull-out of mugs below it.
What more could a girl ask for?
Splurges & Saves
What we splurged on:
Honestly? Everything.
GE Café appliances — major splurge.
Counters and backsplash — splurge.
Cabinets — splurge.
Compromise was not really part of this project. I knew this was going to be an expensive renovation going in, and I regret nothing.
Was it worth it?
100000000% yes. Completely worth every penny and every ounce of effort—even if it means I’ll be paying it off until I’m 100.
Where we saved:
Labour — we did all of the work ourselves, other than the cabinet and counter install. Saved us oodles and oodles of money (which I then quickly spent on fancy things).
Cabinet inserts and pull-outs — I used off-the-shelf options from Rev-A-Shelf, which are way cheaper than custom. I even found an amazing deal from a U.S. site and drove to Ogdensburg to pick them up.
Clever budget moves?
Uhhh... no. This project had no real budget. And if it did, I blew it out of the water.
How It Works Day-to-Day
How does it function now?
Perfectly. There is nothing that bothers me about it. No "I wish I did this" or "I wish I did that." Every idea I had, I did. I wouldn't change a thing.
How has it changed how we cook, host, or live in the space?
100%... in theory. Since our house is still a bit of a construction zone, we haven’t entertained as much as we’d like yet. But I know when we are ready, this kitchen will absolutely deliver.
Do we use it the way I imagined?
Absolutely. It’s even better than I dreamed. (The fact that we can keep the toaster oven out and ready for quick late-night crispy wings is a small luxury that makes me way too happy.)
Unexpected features I love even more than expected?
Our garbage bin pull-out with small bins for compost. I knew it would be nice to get the ugly bin off the counter, but it’s the perfect size—small enough that it doesn't smell before you take it out.
Final Lessons & Reflections
Would I change anything?
The only thing I wouldn’t change—but might caution others about—is the white farmhouse sink. Ours is Kohler’s Neoroc material. It does discolor a bit if you don’t clean it after every use. Bar Keepers Friend takes it right off, but between deep cleans it can look a bit unsightly. So think carefully about whether that would bother you before you buy. Like I said, I would buy it 100 times over—but you might not.
A few small regrets? Sure.
The pot filler, while lovely and used often, probably isn’t something I’d recommend if you’re on a tighter budget. We did the the plumbing rough-in ourselves, so the cost of the pot filler itself wasn’t a dealbreaker. But the hole it required in the quartz nearly turned into a full-blown crisis—the cover plate was just slightly too small, and I had to get… creative. It worked out, but barely.
And then there’s the dishwasher. We’ve always had Bosch—every tier has been wonderful. This one? Not Bosch and sadly not Bosch quality. As Chris says, it washes dishes like me. Which is to say: not well, and sometimes not at all. Had I known, I might have considered doing a Bosch with a cover panel than getting the one to match the rest of the appliances.
Advice for anyone planning a similar kitchen reno:
If you have a dream, do it. I am so glad I followed through on every idea I wanted.
Know your priorities. We saved on labour so we could splurge on materials.
Think through function early. It makes daily life so much easier.
Be realistic about the grind. It’s hard, but the transformation is worth it.
Expect the unexpected—especially from yourself. You might change your mind mid-build!
Consider maintenance when choosing materials.
One sentence that sums it up:
"I'm so glad I did every single thing I wanted to do. I have no regret."
