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KITCHENS
Kitchen Remodels and Renovations give you back the greatest return on your investment. The national average is a 76% return. This is also the number one room that potential buys are hoping is updated. Kitchens sell homes. But not everyone has the budget or needs to totally gut their kitchen. You will find helpful information about planning your remodel, ideas for updating your existing kitchen and much more.
Planning Summer time is the best time for a full Kitchen Remodel. Since access to cooking will be limited during this time, summer allows for grilling outdoors, eating outside and most times we eat lighter in the summer. So if you can plan ahead, so renovation takes place during May thru September. ( Note: if you have school age children have the renovation completed before school starts)
1. Start your planning by deciding what is currently working in your existing kitchen and what is not. Determine what you are lacking, such as storage, countertop space, working appliances or an eating area, ect.
2. Make a list of where in the existing Kitchen you store items and how you use them. This will help to determine where things should go in the New layout. If things are not placed were you ideal location is because of storage or placement issues, write down where you'd like them. For example,I like that my dishes are close to my dishwasher and eating area.
3. Decide on a budget. Cabinets take 1/3 of the budget. Maybe just updating the countertop and backsplash will give you the look you want. The layout may be fine. Maybe your budget only will allow for stock cabinets but update the look with a few custom details.Or you maybe your in need of a complete gut.
4. Determine when you would like to start and finish the project. Determine the lead time from your kitchen cabinet manufacturer. Some manufacturers take two weeks while others can take eight to twelve weeks. Speak to the contractor for his time frame for the scope of work that you want done. Then count back to figure out when everything should be ordered in order to meet those deadlines. Give yourself two week buffer for unknows.
5. Speak with your local Building Department if permits are needed. This can add weeks onto your project. .
6. If you can start demolition after all your cabinets and appliances have been delivered and inspected, this will help keep the stress of being "under Construction" to a minimum.
Function comes first A beautiful kitchen is wonderful to look at, but if it doesn't function its not really going to improve your life. A kitchen that doesn't function will add stress to your life. These ideas below need to work for your Lifestyle but in genereal here are ideas that can help imporve your life and what most people are looking for:
Double ovens
Dishwasher
Microwave
Good ventilation
Plenty of storage
Large expance of countertop
Light & bright
Low or no formaldehide free cabinets
Eating area.
Low Voc products ( volitile organic compounds)
Granite or quartz
IDEAS
Galley style kitchen- removing one side of upper cabinets into open shelving will open up the kitchen.
Use outlet strip under the cabinets instead of on the backsplash if you are doing detailed pattern on the backsplash.
The smaller the tile the more expensive. Keep these expensive tile to a detail not the main body.
Keeping plumbing and electrical in same place will keep cost down.
Save money by doing demolition yourself. Remove drawers and doors off existing cabinets before demo. Never demo a load bearing wall. Carefully remove drywall from an area and pull off in chunks. Watch electrical , plumbing in the walls.
Fall is the best time to buy Stoves
Spring is the best time to buy Refrigerators
You can save money by buying scratch and dent appliances, as long as the scratch or dent is not visible when they are placed.
You can always reuse existing cabinets,stain or paint them
Use large granite tile as countertop to save money instead of slab.
Add little permanent personality if you plan on moving within five years
No matter how small or large your Kitchen Renovation or remodel, planning is key. There are many tips and tricks to give you the look and function that you desire. Take your time in planning and you will not only be satisfied with your end results but increase your properties value and appeal.
Sincerely,
Stacey Sexton
S. Sexton Design Associates In This Issue Kitchens Planning Quick Links Register Now www.durasupreme.com www.merillat.com Related Topics More On Us Please pass this email onto friends and family. Forward email