|
|
|
Kitchen Renovation Design Ideas
Kitchen Renovation Design Ideas for the Modern
Kitchen
By: Mark J. Donovan
|
|
So you’re
considering a kitchen renovation project. Not a bad idea, considering the
kitchen is the most utilized room in the home. A kitchen renovation project,
however is a major undertaking. It is both expensive and disruptive. A kitchen
renovation, on the other hand, is one of the best investments you can make in
your home. You can usually recoup most of your investment within a year or so of
completing your kitchen renovation project. The key to a successful kitchen
renovation project is planning and determining up front what kitchen renovation
design ideas you want to incorporate. |
|
Listed below
are kitchen renovation design ideas and planning tips to make your kitchen
remodeling project go smoother.
First, assess
how big your kitchen area currently is. If you have plans on enlarging it,
how do you plan on doing it? Putting an addition onto the home, or by
utilizing other space within the home?
Second,
determine the size of your kitchen renovation budget.
|
 |
|
|
A kitchen renovation can easily cost you upwards of $20-30,000 or more,
depending the amount, type, and styles of kitchen cabinets and appliances you
choose. One smart renovation design tip is to maintain the general location of
your existing kitchen appliances and sink. By not moving them you can save a
small fortune on electrical and plumbing contractor costs.
With your kitchen
renovation size and budget determined you can then begin to consider the
plethora of kitchen renovation design ideas that are right for you and your
family. |
Kitchen
Renovation Design Ideas
First, take advantage of your local
home improvement centers or kitchen supply stores. Most offer free kitchen
design services. They have software aided tools that can develop your kitchen
renovation design plans down to the kitchen cabinet knobs. In addition, their
designs can be used for ordering the specific kitchen cabinetry and appliances.
The typical process includes the kitchen designer coming out to your home,
taking some measurements, listening to your kitchen renovation goals, and then
developing a set of kitchen design plans. From there, the kitchen cabinets,
countertops and appliances are order, delivered and installed in the kitchen.
Refacing Kitchen
Cabinets
If your kitchen
renovation plans include reusing your existing kitchen cabinets, consider
refacing them by sanding them down to bare wood, and then applying stain and
polyurethane. In addition, replace the old cabinetry hardware with new kitchen
cabinet knobs and handles.
Kitchen Lighting
Include plenty of lighting in your
kitchen renovation project. In particular, adding natural lighting is one of the
best kitchen renovation ideas you can make.
|
|
The return on investment for
installing a window in a kitchen is extremely high. Homebuyers love the benefits
of a kitchen window as it provides both sunlight and fresh air into the kitchen.
In addition to
including natural light in your kitchen renovation design plans, also make sure
to include pendant and track lighting over key kitchen countertop workspaces in
the kitchen. Also make sure you include plenty of overhead lighting as well.
Kitchen
Appliances
Another excellent
kitchen renovation design idea is to go with the housing market trends. Every
homebuyer today wants stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. There
is no sense going against the market tide. Spend the extra money and include the
higher end kitchen appliances and countertops in your kitchen renovation design.
Kitchen Flooring
The use of wood or
tile is also a preferred kitchen renovation design feature that most homebuyers
like to see in a newly renovated kitchen. They look beautiful and they wear well
compared to vinyl floors. So again, seriously consider spending the extra money
on hardwood or ceramic tile kitchen flooring.
Electric
If you plan on
adding new kitchen appliances to the renovated kitchen, make sure you include
additional circuits in the kitchen, versus using the existing ones. Kitchen
appliances require a lot of power, particularly the stove/oven, microwave and
dishwasher. Each should be on their own circuit breaker. In addition, there
should be plenty of kitchen outlets along the back of the kitchen countertops
and all of them should be on ground fault circuit interrupters.
To conclude, a kitchen renovation project is an excellent, but expensive
undertaking. It is also very disruptive to the home, however with proper
planning the disruptions can be mitigated to some extent, e.g. with temporary
kitchen sinks and countertops installed. By carefully considering the kitchen
renovation design ideas suggested you can help ensure that your money is well
spent and you obtain the renovated kitchen you desire.
For help on your kitchen renovation project, see my
Kitchen Remodeling Bid Sheet. The Kitchen Remodeling Bid
Sheet provides a request for quote checklist section that you can provide to
prospective kitchen remodeling contractors. It also includes a comprehensive
kitchen remodeling cost breakdown table, in Microsoft Excel format, that allows
the contractor to include his projected remodeling costs for every phase of the
project.
How to Finance your Kitchen Renovation Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
Related information on Kitchen Remodeling and Kitchen
Renovation Design Ideas
Additional Kitchen Renovation Design Resources
Kitchen Faucets and Appliances from Amazon.com
Kitchen Renovation Price Quotes For FREE,
No Obligation!
Fill out our 3-5 minute quick and easy form, and receive a free price quote
on kitchen renovation from one of our prescreened and licensed kitchen
remodeling contractors. This process is free and there is no obligation to
continue once you receive your kitchen renovation price estimate.
|
|
|
