6 Considerations To Efficently Plan a Kitchen Renovation
Remodeling your kitchen not only improves its appearance but also plays a major role in improving the aesthetic appeal of your home. However, it is not as simple as one would think because it involves creativity and proper planning.The following smart tips are meant to guide you on how to renovate your kitchen without breaking the bank:
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1. Visualize How You Would Like the Kitchen to Look Like
The most important thing you need to do is take the time to visualize how you would like your kitchen to appear in regards to appliances, cabinetry, and finishes. Get kitchen designs and ideas from any useful resource that you can lay your hands on, including kitchen magazines and books.You can also check out a few kitchen showrooms or relevant websites to view the styles of cupboards and layouts that can work well with your kitchen. After deciding on the new layout, draw up your plan and then consult your local home improvement contractor for fittings and appliances.If you are considering hiring a kitchen renovator or interior designer, schedule an initial consultation and inspection. This is to enable the contractor to assess and measure the available space and suggest the best design options with respect to flooring, layout, cabinetry, appliances, fittings and finishes before creating a detailed, itemized plan.
2. Set a Budget
The next important step is to create a comprehensive budget and stick to it. Figure out the amount of money you are willing to spend and then determine the most important appliances, fixtures, and materials you may need for the project.While creating your budget, you may underestimate or overlook some renovation costs. So, be sure to add a contingency of about 15 to 20 percent to the overall budget.
3. Go for Quality Materials And Appliances
Spend a few hundred dollars to add new cabinet door handles, buy more energy-efficient lighting fixtures and replace the kitchen faucet. If possible, you can get rid of your old cabinets and countertops and replace them with new ones.You should also consider getting modern appliances for your new kitchen. You will need a dishwasher, a refrigerator (here you can find different types), a cooktop, a blender, a microwave, a toaster and any other necessary appliance. Depending on your budget, you can go for new or slightly used appliances from your local home improvement stores. Just make sure that the appliances match your new kitchen decor or theme.
4. Organize Demolition
Once you have ordered for the cabinets and appliances and decided on the renovation date, you can go ahead and demolish your old kitchen. Before the demolition, ensure that there is a temporary food preparation area, food storage area and a dishwashing station in your home so that you can still continue making basic meals for the next few weeks or months. After that, disconnect the electric and plumbing systems in the kitchen, get out the demolition tools and pull everything down.
5. Paint the Kitchen
After completing the demolition, you'll need to paint all the walls, window/door frames, and ceiling with your favorite paint. For the best result, patch and clean the surfaces before you begin painting. If you are using two or more paints, you have to make sure that the previous coat is dry before applying another coat on top of it.
6. Repair the Floor
Due to the fact that the kitchen receives heavy traffic and is subject to numerous spillages as compare to other rooms in the house, it should have a hardwearing and properly sealed floor. Linoleum, stone, treated hardwood, bamboo, tile, cork and rendered concrete are some of the most suitable flooring options that you can choose for your new kitchen.After doing all the above, it is time to reconnect the electric and plumbing systems, install new cabinets and furnish your kitchen with modern appliances. Keep it in mind that the style of your new kitchen should be compatible with the rest of your house.