Factors to consider before starting kitchen remodel
Your kitchen is the heart and hearth of your home, and thatmakes remodeling it one of the most rewarding— and intimidating— projects you’ll take on as a homeowner. Fortunately, with an educated approach and a little help fromqualified professionals, you can easilymake your kitchen dreams a reality.
Proper planning is the key to a successful kitchen remodel, regardless of the job’s size. These questions will help you organize your thoughts and identify what’smost important.
Whatkind of cookam I? Different cooks have different needs. Some enjoy a sprawling complex that allows themtocreate intricate meals; others just want to keep themselves and their family fed amid the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Consider the number of active cooks in your family. If you and your partner like to cookmeals together, for example, separate kitchen islands for prepping and cooking food maymaximize efficiency andmake you happy.
Whatwill Ibedoing inmy kitchen besides cooking?
It’s important to think about howyou’ll use your kitchen and plan accordingly, particularly as the role of the kitchen continues to evolve. In manyways, the kitchen has replaced the living room as the central stage for entertaining guests and/ or as the home’scommand center.
Howlong will I live in this house? If you plan onmoving in the next few years, you mightwant to focus on design elements with universal appeal. If you expect this to be your forever home, let your imagination runwildwith specific and personalized choices. Consider asking a real estate agent about the impact on homevalue if you’re selling soon.
Whowill be using the kitchen? If the family includes someonewho’s always on the go and opting for quick meals, you mightwant a large, easily accessible microwave. If the household includes small children or older adults, you mightwant to lower someof thestorage andworkspaces.
HowdoIwant the kitchen to interact with the rest of the house?
Does the kitchen have an immediate exit to the outdoors? Is it open to the living roomor dining area? The kitchen doesn’t stand alone, so think of it in relation to the greater whole— not just howthe space will flowbut also howpeople will flowthrough it.
What’s your style? The different styles of kitchens offer different pros and cons. For instance, contemporary kitchens tend to feature open concepts, sharp angles and frameless cabinetry, according to theNational Kitchen& Bath Association. Farmhouse kitchens include amixture ofmetal andwood, apron sinks, barn doors and enclosed storage. Transitional kitchens blend the elements, often using stainless steel, quartz, wood flooring and white cabinetry for a delicate butwell-defined look.