Kitchen Archives - Financial Affairs
Kitchen

A Kitchen renovation can take approximately eight weeks to complete, but of course that is if everything goes as planned. If you know anything about Murphy’s Law then you know that something may not go as it was planned.

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Each kitchen that needs rejuvenated varies with the extent of the project, the age, and condition of the house. The older the house, the most likeliness that there will be a few problems that go along with the remodeling. This reasoning can go with any kitchen remodeling design.

The items that follow will give you a short breakdown of what to expect from your kitchen renovation idea.

Before starting, you might need a building permit. Check with your local government.

1) The Demolition – This is where some project experienced homeowners will save money by doing the tear down themselves but it is not a very fun job. It can also bring a scare to the homeowner because it is always possible to find a “small leak” beneath a sink that reveals rotten floor boards or something worse as the sink base comes out. It’s also possible to find out that the wiring is not up to code. The good news is that it is better to fix it now than later. Be sure to have a large trash bin to dump your waste.

2) The Preparation – The very good do it yourselfer can save quite a bit of money by painting or putting up drywall. If wiring or pipes need attention, you might have to hire a certified electrician or plumber depending on you building permit codes in your area.

3) The Installation – Always check your products for any damage that might have occurred during transportation from the store/warehouse to your home. Your installers should use padded equipment when moving appliances or other items around and use wooden clamps for your cabinets. If you decide to install yourself, you should read up on some home improvement manuals before making any major decisions on installation. For flooring, if you are using sheet vinyl, it goes in easier before your cabinets arrive but tile and wood floors are usually installed afterward to save on labor costs.

4) The Completion – This involves installing the counter tops, sinks, faucets and lights. Then comes the minor but certainly not forgotten kitchen details such as light covers, decorative hardware (knobs, handles), switch plates and trim. This can all become a little tiresome but if you keep your focus, you will finally complete the final touches. When all is done, it is time to decorate it to your liking and call the kitchen your own.

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Kitchen

Graceful and chic are the words that you will hear when you ask any home renovators what kind of look they want for the kitchen. Surfaces, including countertops, influence to a large degree the look of a kitchen.

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That is why chic graceful looking countertops are in demand. There are actually many home renovators who are designing and making their own countertops. One way to add a modern highlight to a traditional countertop is to create beveled wood edges for your countertop. Beveled edges on wood are relatively simple to make and there are other benefits as well.

The beveled wood edge countertop is most easily added during the replacement of an existing laminated countertop area. You can also opt to modify your current countertop by adding a beveled wood edge; but most homeowners find once they begin planning a kitchen makeover, a brand new countertop is a must have. Given the right tools and materials just about any one can renovate a laminate countertop with an elegant beveled wood edge. It is a project that can even be finished in only a few hours.

When shopping for supplies for this project, make sure your new edge wood matches the wood in other features of the room, such as cabinets, if they are unpainted. If most of the kitchen is or will be painted, bring a paint chip and make sure the color of the wood is one that will be harmonious with the room as a whole.

For making the bevel in your wood edge strips, the best tool is a compound sliding miter saw. This is an electric saw which pivots from side to side to create the miter cut, as well as pivoting left to right to create the bevel. If you don’t own one, you can rent one, or alternately, have the store where you bought the wood size and bevel it for you. Be sure to do a few practice cuts on some scrap wood if you have not previously used one of these saws.

A nice extra to having updated kitchen décor details like this is that it is your beveled wood edge countertop probably will raise the value of your home. It might not dramatically go up in price, but it is the small details that homebuyers appreciate, and real estate agents like to point out such countertop designs when showing a home to prospective buyers. It is all the little details added up that make the sell.

Once you’ve learned to successfully add a beveled edge to your kitchen countertops, you can also look to the bathroom and other rooms featuring built-in surfaces to further update your home.

Kitchen Countertop Materials: Comparison Shopping for your Renovation Project

I was helping my daughter having her kitchen remodelled recently. She was having problems trying to decide on a new countertop material. Walking through the counters area in Home Depot gave her a few ideas, but she was still undecided when the time came to choose a month later. I decided to write out a quick comparison of all the materials and costs for her and when I was done I thought other people might find it useful as well, so here goes.

