6 Things You Need To Ask Yourself Before Remodeling Your Kitchen
Re-modeling any area of your house can get
expensive. The kitchen however requires expensive appliances, quality
cabinetry, flooring, lighting, countertops, etc. It all adds up quicker than
you would think, and for that reason you want to make sure the re-model is
everything you wanted it to be and more. Before you start any demolition, there
are a few questions you need to ask yourself about the direction of the
demolition, here are the top 6.
1. What’s the reasoning behind the
re-model?
Some people re-model their kitchens to get
the highest re-sale value out of the home as possible. The kitchen is going to
be very important to buyers because most don’t want to buy the home and then
feed more money into fixing it up. If you’re only re-modeling the kitchen to
attract buyers, you need to select a style that matches the rest of the home as
well as the general target market of the area. The more people who like your
new kitchen, the more people you have a chance to sell to
If on the other hand you’re re-modeling
your kitchen because it’s
simply outdated and you want something new, it’s important to make it fit into
your lifestyle. You have to love it on paper to love the real thing. After all,
you’re going to be living in it for X more years.
2. Are you getting the cabinetry you
needs?
Yes, cabinets can be expensive, but also
yes, it’s important not to skimp in this area. Cheap cabinetry will make the
entire kitchen look and feel cheap even if you’re pairing them with top of the
line appliances. Cabinets
should be one of the most important parts of the entire kitchen re-model.
3. How well do you know your contractor?
This is huge when it comes to the efficiently
and effectively getting your kitchen re-model done. Contracts are known to be a
bit sketchy and wonder away on projects every once in a while. Make sure to do
thorough research on your contractor and hire a contractor with a good reputation.
For the next few months, your kitchen is going to be completely under
construction, you want someone you can trust to manage the whole process.
4. Are you being weary of the latest
trends?
Trends are great, for a year or so.
Obviously styles and designs change within kitchens just like they do with any
other industry, some trends however are just not going to last the test of
time. For that reason, unless you’re in love with a particular style, don’t
change your entire kitchen to it unless you’ll be happy with it 10 years down
the road. Remember, kitchen re-modeling isn’t just a drop in the bucket, you
want to be happy with your choices for years to come.
5. If the kitchen you want going to be
functional?
We’ve all seen catalog pictures of kitchens
and wondered who the heck could even live there? Right now, a trend in the
kitchen design industry is open shelved storage space. In the picture we see, these imaginary
families have one pot, all matching white glasses, and 3 stacked bowls. It’s
completely unrealistic and would be a tough kitchen to manage. The open shelves
create dust and will leave you with a lot of matching to do when it comes to
the organization of your kitchen accessories. If you like this look, go for it.
But if you have kids or a ton of pots and pans, you might want to consider
closing those off from your party guests sight.
6. Do you have the proper consultants on
the project?
If you’re a contractor yourself, by all
means start today. If you’re not however, you might want to get some advice
from the pros. Finding your favorite cabinets, favorite lighting fixtures,
flooring, etc. might look perfect in the store, might it also might look like a
giant mish-mosh of random things in your kitchen. Contractors and designers will
help you make your kitchen your favorite spot in the house.