7 Smart Strategies for Kitchen Remodeling
For good reason, kitchen remodeling is more expensive than any other home improvement project. For many individuals, the kitchen is the heart of the home and a source of pride.
The value of your house may be able to recover a significant portion of your kitchen remodeling costs. Follow these seven tips to ensure a successful kitchen remodel:
1. Plan, Plan, Plan
Your kitchen remodels planning phase should take longer than the construction phase. You can reduce the amount of time you’re inconvenienced by building chaos if you plan ahead. You’ll also be more likely to stick to your budget.
How much time should you set aside to plan? At least six months is recommended. You won’t be tempted to change your mind and issue change orders during construction, rising construction costs and lowering your return on investment.
Some tips on planning:
Examine your current kitchen: What is the width of the entryway into your kitchen? Many people make the mistake of buying an extra-large refrigerator only to find out that it won’t fit through the door. Create a sketch of your kitchen with measurements for doorways, walkways, worktops, and other features to avoid blunders like this. Don’t forget the height.
Consider the following traffic patterns: Work aisles should vary between a minimum of 42 inches to a maximum of 48 inches wide for households with multiple cooks.
Consider ergonomics when designing: Base cabinet drawers or pull-out shelves, adjustable counter heights, and a wall oven rather than a range are all characteristics that make a kitchen accessible to everyone — and enjoyable to work in.
Prepare for the unexpected: Expect the unexpected, even if you’ve planned your remodel down to the number of nails you’ll need. Allow for some leeway when it comes to finishing the renovation. Do you need it finished by Thanksgiving? Then make a schedule to finish before Halloween.
Before you begin, make sure you have all of your fixtures and materials in place.
Don’t be hesitant to ask for assistance: Your kitchen redesign might be made easier with the help of a professional kitchen designer. Professionals assist in making style judgments, anticipating future issues, and scheduling your renovation contractors in Ottawa. Fees should be in the range of 10% to 17% of the project’s total budget.
2. Get Real About Appliances
It’s easy to get carried away when it comes to planning your new kitchen. While a six-burner commercial-grade range and a luxury-brand refrigerator may be eye-catching, they may not be appropriate for your culinary needs or lifestyle.
Appliances are mainly cooking and storage devices. The design and usefulness of the entire kitchen should be the focus of your kitchen makeover, not the tools.
So, unless you’re a great cook who cooks a lot, spend your money on long-term features like cabinetry and flooring that increase value.
Then go with trusted products that have received good ratings in internet reviews and Consumer Reports.
3. Keep the Same Footprint
Changing the location of plumbing pipes and electrical outlets, as well as pulling down walls, will drive up the cost of a makeover. This is frequently when unanticipated issues arise.
Keep appliances, water fixtures, and walls in the same place if at all possible. You’ll not only save money on demolition and kitchen remodeling, but you’ll also reduce the amount of dust and trash generated by your project.
4. Don’t Underestimate the Power of Lighting
In a kitchen, lighting can make all the difference. It has the ability to make it appear larger and brighter. It will also assist you in working securely and productively. In your kitchen, you should have two types of lighting:
Task lighting: Because cabinets provide such dark work areas, under-cabinet lighting should be on your must-have list. There’s no better time to hard-wire your lights than when you’re redecorating.
To avoid shadows, plan for at least two lamps per job area. For islands and other worktops without low cabinets, pendant lights are ideal. With no cabinets overhead, recessed and track lights work nicely over sinks and basic prep spaces.
Ambient lighting is created in your kitchen by flush-mounted ceiling lamps, wall sconces, and track lights. Dimmer switches can be used to modify the intensity and mood of the lighting.
5. Be Quality-Conscious
During kitchen remodeling, functionality and durability should be the main considerations. Avoid low-quality discounts and choose for products that have a low maintenance requirement and a long warranty period. Solid-surface countertops, for example, may be more expensive, but with careful care, they will last a long time.
Also, if you’re going to sell your home soon, devices with long warranties are a selling point.
6. Add Storage, Not Space
Storage will never go out of style, but if you’re working with limited space, here are a few suggestions for adding more:
Install cabinets that extend all the way to the ceiling: They may be more expensive — and a stepladder may be required — but you’ll gain crucial storage space for Christmas plates and other seasonal items. You also won’t have to dust the cabinet tops.
Wrap it up: Install tiny shelf units on underused wall spaces and inside cabinet doors, a ceiling-mounted rack for stock pots and large skillets, and aprons, brooms, and mops on the backs of closet doors.
7. Communicate Clearly With Your Kitchen Remodeling Contractors
Maintaining a positive working relationship with your project manager or construction crew is critical to keeping on budget. To keep your project nice, follow these steps:
Drop by the project during working hours: Your presence communicates your dedication to excellence.
Create a communication schedule: Install a bulletin board on site where you and the project manager can post daily updates. Subs and team leaders should have your email address and phone number.
Establish home rules: Smoking, boom box noise levels, sufficient toilets, and appropriate parking should all be addressed.
Kindness: Offer refreshments (a little kindness goes a long way), provide praise when it’s due, and refrain from bothering them with chatter, jokes, or inquiries while they’re working.
If you are interested to remodel your kitchen don’t hesitate to contact us on our phone number: 613-727-7070
