The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where we gather for meals, where we spend our free time, and if we’re lucky, where we entertain. The kitchen is also one of the spaces in our homes that gets the most foot traffic, so remodeling the kitchen is a big decision. If you’re considering a kitchen remodel, consider these remodel pros and cons before you go any further.
It’s also important to note that kitchen remodeling can be an expensive undertaking, but there’s no reason to throw away your hard-earned money. Before you sign on the dotted line, ensure you know what you’re doing and that you’ll be happy with the results.
While remodeling your kitchen is an exciting yet stressful process, you can always rely on professionals like kitchen remodeling Massachusetts to help you. Since your kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home, you want it to be as functional and comfortable as possible. There are so many things to consider when planning a remodel, both big and small, so we thought we’d help a few of you out. Before starting a kitchen remodel, we’ve compiled a list of things to consider.
Why are You Remodelling Your Kitchen?
Starting on a remodel without a plan is like driving cross country without a map. It can work out, but only if you’re lucky. You should ask yourself why you want to start a kitchen remodel. Do you want a more functional space with more storage? Do you have a design in mind? Do you have a budget? Whatever your reasons, make sure you write them down and are ready to answer these questions when the time comes.
The first step is the most important one when remodeling a kitchen. And that is to make sure you can answer all the questions above. It may be time to call kitchen remodeling Massachusetts if you can’t. Your answers to these questions will determine the scope of your remodel, the trades needed, and even how much you’ll need to budget for a kitchen remodel.
It is important to remember that the projects you choose to complete inside your home do not all come with the same cost. Suppose your end goal is to sell your home. In that case, a full kitchen can go a long way for potential buyers, followed closely by simpler kitchen upgrades, HVAC replacements, new wood flooring, updated master suites, and bathroom renovations.
Do You Have a Kitchen Floor Plan or Shape?
Choosing a kitchen layout means determining how many workstations you need, where they should be positioned and whether or not you will include a sink. A kitchen layout also affects how much square footage a kitchen will take up and how much you might be able to save by opting for a smaller kitchen.
There are four basic kitchen layouts to choose from:
Single-wall – a single U-shaped counter that runs around the entire perimeter of the room
Two-wall – a pair of counter spaces that are placed along with two of the kitchen’s interior walls
Three-wall – a kitchen layout that includes three separate workstations
Open floor plan – in this kitchen layout, the kitchen is only separated from other living spaces by a partial wall with a doorway.
Think about it- if you want to move your sink across the room, that will require moving pipes and plumbing labor — and adding more convenient or additional outlets for your new space will add electrician time and materials.
Choose Wisely and Think Ahead
As any remodeler can tell you, it’s a lot easier to make choices when you’re remodeling than when you’re building from scratch. That’s because you can think of a kitchen remodel as a sum of your options during the process rather than the whole shebang.
As you tackle your kitchen remodel, you’re going to have to make a lot of choices. By the end of your remodel, don’t be surprised if you feel overwhelmed by your preferences. Many of these choices have little impact on the look and feel of your kitchen, but you may be surprised at some of the decisions you’ll have to make.
When you choose a style, materials, countertop, flooring and sink, you have a great opportunity to make wider and better choices than you can every day. Make sure you review and plan your options carefully by doing a lot of research, gathering ideas and doing some mock-ups to get a sense of scale and practicality of your choices.
Consider Your Storage Options
In the kitchen, a lot of storage is a good thing. It allows for organization, encouraging the chef to put away stuff and keep the kitchen clean. A well-stocked kitchen should have lots of storage space.
When thinking about your storage requirements, make sure you consider the following items:
1. Countertop and Island Storage: Place items you often use in the most accessible spot. Consider adding pull-out baskets, a lazy Susan or adjustable shelving for easy access to frequently used items.
2. Cabinet Storage: A new kitchen will likely come with new cabinets. Consider adding pull-out baskets, lazy Susans, adjustable shelving and other materials to give yourself more options for accessorizing your cabinets.
If you have lower cabinets, one of the best ways to utilize them easily is to install pull-out pan racks or baskets. These allow you to store your kitchenware items in an accessible way and out of the way. It is also possible to retrofit these into existing cabinets. Remove the shelves, and you can install the pull-out racks in their place. These work well for pots, pans and lids.
Plan for Appliances
Appliances are the heart of any home, and planning for them can make the entire remodeling process go smoothly. If you’re planning for kitchen remodeling, make sure you take into account the appliances you’ll need. Remember how much space you’ll need to keep your appliances, the number of appliances you’ll need, the style of appliances you want and the brand you prefer.
You should maintain a budget and stick to it to avoid going over the top. A professional kitchen designer can help you stick to your budget and stay within your spending limits. Also, be sure to plan for the various appliances that you will need for your new kitchen.
Conclusion
You should only remodel your kitchen if you have enough free time and patience to follow the design plan precisely. If you tend to abandon projects before completion, then kitchen remodeling Massachusetts can help you out. The hectic, stressful, time-consuming nature of remodeling that kitchen could lead you to lose interest or, even worse, become sick.