HelpHive Kitchen Remodeling Series

Part I:  Kitchen Remodeling: Where to Start
Part II: Kitchen Remodeling: New Countertops
Part III: Kitchen Remodeling: Lighting & Electrical

Perhaps you have been with the same kitchen for fifteen years. Maybe you bought a new house and it was a good deal because the kitchen desperately needs updating. How do you get started?

The first thing to consider is budget. Standard kitchen remodels begin around $25,000 to $40,000. It is very easy to spend far more and it takes a lot of manuevering to save much. We will touch on ideas for those who want to spend a lot less than $25,000 in another article. Here we will assume that you have at least this much in the budget. So let’s get started!

Integrating into your lifestyle

Think about the way you use your kitchen and how it integrates into your lifestyle and the adjoining rooms. Are there some things that have worked well about your current design? What have been some problems? Are there changes to your lifstyle that a remodel could facilitate? Identify the things that you want to accomplish. You may need a larger food prep area or a place for a second person to prepare drinks or appetizers while the main cook has control of the kitchen. Perhaps you need an area that can be used as a serving buffet. You may want an eating bar, a pantry with roll out shelves, an appliance garage, an island with sink, roll out dishwasher shelves, or a convection oven/combo microwave. Maybe you just want new cabinets, countertops, and flooring for an updated look with only small design changes.

Do you have enough space?

Next, consider whether the things you think you may want can fit in the space you have, or if knocking out a wall is an option. You will want to be working with the recommended remodeling contractor who will do the work before you go too far. Those who install, may see things that those who do not don’t. Most contractors have also benefited by the suggestions of their cabinet supplier or a designer as well. Good design is a process of imagining possibilities and trying to bring the pieces together within the existing or newly created space. It is often a process of compromise that allows the most desired elements to have precedence over less important ideas. Your own priorities shape the kitchen that is best for you. There are also general elements of good design that will be used: balancing storage needs with openness, balancing cabinet sizes on either side of sinks and appliances where possible, use of door styles that fit the homes architecture, use of glass doors or differing depths and heights on uppers as budget allows, and much more. As cabinets are harder to replace than appliances you want to make sure you design for what you really want.

Sweat the little things

As you work with your contractor and/or designer, you will consider things like, what is the narrowest door opening that allows my big pots to fit? Will you have more functional storage with a pantry or will you lose to much counter space? Where do you want a bank of drawers? Do you want top drawers on all your lower cabinets or full height design? Do you want to raise counter height above standard 36 inches? Should you make the kitchen window bigger and design around that? How is the work triangle functioning? Does the location of the sink, range, or refrigerator need to be changed? Do you want space above your upper cabinets or do you like the look of cabinets up to the ceiling? Would you like crown moulding at top?

Selecting cabinet materials

As you define the basic design you will choose a cabinet material: hickory, cherry, oak, alder, or maybe a paint look veneer. You will decide on door design. Make sure you consider the drawer design along with the door design generally shown in a catalog. You will decide on the box construction behind the faceframe. Many great cabinets use a veneer over a furniture chip board and customers are quite satisfied. Others will want plywood construction (APC) but wonder why it costs $800 more. Any cabinets using glass doors use either the hardwood of the doors and faceframe or a hardwood plywood of the same or matching species as it may be seen when doors are closed.

Few people get to the end of a kitchen remodel and wish they had spent less on cabinets. As expensive as everything is, this is still where you want to spend your money.

Next:  Part II: Kitchen Remodeling: New Countertops