According to recent surveys, home remodels are on an upward trend. Residents in the Phoenix area have been part of the curve, making the top 10 spending list in 2019 and 2020 and maintaining a top 20 ranking for 2021. Like you, thousands of households have chosen the kitchen for their next passion project, but unless you want to be another statistic and spend an average of $15,000 more for a kitchen remodel, you need a plan!
To get off on the right path, we’ve put together our collective expert knowledge on how to design a high-end kitchen. Included are tips for planning, what to expect, avenues to consider, and the appliances that are a must-have for your new space.
At a Glance:
Before You Build Your New Kitchen
Premium Appliances: What to Consider
Getting Started
The perfect formula for designing a high-end kitchen you’ll love starts with understanding the elements. No matter the style or layout of your kitchen, a successful luxury kitchen will have several (or all) of the following factors. Getting to know these categories closely will help you to budget the must-haves from the maybes.
Get Well-Versed in the Latest Technology
Smart kitchens aren’t just for tech gurus anymore. Connected appliances are more popular than ever in affluent kitchens and help make the experience of cooking more enjoyable. For a fully streamlined kitchen, look into kitchen appliance packages. Often, appliances in these bundles work off the same Wi-Fi and harmonize with one another for even simpler operation.
Explore Hot Kitchen Trends
Kitchen designs are constantly changing. Stay on trend by reviewing appliance fads, kitchen styles, and colors in season to achieve a look that is up to date.
Invest in Quality Kitchen Materials
Next to appliances, this is the time to splurge on high-performance materials. When properly taken care of, premium add-ons, such as marble countertops or luxury kitchen cabinets, add value to the home and endure longer than cheaper materials, which will save you replacement costs in the future.
Decide Appliances Finishes
Stainless-steel will forever be a kitchen staple, but don’t think they’re the only option to consider. If you prefer your appliances to blend in with their surroundings, panel-ready appliances are the way to go. Customizable fronts allow you to create virtually any look, whether it’s to match your new cabinets or to add a pop of style.
Get Familiar with High-End Kitchen Appliances
Hands-down, luxury appliances have the biggest impact on how much you enjoy your high-end kitchen remodel. Make sure to explore all the layouts, cooking configurations, and fuel sources to determine which is the right fit for your lifestyle.
Shop Luxury Appliance Deals Today!
Before You Build Your New Kitchen
You have your muses; now it’s time to refine them. Follow these tips to make sure your kitchen plan meets all your expectations, and your kitchen remodeling cost stays on track.
✓ First, Create a Kitchen Wish List
It’s not a dream kitchen until you have that one upgrade you always wanted in your cooking space. For this phase, don’t hold back. List every single wish list item you can think of — you’ll have time to edit the priorities from the perks.
Looking for some ideas? Here are a few of our favorites:
✓ Built-in appliances
✓ A pro-style range
✓ Custom countertops
✓ High-end kitchen cabinets
✓ New flooring
✓ High-end kitchen faucets
✓ Backsplashes
✓ Next, Identify Necessary Kitchen Upgrades
This is your chance to take everything you dislike about your current kitchen and replace it with a functional setup that works for your needs. Kitchen repairs like cracked countertops, chipped floors, and outdated appliances, are common in kitchen remodels, while new built-in storage is a practical renovation that will serve a purpose for years to come.
When it comes to appliances, designers often turn to high-performance gas burners, convection ovens, smart appliances, and customized appliance finishes to reinvent a kitchen with relatively little effort.
✓ Then, Plan Your Kitchen Layout
In most cases, it’s easiest and more affordable to stick with the existing layout of your kitchen when undergoing a kitchen remodel. A redesigned kitchen layout is one of the more expensive remodeling investments, but the impact can make all the difference.
The most common kitchen layouts are:
✱ Galley style: A single strip of flooring flanked by two walls.
✱ U-Shape: Three walls enclosing a peninsula of floorspace.
✱ L-Shape: A wall to the left- or right-facing side, merging into a back wall.
✱ Single wall: A single kitchen wall with an open floor design.
✱ Kitchen island: A kitchen island surrounded by any number of walls.
✓ Now, Establish a Kitchen Remodel Time Frame
Good things come to those who wait, and in terms of a high-end kitchen remodel, that might take anywhere from three to five months, according to the experts at HGTV. During that time, you’ll need to have a temporary kitchen to make day-to-day life easier.
