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Not exactly regrets, but things we wouldโve done differently in hindsight. Sharing in case it helps anyone avoid the same mistakes! 
1. โ๐๐ถ๐ช๐ญ๐ต-๐ช๐ฏโ ๐ธ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ง๐ณ๐ช๐ฅ๐จ๐ฆ โ Not all appliances are meant to be built in. We learned the hard way that specs and ventilation requirements matter, so always double-check measurements before committing. 
Reality: fridge protrudes so that the sides can vent otherwise it overheats, consumes more energy, and releases heat onto laminate 
Should have paid more for a built in version and worked our carpentry around it 
2. ๐๐ข๐บ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฆ๐น๐ต๐ณ๐ข ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ด๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ต๐ช๐ค๐ด โ We splurged on Easi plastering and painting over the kitchen tiles ($1,260), plus boxing up the service yard pipes ($550). Nice to have, but looking back, these were areas we couldโve saved on. 
Once the carpentry was installed, you can hardly see the walls anymore. Only this section leading to the service yard is visible and we wished our ID had recommended/ allowed us to just easi plaster and paint this section to save a lot of cost 
The plan was to create some storage to hide away brooms and other appliances in front of the pipes. We didnโt realise the space was too tight and that it would be a pure box up with no real function, until it was too late and already enacted. 
3. ๐๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ด๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ค๐ฉ โ Doesnโt serve any real purpose as we used a storage heater; should have removed it and just had the light switch. Only the switch outside our common bathroom works to activate our heater 
4. ๐๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ข๐ค๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐ง๐ข๐ช๐ญ โ Position seemed okay during planning, but once the appliances were in, the switch ended up too high for me to reach. 
5. ๐๐ช๐ด๐ด๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ด๐ต๐ฐ๐ณ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ช๐ข๐ญ โ Our ID suggested a drop-off niche which we love, but we wished we optimised the space above and below it for more storage.
20 December 2025
