Tag: kitchen renovation

Kitchen renovation tips that are practical & budget-friendly

Kitchen renovation tips that are practical & budget-friendly | H is for Home

Renovating a kitchen is never an easy endeavour. It’s often costly, can limit how you prepare food at home and also can come with moments where scheduling just becomes chaotic. However, everyone who has successfully completed a kitchen renovation project will tell you that it’s well worth the effort.

You don’t have to have a bad time while renovating your kitchen. There are ways to curb the hassle and price pain points. These quick & easy kitchen renovation tips can help you stick to your budget and also make your new space sparkle.

Kitchen island with white stone worktops

Tip : Don’t insist upon granite counter-tops

It’s no secret that granite counter-tops are elegant and wonderful, but they aren’t always doable on a budget. Due to the trade war, the prices of granite counter-tops is expected to sky-rocket within the next couple of months. In many cases, this can price people out of the counter-tops they want.

If granite counter-tops are putting a strain on your budget, consider opting for a different material like quartzite. Currently, quartzite counter-tops cost around $60 per square foot, which is about $10 more than granite. Right now, this is the pricier option but that’s not always going to be the case. The trade war may end up switching the prices around due to the extreme demand for granite. So, if you’re planning out counters, take a look at other materials. You might be surprised at what turns into a bargain.

Computer generated kitchen mock-up

Tip #2: Shop around online first

When you’re choosing a contractor to do all those renovations, price and quality quickly become major factors. It used to be that people would have to call multiple contractors from the phone book, get quotes and hope they’d find a balance between quality and affordability.

There are now multiple apps and sites that let you find contractors in your area, see previous customers’ ratings of their work and request quotes. It makes putting together a budget easier and reduces the chance of having a contractor with poor work.

Kitchen under-cabinet downlighting

Tip : Never underestimate the power of quality lighting in a kitchen

With kitchen remodelling projects, a lot of emphasis is placed on counter-top material, new appliances as well as new tiling. Those renovation aspects are great, but they aren’t the only things that can make an impact on your kitchen.

One of the most heavily overlooked aspects of kitchen design is lighting. The lighting you have in your kitchen impacts everything from mood, to looks, to the actual act of preparing food in it. So, take a moment to get picky with your lighting.

Many kitchens tend to suffer from dim lighting, especially under cabinets. A well-lit kitchen can help your aesthetic look more elegant and can also help with food preparation. One of the newer trends in kitchen remodelling is to add lights underneath cabinets. This improves the overall lighting and makes it easier to see your kitchen clearly.

Glass jar kitchen storage on shelves

Tip : Storage styles matter

It’s shocking at how much storage space gets wasted when you are stuck with a bad design. Rather than stick with standard storage, it might be a better idea to have pull-out cabinets and Lazy Susans to stock your goods.

This will give you easier reach for ingredients and also maximise your efficiency in terms of storage. If you plan correctly, no foot of space will be left unused.

Unfurnished show kitchen

Tip #5: Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Renovation is not something that you need to worry about doing alone. These days, most major retailers offer kitchen design services for free. Moreover, if you’re not a fan of talking to others, there are still plenty of tech-oriented options from which you can choose.

You can get a phenomenal amount of help by just downloading the right kitchen design apps onto your phone. Kitchen planning apps can let you see the results of your design ideas before you plunk down money, order appliances directly from your phone and even see how your kitchen accessories will look in your home.

Dark decorated kitchen

Tip #6: Never hesitate to ask for a discount

Believe it or not, the kitchen renovation industry is a buyer’s market. It’s a market where buyers have a lot of control and that means you can leverage that control to get better prices. A little-known open secret is that most businesses will be open to offering discounts if you ask them nicely.

This little tips can easily save savvy buyers hundreds of dollars, especially when it comes to supplies. The more you poke around and look for sales or discounts, the better off your budget will be.

If they’re unwilling to budget on your budget needs, there’s always another option. Since there are so many different companies that specialise in kitchen remodelling, you can always find another company willing to offer you a better deal. This is where shopping around matters – it cuts down on your negotiation time greatly.

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Best kitchen renovation tips & ideas

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vintage industrial kitchen

Renovating your kitchen will add to the overall appeal, saleability and value of your home. And of course, it will add to your daily enjoyment of life. You’ll surely be more inspired to cook and prepare sumptuous meals for your family in an upgraded, more beautiful kitchen. You’ll feel much happier inviting guests and friends into the space. And, if you’re the type of person who loves spending time in the kitchen, what better undertaking than developing the perfect space to suit your needs?

Here are some helpful kitchen renovation tips & ideas:

built in kitchen pantry

Use high quality materials

A good foundation is essential, so it’s advisable to pick high quality materials for use in your renovation. There are lots of areas to consider – flooring, worktops, sinks, splash-backs and cabinets. Choose work surfaces that combine beauty with durability, floors that are practical and easy to clean and good quality drawers that slide smoothly.

open plan kitchen diner with bright yellow feature wall

Wall colour

The colour of the walls will dictate the overall atmosphere in the room. Choose a colour that will create the mood you’re seeking. Some people prefer white to make the room look clean and bright. But you may also want to use less stark neutrals such as creams or natural wood tones. Bold, bright colours can also work well – perhaps on a feature wall. Accessories such as kettles, pots & pans, textiles and storage jars can then pick up on these colours.

