The kitchen is often the center of family life. It’s the place where friends and family gather to share a meal and spend time together.
A well-designed kitchen can increase your home’s resale value and improve daily living. However, some homeowners over-remodel their kitchens. This may lead to a costly and inefficient layout. For professional help, call Kitchen Remodel Near Me.
A well-executed kitchen remodel is one of the best ways to increase your home’s value. But before you get started, it’s important to understand what options are available and how much they cost.
Kitchen remodeling costs range from a simple refresh to a full-scale makeover. There are also different levels of ROI to consider. A minor kitchen update will typically return 72 percent of its original cost, according to Remodeling’s “Cost vs. Value Report.”
The most expensive element of a kitchen remodel is cabinets, which typically make up 29 percent of the overall cost. This is due to their size, materials and the fact that most homeowners want the latest styles and finishes in their cabinets.
A major kitchen remodel is typically a complete overhaul of the entire space, from floor to ceiling. This can include removing and replacing walls, re-routing plumbing and electrical, re-designing the layout of your kitchen, and even moving walls. It’s often the most labor-intensive and costly type of kitchen remodel, but it’s also the best way to add significant value to your home.
Design
Kitchen remodels involve a lot of choices, but the right design can make all the difference. A well-planned layout takes into account workflow and storage needs, as well as aesthetics. The goal is to create a kitchen that fits your lifestyle and makes cooking an enjoyable experience.
Consider the overall style you want for your kitchen and decide if you’d prefer a modern, traditional or transitional look. Then, choose a color palette and materials that reflect your personality and fit your lifestyle. For example, if you love to cook and entertain, you might want to opt for an open floor plan with a kitchen island and plenty of seating.
A major kitchen remodel involves relocating plumbing, electrical and walls, as well as installing new cabinets, countertops, appliances and flooring. The results can transform the look and feel of your home. This type of project can have a higher ROI than a minor kitchen remodel, which typically includes repainting or refacing cabinets and upgrading appliances.
To help narrow down your options, visit kitchen showrooms and home renovation stores to see layouts, designs and products in person. You can also seek inspiration online through websites. Attend neighborhood home tours to see how other homeowners have designed and decorated their kitchens.
Layout
A kitchen’s layout has a huge impact on its function and how it integrates into the rest of your home. Whether you like to cook and entertain in the space at the same time or use it exclusively for one task, your choice of storage solutions, appliances, and even colors and finishes will be affected by the layout.
There are many different kitchen floor plans to choose from, but a tried-and-true model is the kitchen work triangle, a popular design that positions your refrigerator, sink, and stove within easy reach of each other. This classic layout is great for small spaces and works well in open-plan homes, too.
Other kitchen layout ideas include the galley kitchen, which has parallel runs of cabinetry on two opposing walls. This efficient, lean layout is ideal for small spaces and single-cook kitchens. It’s also easy to customize, with no troublesome corner cabinets to accommodate.
For larger spaces, consider an L-shaped layout or a U-shaped kitchen. With these options, you can adapt the kitchen to the dimensions of your room, ensuring that there’s enough space for an island or seating area. Maximize the storage potential of these layouts with a combination of closed and open storage, like this L-shaped kitchen from Desiree Burns Interiors.
Materials
The materials used in a kitchen remodel can have a huge impact on the aesthetic of your kitchen. From the durability of granite countertops to the elegance of solid wood cabinets, selecting the right materials is critical to creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing space.
Whether you’re looking to add some color to your kitchen or want to incorporate a more traditional element, there are endless options available. Some of the most popular trends include painted cabinetry in blues, reds, greens, or yellows; double islands (one for food prep, one for casual dining); smart appliances; and butcherblock countertops (a natural alternative to quartz).
While some material choices may require more maintenance than others, it’s important to consider the long-term benefits of each upgrade you make. A well-executed kitchen remodel can significantly boost your home’s value, and prospective homebuyers often prioritize homes with modernized kitchens.
It’s also worth remembering that even if you don’t plan to sell your home anytime soon, a modernized kitchen can still increase the enjoyment you get from your home and help reduce the time you spend on household chores. By incorporating updates that meet your needs and reflect your personal style, you’ll be able to create a kitchen that is truly your own. Ultimately, a kitchen remodel is an investment in the heart of your home that will pay dividends for years to come.
Appliances
As you start shopping for appliances to include in your kitchen remodel, consider features like energy efficiency, quality, size and capacity, warranty, and style. For example, if you plan on using your kitchen as a home office or entertaining space, it might be worth upgrading to hidden appliances, such as microwave ovens that blend seamlessly with cabinetry, for a sleeker aesthetic. Alternatively, consider state-of-the-art splurge-worthy appliances, such as ones that brew coffee or tea instantly or allow for steaming or boiling water at the push of a button.
Lighting is another essential element to consider when revamping your kitchen. LED models are much more energy-efficient than older models, helping you save money and make your kitchen a safer environment to work in. You may also want to invest in task lighting, which provides illumination for specific tasks, and mood lighting, which creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Ultimately, the most important part of any kitchen is how it functions for you and your family. If what worked for the previous homeowner – or passed by builder standards – doesn’t suit your lifestyle, remodeling is an opportunity to design your dream kitchen. Plus, a thoughtfully remodeled kitchen can add significant value to your property as homebuyers prioritize properties with modernized kitchens. Invest in a custom kitchen remodel, and you’ll enjoy a kitchen that suits your lifestyle for years to come.
Finishing Touches
Once you’ve decided on a layout and chosen the materials, cabinets, and appliances for your kitchen remodel it’s time to consider the small details that make your new space unique. Kitchen finishing touches include things like backsplashes, decorative accents, and custom hardware. Adding these elements can add an extra level of personality to your kitchen design and tie your whole room together.
Backsplashes are a great way to add texture and color to your kitchen. Choose a tile style that complements your countertops and cabinets to create a cohesive look. You can even opt for a statement backsplash for an extra pop of color that really stands out.
Another kitchen finishing touch is window casings. These aren’t usually the focus of a kitchen but can make all the difference. You can also opt for crown molding to create a more upscale look and draw the eye upward, which can make your kitchen feel bigger.
Cabinet handles and hardware are a chance to really show off your design style. There are so many different shapes, colors, and styles to choose from that there’s sure to be a combination that fits your aesthetic.
Kitchen finishing touches can be a fun part of the design process and can help to create a kitchen that will feel like home for years to come. But be careful not to overdo it with these finishing touches – it’s best to plan them in as early as possible so that your kitchen redesign will work seamlessly and effectively.
