A remodeled kitchen can add value to your home. Prospective homebuyers prioritize properties with upgraded kitchens.
Remodeling can also increase your sense of pride in homeownership. However, changes to your kitchen should focus on improving its functionality. To do so, consider the following tips: Consult a professional kitchen remodeling company like Kitchen Remodeling Lexington KY.
The layout of a kitchen has a lot to do with how well the room functions. This is why it’s often one of the first things homeowners consider when remodeling their kitchen.
A well-planned and executed kitchen remodel can increase home value. But it’s important to remember that potential buyers will want a kitchen they can envision themselves in. Therefore, it’s important to avoid making design decisions that would be too costly to maintain during the remodel process.
One of the biggest reasons why homeowners choose to remodel their kitchens is to modernize the space. This can include installing state-of-the-art appliances, incorporating smart home technology, or updating the style to reflect changing tastes.
Another reason is to accommodate lifestyle changes, such as a growing family or an increased desire for entertaining. This could mean adding a larger dining area or introducing kid-friendly features like slide-out shelves for pots and pans.
Regardless of the reason for the kitchen remodel, it’s important to work with a contractor who understands your needs and can translate them into reality. They should also have experience in working with a wide range of kitchen styles and sizes. It’s also important to measure and double-check all fixed features, such as outlets, vents, and radiators. This will ensure that the final result matches your original layout sketch. This includes determining how much space is needed for each cabinet, counter, and appliance to accommodate your particular needs and workflow.
Appliances
A kitchen’s appliances can make or break its functionality and aesthetic. Upgrading to modern, energy-efficient appliances during a remodel can reduce your utility bills and improve your kitchen’s overall look and feel. Additionally, prospective homebuyers will appreciate an attractive and well-functioning kitchen when touring your property.
Consider your cooking and storage needs to determine the kinds of appliances you want to purchase during a kitchen remodel. For example, a kitchen remodel is an ideal time to upgrade your refrigerator from side-by-side models to French door or bottom-freezer models. You might also want to purchase a microwave built into the cabinetry or a stylish chimney-style hood for your range.
Lastly, consider whether you’d like to incorporate sustainable materials into your new kitchen during the remodeling process. Options like water-saving faucets and tankless hot water systems can greatly reduce your home’s carbon footprint. Alternatively, you could install eco-friendly cabinets and countertops made from bamboo or recycled wood. These types of sustainable upgrades can add to your home’s resale value and appeal to eco-conscious buyers in the future.
When choosing the appliances for your kitchen, consider their warranty and support options as well as compatibility with the rest of your new kitchen’s design. Avoid over-customizing your kitchen with features that will limit its appeal to future homebuyers. Instead, work with a design-build professional to ensure that your new kitchen meets all of your family’s needs and is as functional as possible.
Cabinetry
When considering a kitchen remodel or refresh, it is important to think about the existing layout and functionality of the room. If the layout is functional but doesn’t reflect your style, then you may want to focus on cabinetry to get the look you desire.
Removing or moving walls to create a new layout can be a costly and lengthy project. This is especially true if the walls are load bearing and require structural modifications to remove.
A kitchen refresh is a more streamlined option that allows you to transform your space without altering its basic blueprint. It’s like reinventing a classic recipe with fresh ingredients.
One option is cabinet refacing, where you keep the boxes and update the doors and drawer fronts. This is a less expensive option but still allows you to address any issues you have with storage. Another option is replacing the cabinets completely. This is typically the most cost-effective solution but will require a more significant time commitment and disruption to your daily routine.
Countertops
Countertops are the workhorses of your kitchen, so they must be durable, stain resistant and complement your overall design. They can be made from a variety of materials and finished with many different designs.
Quartz is currently the most popular countertop choice among homeowners due to its heat, scratch and stain resistance. It comes in a wide range of colors and patterns that are designed to blend seamlessly with adjacent cabinets and backsplashes. It also doesn’t need to be sealed and is easy to clean.
Granite is another enduring favorite. Its variations in color and pattern make each countertop unique. It requires more maintenance than quartz, however — it must be wiped down regularly and sealed to prevent stains from acidic foods such as tomatoes and wine.
Natural stone countertops are also a classic choice. They can add an expensive, high-end look to your kitchen. Wooden countertops are another popular option and are eco-friendly since they’re made from a renewable resource. They also offer warmth both visually and tangibly, unlike cold stone surfaces. Wooden countertops can be customized with jointed planks, a single wide stave or butcher block to suit your space and style.
If you’re interested in a colorful upgrade, try painted countertops. Bright hues like blue, red or green can enliven your kitchen and make it feel bigger. Or, opt for a dark material like marble to set a sophisticated tone.
Flooring
If you’re remodeling your kitchen, flooring should be high on the list of priorities. Tatty, dingy floors not only look unattractive but they can also be downright dangerous. Each year, 2.7 million people experience injuries in the home, many of which are caused by tripping and falling on torn or uneven flooring.
When choosing a kitchen floor, consider your lifestyle and climate. If you live in a colder climate, you may want to invest in electric floor heating which will keep your feet warm and cozy. On the other hand, if you have young children and pets, it’s important to select durable materials that can withstand daily wear-and-tear.
The material and style of your kitchen floor should complement the rest of your interior design, color scheme and style preferences. Whether you choose the timeless elegance of hardwood or the sleek sophistication of tile, LVP or vinyl, there’s sure to be an option that fits your budget and aesthetic.
A key factor in the success of any kitchen remodel is sticking to your plans. Making changes to your design halfway through the process is a common cause of scope creep and budget overruns. Each change adds time and complexity to the project, which can lead to frustration for all parties involved. By carefully settling on your designs in a timely manner, you can avoid these pitfalls and get the kitchen of your dreams without the stress.
Lighting
The kitchen is the heart of the home, so it’s no wonder that when you remodel it, you want to improve not only your kitchen’s functionality but also its aesthetic. A good lighting design elevates the ambiance, making it welcoming for families and guests to enjoy meals together or have conversations about their days.
Typically, a kitchen should feature three important types of light—ambient, task, and accent. Ambient lighting comes from the ceiling and includes recessed and pendant lights as well as a central chandelier or island fixture. This layer of lighting illuminates the entire space and can be controlled via dimmer switches for a range of brightness levels.
Task lighting is essential for illuminating your daily work areas, including countertops, sinks, and an island or peninsula. It can be supplemented with recessed and under cabinet lighting as well as vent hood illumination. This layer of lighting provides direct illumination for the tasks at hand and helps reduce glare.
Accent lighting adds depth and dimension to the kitchen by highlighting your beautiful flooring, cabinets, and countertops. This layer can be enhanced with sconces, uplights, strips, and in-cabinet, recessed, or track lighting to draw attention to artwork, architectural details, or decorative elements. It also works well as a nightlight to provide a soft glow to help guide your way in and out of the kitchen. With smart dimmer controls, you can create different scenes for various activities in the kitchen, such as cooking or entertaining.