Some homeowners find that their home’s original kitchen construction doesn’t suit their way of life or cooking needs. After trying to retrofit things piecemeal, they may turn to a full or partial kitchen remodel to address the situation so the center of their home works for them. Before hiring kitchen remodelers, list things you want to change about the kitchen and set a single, overarching goal for the remodeling project.
Kitchen Remodeling Goals
Every renovation or remodeling project has an underlying goal, but few homeowners can put it into words for the general contractors they interview. Let’s consider a few examples of a kitchen renovation goal:
• Convert the space to an eat-in kitchen, so the family can dine at a kitchen table
• Redesign the space to use the chef’s triangle layout for easier cooking
• Add food preparation areas so more than one person can work on meal prep without getting in one another’s way.
Many other goals exist, but these three examples should provide you with a firm idea of what a renovation or remodeling goal refers to. Any home remodeling and repairs project you undertake will have an underlying goal, so this process applies to every remodeling or renovation project in a home.
Kitchen Remodeling: A Popular U.S. Home Improvement Project
Research shows that 7.6 million people in the United States will remodel their kitchens this year alone. Remodeling your kitchen for the first time can be both an exciting and stressful experience.
Without the proper planning and evaluating, it is extremely easy to become overwhelmed and frustrated with all of the decisions you have to make. In fact, the National Kitchen and Bath Association strongly suggests that homeowners should plan out kitchen remodeling up to six months in advance before actually starting the project.
While it is easy to want to focus on what sorts of new color schemes and wall decor you may want to add to your kitchen design, you have to focus on the practical elements first. The three main areas that you should focus on to start are your cabinets, counter tops and appliances.
Building Your Dream Kitchen:
- While kitchen cabinetry doesn’t seem like the most fun area, there are many creative choices you can make when remodeling kitchen cabinets. Not only can you choose from many custom cabinetry options regarding material and color of your kitchen cabinetry, but you also have a lot of options when it comes to their structure. Look for cabinets with user-friendly options like full extension roll-out shelves; this prevents you from scraping your knuckles if you’re trying to find items way in the back.
- When choosing kitchen cabinetry, you also want to make sure they are durable. Certified cabinets not only can withstand humidity and a wide range of temperatures, but they also should be fairly resistant to damage from kitchen goods like vinegar, ketchup, coffee and juice. When investing in remodeling, you want to make sure what you’re getting is good to last.
- When it comes to counter tops and appliances, you definitely want to make sure that both will remain durable as well. Be sure to check out your local home remodeling store not only to see what kinds of options are out there, but to chat with staff members. Workers are there to help you and can often give you great advice on the best way to remodel your kitchen.
- If you find yourself really stressed out about planning your kitchen remodeling, you may want to look into hiring a professional designer. Not only do they make sure that both style and efficiency will be present in your kitchen, but they also work with contractors to make sure they are scheduled to work in a timely manner.
Have you had any experiences with kitchen remodeling? Tell us about it in the comments below! Continue reading here.