Tips for a Successful Kitchen Renovation

It is a well-known fact that the kitchen and the bathroom are the most expensive rooms in the house, so a bit of research and planning ahead of your renovation will help to keep costs and stresses down, and have the project go as smoothly as possible.

Budget. As with any project to be undertaken, the first thing you need to do is fix your budget, and please, please, please remember to allow for overruns – you do not known what will be found in the walls or the floor that will result in additional costs to the project.

Layout. Does the existing layout work for you? Are you taking out any walls to make a bigger space, or adding windows or doors? These kinds of changes need to be taken into account when considering the layout of the kitchen. Remember the triangle between sink, stove and fridge!

Electrical Outlets. A very common problem in a kitchen is an insufficient number of electrical outlets, particularly at countertop level. If your large appliances are all to be built-in, each will need a dedicated outlet. How much countertop space will you have? Do you have small appliances that live on the counter like a coffee machine, toaster or toaster oven? Do you have other appliances that live in a cupboard and are used only occasionally? Additional outlets should be provided to accommodate these appliances.

Countertop. There are numerous choices for the countertop, from tiles to granite or polished stone, to concrete, stainless steel and various molded surfaces. And the price range is equally huge, with unique custom-made surfaces costing thousands of dollars. Be careful that you don’t overspend on the finishes as you might not get it back on reselling your property. Also think about wear and tear on the counter – do you have kids? Might there be frequent spillages that might cause staining?

Cabinets. The choice of finishes for your cabinets is limitless, from natural wood to laminates, stainless steel, glass, synthetic finishes and various combinations of them all. Do you wish your upper level cabinets to go right up to the ceiling – the advantages of this include more storage space though high up, no dust can collect on the top of the cupboards, plus it gives the illusion of a higher ceiling, which is particularly good if your ceiling is a little low.

Floor. Are you installing a new floor covering? If yes, it needs to be something that is very durable to withstand the wear and tear of traffic in the busiest room in your house! Hardwood, tile, stone or even polished concrete fill this role effectively and efficiently.

Appliances. The kitchen is often described as the “heart of the home”, so you don’t want to skimp on appliances. Stainless steel is more expensive but it will last longer. Having appliances that match is also very important to the overall look of the finished kitchen. Do you want a dishwasher and where do you want it to be located? Do you want a built-in microwave or wine cooler, and where should they be located. Now is the time to think about these things.

There you have it. Lots to think about before your project gets started, but planning ahead will more than pay for itself in the successful completion of the project.…

Custom Kitchen Cabinets – Providing Elegance To Your Kitchen

Are you one of those people who love to spend most of their time in the kitchen to cook meals? If yes, then don’t you think that the kitchen is one of the most crucial parts of a home? If you seriously think that it is indeed, then you must know the value of having custom kitchen cabinets in your kitchen. These cabinets help to make the process of cooking meals and storing kitchen products a lot easier than you can even think of.
Nowadays, cabinets are quite common, and can be easily found in almost every kitchen, but the latest trend is of custom kitchen cabinets. And, many people are using them since former comes with the dual advantages of functions and exquisiteness. The greatest advantage of these customized cabinets is that the homeowners can get them manufactured in order to meet their needs and kitchen space. Getting kitchen cabinets manufactured as per your requirements would enable you to give your kitchen a look of your own choice. Moreover, it hardly matters that you are constructing a new kitchen or refurbishing an old one, as having these modern style cabinets can be of great help.
The cabinets are one of the most important parts of kitchen renovation ideas. People with reserved income who cannot manage to pay for an expensive customized cabinetry, can get their existing cabinets refurbished in order to give them a modern look. However, renovating an old one is not an easy job to do, as the entire process requires the expertise of a professional and experienced carpenter. These professionals possess the ability to give a new and refreshing look to old cabinets and enhance the aesthetic appeal of the surroundings.
By kitchen renovation or installing new custom cabinets, the entire look of your home and kitchen can get changed pretty quickly, and will also add value to it. Another advantage of using these cabinets is that they provide the best possible solution, when the space of the kitchen is very less. These kinds of cabinets can expertly utilize the limited space and provide an elegant look at the same time. It is like adding a delicate feel to the kitchen and making it look special and distinctive from other’s kitchen. However, in order to get the best kitchen cabinets, you must hire a professional company, which possesses experience and holds expertise in manufacturing and installing these modern kitchen cabinets.…

How to Avoid Getting Burned With Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes

