Browsing articles in "Kitchen Remodeling Charlotte Tips"
Mar 15, 2017
lkncabadmin
Comments Off on Design Tips for your Kitchen

Design Tips for your Kitchen

On the face of it, the benefits of purchasing bespoke wood kitchen cabinets may appear to be mainly cosmetic. While the artistry in the design stage, the craftsmanship in the production and the attention to detail in the installation all contribute to a stunning result that will last for decades if treated well, it’s the smaller details that may go unnoticed that can make the biggest difference.

Even the most aesthetically pleasing kitchen can become a source of irritation if certain aspects have been poorly thought out. Thankfully, modern kitchen cabinet design is full of ingenious touches that have been developed from years of experience in making the most of the resources available.

Professional designers of kitchen cabinets are adept at achieving something as practical as it is beautiful, but it’s always handy for the customer to have their own ideas too. Whether utilizing every nook and cranny, including lighting or incorporating green waste solutions, modern kitchen cabinet design is constantly evolving.

Smarter storage space

While cutlery and crockery don’t typically require too much space, storing a large number of other kitchen items can present something of a challenge.

Thanks to their irregular shapes, appliances like blenders or steamers require more space, meaning your cabinets may be filled quicker than you thought they would. Building in more space may be easier said than done, but there are certain areas where old kitchen design would often neglect.

Installing kitchen cabinets above the refrigerator is one way to make the most of the space available. While it may not be the most convenient place to reach every day, it’s ideal for storing large items that are only used occasionally.

For lower kitchen cabinets that back into the dining room, extra shelving can be installed to further maximize space and provide a convenient place for condiments and other mealtime items.

Brighter use of lights

Smartly installed lighting is one of the most important considerations in making a kitchen look its best. However, it’s not all about the aesthetics, as inadequate lighting can lead to safety issues.

Incorporating downlighting in your overhead kitchen cabinets will help ensure the work areas of your kitchen are always well lit, eliminating the chance of light from the main fittings being blocked out, by either yourself or your cabinetry.

With cleverly positioned light switches, your kitchen cabinets can provide all the light you require at the convenient touch of a button; helpful when preparing food, cleaning, as mood lighting, or even to show off your kitchen should you ever come to sell your home.

Greener waste solutions

With less trash being simply thrown away and more being recycled, using separate bins in the kitchen is a great way to ensure you are doing your bit for the environment.

Of course, multiple bins are bound to use more space than the single one commonly placed under the sink, but smart cabinet design can help. By fitting the separate bins into a slide-out or fold-out kitchen cabinet, the increased convenience will only encourage their use, which is in turn good for the world around us.

With the environmental challenges faced by all of us, modern kitchen design should look to be as green as it possibly can. Providing a built-in recycling sorter helps with this while keeping the trash bins out of sight.

Along with further smart space-saving solutions and built-in lighting, your bespoke kitchen cabinet designer will always be looking for ways to create something as practical as it is beautiful.

Explore more kitchen cabinets.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/L_R_Lindsay/1381549

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9119514

Aug 7, 2016
lkncabadmin
Comments Off on Kitchen Cabinets and Granite Updates Increase Value of your Home

Kitchen Cabinets and Granite Updates Increase Value of your Home

Upgraded countertops are one of the most valuable assets you can have in your home. Granite remains the favorite choice for kitchens and bathrooms, and the benefits it offers are abundant. Not only do granite countertops invite daily enjoyment and utility, they can also increase the value and desirability of your home, and give you a higher return on investment (ROI) than many other remodeling projects.

Return On Investment

Remodeling Magazines Cost vs. Value Report, which provides an annual look at individual remodeling projects and their ROI, reported that a minor kitchen remodel returns 79.3 percent ROI. Countertops are a key element of the remodel, along with items such as cabinets, appliances, and flooring.

Upgrading bathroom countertops to granite has a similar impact, with a 70 percent ROI on a minor bathroom renovation.

The ROI is an important factor for those looking to renovate because it presumes an easier home sale at a higher home price.

