Kitchen Remodeling is one of the most valuable home improvements, boosting resale value and providing increased living space for cooking and entertaining. A full renovation means bidding farewell to outdated fixtures and materials and often requires rerouting plumbing and electrical lines.
Some DIYers take a hybrid approach, hiring experts to handle regulated work and doing painting, style selections, and smaller projects themselves. This strategy shaves labor costs and increases control over the final result.
A remodeling project can involve a variety of changes. Some are cosmetic refreshes, and others require major modifications to plumbing and electrical. Before starting the remodel, it’s important to know what you can do and what you will need help with.
Your kitchen layout should take into account how you use the space daily. If you have more than one cook in the house, this will dictate floor space and flow. Consider how you entertain as well – will you have people in and out of the kitchen? How much counter space do you want?
If you’re tight on space, consider a galley kitchen. This design features a corridor between two walls that house everything from appliances to cabinets to utensil drawers. If you have more room, a U-shaped kitchen can offer ample counter and storage space as well as plenty of seating for guests to gather around.
Another design essential to consider is a time-tested concept known as the Kitchen Triangle. The idea behind this is that your primary kitchen items – the sink, fridge and stove – should form a triangle that is easily accessible from any point in the room. This allows for the most efficient workflow and will save you both time and energy when preparing meals.
Other considerations include where to store specialty items such as a coffee bar, beverage center or wine fridge. These spaces can be useful in keeping your workspace clear of clutter but can also be a challenge to keep organized. This is where it’s helpful to work with a professional kitchen designer. They will help you find ways to maximize your space and create a kitchen that works for your lifestyle.
Appliances
The appliances in your kitchen are a key piece of its design. Newer models are often more energy-efficient, have better finishes, and come with features that make cooking and cleaning easier. They also generally have a greater variety of colors and styles. While some high-end models can add to your budget, you can still get a good return on your investment by choosing models that fit your lifestyle. For example, entertainers may want to upgrade to a warming drawer or ice maker, while busy families can benefit from a professional-grade stove and double ovens that make cooking easier.
Appliances account for 20% of the average kitchen remodel cost and include costs for purchase, delivery, and installation. Whether you are replacing your appliances or buying them for the first time, you’ll find that the price can vary significantly from brand to model and size. If you are shopping for a specific style or color, you can save money by purchasing used or refurbished units. You can also save on cabinet and labor costs by opting for stock cabinets instead of custom options. Avoid adding expensive decorative touches, like ornate crown moldings and pilasters, that will eat into your remodeling budget.
A remodel isn’t complete without finishing details like countertops, backsplashes, and flooring. The latter typically accounts for 5% of the average kitchen remodel cost, though it can increase or decrease depending on the material and complexity of the design. It’s also possible to DIY certain elements of your remodel, like painting walls or laying down flooring, which can cut costs and reduce your timeline. However, you should work with a licensed contractor for more complex projects that require plumbing or electrical changes.
Lighting
A kitchen remodel isn’t just about adding new appliances and fresh countertops. Lighting is another big component to consider for its effect on the space’s aesthetic. The right lighting can make the room feel softer, more intentional, and prettier.
Lighting in a kitchen can be broken down into three different types: ambient, task, and accent. Ambient lighting is the general light that covers the entire room. This could include surface or recessed ceiling fixtures. For example, a single pendant light over the island or a set of hanging lights over the dining area.
Task lighting illuminates a specific work zone. For example, an under-cabinet light can help you reach the pots and pans stored in the lower cabinets. Task lighting is also often found over the stove, illuminating the food you’re cooking in a clearer way than the ambient light might provide.
Accent lighting is more decorative than functional and can highlight a feature in the kitchen, like an amazing tile backsplash or beautiful frosted glass cabinet doors. This type of lighting can come in the form of sconces on the wall, track lights under cabinets, or picture lights.
Natural lighting is a great addition to any kitchen, but it comes with some important considerations. The two major issues to review when planning your kitchen’s natural lighting are temperature changes and dependability.
If you want to use natural light in your kitchen, we recommend installing a lighting fixture called a light tunnel. These are essentially reflective tubes that run between your ceiling and the roof, diffusing the sun’s rays for an ambient lighting option. Also, if you have skylights, we suggest installing Contour LED strip around them to keep them from looking like black holes at night.
Flooring
The kitchen is a high-traffic area that needs durable flooring that can stand up to wear and tear, spills and splashes. It also needs to match your personal style and fit into your remodeling budget.
You can find many options for kitchen floors, including tile, vinyl, wood, and laminate. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some are easier to maintain, while others may be less durable. It is important to discuss the pros and cons of each option with a trusted contractor or designer before you commit to a specific type of flooring.
Some experts recommend laying the floor first, before installing units. This method provides a clean, continuous look and prevents the need to cut or lay flooring around cabinets. However, it can be difficult to switch flooring materials once the units are in place. In addition, it can result in a mismatched look and increase the risk of damage to the floor.
Once the floor is in, it’s time for plumbing and electrical rough-in. This is a vital step that can impact the rest of the project, so it’s recommended to hire a licensed local plumber and an electrician.
After the plumbing and electrical are in place, a carpentry crew can begin framing the kitchen. This will involve putting up studs and insulation, and it can create a more open space or structured enclosures for a pass-through window and room for cabinets. This phase can take anywhere from one to two days.
Cabinetry
During kitchen remodeling, cabinets are typically the focal point of the space and can dramatically affect how it feels. Using natural wood can create a warm and welcoming feel to the room, while painted cabinetry can give a contemporary and clean look. White cabinetry is popular, but dark grays and even black can provide a stylish contrast to lighter countertops and floors.
Choosing to refresh rather than replace your existing cabinetry is a more sustainable option, as it reduces the amount of waste generated during the remodeling process and lowers energy consumption. Refacing also uses less new material than installing all-new cabinetry, which cuts down on manufacturing and transportation emissions.
Countertops and flooring should be chosen with sustainability in mind as well. Recycled stone and reclaimed wood are durable, attractive choices for countertops and flooring that reduce the need for harvesting and shipping new materials. Quartz countertops, which come in a variety of looks to mimic the natural variegation of marble and limestone, are another low-maintenance and eco-friendly choice for a kitchen countertop.
Lighting and fixtures are an opportunity to further boost the green appeal of your kitchen remodel. Recessed lighting is a good way to brighten up work areas, but pendant lights can also add a more decorative touch and set the mood of the room. Using LED and CFL bulbs instead of standard incandescent bulbs also saves on energy costs and emissions during the remodeling process.
If you haven’t already, consider financing your kitchen remodel with a home equity line of credit or HELOC (home equity line of credit). These loans are secured by your home and can be used as needed, making them a great way to spread the cost of a project over time. If you choose to use a HELOC, it is important to make sure your home equity is sufficient enough to cover the loan.
