So you are planning
to remodel your kitchen, where do u start?
Planning a kitchen remodel includes finding your style, scope of work
and hiring a professional.
Finding your style:
According to Rebekah Zaveloff, a Principle designer at Kitchen Lab, “Most
people are at loss when told to define their style” You need to be sure of what style of kitchen
you need, is it modern, contemporary or traditional?
For those that don't know exactly what they want, try to explore your
style, try to visit the internet, magazines, blogs etc for various ideas and
mark out what you like, you may chose to create a folder of the kitchen pictures
that you like.
Scope of work.
Are you planning an addition to the already exciting kitchen, do you want to
move the entire kitchen and replace it with a new one, will you need new
electrical, plumbing and flooring in the process?? Start with your wish list
this will help you determine the scope of work. However, a trusted designer,
contractor or architect can help you determine the scope of work.
Hiring a professional. Even
if you are not hiring a designer and taking the DIY (Do It Yourself) option,
you will need a professional at some point. Unless you are making your own
cabinets, own electrical, own plumbing and flooring.
Otherwise, whether
your kitchen needs a minor face lift or a complete gut job, seeking help from a
designer is always a well worth investment. Designers do not only have access
to the tools but also are equipped with the inside scoop on current trends, new
materials, what is and what is not durable
etc. also they have done a lot of research which saves you a lot of
time, money and frustration.
A few things to
consider
- Are you remodeling your kitchen within
the same exciting footprint?
- Are you changing the color of your
kitchen?
- Do you want to relocate the sink or
range? This calls for plumbing and moving the gas lines
- Are you planning to extent the wall?
This might require structural work and more unforeseen costs.
- Are you adding marble or granite to
your counter tops?
- Are you adding more lighting and
cabling to your kitchen?
- Detailed pricing upfront will help you
meet your budget and where to start
For a beautiful, comfortable kitchen:
Cabinetry:
The type of Cabinet construction can have a significant impact on how
your kitchen looks. Full overlay, frameless are more contemporary (no hinge
seen the door overlays the frames of the cabinets) while the framed cabinets
with visible hinges is more of traditional.
The color of the
cabinet will also add impact of course, black, white or cream, natural brown wood or
colored wood whatever you opt for, try as much to create a comfortable and
appealing look for your kitchen.
Countertops: The counter tops are
often the focal point of a classic kitchen. Commonly we have Stone,
ceramic tile, wood or plastic laminate for such tops.
Stone: Marble and Granite usually stand out with their natural beauty.
Even though many homeowners know
there are maintenance issues with marble, they still opt for it because of its
irresistible beauty.
Granite on the
other hand is the best option for counter tops and is highly recommended by most
designers and contractors for its strength and durability.
Wood; will
create a beautiful impression and bring out the art of the kitchen depending on
how it’s designed. It is also very easy on glass and china ware. However, the type of wood used matters a lot and may
determine the durability.
Lighting: there are loads of nooks in the
kitchen that need to be lit to avoid cases of accidents, rodents, cockroaches etc.
You could use LEDs or energy saver whatever you
like. Lighting will give life to the kitchen thus making it worth spending most
of your time.
Use curtains in the kitchen only if you must. if
the window creates enough security, then you might as well opt to go with out
curtains and have enough light.
It is always
important to have ample lighting for safe and effective cooking.
Avoid dim
lighting in the kitchen and try to make it as bright as you can.
Storage: A kitchen is one of the most
used rooms and can therefore be the messiest rooms if storage is not managed
right. Yes even with the cabinets you might lose it here. Try as much as you
can to clear out empty boxes and tins, check for cracked or old pots and dishes
that you think you might not need soon or later.
Label the tins and cabinets of
their contents if you must to avoid confusion and congestion.
Create a hanging rank
for cooking utensils like spoons and pans that might not fit into the cabinets
other than have them piled together.
Have your designer or
carpenter create a vertical section in the cabinets for your trays if you wish.
This saves space and i think it is cool.
The more you keep in
check of all the kitchen equipment, the more you have the storage issue under
control.
Décor: Ladies you realize you spend most of
the festive and fun family days in the kitchen, Christmas, Easter, Thanks
giving, and Birthdays preparing meals for the people you love. So why not turn
the kitchen into a room worth living... add flowers to bring life to it, hung a
picture on the wall to bring morale, and color to make it welcoming…and then
you will have the most beautiful kitchen and comfortable room in your home…. Let
this Easter find you cooking in a beautiful kitchen. Till then….