Most people are familiar with laminate countertops. (Formica is one brand name.) They’re a thin surface of high-pressure laminate applied to a thicker base of plywood or particleboard. Pluses: The standby, available in literally hundreds of patterns and colors, laminates are the least expensive (next to tile) and durable, requiring less upkeep than tile. Minuses: Easy to scorch with hot cookware, the use of layers in their construction makes it tricky to repair chips, show scratches, especially lighter colors, so not usable as a cutting surface. Less durable than natural stone or solid surface; use with under mount sinks is not recommended. Cost: $25 to $50 foot

Solid surfacing, (brand names Corian, Fountainhead, Avonite and Surrell) a newer countertop material, is durable and mimics the appearance of natural stone materials like marble or granite. Pluses: Gives seamless surfaces, easy to care for. High impact resistance, easily repaired, nonporous and seamless, so won’t trap dirt, collect bacteria or stain; easily. Minuses: May melt from hot pot; looks non-natural in some color schemes, licensed contractor required for installation and repair work. Cost: $60 to $110 per foot.

Natural woods. Used in butcher-block style arrangement. Maple, oak and other hardwoods, make durable and elegant countertops. Pluses: Good surface for cutting foods; scratches easily repaired by sanding; easy match with wood cabinets and floors. Minuses: Requires a finish to preserve appearance, may scorch with hot cookware, allows bacterial growth, so needs regular cleaning. Not practical for entire countertop – good for small sections. Cost: $50 to $75 per foot

Granite. Popular for their elegant and rich look, natural stone countertops will last longer than most kitchens. Pluses: Adds to value of home, hard durable surface, very heat resistant. Minuses: very expensive, requires care since it is porous and must be sealed periodically, grease will stain. Cost: 60 to $200 per foot for granite $60 to $130 per foot for marble (stains easily and not recommended for food prep countertop)

Ceramic or Porcelain Tile: This is the countertop material my daughter was replacing. While the counters were in pretty bad shape, refurbishing was an option. Tile has a comforting, classic look and is inexpensive.. Pluses: Easy to clean up after a mess. More heat resistant than laminates solid surfaces, inexpensive, unless you are thinking about custom or hand-painted tiles. Minuses: Can chip and crack easily; needs regular maintenance to keep bacteria out of grout. Scrubbing grout. Cost: $10 to $25 per foot.

So, what countertop material did she choose in the end? For it’s reasonable cost and reparability, Corian got the nod for the new kitchen. We found a color that was very close to a granite look and we also liked the ten year warranty.

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Kitchen

If you like to cook, or even if you just do it from necessity, having a homely, organized, and modern kitchen is probably important to you. Although, the traditionally kitchens are still out there, there are so many new, modern elements that can add luxury and class and convenience to any home. Kitchens have changed with the way humans have changed in the last few years. We have become more demanding of our time and having less of it to spend cooking.

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Many of us are on the move, always busy, looking for time saving methods. Then, there are those of us who are more interested in having a stylish kitchen, rather then workable. Others, prefer the look and feel of a country kitchen. With so many options out there and so much to consider, it is easy to become frustrated.

Consider your options and your needs when remodeling or even building a kitchen. Your options for kitchen equipment will be the first priority. What do you need and want in your kitchen? Do you want state of the art appliances or will ordinary models do? Do you want two ovens as opposed to the standard one? Dishwasher? What type of refrigerator will you want? Side by side, drawers under the counter? Maybe a larger freezer section?

Also to consider is the amount of work surface you will need. Maybe a center island would provide extra room for preparations? Would you like a breakfast nook? Do you want all of your dining area to be in the kitchen or do you have a dining room? How many people will you plan to serve on a regular day? If you have children, you will want to ensure their safety in regards to appliances and counters.

Yet another thing to consider is space. How much space you have will depict what you have room for. Cabinets and pantry style storage is important as well. Perhaps you like modern style kitchens. An option for space here is to use more of a mobile kitchen. From the entire work surfaces and cooking surfaces to just appliances, many things within the kitchen can be mobile. Manufactures make products that can literally pick up and go at a moments notice.

Once you have your kitchen needs and appliances set, consider the style you are going to decorate it in. Maybe a country kitchen is the look you like. If so, adding some rustic items to your collection would add charm and a relaxed feel. A big farmers table and chairs would be an added touch. Is the space you are working in outdoors? Outdoor kitchens are also a big hit these days. Just about any type of appliance and cookware can be made to work outdoors. Grilling is the most thought of outdoor cooking style, but it is far from the only.

There are many stores that specialize in kitchens as well. Kitchens Etc and KITCHENS are two. These places offer an immense amount of options for whatever style you are looking for. Some carry large appliances as well. Small utensils, cookware, even decorations can be found in just about every make and model. You can shop these store online if you cannot find one near you. They make a great way of adding to or helping to remodel any kitchen. Definitely a place to start when looking for ideas of what you want your new kitchen to look like.

The kitchen: one of the places you love the most in the whole house

Your kitchen has got to be one of the places you love the most in the whole house, ain’t it? Well, it is for me; that’s why I think that remodeling a kitchen is not something to be too carefree with.

