9) 10 mistakes that make kitchens feel expensive but work poorly

By Cali Dream Construction | January 09, 2026 | San Diego

• Designing for resale instead of your daily life

• Oversizing the island and choking the walkways

• Skipping ventilation in an open concept layout

• Not planning outlets early (especially on islands)

• Choosing trendy finishes without considering maintenance

• Underestimating storage needs (no pantry, no drawers)

• Mixing too many materials (visual clutter)

• Buying appliances without checking clearances and cabinet specs

• Not ordering materials early (lead times are real)

• Starting demo before design is complete