Kitchen Remodel Design Tip: Start With the Range | South Bay & LA Designer
(This is what designers know... and most homeowners don’t!)
If you’re planning a kitchen remodel and don’t know where to start, I’m going to say something slightly opinionated... but very intentional!
The range should always come first!
Not the cabinet color.
Not the island size.
Not the backsplash tile.
The range anchors the entire kitchen design and quietly dictates how everything else comes together. This is one of those designer decisions that looks effortless when done right... and feels off when it’s ignored.
Whether I’m designing kitchens in Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes, or Manhattan Beach, this principle never changes.
Why the Range Is the True Focal Point of Your Kitchen
Think about the kitchens you see in magazines or online.
What’s usually photographed?
The range.
The hood.
The backsplash.
That wall is the visual heart of the kitchen. The range establishes symmetry, proportion, and visual weight. It determines where the eye naturally lands the moment you walk into the space.
Once that decision is made, everything else... cabinet layout, island placement, lighting, and even hardware... falls into place with intention.
When homeowners skip this step, kitchens often end up feeling disjointed, even if every individual selection is beautiful.
The Hood... Where Design Really Gets Personal
Once the range is selected, the hood becomes the architectural statement of the kitchen!
This is where kitchens in Westchester, Los Angeles, and Culver City truly start to stand apart.
Your hood doesn’t have to be an afterthought. It can be:
Plaster, softly sculpted and timeless
Metal, adding contrast and a refined edge
Stone, seamlessly tying into a slab backsplash
Wood, bringing warmth and architectural depth
The hood material sets the tone for the entire kitchen... modern, organic, coastal, or refined. Once it’s decided, the design direction becomes clear.
Why the Backsplash Should Support the Range
Here’s another designer insight most homeowners don’t realize...
Backsplash decisions should support the range... not compete with it!
When the range and hood are thoughtfully selected, the backsplash naturally follows:
Full slab stone for a clean, elevated look
Tile that frames the range and adds texture
Subtle materials that allow the hood to be the focal point
Starting with the range eliminates guesswork and prevents expensive design changes later in the project.
How Starting With the Range Prevents Costly Mistakes
When kitchens are designed backwards, I often see:
Hoods that feel undersized or out of proportion
Tile selections that fight the focal point
Cabinets forced into awkward layouts
Beginning with the range avoids all of this. It’s not just a design preference... it’s a strategy that creates cohesion from the start!
Designing a Kitchen That Feels Effortless (But Isn’t Accidental!)
If you’re planning a full kitchen remodel and feeling overwhelmed, here’s the key takeaway...
You don’t need to have every answer. You just need to start in the right place!
That place is the range.
Once it’s chosen, the kitchen starts designing itself... with clarity, confidence, and balance.
Ready to Design Your Kitchen the Right Way?
If you’re remodeling in the South Bay or Los Angeles area and want a kitchen that feels intentional, timeless, and thoughtfully designed, I’d love to help!
Book a design consultation and let’s start where designers always do... at the range!
