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Are you thinking of upgrading or redesigning your kitchen? Or perhaps, you want to remodel your kitchen to increase the value of your home. If your answer is yes, you are not alone. Many others are also interested in renovating their kitchen, and in fact, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the kitchen is the most popular room to remodel in the house. And yet the most important, but most overwhelming question that many face is – what exactly does a kitchen remodel entail? Do not worry. To help you successfully renovate your dream kitchen, here is an ultimate guide to remodeling your kitchen.
If you are planning to remodel your kitchen, you should get expert advice from professional contractors. Not only will they have the right knowledge, but they will also have sufficient experience and connections to help you remodel your kitchen better. Thus, seek a trusted expert, preferably one that is recommended by your friend or loved ones.
Even if you plan on remodeling your kitchen by yourself, it is still recommended for you to consult a professional before you begin work. For instance, you can seek advice from an interior designer, architect, or contractor. With their expertise, they can spot potential issues and provide creative solutions that you may not have thought of before.
Here are some tips. The best contractors tend to be the busiest, and booked way in advance. Hence, you should be wary if your contractor is available immediately after the first contact. In addition, you should try to visit a job in progress by the contractor. This will allow you to learn more about the particular contractor's commitment to quality and safety in real life.
Setting your budget is one of the most crucial first steps you can take when remodeling your kitchen. After all, remodeling your kitchen often takes more time and money than many expect. While an average kitchen remodeling project usually costs around $20,000, an upscale kitchen remodeling project is a lot more pricy at an estimated $54,000. Be realistic about the possible renovations costs, and add keep aside an additional 10 to 20 percent of your budget for any unplanned expenses. The more financial cushion you have, the better it will be. After all, you do not want to be worrying about money mid-project, or worse, end up with a half-renovated kitchen due to a lack of cash.
Here are some tips for a better budget. Try to repurpose or reuse things that you already have. For instance, instead of completely changing your cabinets, you could repaint them instead. This can give your cabinets a fresh look, and save you a lot of money. Fun fact. Did you know that cabinets are the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel? Hence, to save more money, you should consider what is more important to you to remodel and make cuts in other areas.
Now that you are planning to remodel your kitchen, it is crucial to consider what kitchen layout best suits you. After all, the kitchen layout has a significant influence on functionality and practicality. Hence, consider your kitchen needs and wants, and think about how you use your current kitchen to identify your priorities for the remodeled space. Here is a general tip for your kitchen layout. Make use of the “kitchen triangle” pattern for your stove, refrigerator, and sink. Specifically, you should arrange these three items to form a triangle of appropriate lengths apart. This arrangement helps to create a functional and aesthetically pleasing kitchen.
Take a look at some of the most popular template kitchen layouts that you can use as your base.
Do you want your kitchen to have more storage spaces and a bigger kitchen space? If your answer is yes, an L-shaped kitchen might be the one for you. As its name suggests, the kitchen is arranged in an L shape. Arranging the kitchen into three corners effectively uses the space. Hence, giving you more space to move around freely, and yet, still enjoy more cabinets. In fact, it is so spacious that it often leaves enough room for an additional table or breakfast bar. Talk about multifunctionality and efficiency.
Credits Divasinterior
Are you one that does not appreciate cooking or spending much time in the kitchen? Or perhaps, do you want to remodel your kitchen to be more minimalistic, and save spacing? If so, a one-wall kitchen is perfect for you. By rearranging your kitchen to only take up a singular wall, the kitchen will take up significantly less space, and yet, can still give you the functionality you need. In addition, you no longer need to worry about cleaning up a full-fledged kitchen.
Credits: Pexels
One other popular kitchen layout that you can consider is the island kitchen layout. Perfect if you want your kitchen to be more aesthetic, and yet, be functional and practical. In an island kitchen layout, the island top takes the center of attraction in your kitchen. To enhance this effect, you can opt for island tops with unique materials, colors, of finishings. At the same time, the extra tabletop provides you with significantly more space. For instance, you can place and easily assess your favorite snacks, or coffee machine in the morning.
Credits: Real Homes
Are you a professional chef or cook at heart who loves to cook on a regular basis? If yes, a U-shaped layout is a perfect choice for you. With a U-Shaped kitchen, the counters run parallel to each other, hence allowing you to easily access the main preparation, washing, and cooking areas at once. In addition, a u-shaped kitchen gives you great ventilation which is beneficial for everyday cooking.