The garage is always a practical option, which can easily be staged with a plastic tub sink and a foldable table. You can also request cabinets that are being replaced to be thrown out last; these make for great storage until the kitchen is ready to be used. Otherwise, an old dresser or credenza works just as great for storing dinnerware and kitchen utensils.
✓ Finally, Build Your Team
There are two teams you ultimately need to decide on for your kitchen renovation. The first is a professional appliance dealer near you. The other is the builders and designers who will bring your dream kitchen to life.
It’s important that you do proper research before hiring professionals to work on your kitchen. Read reviews (both good and bad), paying close attention to average project times, unexpected costs, professionalism, and overall client satisfaction.
Premium Cooking Appliances
High-end cooking appliances are the showstoppers of gourmet kitchens. Traditionally, a gas range between 48–60 inches would be the centerpiece of a designer kitchen, but many homeowners are making the transition to luxury induction cooktops paired with double wall ovens.
Regardless of which layout you choose, luxury kitchen appliances deliver more performance than cheaper models for cooking results like the pros. This Thermador range is a perfect example of what to expect when upgrading to professional cooking appliances. Six patented Star Burners, plus a cooktop grill with three 18K-BTU burners, deliver a restaurant-style setup that is exciting and functional. Meanwhile, the electric double ovens below offer Third Element Convection for supreme baking, roasting, and braising results.
Overall, you can expect more BTUs, higher-grade materials, carefully crafted designs, larger capacities, and more power altogether when cooking on luxury appliance brands.
Buying options:
Related: Thermador Range Reviews
Premium Refrigeration
The refrigerator is the largest appliance in the kitchen, so be prepared to pay the most for one if you’re replacing older kitchen appliances. If you want to save on costs, consider a high-end freestanding refrigerator over a built-in model. Café refrigeration offers some of the latest and exclusive styles, such as matte-white with gold trim for a truly opulent feel that screams custom. If features are important to you, Bosch freestanding refrigerators are a reliable option, spearheaded by its signature FarmFresh food preservation system that fuses four different technologies to combat humidity, temperature, and spoiling.
But for the full luxury experience, nothing beats built-in refrigeration. Discover one of the biggest names in premium refrigeration in our Sub-Zero refrigerator reviews. With state-of-the-art features like NASA-inspired air filtration, magnetically sealed doors, stainless-steel interiors, and superior temperature control, Sub-Zero refrigerators are truly in a class of their own.
We also like the look and performance of a GE Monogram refrigerator, which offers both freestanding and integrated models, plus upgrades like advanced climate control, cold-air circulation, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Buying options:
- Built-in refrigerators
- Freestanding refrigerators
- Custom column refrigeration
- All-freezer columns
- Wine refrigerators
- Refrigerator drawers
- Undercounter fridges
Premium Dishwashing
Three names lead the industry in luxury dishwashers: Miele, Bosch, and Cove. The difference is materials and technology, which all three brands master in their own unique way.
Miele dishwashers are well-known by experts for their longevity — a minimum of 20 years when properly maintained! These models also showcase Miele’s clean, modern look and come with nice enhancements, including adjustable racks and built-in water softeners, which are ideal for our Arizona hard water. On the other hand, Bosch premium dishwashers are regarded as one of the best lines for dry dishes and are considered the quietest dishwasher brand in the U.S.
If your kitchen suite has Thermador and Wolf products, you can complete the trifecta with a Cove dishwasher. Like Miele, these models are designed to last 20 years and are backed by the “strongest warranty in the industry.”
Buying options:
- Metal finish
- Panel-ready
Product Spotlight: Bosch Dishwasher Reviews
Why Trust Us?
Since 1973, Spencer’s TV & Appliance has grown to 10 locations throughout the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. The secret to our longevity is simple: personal service. Customer satisfaction have always been the focus of our business, and throughout the years, we have been able to work hard with our suppliers to bring you the best prices. After all, getting customers the best price and personal attention is how we compete with big-box stores, day in and day out.
Not only do we offer top-rated appliances, name-brand electronics, and the best mattresses on the market but we also provide water treatment solutions and perform kitchen design services. Stop by your nearest Spencer’s and see what you’re missing!
Shop High-End Appliances at Spencer’s TV
At Spencer’s TV & Appliance, we provide high-quality, name-brand products at great prices — check out our catalog to shop luxury appliances today. Your friends in the business are always happy to help you build your dream high-end kitchen. Call us, or better yet, stop by at one of our locations in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Glendale regions. Visit us today!
Learn More: Our Guide to Luxury Appliances