Planning a kitchen remodel often starts with a long list of ideas: new cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring, lighting, an island, or even a completely different layout.

The challenge is deciding what should come first.

For homeowners planning kitchen remodeling in Redmond, WA, the best place to start is usually not the most noticeable finish. The first priorities should be the parts of the kitchen that affect how the space functions every day and the improvements that would be difficult or expensive to change later.

A kitchen with expensive countertops can still be frustrating if the layout does not work. New cabinets may look great but provide little improvement if the storage was not planned around how the household actually uses the kitchen.

This guide explains how to prioritize a kitchen renovation, where it can make sense to invest first, and what Redmond homeowners should consider before construction begins.

Quick Answer: What Should You Upgrade First During a Kitchen Remodel?

Start with the kitchen layout and functionality, followed by cabinetry and storage, plumbing and electrical needs, lighting and ventilation, durable surfaces, and then appliances and decorative finishes.

The exact order depends on your existing kitchen and what you want to improve. However, decisions involving the layout, plumbing, electrical systems, and cabinetry should generally happen early because they affect many of the other components of a kitchen remodel.

1. Start With the Layout Before Choosing Finishes

Before choosing cabinets, countertops, or appliances, determine whether the existing layout actually works.

Consider what happens in your kitchen every day.

Is there enough room to prepare food? Does the refrigerator interrupt a major walkway when the door is open? Is the dishwasher positioned conveniently near the sink? Is storage located where you need it? Does the kitchen feel disconnected from the dining or living area?

These are functional problems that new finishes alone will not solve.

According to the 2026 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, improving functionality continues to be a significant reason homeowners renovate. Thirty-eight percent of surveyed renovating homeowners cited deterioration or dysfunction as a reason for remodeling, compared with 41% who cited dissatisfaction with the kitchen’s old style.

That makes functionality an important place to start.

When Should You Change the Kitchen Layout?

Changing the layout may be worth considering when:

• There is not enough usable countertop space.
• Appliances interfere with traffic flow.
• Storage is poorly positioned.
• The kitchen feels crowded when several people use it.
• The island is too large, too small, or in the wrong location.
• The kitchen does not connect well with nearby living areas.
• Your household’s needs have changed.

However, changing the layout can increase the scope of construction.

Moving a sink may require plumbing changes. Relocating a range may affect electrical or gas connections and ventilation. Moving appliances may require changes to cabinetry and flooring. Removing a wall can introduce structural considerations.

That is why the first question should not necessarily be, “Can we change the layout?”

It should be:

“Will changing the layout improve the kitchen enough to justify the additional work?”

A Value Engineering Perspective From Goodwin Construction

According to Tyson Goodwin, CEO of Goodwin Construction, one of the most cost-effective ways to approach a kitchen remodel is to work with the existing layout whenever it makes sense.

From a value engineering perspective, keeping major appliances and plumbing in their current locations can help reduce unnecessary construction costs because relocating them often requires additional plumbing, electrical, cabinetry, flooring, and related work.

If the existing layout functions well, maintaining those locations may allow more of the remodeling budget to go toward improvements homeowners will use and see every day.

2. Upgrade Cabinetry and Storage Based on How You Use the Kitchen

Once the layout is established, cabinetry is one of the next major decisions.

Cabinets determine much more than the appearance of the kitchen. They influence storage, countertop configuration, appliance placement, workspace, and how efficiently the room functions.

But replacing cabinets does not automatically create better storage.

The important question is what you need the cabinetry to do.

Storage Features Worth Considering

Depending on the household, useful features may include:

Deep drawers: Helpful for pots, pans, dishes, and other frequently used items.

Pantry cabinets: Provide concentrated food and small-appliance storage without requiring a separate walk-in pantry.

Pull-out storage: Can improve access in deeper cabinets.

Trash and recycling centers: Keep waste containers integrated into the cabinetry.