Choosing the color scheme for your remodeled kitchen can be an overwhelming situation. After all, there are so many things like the cabinets, wall, and countertop to consider. With so many color combinations available, how exactly do you choose then? Well, here are some tips to help you in remodeling your kitchen’s color.
Credits: HGTV
Choosing the colors of your cabinets should be your first step in choosing your kitchen colors. This is because they take up a significant amount of the visual space in your kitchen. In addition, kitchen cabinets tend to be the most expensive part of the remodeling process. Hence, it is vital that you set the kitchen cabinets as the foundation for future color choices in your kitchen.
If your kitchen space is limited, consider going for lighter colors for your kitchen cabinets. For instance, white or soft grey are great light colors. This is because lighter color cabinets can give the illusion of a larger kitchen space. On the contrary, you should opt for darker kitchen cabinet colors if your kitchen is larger. This is because the darker cabinets can balance out the additional space in your kitchen, and make your kitchen look more elegant, sleek, and cozy. In addition, it is easier to hide scuff marks from everyday use.
Image credit: Pexels
The color of your kitchen countertops is an essential choice for a variety of reasons. After countertops are frequently near your eye level, hence taking up a large amount of visible space. In addition, they can affect the functionality of your kitchen. But perhaps the most important factor of all is – if your countertop and cabinet colors clash with each other, or are not cohesive, the visual harmony of your kitchen will simply fall apart. Hence, you should opt for neutral-colored countertops that compliment your cabinets. Here is a tip - alternate between light and dark colors. And that means you should go for lighter-colored countertops if you have darker cabinets. Alternatively, you can match the color of your countertop with the color of your floor for more color coordination.
Image credit: Pexels
One of the most important, but often overlooked elements in the kitchen is the walls. Specifically, the color of the wall can make a huge impact on your kitchen. Be it setting the mood or helping to tie the room together, the color of your kitchen wall is important. While cabinets usually cover most parts of the walls, it becomes very obvious and jarring when done poorly. Hence, choose a color that balances well with the cabinets or floor. In general, off-white, cream, or dove grey are great colors that generally complement many other elements. Alternatively, you can choose vibrant colors for your walls too. But if you do that, ensure that your floors and cabinetry have a more subtle palette.
Apart from painting your walls, you can also add colors to your wall by using a backsplash. Not only does a kitchen backsplash come in a variety of colors and designs, but they also tend to be rather affordable. In addition, it is easy to revamp the backsplash, hence you can easily change it whenever you want to.
Choosing kitchen appliances for your remodeled kitchen can be an overwhelming process. After all, it can get very confusing with the number of features and technologies in kitchen appliances today. Hence, you should do comparison shopping for the best offer. In addition, there are some things you should be looking out for in the kitchen appliances.
First things first, opt for kitchen appliances that are energy efficient. Appliances with a higher energy star rating mean they are more energy-efficient. Not only will the electricity bill be cheaper, but they tend to be more environmentally friendly too.
Given that burners play an essential part in your kitchen, it is important for you to choose the right one. Hence, you should opt for a combination of high highs and low lows burner. A standard burner typically goes from an estimated 2,000 Btu to a high of 12,000. If you have more budget, you can go for the pro-style models. These better quality burners can pump out 15,000 Btu or more to boil water almost instantaneously, and at the same time, ease down to a low of 400 for gently simmering.
It goes without saying that your safety is important. But it is even more crucial if you have children too. Hence, opt for click-and-turn knobs for your burners to ensure kids will not be able to light them by mistake. In addition, choose a cooktop with controls at the front or side, rather than between burners. Moreover, try to add more GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) outlets in your kitchen to avoid the use of extension cords.
One often-overlooked factor is the cleanability of a kitchen appliance. Nonetheless, it is important. After all, no one will want to spend hours scrubbing their burner, or other kitchen appliances. For instance, you can choose sealed stovetop burners, sliding tempered-glass refrigerator shelves, or fingerprint-resistant textured finishes to reduce clean-up time.
Kitchens are one of the most unique and personalized places in everyone’s home. This is definitely a space where you could be adventurous to explore more unconventional themes, don’t let traditional themes confine and limit you!
Working with a professional will make building your dream kitchen a breeze. Instead of sourcing for a separate contractor each step of the way, you’d be surprised how much money you can save with the packages that are offered.
With Renodots, a one-stop Singapore home renovation portal, you’ll discover the best interior design package that meets your needs. From interior designers, handymen, painting plumbing electrical wiring to flooring services, we’ve got you covered. Request a free renovation quotation through us to build your dream home.
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