There are many things to first consider when taking on a large project like a kitchen remodel. One of the main things you need to figure out is…what are you willing to spend on it. i.e budget? That will be the deciding factor in many of the selections that you make going forward. When figuring out your budget it is important to consider how much longer will you be living in your home, and the current state of the housing market.
A homeowner who is planning on staying in their home for a longer period of time will be safer spending a little more than someone who may only live in their home for 5 years or less. The reasoning behind this is, you will have longer time period to recoup the investment you have just put in your new kitchen. If you are only planning on living there / owning the property a short while longer it may be wise to have a appraisal done on your property before you start the project. Have one appraisal done with your home as is, and one done using the kitchen remodel plans, then compare this to what you owe on your mortgage to get a clear picture of what you can safely invest in your home and still recoup as much of the investment as possible. Once your get your budget figured out it will make further design decisions easier.
When considering design you should consider what you will be using your kitchen for most.Do you plan on doing a lot of entertaining? Do you want it to become the central gathering place in your home, or are you just looking for a rudimentary design concept for the ease of cooking, and space utilization.
For those who plan on doing a lot of entertaining in the kitchen, flow is of maximum importance to allow proper use of space while not impacting the utilization of the area. Consider lots or working counter space so that your friends and family can pitch in and help. A center island that is not attached can also be a good fit for a kitchen designed around this philosophy. You should also consider the walkway around the kitchen, making sure that the aisle ways are wide enough to accommodate everyone gathering in this space.
For those who are looking to make their kitchen the “heart of the home” a peninsula / bar can be a better option. This gives the kids a place to gather and do homework or projects while allowing Mom or Dad a free area to cook and clean without the children actually being in the kitchen space yet still being present. It also creates an informal dining area for quick meals and snacks.
For those with limited space, design is of the utmost importance to maximize flow and ease of use. It’s good to keep the triangle of kitchen design at the center of the process. Maximizing counter space is also a must. You can never have too much counter space in a kitchen. Also try to design the kitchen so that one person can be at the sink while one person is working at the stove at the same time while not being in each other way. Nothing can ruin a kitchen remodel like poor flow when the job is complete.
There are a lot of options out there when it comes to dressing up the final design. Granite counter tops, tiled back splashes, heated floors, stove exhaust vents, Wine racks and much more.
Granite counter tops always look great, but do you really need them is a questions I always ask my clients. There are many different HD laminates on the market today that look comparable to granite at a 1/4 of the cost. When trying to cut back on cost this is usually the first place I recommend.
I also prefer to us custom built cabinetry instead of “box store” cabinets. While sometimes they can be more expensive, but not always. They fully utilize all the space in the kitchen. With “Box” store cabinets you always end up using filler strips between cabinetry to fully fill the wall space up. This is because all the cabinet parts are built to a standard size. A one size fits all mentality. When using custom cabinetry we have been able to fit a whole extra stack of drawers in the kitchen when compare to a box store brand.
Here are a couple of kitchens that we did in the last couple of years. The 1st one is a kitchen remodel on a Historic home in Saint Paul, MN.built in the early 1920′s. We completely demoed the kitchen space all the way down to the studs. Then we proceeded to remove the existing sub floor, and replace it with 3/4″ CDX plywood that was glued and screwed down. Then we also corrected any framing issue’s found in the way. We insulated the walls with Ultra touch Cotton blue jean insulation, and upgraded all the current electrical. We also installed heated floor mats under the tile in this kitchen to give your feat that nice cozy feel.
Kitchen remodel in Saint Paul, MN.
The picture if the kitchen below was done is Roseville, MN. As it was a limited space we ended up using the original layout kitchen layout and design. The custom chose walnut cabinetry with a clear finish, and laminate counter tops. We also added a tile back splash. We also added a patio door in the dining room to open up this small area.