Tray dividers: Useful for baking sheets, cutting boards, and serving trays.

Appliance storage: Can help keep frequently used countertop appliances accessible without leaving everything visible.

Storage continues to be a major focus of kitchen renovations. Houzz reports that 76% of surveyed homeowners incorporate built-in features during a kitchen renovation, with pantry cabinets leading at 47%.

The goal is not to add every available cabinet feature. It is to create storage that supports how you actually use the kitchen.

3. Address Plumbing, Electrical, and Structural Needs Early

Many of the most important kitchen upgrades are the ones you will barely notice once construction is finished.

Plumbing, electrical systems, framing, ventilation, and other behind-the-wall work should be evaluated before spending heavily on visible finishes.

This becomes especially important when remodeling an existing kitchen.

A renovation may involve:

• Moving or adding outlets
• Updating lighting circuits
• Relocating a sink or dishwasher
• Changing appliance locations
• Installing new ventilation
• Adding electrical service for appliances
• Modifying walls
• Addressing structural conditions
• Repairing conditions uncovered during demolition

If these improvements are necessary, it generally makes sense to address them while the kitchen is already under construction rather than after new cabinets, countertops, and finishes have been installed.

Do You Need a Permit for a Kitchen Remodel in Redmond, WA?

Permit requirements depend on the scope of the remodel.

The City of Redmond includes alterations and remodels within its residential permitting process. Depending on the scope, a project may also require review by additional city departments. 

A kitchen project involving structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or other regulated work may therefore require applicable permits or inspections.

Requirements should be confirmed for the actual project before construction begins rather than assuming that all kitchen remodels require the same approvals.

An experienced contractor, like Goodwin Construction, can help identify which portions of the proposed work may need to be incorporated into the permitting process.

4. Upgrade Lighting and Ventilation Before Decorative Features

Lighting and ventilation may not receive as much attention as cabinetry or countertops, but both can significantly affect how the finished kitchen functions.

Improve the Kitchen Lighting

A kitchen often needs several types of lighting.

Ambient lighting provides general illumination throughout the room.

Task lighting helps illuminate countertops, sinks, islands, and other work areas.

Decorative or accent lighting can add visual interest and support the overall design.

Lighting should be planned after the layout and cabinetry are established but before electrical work is completed.

For example, changing the size or location of an island may affect pendant placement. New cabinetry can affect under-cabinet lighting. Moving work areas can change where task lighting is needed.

Waiting until the end of the project to think about lighting can limit your options.

Don’t Treat Ventilation as an Afterthought

Cooking produces heat, moisture, odors, and airborne pollutants.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends kitchen exhaust ventilation and says range hoods should exhaust directly outdoors and be correctly sized. 

If the range is being relocated, ventilation should be considered as part of that layout decision. Duct routing and equipment requirements can affect other parts of the project.

5. Choose Countertops and Flooring for Durability, Not Just Appearance

Once the layout, cabinetry, infrastructure, lighting, and ventilation have been addressed, the major surfaces can be selected.

Countertops and flooring have a strong visual impact, but they are also heavily used.

What Should You Look for in Kitchen Countertops?

Consider:

• Durability
• Maintenance
• Heat resistance
• Stain resistance
• Available colors and patterns
• Edge profiles
• Seams
• Cost
• How the material works with the cabinetry

The most expensive countertop is not automatically the best choice for every kitchen.

A household that cooks frequently may prioritize durability and maintenance differently from a household that uses the kitchen less intensively.

What About Kitchen Flooring?

Kitchen flooring should be selected with everyday use in mind.

Consider how the material handles moisture, cleaning, foot traffic, pets, and transitions into surrounding rooms.

If the remodel changes walls, cabinets, or the kitchen footprint, existing flooring may also need to be patched or replaced.

These details are easier to coordinate before construction than after the kitchen has already been taken apart.

