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Your neighbor's may have a gourmet kitchen, complete with double oven, convection oven and a myriad of accessories, because they are gourmet cooks. Planning your kitchen based on their cooking habits can be a costly mistake for you.
If you cook meals but are not a connoisseur of fine wines and foods, you may not need that 24-bottle wine cooler or the separate baking center. Spend some time assessing how you cook and the tools you need to make the kitchen tasks easier for you. - As you plan your kitchen, keep in mind you need task lighting throughout the room. Badly placed lighting, included as an afterthought, can result in your working in shadows. It can also result in a dull, grim kitchen look.
- Cabinetry, countertops and flooring are expensive items. They require a considerable amount of your budget. These features also endure a lot of wear and tear. If you expect to save money by cutting back on quality materials, you'll be paying for them again in a short time. Cheap countertops chip. Cheap cabinets sag. Cheap flooring shows stains and scuffing from traffic patterns. If your budget can't afford quality cabinets, countertops and flooring then consider holding off your remodel until you are able to afford such things or making cuts in areas other than the kitchen when building your new home.
- An important pattern to consider is the work triangle. Your sink, stove and refrigerator should form a triangle in your layout so that you can move easily between the three appliances. There should be no obstructions and the distances between them should add up to, on average, 12 feet.
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If you want your gas line moved, that will cost extra. If the plumbing and electrical isn't up to code, that will cost extra. If the sub floor is uneven and needs to be grinded before the floor can be installed, that will be extra.
You may shop around for the best deals on all the elements for your kitchen, but you can't know what's behind the walls until deconstruction begins. Budget for the unexpected. Add as much as 20 to 30 percent more than you believe the kitchen installation will cost. -
A sleek, modern kitchen with open cabinetry and stainless steel appliances looks great on the pages of a magazine. You need to consider though, if that cool Scandinavian style is compatible with the rest of your interior design scheme.
Take a cue from the rest of your home before deciding on a style direction. Choose a style that will flow with the rest of the house. Consult with an interior designer who specializes in kitchens if you aren't sure how to match your new kitchen to your existing design scheme.