All that fuss about the porch and the hallway, all that noise about the bedroom and the Jacuzzi, and you are actually forgetting the most important part of it all – your kitchen. Friend, you may think it is not a big deal, but wait until you get into it, and then you’d wish you had started out a bit better prepared. It’s quite a load of work and you’d better be ready for it.

With the amount of money required to really remodel a kitchen, it’s no wonder a lot of wives hesitate before they get into it. Not only do they know that they would be spreading themselves thin financially to make it happen, they also know that the husband isn’t going to like the extra burden on their financial resources. But what’s gotta be done is gotta be done anyway.

‘Nobody ever expects the Spanish inquisition”; I’m pretty sure you’ve heard that lovely line before. Well, it’s a warning that things sometimes ain’t always what you thought they’d be, and sometimes things jump out of the dark and bite you in the behind when you are not prepared for them. Think that way about remodeling your kitchen, and perhaps you’d avoid the unpleasant surprises.

There are a lot of things that can go wrong when you are remodeling your kitchen, many of which you don’t want to be considering at this time. I know of a woman who not only lays down her plans for the procedure, but also lays down a list of the pleasurable things she gets from the process. Sure, I said ‘gets’ because she remodels every four years! Wonder where the money comes from.

For a fact, you cannot be remodeling your kitchen every year; there’s no way you can afford it, even if you make a six figure salary. Unless you are thinking only of repainting the room and changing the gas cooker, there’s no way your bank account can survive that nasty onslaught. Better it is for you to if you plan your remodelings to at least five years in-between.

For a woman serious about her kitchen, a week wouldn’t do to remodel the room – actually, even a whole month – for the whole process. You are probably thinking that to be extravagant in the time department, but that is perhaps because you have a lot of money to spend, or you have hands all around you who do not mind being held up for the money.

Perhaps not all the time, but remodeling your kitchen has been known occasionally to take as much as four months. Really, you will do well to begin to think like that, because it helps to be prepared, and to have everything laid out long before you actually begin. You could save yourself a lot of trouble if you are able to put things in position such that it doesn’t hurt you.

A remodeling job on your kitchen is going to keep you very busy for a while, and I assure you, it’s not a job for the faint of heart. But if I know my ladies, I don’t think any woman will be minding that a lot. The lady will worry more that the funds are available for the process, and she might be on your neck more about that than anything else. But give that to her, and she’ll leave you to yourself for a while, while she brings that kitchen back to life.

Kitchen remodeling is an exercise that I find to be most rewarding

Parts of the kitchen made of maple, cherry, hickory, or pine can always be changed to others of the same material or different. When you remodel a kitchen, it is because you want to let go of the old, and bring in the new. And when something is not what it used to be anymore, it is time to let it go.

Kitchen remodeling is an art, and not just an event. You have got to put your heart into it, otherwise you might not be getting out of it what you wanted in the first place. Look you’re your heart. What do you truly want for the cooking space? A way to bring that vision into reality. That’s how to remodel a kitchen.

People tend to forget that the kitchen is as important a part of the home as any other room in the whole building. And so they allow it to fall to waste and rust. Sometimes you walk into their kitchens and you cannot wait to walk out. That is no way to treat a kitchen – that is no way to treat a home. What you need is to remodel that kitchen; and that in a hurry too.

Kitchen remodeling for you may just be repairs, but for others it could be the lengthy and involving process of redesigning the whole place and converting it into something new. The question really is: what catches your fancy? And, do you have what it takes? Well, do you?

Kitchen remodeling can cost you anything from a few hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars. Really, you ought not be letting anyone dictate to you how you want it done; you should redo your own space in the way that you like it, and spend just as much as you want to, not a cent more.

For some, they remodel their kitchen in little ways almost every couple of months. So if you walked into the place just weeks apart, you’d never notice that anything was different. However, if you had not been there for a whole year, you hardly recognize it. I kind of like the idea too, and I think it is something we can work with; don’t you

When you moved into the house, you did not have much of a choice – you only had so much money, and there was too little time for you to think of much else besides a sleeping space. That is why you want to start with remodeling the space already, and you want to begin by doing your kitchen. That is always a good beginning, at least for the ladies.

The money counts; boy, does the money count! But more important to you in your bid to remodel your kitchen is your heart. You have heard that where there is a will, there is a way, and that is true. Even more so when money is a challenge. I say there are ways that you can carry out the whole process inexpensively, and still be happy with the outcome. All it takes is a bit of heart, a bit of hurt, and a bit of ingenuity.

