Upgrading your kitchen is a sure way to increase your home's value. When asked which room in their house they would most like to remodel, Americans overwhelmingly chose the kitchen. And that's a good choice, because kitchen remodeling has the highest average return on investment when selling your house.
In deciding on what to do, a well thought out plan is necessary for any kitchen design project to be successful.
So where do you start? First you have to decide on the scope of the remodel. You can spend a few thousand dollars to spruce up your kitchen by simply revitalizing the cabinets, replacing countertops and installing new faucets. Or you can go for a complete makeover by redesigning the floor plan and starting from scratch - or somewhere in between.
How you choose to remodel your kitchen depends on your personal taste and budget. You can replace countertops, sinks and faucets, refinish or replace cabinets, change the flooring, install new lighting, and replace appliances. You can also paint, wallpaper or tile the walls, install a new ceiling, replace the doors - there really is no limit. Start by examining your wants and needs. Clip ideas from magazines. Visit some home improvement stores to get a better idea of what is out there and the costs, so you can discuss your options with your kitchen remodeling contractor.
When designing your new kitchen, think of the three basic functions that are usually targeted for improvement:Storage, Preparation and Clean-up. How can you make your space more efficient? Traditionally, kitchen layouts have put the three major kitchen components (refrigerator, stove and sink) in a triangular pattern. But things have changed from the 1950's. Food is no longer mostly made from scratch so we need double the storage space. And meals are more likely to be prepared by several people. Therefore, modern kitchen remodels focus on work stations that allow more than one person to work efficiently without getting in each other's way. A popular choice to create multiple work stations and increased storage space is to add an island.
Question? Ask an Expert Right Now