Adding a WOW Factor To Your Kitchen Renovation
Every kitchen deserves a wow factor. The one detail that makes you smile every time you enter the room. That special thing you splurged on or have been dreaming about ever since you bought your home.
How do you define the right wow factor for your kitchen? And how much wow is too much wow anyway? Trust me…you can go wow overboard!
Today I’m sharing my process for seamlessly bringing that wow factor into a kitchen renovation. Everybody’s sparkle is a little different—let’s find yours!
Photography by: Emily Keeney, Alex Crook and Mary Hatch
What Qualifies as a Kitchen Wow Factor?
When you enter a room, which item catches your eye first? Usually, it’s the wow factor. In a kitchen, this could be a fabulous island light fixture, a gorgeous range in a fun color, or wallpaper with a big personality.
The wow factor could also be more subtle—like a tall cabinet door that looks normal enough…but when you open it, you discover a hidden walk-in pantry! Now that is some serious WOW!
How Do I Figure Out My Kitchen’s Wow?
When my team kicks off a new kitchen design project, we begin by asking our clients to complete a little design homework. We want to know how they plan to use their kitchen, how they want their kitchen to look and feel, and if there are any special elements that they would like to include in their kitchen.
Their answers help us to define the special elements of the room. If you are working through the design process without the help of a professional, I have some tips to help you find your wow factor!
First, go back to our post Before You Buy: Kitchen Cabinets and fill in the Renovation Blueprint Ultimate Kitchen Inventory Checklist. Completing this very important step in your kitchen planning process will help you define everything you need and want in your kitchen.
Now for the wow! When you were filling out the checklist, were there any items that made your heart beat a little faster? When you are on Pinterest or scrolling the web for kitchen design ideas, are there any specific items that you pin or research more than others?
If you have answered yes to these questions, it’s likely that you have already defined your wow factor! However, if that “I NEED to have this in my kitchen” feeling hasn’t struck yet, you may be wondering how to find your wow. I’ve outlined our favorite eye-catching wow factors below.
Pro Tip: My Kitchen Wow Factors are broken into two lists: subtle and not-so-subtle. Choose one or two items from the not-so-subtle section and as many items as you like from the subtle section. Remember, sometimes wows come with a whoa price tag.
If you are on a tight budget, I recommend numbering your wows in the order of how much you need and want them. In other words, rank your must-haves! For example, the fabulous induction range gets a 1, the gorgeous wallpaper a 2, the hidden trash storage a 3, and so on.
How Much Wow is Too Much Wow?
You have perused the Wow Factor List and discovered that you want more than one wow—who could blame you? But also…now what?
In the subtle section of the list, the wow comes from amazement at what the item can do. It’s less about flash and more about function.
Wow, you have a hidden coffee center behind that cabinet door?
Wow, your dog's food bowls are hidden in the toe kick of your base cabinets?
Wow, you have a hidden mixer that pops up on a spring-loaded system and tucks back into the cabinet with ease?
For these wows, you are only limited by space and budget.
In the not-so-subtle section of the list, the wow is more in your face as you enter the room. These wows also tend to have a heftier price tag!
Wow, that crystal chandelier over your island is incredible!
Wow, that colorful, patterned wallpaper makes me feel so happy!
Wow, the color of your cabinets is blowing my mind!
For these wows, you will want to limit your selections to one or two for most design styles. Frankly, too much wow can feel overwhelming and chaotic.
If you are dying to include more than one not-so-subtle wow factors in your kitchen, you can absolutely do it—but you will want to follow these tips.
Your wows should complement one another rather than compete.
Your eye needs a place to rest in the room. Try to avoid putting too many wows right next to each other.
Here are a few examples of not-so-subtle wow factors that can work together:
A stunning sink faucet + wallpaper with personality.
A custom range hood + a gorgeous light fixture.
An eye-popping backsplash + a striking color on your painted cabinets.
Here are not-so-subtle wow factors that might feel like too much wow when paired together:
An eye-popping backsplash + a gorgeous light fixture + a wallpaper with personality.
An art display that expresses your personal style + a wallpaper with personality + a bold counter with lots of veins and movement.
A three-color cabinet solution + an eye-popping backsplash + colorful range.
Can I Break the Rules and Load Up on Wow Factors?
YES! There are certain design styles, such as art deco and boho, that layer multiple wows into one room. And it works!
If you are on this path, I recommend spending time creating a style board showing all of the fabulous things you plan to add to your kitchen. Think about where each of those items will be located in the room. Get physical samples and make sure you love them all together. Lastly, rooms with lots of wow tend to feel more energetic. Consider if you will be comfortable with the energized feeling the room will have every time you are in it.
This is an example of a room we designed with LOTS of wow that works! This is a bathroom rather than a kitchen, but you get the idea!
The Key to Choosing the Right Wow Factor? You!
What makes a wow factor really special is, well, YOU! Wow factors are an amazing way to infuse a room with qualities that feel inherently true to you and your sense of style. As you navigate the subtle (and not-so-subtle!) additions to your kitchen, follow your intuition. At the end of the day, what’s most important is that the items you choose give you that “wow!” feeling over and over again.