Moving back into your kitchen

Moving back into your kitchen after the remodeling the space can be quite an emotional experience. There are a number of professionals you ought to see when remodeling your kitchen is at hand. The first is the contractor, the second is the interior decorator, and the third is the architect, all stated in no particular order. These pros are the people who are going to help you bring your dream to reality – you might want to let them see clearly what you have in mind.

There might be a few things you want to move out, and others that you want to move in. you want to have a list of all of these, and follow through to make sure that they are all put in place before, during, or after you start up the remodeling of your kitchen. It would be a shame to begin and get stuck in between all for a little fitting that you could not find.

You want to remember everything that you do in your kitchen, and whatever else you still want to be doing in there when you start planning to remodel the place. Also, you might want to keep in mind the things that you no longer want to be doing in there. These little guidelines are what will determine if you botch or make a success of the remodeling exercise.

With all the effort that is involved in remodeling a kitchen, you cannot afford to make a single mistake so that you do not have to come back and do it all over again. That’s why you need to start up with a clear picture of what you want your end product to look like. That alone will not carry the project to completion, but it should at least guide your steps till you come close.

People do not like to spend money on something that they cannot derive pleasure from; and I’m sure, neither will you. So, I know that if remodeling your kitchen does not really do anything for you, you would not be considering doing it at all. So, what I have to say is, – make the best of it while at it.

It’s not every day that you find a kitchen with entertaining stuff in it. Most folks, men especially just view the kitchen as a place that they walk into to get their food, and walk back into to put the plates away. Had they but known all the effort and time that needed to go into that preparation, they would understand how that you need something – anything – to help with the recreation while the cooking goes on: you need just a little bit of remodeling.

Careful planning and execution is what makes kitchen remodeling work. Most of us are often too busy to plan very well these days, which is why so many things go wrong with all of our businesses all the time. Well, planning is one aspect that you cannot afford to be careless about, otherwise, you’re going to be having a truckload of mess to be cleaning up for months!

Coming into your new home, you probably want to do the living space first; that’s perfectly natural. Next you’d perhaps want to do the sleeping space; otherwise you want to do them both simultaneously. Whatever, it’s not going to be very long before you need to get to doing the kitchen. Now that’s where the fun lies. If you have been able to do all the rest without help, don’t expect to get that lucky with this one. It’s going to take a lot more planning and a lot more work. But if you work it out well, you could love it all the way to the end.

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Kitchen

Being realistic with your budget is the first rule of renovation. In renovation, budget is key. It will hopefully keep you from making lots of wrong decision and choices before you are well into your renovation. Do research before setting a budget so you will have an idea what contractors, appliances and materials you will need for your kitchen renovation.

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Once you have all your information for every aspect of the design, then you will be able to work out a workable budget. It is wise too to have a little bit of a cushion for the unexpected. Even the best-planned budgets can get thrown off track if something unexpected pops in during the installation or final renovation stages of your kitchen.

It is always good to source at least three quotes from contractors to make sure you’re not paying too much. Never automatically go for the lowest bid because it certainly worth your money to spend a little extra to get quality work.

In reference to your appliances for your kitchen, it’s best to shop around and not buy the first thing you see. Price ranges vary from store to store so take your time. It is definitely worth the time to wait on a sale. Also you can use as a bargaining tool too by buying all the kitchen appliances from one store. Anyway you can safe money is the name of the game in kitchen renovations.

Keeping your kitchen renovation on a budget is to be disciplined. When the urge comes “I just have to have that” syndrome, you will have to exercise discipline. Buying things that you had not planned on will send your budget through the roof.

When it comes to kitchen remodeling, there are several things you need to think about even before acquiring the services of a professional contractor, or making appliance selections. More than any other room of the house, the kitchen is the most versatile. It is used to prepare meals, feed the family, store foods, and clean and store service ware and other household items.

The kitchen is also the family gathering place. Everyone undoubtedly migrates to the kitchen because it is the main focus of the home. Therefore, it is important that every kitchen remodeling idea be taken into consideration. Search through home decorating magazines and catch some great ideas on TV.

Whether you decide to design the kitchen yourself, work with a kitchen remodeling contractor or home center, formulating a plan will be the first step. In other words, write the vision and make it clear.

The first kitchen remodeling tip is to consider the three basic kitchen functions: storage, food preparation, and clean-up. A well thought out kitchen design will accommodate each of these three functions. The layout of the kitchen design should be defined with convenient layout and ease of movement.

The classic “work triangle” should be the basis of the floor plan. The kitchen sink, refrigerator and stove, as the three kitchen features used most often, should be arranged in a triangular pattern. This work triangle saves unnecessary steps when cooking and has proven to be the most convenient layout.

