The kitchen is one of the most frequently used rooms in any home. Not only is it where meals are made; it often is also the place where family and friends gravitate during a party, where kids learn to make cookies and where that first cup of coffee is made in the morning. Before deciding to remodel a kitchen, there is much more to consider than just cabinet materials and wall colors. Function and atmosphere should play a big part in the overall design. Here are four things to keep in mind while dreaming up your kitchen design.
The most important step in building the kitchen of your dreams is finding the right kitchen design company to make your dream a reality. Find an experienced contractor who is willing to work with you to make sure your new kitchen reflects your personality and needs.
Posted on behalf of J. Christopher Services
The kitchen of the 21st century is a place where you not only cook meals, but also entertain and eat quick meals with your family. Now, more than ever, the kitchen is the heart of the home, the hive of the home’s activity. So today’s kitchen must be efficient and it must be aesthetically pleasing.
The top kitchen design trends of 2013 reflect this sensibility. We’ve come up with a list of 10, based on an informal survey of websites and blogs.
1. Neutrals – Predominant colors for walls, cabinets and floors are white, beige and gray – lots of gray, in fact, ranging from dark charcoal to a light dove gray.
2. Mixing it Up – While neutrals may be popular, so is mixing cabinets. One wall may have floor to ceiling cabinets, another glass cabinet doors and another may be made of a different color wood.
3. Efficient Cabinets – Cabinets and drawers have separators and compartments to store and organize things like silverware and paper bags. Every space is utilized, even the narrow space by the stove.
4. Quartz Counters – Homeowners are discovering that quartz is as hard and resilient as granite, but not as expensive as marble.
5. Statement Making Lighting – With the neutral palette, lighting is taking center stage, and not just lighting, but big, bold shapes and colored pendants.
6. Splashes of Color – Again with the neutral palette for walls, cabinets and counters in kitchens, there is also a trend for splashy color, such as colored glass backsplashes or glass cabinets with a colored background to show off dishes or collectibles.
7. Brass Fixtures – It might have a traditional or antique look or it might be very modern, but one thing is for sure, brass is the material of choice for kitchen designs.
8. Furniture or Architectural Elements – From corbels to pillars to turned legs, furniture elements are turning up in kitchens everywhere. Some kitchen designs are even using tables as kitchen islands for extra counter space and seating.
9. LED Lighting – Kitchens are being built or remodeled with LED lighting, which is more energy efficient and produces less heat than halogen or xenon lighting.
10. Electronic Faucets – Homeowners are appreciating the efficiency of electronic faucets, modern versions of those usually found in public restrooms. The water comes on and stays on while you fill the pot, preventing handles from getting messy.
Once you have settled on the perfect kitchen design, hired a good remodeling contractor, and set up your budget, it’s time for the contractor to tear your old kitchen apart and start installing your beautiful new kitchen! It’s an exciting time, but also a messy, inconvenient time. Unlike on television, a major kitchen remodeling project will not be completed in an hour or even a weekend.
Your remodeling contractor will be able to give you a more accurate estimate, but depending on the scope of your remodeling project, plan on being “kitchenless” for at least several weeks while your contractor gets the job done.
Work with your contractor to minimize your kitchen downtime. Try to put off demolition until most of the new fixtures and materials have been delivered. Special order items like custom cabinets can take weeks for delivery and there is no sense in getting started until they have been delivered or at least until they are nearing the delivery date.
The easiest way to deal with living without your kitchen is to take a vacation or move into a nearby hotel for a while. Unfortunately, moving into a hotel or going on vacation is not a practical or cost effective solution for most people. However, you may be able to schedule the renovation to coincide at least partially with a vacation or a visit with family members. Just a few days away from the mess and inconvenience of the renovation can provide a welcome “sanity” break.
During the time that you will be living with the remodeling project, you will probably be eating out a lot or living on take out or delivery food. You can cut down on eating out by creating a “mini-kitchen” with a microwave, coffee pot, toaster, and small refrigerator in whatever space you can find such as an extra bedroom or a corner of the living room. You may be able to temporarily put your old refrigerator in a garage or other area so you can use it during the remodeling. In addition, this may be a good time to consider brushing up on your grilling skills.
No matter how inconvenient, remember that your remodeling project will be done in a few weeks and you will be able to enjoy your new kitchen for years to come.
A kitchen renovation is a great project that can add value to your home and provide years of enjoyment. Planning your renovation involves more than wandering through the aisles of your local home improvement center. For anything beyond a minor project, you will need to choose a good kitchen designer and a kitchen remodeling contractor. Sometimes these are the same person or firm.
You may have a good idea of what you want to achieve from your remodeling project, but working with a great kitchen designer is usually worth every penny. They know from experience what works well together and how to achieve the look and functionality you desire. They will also have insights into the materials and fixtures that are available and will be able to offer suggestions for the design that you may not have even thought of that will result in a fantastic new kitchen that exceeds your expectations.
Some kitchen designers also function as the remodeling contractor. If not, you will need a good contractor with experience in kitchen remodeling. The contractor deals with and all the tradesmen who will be involved with the job. You can attempt to do this yourself, but kitchen remodeling involves many different trades including plumbing, flooring, electrical, cabinet making, countertops, tile, masonry and general carpentry.
Finding and coordinating all these trades is much more difficult and time consuming than it seems. A good remodeling contractor has the organizational skills and experience to efficiently manage your kitchen remodeling project. They also have a good set of contacts and know who they can depend on to do good work.
When choosing your kitchen designer and remodeling contractor, you will want to be sure they have the appropriate qualifications and a good reputation. Ask for and follow up with references and be sure the contractor is licensed and has sufficient liability insurance coverage.
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