“Granite or marble countertops will make a home more appealing to buyers than will older countertops made from materials like laminate or wood,” said the New York Times.

Easier To Maintain

Granite countertops are also easier to maintain than many others, which can help indecisive remodelers make a choice.

“Marble is softer and more porous than the nearly indestructible granite, and so it can etch (scratch) and stain in a way that granite usually won’t,” said the kitchen.

Quartz is considered among the easiest surfaces to take care of and is also a growing trend; add a glass mosaic tile backsplash to create a fancy and functional kitchen. Looking to express your more modern side? Try a recycled glass countertop to create a showstopping kitchen that is also friendly to the Earth.

A Better Alternative

Cabinet Refacing: The Smart, Financially Sound Choice

Brand new cabinets are something most of us would love to add to our home. But when we see the cost, those cabinets are often off the table. New cabinets cost thousands of dollars at a minimum and can rise to numbers rivaling a luxury car. Refacing costs a fraction of the cost of new cabinets while providing a fresh new look to your space.

New cabinets can be budget busters

“Most cabinets range from $500 to $1,500 per cabinet box,” said Better Homes and Gardens. “Based on an estimated 30 cabinets in an average-size kitchen, you can be looking at a cost of about $15,000-$45,000.”

If you’re planning a small or midsize renovation, that could eat up your whole budget. Refacing instead of replacing can save you money and time, allowing you to use those funds in another area or simply lowering your renovation cost.

“Fans of refacing say this mini-makeover can give a kitchen a whole new look at a much lower cost than installing all-new cabinets,” said HGTV. “Cabinet refacing can save up to 50 percent compared to the cost of replacing.

Jaymi Naciri is the award-winning author of hundreds of original articles focused on real estate, interior design, and home improvement.
Granite Kitchen & Bathroom Countertops at Granite Transformations Ventura provides products made from engineered stone, quartz & recycled Glass

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jaymi_Naciri/2099816

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8965121

Jul 17, 2016
lkncabadmin
Comments Off on Top Tips for Kitchen Remodels

Top Tips for Kitchen Remodels

1) Invest in quality kitchen cabinet materials:
Your kitchen cabinets are not only the most important component of a complete kitchen renovation; they are also the hardest component to replace. To avoid having to replace your cabinets unnecessarily after 12-15 years, take the time to consider if a low-cost, temporary solution like particle board cabinets makes for a sound renovation investment. Furniture grade plywood cabinetry will typically outlast its particle board counterpart by as much as 4 times. By choosing 3/4″ plywood for your kitchen cabinet box material, you will avoid many of the premature failures like loose hinges and doors, sagging horizontal supports, peeling laminate, and crumbling base cabinets that plague particle board.

2) Go for granite countertops or a textured laminate:
Today’s trendy textures, more often than not become a tell-tale sign of a dated kitchen tomorrow, which ultimately detracted from the value of your home. It’s fair to say that trends in today’s countertop market like Quartz or Silestone offer a major resemblance to Corian from the 90’s and at a similar hefty price point too. Quality granite countertops doesn’t scratch, melt, or date themselves anywhere nearly as easily or fast as Corian or Quartz countertops do. If you have a limited kitchen renovation budget, a steadfast alternative to granite would be textured laminates. With a cost less than $30 per square foot, and realistic stone-like and cultured appearances, today’s laminates offer an excellent countertop solution.

3) It pays to stick with mid-grade appliances:
A few years back mid-grade appliance manufacturers finally realized that they could recapture a large consumer market by including value added features that use to be exclusively reserved to the professional tier of appliance brands like Viking, Thermador, and Wolf at a minimal cost increase. No longer do you need to spend $7500 on a fridge to get the luxury features you want; for less than half the price you can now get a quality mid-grade comparable and keep your kitchen remodeling budget intact. It’s also worth noting, the NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) through extensive research stipulates that kitchen appliances should account for approximately 12% of a total kitchen renovation to render the best financial investment return.

