kitchen improvements
Pairing function with design
So you're planning to remodel your kitchen. You certainly have plenty of company! Only the bathroom is as popular when it comes to remodeling. An up-to-date, well-planned kitchen can also pay back a good percentage of your renovation costs when you sell your home.
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Renovating a kitchen can be a daunting task. Your kitchen packs a lot of function into one room. It's where you cook, bake, brew coffee, heat up leftovers in the microwave, wash dirty dishes, and dispose of trash. Your kitchen also needs to have plenty of storage space for cookware and dishes.
In addition to these functions, the kitchen may be where you prefer to eat, entertain, pay bills, or work on the computer. The kitchen could even be your true living room. These days, everything from sofas and televisions to stereos, desks, and computers are being included in kitchen remodels.
Kitchen designs run the gamut—from ultramodern with professional-style appliances and stainless steel cabinets to rustic, country looks with burled wood cabinets, beamed ceilings, and a farmhouse-style sink.
Unless the sky's the limit when it comes to money, you’ll need to watch out for budget busters like hardwood floors, granite countertops, custom cabinets, and commercial-grade appliances. But do give yourself some room to splurge. An eye-catching lighting fixture, a Victorian-style faucet, or even whimsical decorative drawer pulls and door handles are the little touches that really personalize your kitchen.
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PRIORITIZING DESIGN DECISIONS
Think about what you like and don't like about your kitchen and ask yourself these questions to settle on a plan for your remodel. Are you unhappy with its looks? You can lay down a vinyl floor, reface the cabinets, replace countertops, and paint or wallpaper. These simple changes are much less expensive than full kitchen remodels. Do you want new appliances? Using your old appliances can save you money, but you may be missing out on better energy efficiency or helpful new features such as sealed burners for easy cleaning. Is the layout inconvenient? Can two people prepare meals together without getting in each other's way? A more efficient layout usually involves new cabinets, a new floor, repainting or wallpapering, and a lot of measuring and planning. Does the kitchen feel too walled in? Today's kitchens are often open to the dining room, family room, or both. Consult an architect or engineer and find out if it's safe to remove the wall (see page15). Is the kitchen too small? Maybe you can steal space from an adjacent area, add windows or raise the ceiling. Extending the kitchen outward is another option, and it can be cheaper than relocating your kitchen to another area, which requires a new plumbing stack and pipes, ventilation ducts, and possibly gas lines. |