People choose to remodel their kitchen for a variety of reasons. Some homeowners simply want a more updated look. They choose to upgrade their kitchen in more modern décor and colors. However, others feel the need to remodel their kitchen room due to inconvenience and inefficient use of the available space. Whether you are displeased with the layout of the room or simply want a new look, there are some mistakes that you should steer clear of when remodeling your kitchen.
Skipping Ventilation
When remodeling your kitchen, consider adding outside ventilation. It is important that stove hoods or be vented to the outdoors if at all possible. This simple addition can dramatically reduce smoke and odors in the kitchen.
Creating a Large Island
Many modern kitchens include a work island. Islands can be wonderful work spaces for a cook. However, if not properly thought through, they can be a kitchen nightmare. The key is having an island which is the right size and in the right spot. A 3 foot by 4 foot island provides plenty of workspace for most purposes. It is also essential to make sure that you have at least 3 to 4 feet between your island and your cabinets. Anything less can make both the island and the cabinets difficult to use. The best practice is to block off the size and location of your potential island in your kitchen before making a purchase.
Forgetting the Garbage
Kitchens can be messy. Most cooks have both containers and food to throw away. Not properly planning for the disposal of these items can make a kitchen look messy. When planning your remodeling, think about the most convenient ways to store your garbage. The best method is to hide waste receptacles in cabinets. Make certain that you have enough room so that your can is not overflowing all of the time. Creating a separate space for z food waste container or installing a garbage disposal is also a good idea.
Creating Unusable Cabinet Space
Cabinets are very important for storing utensils and non-perishables. Think about the size, height and location of your cabinets before buying them. Draw a sketch and plan what items will go into each cabinet. Consider that while deep cabinets hold more, they are not practical if you cannot reach the items in them. Deep corners are often unused in cabinet spaces. Consider installing lazy susans and swing out or pull out caddies.
Inadequate Lighting
Most kitchens need more than one middle of the ceiling light. Ensure that you plan for proper lighting above the stove, counters, sink and other work areas. Under the cabinet lights are also popular choices with many people.
Remodeling your kitchen may be a once in a lifetime adventure. Give it care, planning and thought before taking the plunge. While considering all of the things that you want your kitchen to have, keep these common kitchen remodeling mistakes in mind.…

Money Saving Kitchen Design Tips

So we have compiled this money saving kitchen design tips feature to help you update your kitchen on a budget. And keep an eye out over the next few weeks as we add more to the list.
1. Do not automatically head to your kitchen retailer for new cabinets. Instead, sand them down and using thinned white house paint brush it over the surface. Wait a few moments and then wipe the surface. This will give you a fantastic mottled paint look that brings out the grain in your wood. Seal it with a wax for that quality finish
2. Pick up packs of Christmas Lights during the January sales and remove the coloured covers. The remaining white bulbs can then be tacked under cabinets and in hidden alcoves to add some cool new kitchen lighting.
3. Purchase some clear glass jars and store dry food in them such as pulses, nuts and seeds. This can add colour, texture and a ‘foodie’ feel to your kitchen design.
4. Create a kitchen wall border or some texture to your kitchen cabinets with a small piece of sponge and some paint. You can even add it to the hem of your curtains!
5. Create your own wooden cutting board by heading to the local builders’ merchants and asking for an off cut of pine or oak. Take it home a carefully sand it down using various grades of sandpaper. You can then varnish or stain it and smooth off any edges to create an ‘expensive’ cutting board.
6. Repaint the kitchen walls. It is amazing what difference a lick of paint can make. Think carefully about adding a new colour to the theme too as this can really bring your tired kitchen alive.
7. Add some fabric to the mix by looking for a new tablecloth or curtain design as this can be a very cost effective way of reinvigorating your kitchen space.
8. Create a fake stone look for your kitchen worktops by learning how to create a fauz stone finish using paints (Google: Faux Stone Finish). To do it you need to prime your worktops with a special primer and this needs to dry for several hours before you can then start painting over the top. The results can be very impressive.…

Kitchen Cabinet Ideas – Affordable Ways to Give Your Kitchen a New Look

Every spring, most families find it the right time to also help their kitchen turn a new leaf. Hence, they try to think of a lot of kitchen cabinet ideas that would not be so expensive but still be able to implement some change to the overall look of the kitchen.
It is not kept from anyone that the cheapest way to do this is by just painting your old cabinets new. You must expect that through time, your cabinets may have built up enough amount of grease and grime that it would definitely need some thorough cleaning.
So one of the most effective kitchen cabinet ideas is to clean them first with an all purpose cleaner and give it some good amount of scrubbing. Then allow it to totally dry up. Before you start with the painting job, cover first all the other parts of the kitchen like the flooring, the countertops and other appliances for stain protection.
You can also settle for just giving your kitchen cabinets a brand new finish. Remember that refacing is a much convenient way to give your kitchen cabinet a fresh look. You can settle for the oak or maple finish if you want a traditional look since pine is a successful tool in bringing in a country feel to your home.
To change your kitchen cabinet hardware is also one of the most effective kitchen cabinet ideas that you can consider doing. The hardware in the kitchen can be found tarnished, damaged or outdated through time. This cannot usually be helped.
So if you would try to change the hardware, it can already have a new appeal. Just make sure that what you will get would still match and complement the original design of the cabinets and the kitchen. As a golden rule, remember always that dark toned hardware goes well with the light touches and finishes.
Another possible kitchen cabinet ideas is the replacement of kitchen countertops. If you still want to do this task yourself, then you can just simply resurface it with the use of some plastic laminate. This would even protect your countertop from the cuts that the kitchen knife can do each time chopping is done over it.
But if you have the budget, then do not hesitate to get someone to really replace the entire countertop for this would surely add aesthetic value not just to your kitchen but to your home.…