Kitchen countertop extension chopping board

Counter-tops

As mentioned, quality is very important. So when it comes to a large expanse of counter-top, consider your materials carefully. There are many options – granite, marble, limestone and natural woods will all add to the feel of quality and permanence.

Colour block kitchen cabinet doors

Kitchen cabinet design

Kitchen cabinets play a very important role in the overall appearance and functionality of the kitchen. It’s one of the first things that you will notice when you go to the kitchen, so make sure you’ve chosen a good design and appropriate style. Install as many cabinets into the kitchen as space allows without feeling claustrophobic. You can never have too much storage space in a kitchen.

If you already have plenty of cabinets, and they’re in good condition, you can have professionals like those at Kitchen Makeovers upgrade the doors and hardware and leave the carcasses in place – this will save you money and disruption.

Fire engine red door leading out of a kitchen

Dress up the door

If you’re going to revamp your kitchen, then you might as well go all the way and include its entrance in the makeover. Doors are often overlooked – and stand out as an incongruous and rather ugly expanse of wood or PVC in the corner. Perhaps move away from the standard off-the-shelf door. Add character by painting it with fun highlight colours that compliment the rest of the décor. Glass panels will allow light to pour in if darkness is an issue. Be creative – don’t be afraid to come up with unique ideas or solutions.

Vintage industrial kitchen

Don’t overdo it

Decorating is fun but avoid overdoing it. When your kitchen starts looking too busy or crowded, then you’ve probably gone too far. The kitchen needs to be practical as well as beautiful. Furnish and decorate according to the space available. Stick to the essentials in terms of appliances on view and provide yourself with plenty of storage. Remember, simplicity is beauty.

Grey open plan kitchen with island

Finishing touches

Complete the new look of your kitchen with fresh flowers, artwork and, of course, some elegant tableware. Shop for the most beautiful and unique dinner set from Harris Scarfe. They have a wide range of designs and styles to suit any kitchen or dining space. The perfect addition to your new and upgraded kitchen!

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3 Tips for Measuring Kitchen Cabinets

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vintage electric blue 1960s Geneva metal kitchen cabinets

image credit: Joe Wolf

Starting a kitchen remodel can be an exciting time – it can also quickly become a time you can’t wait to just be over and done with. Many home-owners don’t realise all that is included in a kitchen renovation, but with some additional knowledge, the task can actually turn into something that can be fun!

Here are some tips to follow when starting out in selecting new kitchen cabinets.

Use all the free tools available

Many home improvement and cabinet stores have great cabinet materials that can help you start measuring your cabinetry and see what options are in stock that will fit your needs. This material is typically free and can save you a lot of time in planning. It’s important to keep in mind that unless you’re doing custom cabinetry, you’re fairly limited to the cabinets that are kept in stock.

In addition to brick and mortar stores, many companies have online tools that can be very helpful in laying out a new cabinet design. Often, they will then tell you exactly what cabinets you will need to finish off your new design. It’s almost like having a personal kitchen designer to help you from start to finish.

Use the measurements from old cabinets

If you like the general layout of your current kitchen, but want an updated look or wood, use the measurements from your existing cabinetry to give yourself a starting point for your design.

This can be especially helpful if you’ve lived with the existing cabinetry – you know what drives you nuts about the current layout and what improvements should be made for a better functioning kitchen. Use this knowledge to your advantage!

Another alternative is to simply refinish your existing cabinets with new hardware, stain, etc.

Often times home-owners are shocked that their existing materials can be refinished into beautiful, updated pieces to give their kitchen a whole new look. While this might not be for everyone, it’s definitely an option to consider.

Things to consider

If you decide to go with in-stock cabinets, keep in mind that some cabinets require an additional cabinet to sit next to it, or a separate trim piece needs to be purchased to make the cabinet have a finished look. Also, this might seem obvious, but most DIY-ers are surprised to find out that cabinets aren’t finished on the top. They are designed to have a counter top placed on top of them to finish them off. This is important to consider if you’re considering in-stock cabinetry for other uses besides traditional kitchen or bathroom use.

Also, have you ever noticed that in typical kitchens the cabinets above the fridge are actually deeper than the rest of the cabinetry? This is done on purpose. Many people learn the hard way that this isn’t just a style preference. The cabinets are designed to be deeper so that they are more easily accessible. Keep this in mind when designing your kitchen layout.

Additionally, you might want to consider adding electricity to your cabinets, especially if you’re adding in an island. This can save you a lot of headaches, and it allows you to use kitchen appliances on your island, adding to your overall available work space.

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Author biography: Alex Orton is a PR and content marking professional living in Washington DC. He has worked in both the software and non-profit space and enjoys writing, politics, and running around the nation’s capital. Alex enjoys writing articles for companies like Knotty Alder Cabinets.