Kirk
So, you’re thinking of remodeling your kitchen? It’s a job often well worth the effort – not only can it make your kitchen easier to use, it can also make it a much more satisfying place to spend time. Before you take the plunge, though, there are several things you’ll need to consider.
It begins with a budget. Kitchen remodeling doesn’t need to cost thousands but it can easily get expensive if you want the best of everything, so you’ll need to be realistic about what you can afford and whether it makes sense to do everything at once or you’d be better off concentrating on the major things and addressing esthetics later. Once you have a have a budget, you’ll be in a position to identify the best options for each stage of what you need. Remember that if you’re bringing in professionals at any stage, this will also need to cover the cost of their work.
The next thing to think about is layout. You’ll need easy access to all the important areas and you’ll need to be able to move through the space quickly and easily, even when the stove is hot and the sink is full of dishes. Where possible, you will want some useful workspace right next to the stove top – whether it’s a counter or a table – and you’ll want the trashcan within each reach. You won’t want to have to go far to the fridge as you may need to get things in and out of it while cooking. You’ll also want to be reasonably close to the sink so you can wash dishes as you work and rinse vegetables close to where you’ll be chopping them.
The next most important aspect of layout to consider is dining space, if your kitchen is big enough for it at all. This could be a full-sized set of dining furniture, a small folding table with stackable dining chairs, or just a row of stools beside a counter top that serves as a breakfast bar. You’ll want to position it in an attractive part of the room but avoid locations where people suddenly pushing their seats back could get in the way when you’re cooking or carrying things.
If you have a pet who uses the kitchen for food, sleeping or litter, it’s worth thinking about this too when doing your remodeling. Creating a distinct niche for your pet to use can make it a lot easier to keep the rest of the room tidy and clean.
Thinking about cleanliness, you’re going to need to consider the materials to be used in you new kitchen, and especially the flooring. Wood can look very attractive but will need to be properly sealed if you’re to avoid food particles getting into the cracks between boards and keep it safe from rot. You would also have to commit to waxing it every six months. Stone or ceramic tiles can look very stylish but are cold in winter (unless you have underfloor heating) and crockery doesn’t usually survive being dropped on them. Linoleum is often the best option but in larger rooms it’s better to go for linoleum tiles than full sheets, as the lines between sheets can look messy and attract dirt in a way that tiles won’t do if properly laid.
The best online furniture stores now have a good range of different options for you to choose from if you want to fit your own kitchen cabinets and counter tops, which is relatively easy to do – just remember to be precise with your measurements. When you’re choosing where to fit them, think about how natural light flows through the room – you’ll want to block as little of it as possible. As a rule, it’s easy to fit small strip lights or spotlights underneath cabinets to provide additional lighting for counter tops.
Remodeling kitchens is something anybody can get right with enough time, patience and careful planning. The most important thing is to design what you do around the way that you and your family use the kitchen, which is subtly different in every household. That way, you can create a room that really works for you.