6. Upgrade Appliances Based on How You Actually Cook

Premium appliances can consume a significant portion of a kitchen remodeling budget. That does not mean they should automatically be the first upgrade. Instead, select appliances based on how your household uses the kitchen.

A homeowner who cooks frequently may value a larger range, stronger ventilation, or additional refrigeration.

Appliance decisions should also happen early enough for cabinetry and infrastructure to be designed around the actual models.

Changing appliance selections late in the project can create problems if dimensions, electrical requirements, plumbing, or ventilation differ.

7. Does a Kitchen Island Add Value?

A properly designed kitchen island can provide more than additional workspace and storage. It can also create a natural gathering place for family and guests.

As Tyson Goodwin, CEO of Goodwin Construction, explains:

“Your guests, your family, everyone’s going to congregate in the kitchen. That’s where you’re going to spend most of your time. You want it to both look and feel welcome. It has to be functional.”

Tyson also recommends maximizing the island and its storage within the available space:

“One of the things I like to do on islands is create the biggest island we can. We have functional cabinets on the kitchen side that are user-friendly to the chef, the cook, or the end user, but I also incorporate storage on the seating area side so you can maximize the storage of that space.”

A well-planned island can provide seating, preparation space, and storage on both sides while creating a central gathering place. The goal is to maximize the island within the available space without compromising how the kitchen functions.

8. Save Decorative Decisions Until the Core Upgrades Are Established

Cabinet colors, backsplash tile, hardware, faucets, and decorative lighting are important because they shape the finished appearance.

But they should not drive the initial remodeling budget.

If the budget becomes tight, it is generally easier to change hardware or repaint a room later than it is to relocate plumbing, replace cabinetry, change the kitchen layout, or correct insufficient electrical work after construction.

What Should You Upgrade First in a Redmond Kitchen Remodel?

This does not mean every kitchen should follow exactly the same order.

If your existing cabinetry is in excellent condition but your lighting is poor, lighting may move higher on the list. If the kitchen layout already works extremely well, there may be no reason to spend money changing it.

The priority should be based on what will make the biggest meaningful improvement to your kitchen.

Choosing a Kitchen Remodeling Contractor in Redmond, WA

Once you know what you want to improve, the next step is determining how those ideas translate into an actual construction project.

A major kitchen renovation may involve cabinetry, plumbing, electrical work, flooring, countertops, appliances, ventilation, inspections, and several specialized trades.

Having these elements coordinated can help prevent decisions in one part of the project from creating problems somewhere else.

Washington State’s Department of Labor & Industries recommends checking that a contractor has active registration and reviewing available bond, insurance, safety, and other information before hiring. L&I also recommends comparing written bids based on the complete scope, warranties, references, completion dates, and price rather than choosing solely on the lowest number.

For a substantial kitchen renovation, involving the contractor early can also help determine whether proposed layout changes, appliance locations, structural modifications, and material selections make sense from a construction standpoint.

Consider Design-Build Kitchen Remodeling

Kitchen design and construction are closely connected.

A layout decision may affect plumbing. Cabinetry affects appliances and countertops. Lighting affects electrical work. A range location affects ventilation.

A design-build approach to kitchen remodeling brings planning, design, and construction together earlier so these decisions can be coordinated rather than addressed separately.

Goodwin Construction works with homeowners from the planning stage through construction, helping coordinate the different parts of the remodeling process.

Planning Kitchen Remodeling in Redmond, WA?

You do not need to upgrade everything simply because you are remodeling your kitchen.

Start with the improvements that will have the greatest impact on how the kitchen functions. Address the difficult-to-change components early, then build the finishes and decorative selections around those decisions.

Goodwin Construction provides kitchen remodeling services in Redmond and throughout Washington State. Our team works with homeowners through planning and construction to develop kitchens around the existing home, project goals, and actual scope of work.

If you’re considering kitchen remodeling in Redmond, WA, contact Goodwin Construction to discuss your project.