What You Need to Know Before Your Austin Kitchen Remodel

 

Our Architects Share What You Need to Know Before You Start Your Austin Kitchen Remodel 

There are many different home styles in Austin, Texas. Some are older, and some have been built in the last few years. For an older home, you might need to take things down to the studs and even rip out walls to get that open-concept feel. However, we’ve also gone in and completely redesigned kitchens that were only a few years old to better suit the needs of the new homeowners and improve functionality. When assessing whether your kitchen needs a remodel, consider how easy it is for you to cook in it and how well it coordinates with your own design tastes.

Bought an Austin Home That Needs a Kitchen Remodel?

There are many different home styles in Austin, Texas, and they tend to vary by neighborhood. East Austin is known for larger contemporary homes. If you bought a house here, you might just need a design refresh to reflect your personal style. However, other neighborhoods like North and Central Austin have older homes, which may require additional design work to rethink the floor plan for a more modern, open-concept feel. 

How to Make the Most of Your Kitchen Remodel in Austin 

Before you jump into remodeling your kitchen, take time to really assess what you want and make the most of your existing space. Here are some tips we recommend based on Austin kitchen remodel projects we’ve done in the past.  

Make It Open Concept

Many older Austin homes are compartmentalized and have a closed-off kitchen plan. If your kitchen remodel wish list includes items like a kitchen island, sightlines, and good flow for entertaining, you will have to take down walls to make it more open-concept. Designing an open plan is a great way to create the illusion of more space, provide room for entertaining, and give a home a more modern feel. 

Borrow Space from Another Room 

Many traditional Austin homes, especially Ranch-style homes in North Austin, have formal dining and living rooms off the kitchen. Because these rooms largely go unused, our Austin architects prefer to take these underutilized spaces to extend the kitchen footprint, add a butler’s pantry or scullery, or create a mudroom. You could even repurpose a formal dining room into a keeping room. Keeping rooms are casual spaces with sightlines into the kitchen where people can hang out while the chef of the house cooks. They’re a traditional feature but offer more practicality for casual living.

Create a Connection to the Backyard 

If you’re new to Austin, we should tell you now that backyard entertaining is big in Texas! For many of our kitchen remodels in Austin, we add large sliding doors from the kitchen to the back patio or porch for easy flow. We’ve also created window passages that serve as a bar top for entertaining or an easy way to pass items through to the outdoor kitchen during BBQs.

Design It With an Architect 

Don’t tackle a kitchen renovation on your own. We’ve seen some big design mistakes in Austin homes. When homeowners try to manage a project on their own, they often update finishes without addressing the floorplan. So the end result may look nice, but it doesn’t function any better than what they had before. When you work with an architect, they will be able to maximize the space, reimagine the functionality, and help you save time and money in the long run. 

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Ideas for Your Kitchen Design in Austin 

Need some inspiration? Here are some kitchen design ideas for your Austin renovation. 

In Texas, the BBQ is an Extension of the Kitchen 

If you just moved to Austin, it’s time you got acquainted with the art of Texas BBQ. Here, the grill outside is just as important as the kitchen inside. Invest in an outdoor kitchen design with easy access to the main house. This will double your entertaining space and create a great flow to the outdoors. 

Austinites Love to Entertain — Plan Accordingly 

Our Austin architecture clients love to entertain. When planning your kitchen remodel, consider creating an open-concept space that flows into the main living areas. Complete the space with an oversized kitchen island with plenty of seating and room to gather. Additionally, consider adding a butler’s pantry or scullery for additional storage and party prep space. 

Build a Texas-sized Pantry to Stock Up 

Everything’s bigger in Texas! One of our most requested items for kitchen remodels in Austin is to increase the pantry space. Often, we take square footage from adjoining dining rooms. In some cases, a larger pantry request has turned into a full scullery with an extra oven, dishwasher, and sink! 

Take Advantage of Austin’s Indoor-outdoor Lifestyle 

Austin has a great balance of metropolitan amenities right alongside nature. Bring the indoor-outdoor lifestyle Austin is known for to your home. When planning your kitchen remodel, consider flow to outdoor areas. Treat your patio as an additional alfresco dining area, and complete the space with a covered roof extension, screened porch, and sliding doors to the kitchen. 

Get Inspiration from Hip, Modern Restaurants 

Austin has a thriving food scene, so why not take kitchen design inspiration from modern restaurants around town? Finishes like open shelving, chef-grade appliances, and flat panel cabinetry bring in a clean, modern feel that can be found in some of the hippest Austin restaurants. 

Take a look at this modern Austin kitchen remodel from our Chalk Knoll project

Or, Embrace Traditional Texan Charm 

While Austin has a lot of new modern buildings going up, we know there are a few traditionalists out there who appreciate character and charm — as do we! Our Austin architects love working with period homes to increase their functionality for a modern lifestyle while still preserving the warmth of an older home. 

Take a look at this traditional Austin kitchen remodel from our Cousteau Lane project

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