4) You’ll never regret soft close drawer slides and door hinges:
Though some may first consider it an unnecessary luxury, investing the extra few hundred dollars for soft close doors and quality soft-close under-mount drawer slides pays for itself through increased service life of not only the hinges themselves, but the doors and drawers of the entire kitchen. These soft closers prevent the high-impact wear that results in sagging doors, rubbing and separation of drawer fronts, and loose screws. The soft-closing technology also expands the capabilities of your drawers. Because of the smooth closing nature of the devices you can store more delicate items in your base cabinet drawers without fear of your items being broken. Oh, and your fingers will thank you too!

5) Ask to see their liability insurance coverage:
Ensure all sub-trades, cabinet installers, and contractors hold adequate and current liability insurance ($2 million is recommended). Unforeseeable events and accidents can happen at any time and they could not only devastate a consumer’s financial well-being, but also that of a reputable business. Do not hesitate to ask any of your project service providers to view their current liability insurance summary. Doing your due diligence here can save you from a lifetime of financial hardship later.

6) Hire a professional kitchen designer:
Though quality professional services are never cheap it’s comforting to know that not only are kitchen designer rates usually more reasonable than a qualified interior designer’s, you also get a designer who specializes in kitchens and bathrooms. To ensure a kitchen designer’s professionalism, it is recommended that you check if they are accredited members of the National kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). These members are committed to providing a level of kitchen and bathroom design expertise above and beyond services rendered by an architect or interior designer. Beware of the ‘free’ kitchen designs, they are typically about as valuable as the price you pay for them. Poor planning and lack of design expertise will always render the same result – a bad one. Conversely, an exceptional kitchen starts only with an exceptional design.

7) Make your kitchen distinctive:
Try to allow for 1-2 unique and distinctive design elements in your kitchen renovation budget; doing so will pull your kitchen out of the realm of terribly typical and into exquisitely extraordinary. It’s a typical human condition to easily get caught up in the details of things. Therefore it’s just as important to remember not to over-do the distinctive because your kitchen space can quickly become over crowded with form, leaving a deficit of function.

8) Compliment your homes style into your kitchen:
Your kitchen space doesn’t have to completely assimilate to the style of the rest of your home, but by tying in features from adjacent rooms you will avoid having your kitchen appear as if you dropped a cookie cutter showroom kitchen from your local big-box store onto your kitchen floor. By obtaining plenty of material swatches and samples in the designing stage and comparing them in their own unique lighting environment of your home, you will avoid much disappointment later.

9) Avoid unnecessary trade expenses whenever possible:
Moving a single pipe over a couple inches isn’t going to cost you much, but relocating a gas line on the opposite side of the kitchen typically will. Depending on the floor structure and accessibility from below, the cost could be upwards of $1000.00. It’s also better to add another window which yields a very high return on investment, than to waste money relocating an existing one. Whenever possible, Work with what you got.

10) Get the Right Permits:
Whenever you move plumbing, gas, or structural elements (like a load-bearing wall), a permit is almost always required. Regardless of what ANYONE says, the owner of the home is ultimately 100% liable for acquiring all applicable permits. Don’t be afraid to give your local municipality a quick call to verify what permits are needed and then after the work is complete, ensure they have been approved as well. DO NOT PAY your respective sub-trade in full until the work they completed is approved by your local city`s municipal permits department, the final payment is your leverage to ensure the trade work done on your home is code compliant, inspected and approved.

For more kitchen renovation budgeting, tips, and advice please visit Kitchen Candeur at:

[http://kitchen-cabinets-vancouver.ca/kitchen-ideas-resource-center/kitchen-renovation-budget/]

At Kitchen Candeur we provide professional kitchen design, 100% custom plywood kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and custom built-ins on a made to order basis. As a small family owned and operated business we offer honest service and fair prices combined with truly the best kitchen cabinets in Vancouver BC.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Scott_Candeur/1355727

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7095924

Pages:«12345678...72»