The work triangle concept saves unnecessary steps when preparing foods, and proves the most convenient layout design.

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Kitchen

Deciding to remodel your kitchen is one of the best investments you can make. The kitchen is where people spend most of their waking hours while at home. It is where they cook, eat, and gather with the family. It is also where they talk and share ideas about the latest trends and fashions.

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Consequently, it is not surprising that the kitchen would be on the top of the list of home improvement projects. Having an up to date, modern kitchen, allows people not only to function better with new cabinets and appliances, but also enables them to feel that they are indeed living in modern society.

Kitchen remodeling however can be a very messy and disruptive home improvement project. And the length of the disruption can take as long as a month or more, even when well planned out.

To mitigate the disruption of a kitchen renovation project, planning is absolutely essential. The first item to consider is whether you will do it yourself, or hire a general contractor. Regardless of what route, a homeowner needs to first sketch out some kitchen remodeling ideas to ensure the kitchen design and costs will meet their targeted functional requirements and budget. If a general contractor is to be hired these initial sketches will be helpful in communicating your kitchen remodeling plans and ideas.

During the planning phase, the homeowner should identify the main objectives of the future kitchen. They should research the latest products on the market including: cabinets, countertops, appliances, and flooring. If the kitchen is more than 5 years old, there are a lot of new products to choose from. For example, Silestone is quickly surpassing Granite and Corian, as the premier countertop surface as it is extremely hard, elegant in appearance, and comes in many colors.

For cabinets, the trend appears to be towards lighter colors as they help the appearance of lightening and enlarging a room. In regards to appliances, the Stainless Steel look appears to be in. And for flooring, vinyl or wood is the trend. Tile looks nice, however, it can be unforgiving in a room where things tend to get dropped. In addition, if there is no radiant heating planned for the floor, tile has the tendency to feel cold on the feet.

It is also important to consider any structural changes to the existing kitchen area. Is a new kitchen island desired, or will walls or doorways need to be moved or installed?

When developing your kitchen remodeling plan, it is important to note that professional kitchen designers like to think of a triangle when starting a new kitchen design. The three points of the triangle include the Sink, Refrigerator, and Stove.

Make sure your sketches consider this, as it will ensure a good functional kitchen. Also, consider adequate walking areas and space for an eating area, such as a table or center island, with applicable space included for chairs. I would suggest that the walking areas be wide enough for two people to walk through at the same time.

The sketches should also include dimensions, as these will be needed when meeting with the general contractor or kitchen designer. Finally, consider where the existing outlets and power for the stove are, and assess if additional outlets will be needed or old outlets relocated.

For more help on remodeling your kitchen, see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s Kitchen Remodeling Bid Sheet. The Kitchen Remodeling Bid Sheet will help ensure that your kitchen remodeling project goes smoothly and you get the finished kitchen you are looking for. In addition, it will help to ensure that your remodeled kitchen will be accomplished on time and on budget.

Home Remodeling: A Few Favorite Kitchen Renovation Ideas

Kitchen renovation ideas range all the way from simply replacing hardware on cabinets to a total remodel of this entire cooking and dining area. Here are some thoughts on a few things people dream about making happen in this room, the favorite gathering spot of many.

Installing a multi-purpose island may be at the top of your list of kitchen renovation ideas. Imagine, finally, enough room to slice, dice, cook, and wash utensils – all in the same area! With a custom island kitchen, you’d have all that along with room on the regular counter space to perform other kitchen duties. Kitchen islands have become so popular that people in the building industry estimate more than half of all new homes now have them. If you don’t, why not consider building one now?

Kitchen renovation ideas that include wood-burning fireplaces also make it to the “Boy-I’d-like-one-of-those-someday” list. Although this means major remodeling that includes tearing out a portion of a wall, constructing a chimney or other venting system, and then working with stone or brick, what a cozy, comforting addition to have in one’s kitchen! Just make sure there’s room in your kitchen renovation ideas to include the rocking chairs that would go with it oh-so-well.

Assuming you’re low on bucks but still want to apply some kitchen renovation ideas that have been rumbling around for awhile, why not consider resurfacing your kitchen cabinets? Doing this costs far less than a complete replacement and can take years off the looks of your current cabinets. You can hire a professional to do this, or you can do it yourself in one weekend if you purchase them already stained and finished.

However big or small your budget, energy level, or your imagination, kitchen renovation ideas can keep you alive with interest for years to come. There always seems to be something that could be done to enliven, invigorate, and refresh this room where so many love to hang out. So why not spend some quality time on thinking up your own kitchen renovation ideas? Like they say, there’s no time like the present.

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