Archive for the ‘Building News 2009’ Category

Average Return on Remodel Investment

Sunday, December 13th, 2009

Remodeling a current home instead of buying a new one is a popular decision among homeowners in today’s economy and housing market. It’s also a wise choice, for when the time comes to sell, the return on investment for many remodeling projectsis significant, especially in the kitchen.

According to the 2008-2009 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling Magazine, the national average cost recouped from a major, mid-range kitchen remodel is 76 percent. And until you’re ready to resell, you’ll have a beautiful kitchen designed for your lifestyle.

Before you take that first step and begin demolition, here is a few vital tips to help create your dream kitchen, save precious time and increase your home’s value.

Plan, Plan, Plan — Good design begins with a great plan. It takes thoughtful preparation and while a bit complex, it’s also exciting. A kitchen remodel is a big investment, so know how much you are willing to spend and plan ahead on the layout and design features. If you do, it will be easier to manage your budget and completion date. Keep in mind that hardware, paint and wall coverings can easily be updated to reflect the latest trends, but make sure your big purchases like cabinetry, countertops and appliances are something you can live with for years.

Think About the Way You Live — Your new kitchen design should be based on the way your family lives. How many people will be in the kitchen at one time? In addition to cooking, will you use your kitchen for dining, entertaining or homework? Does anyone in your family have special needs? Do you need a lot of storage? Prepare an inspiration folder of ideas you’ve seen in magazines or digital pictures you’ve taken of elements you like. The more you share with your kitchen design specialist, the easier it will be for them to get that sense of your family’s lifestyle.

Your Personal Style — When selecting your kitchen cabinets, are you traditional, contemporary or somewhere in between?

Before you head to your local Lowe’s, it’s important to know your style so your designer can help create a unique, customized look. Think about what appeals to you — styles, finishes, colors, etc. From a practical standpoint, review your priorities — your “must haves” — against your target budget.

SOURCE: At Home Magazine.

www.LKNcabinets.com handles Kitchen and Bath Remodels in the greater Charlotte area

When It’s Time For Replacing Kitchen Cabinets

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

 

It’s a lot of fun to wander through home improvement store kitchen displays and look at the beautiful cabinets that are available. For most people, these shining cabinets make the ones they have at home look pretty shabby. Years of use, build-ups of cooking grease, fingerprints, and regular slammings have probably taken their toll. Add those blemishes to the fact that the cabinets you have look like they came right out of the 1970s, and it’s no wonder that you aren’t happy with the way your kitchen looks. That’s when you start to wonder if there’s any affordable way of replacing kitchen cabinets.

There are several ways to update your kitchen cabinets without tearing out the existing ones and totally replacing them. These methods will cost much less than what demolition and replacement will cost, and a lot of the work you will be able to do yourself. You know how much that can save you! When dealing with your cabinets, you basically have three choices: replace, reface, or refinish. As we’ve said, of the three, replacing the cabinets altogether will be the most expensive option. However, if your existing cabinets are made of metal or flimsy and poorly made, you may want to consider this option. There are salvage yards and discount lumber dealerships where you can buy new kitchen cabinets at a fraction of the price you’d pay in a home improvement showroom.

Refinishing and refacing processes both start the same way. Remove all cabinet doors and hardware, and give the wood surfaces a thorough cleaning. Once you see the condition of the doors, you can decide if you want to refinish and reuse them, paint them, or reface them. Refinishing or painting will undoubtedly be the most economical methods of updating your cabinets, but they will also be the most labor intensive. If you want to restain and varnish them, it will mean stripping the surfaces down to the bare wood, putting on a coat of stain, and then adding several coats of a hard polyurethane. With refacing, you will need to hire someone to cover the cabinets with a veneer and put on new doors. While more expensive, it’s definitely an easier way of refurbishing kitchen cabinets.

Learn more about kitchen cabinet styles and kitchen cabinet makers at kitchencabinetsadvice.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_W_Smith

www.LKNcabinets.com

Kitchen Cabinet Trends For 2009

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

 

The U.S. Kitchen Cabinets & Countertops Manufacturing industry recently released its 2009 Trendology report, which conducts a trend analysis in kitchen cabinets and kitchen countertops. So what are some the trends home owners can expect to see in the kitchen cabinets and countertops manufacturing sphere this upcoming year? The answer depends on who you ask.

With spending down and Americans worrying so much about the state of the economy, frivolous is out and functionality seems to be in. It is, however, possible to get the best of both worlds. Home and Garden television (HGTV) predicts that kitchen cabinet trends will marry style with function. The producer of the show “The Best in Kitchens and Baths,” HGTV says, “Furniture-grade materials and custom add-ons create cabinets that perform beautifully without sacrificing style.”

Because kitchen cabinets are often the most prized component of the room, “their design and aesthetics can make or break the entire room’s overall appearance.” Therefore, it’s important not to sacrifice quality for the sake of price. At the same time, kitchen cabinets don’t have to break the bank. Indeed, quality, built-to-order cabinetry can be had for every budget.

Look for a kitchen cabinet manufacturer that offers a wide selection of door styles, optional storage solutions and decorative enhancements. That way you can customize the kitchen cabinets that fit within the needs of both your family and your budget. Wood species, finish, storage solutions and moldings will all factor into the overall cost of your kitchen cabinets, so selecting a kitchen cabinet manufacturer with a wide array of options is your best bet.

Another kitchen cabinet trend HGTV sees taking a firm hold in the marketplace is an overall one “toward furniture-grade cabinets.” This one is a direct offshoot of the function over style one. “Now consumers are turning their attention toward more particular aspects, such as pull-out waste cans, slide-out towel bars and pull-down shelves. This … points to an overall customization movement that puts as much emphasis on function as it does on form.”

A leading kitchen cabinet manufacturer will afford homeowners a unique and eclectic array of storage solutions. Sink base door storage units, Contempo floor mount wastebasket cabinets, stainless utensil trays, sliding towel bars, sink base door storage units, base wastebasket top mounts, paper towel holders, base wastebasket cabinets, sink base door storage units and top mount wastebaskets are just some of the kitchen cabinet add-on features that are appealing to today’s homeowners.

According to a 2002 survey conducted by the National Kitchen and Bath Association, “Wood-finished cabinets are still the style of choice,” representing about 80 percent of all cabinets purchased. But as a final trend, HGTV points out that homeowners “are opting for a more casual appearance overall. Many of these have multi-step finishes and glazes to make them look like antiques that have weathered generations of use.” If this trend describes you, look for a leading kitchen cabinet manufacturer that offers a wide range of kitchen cabinet wood species, kitchen cabinet door shapes and kitchen cabinet wood finishes. Standard and premium finishes and glazes complement any design style.

Carmen Fontana is a Web Services Manager for Western Reserve Internet Services. You can request a free kitchen planning Idea Book from Kraftmaid.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carmen_Fontana

www.LKNcabinets.com