Affordable quality remodeling

Kitchen Remodeling Ideas For An Old House

Many people think that old houses are especially difficult to remodel purely due to their age. In fact, this is not entirely correct. Whether the house is old or quite new, a kitchen remodeling nearly always turns out to be very cost effective and the habitants will see a marked improvement in the area.

Kitchen remodeling for old homes can be planned so that new items and appliances can be integrated along with the kitchen’s older features. The true key to affordable and effective kitchen remodeling ideas is in the planning stage and this applies to any kind of home, whether new or old.

First on the list of all sound kitchen remodeling ideas is to adequately cost your planned remodelings. This is the most critical aspect as you should not attempt any substantial renovation project unless you have enough funding available or you can enlist the help of your bank or mortgage provider. Notwithstanding the fact that you require substantial funding, take heart in knowing that you can reduce costs in some areas without sacrificing the over-all quality of the renovation. It is important that you allocate adequate funds for the key aspects of the renovation, namely the design component, labor costs and appliances and fixtures.

When you are reviewing you’re your kitchen remodeling ideas always build in an allowance for unexpected contingencies such as repairs being necessary to plumbing, heating and electrical equipment. There is nothing worse than having an aesthetically pleasing kitchen which is great to look at but in reality is a fire-hazard or energy-monster because of the old and ineffective equipment. In old houses it is highly likely you will need to spend money upgrading this type of equipment.

Once you have addressed the structural and services (heating, lighting, plumbing etc) aspects of the kitchen renovation you can then turn your attention to other aspects like choosing counter tops, cabinets and floor coverings. This is a great area in which to control costs as it is possible to use many alternate materials, that are just as durable and impressive as for example marble or granite, however they cost a fraction of the price of the real material. It is also recommended that you consider buying stock cabinets instead of custom-fitted ones as this too will save you a great deal of money.

SOURCE:  http://8rd.org/decoration/

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Kitchen and Use of Space

The kitchen has been called the heart of a home. Yet, for many of us, a wide array of appliances, cookware, and other items have made the kitchen a cluttered mess. Sure, these items make food preparation simple, but when not in use they become just another set of obstacles in the way. Kitchen furniture can help to solve these problems and more.

Cabinets can be great space savers in the kitchen. You can find a kitchen cabinet to fit any home style. One of the most popular styles of cabinets is microwave cabinets. Microwave cabinets typically combine shelves with storage space. For many, cabinets are a great place to put items that you need to use frequently or items that you would like on display. Cabinets can be a great way to add space to kitchens with high or vaulted ceilings, since many have a more vertical design.

Though cabinets may be a great place for kitchen cookware, if you are looking for a stylish way to store more decorative items, then a baker’s rack will be just the item for you. Baker’s racks can be designed with shelves, storage cabinets, and/or utility hooks. There are a variety of items that you could store on or in a baker’s rack. Yet, because of their stylish design, you may wish to have potted plants or decorative plates and bowls housed on your baker’s rack.

Kitchen carts are another space saver in the kitchen. Kitchen carts typically offer shelves, drawers, or additional storage space. The style of cart can be chosen by the type of items you need arranged. Depending on the style, kitchen carts can be an ideal spot to store pots and pans, wine, or additional plates and bowls. Plus, the table top surfaces that kitchen carts have are also great places to arrange additional appliances such as coffee makers, toasters, microwaves, or blenders. Kitchen carts allow for the capability of adjusting your kitchen space to fit your needs at any given moment. Thanks to their mobility kitchen carts can easily be moved out of the way to increase walking space. This same mobility can be used to your advantage to carry items over to the dinner table.

Closely, akin to kitchen carts, but often used more for functionality than style are kitchen utility carts. Kitchen utility carts are great for storing cookware, plates, and small appliances. The type of items you store will depend greatly on the size of the kitchen utility cart that you choose. Similar to other kitchen carts, kitchen utility carts can also be moved to create additional space when needed.

If you are trying to arrange the clutter of food items such as rolls, cereal, or any other form of dry food that you use often, then you may want to consider using display bins or cases. These clear cases provide an appealing way to store a variety of food items in an organized manner. Bins and cases take up very little room in your kitchen. Commonly used in bakeries, you can purchase display cases and bins for the kitchen that are stackable, independent, or that sit side by side. You can install them yourself or employ a remodeling contractor.

When attempting to create space by storing pots, pans, appliances, and other kitchen items another great option is the kitchen island. Kitchen islands can store a variety of items, big or small, and are often accented by hanging pots and pans above the island and out of the way.

Unlike kitchen carts, kitchen islands can be built with or without wheels. Yet, their weight makes them a little harder to move easily. Instead kitchen islands increase space, by also giving you additional workspace for food preparation. Normally for cutting, chopping, or seasoning food, kitchen islands may also have drawers to keep additional knives or other utensils.

On, the off chance that you, like many of us, would like additional space in the kitchen to hold mail, coupons, or other smaller items then there is another more stylish alternative. Counter tables are a great way to store small items, due to their drawers. Be sure to choose your counter table by the number of drawers you will need. Their table top design also gives you space for small appliances sets of plates or bowls, or pitchers.

The fact is many kitchens are filled with clutter. The need for additional appliances, such as espresso machines, electric can openers, blenders, coffee machines, etc. has slowly diminished the space available in an average kitchen. However, there are ways to not only combat this issue, but possible gain additional space in the process. Well placed kitchen furniture can be stylish, yet functional. Kitchen furniture can save space, create organization, and in many cases maintain sanity.

www.LKNcabinets.com is located in Mooresville, NC

RTA Cabinets can save you a ton of money!

Ready-to-Assemble kitchen cabinetry has been used recently by construction and contracting agencies however the average home owner or novice handyman has yet to catch on and obtain the advantages from doing so. Ready-to-Assemble kitchen cabinets or for short, RTA kitchen cabinets have been available for many years however due to recent manufacturing improvements, there is now a sudden influx of more and more kitchen design companies offering these types of cabinets to their customers. RTA kitchen cabinets have many beneficial factors and one of the most important ones being cost. Years ago if you wanted to remodel your kitchen a typical custom cabinet builder would quote you anywhere from $10,000 for an entry level kitchen all the way up to $100,000 or more for a high-end luxury kitchen. In today’s competitive market you can now afford a basic 10′ x 10′ kitchen with solid all-wood kitchen cabinets at prices beginning in the vicinity of $1900. With RTA kitchen cabinets you too can reap the financial benefits in a market where the mortgage industry has taken a downfall the past couple years without worrying if you will ever see your investment back.

RTA cabinets can be found in many places such as Ikea where you order them flat packed and assemble them yourself. They can also be found in major home improvement stores such as Home Depot or Lowes where they come flat packed and then a local DIY handyman puts them together for you. At many online stores offering these types of cabinets they typically come delivered flat packed and then you or your contractor assembles them according to included directions.

There are many different types of quality issues when it comes to RTA kitchen cabinets. You always want to make sure that the type of cabinet you are purchasing has solid plywood sides instead of the more widely used and cheaper MDF wood or particle board. This allows for a sturdier construction and a more solid mount when you screw them into your studs. You want to make sure the face frame and doors are also solid wood. Many of the lower-end RTA cabinets are also assembled with glue and/or staples. These types of cabinets tend to separate, split or warp over longer periods of times whereas kitchen cabinets with cam-lock systems or metal brackets or clips offer a more dependable cabinet. Virtually anyone can put together these types of cabinets as no professional experience is required.

Availability is another key issue to purchasing RTA kitchen cabinets. Most manufacturers or custom cabinet builders will take 1-2 months to complete your order where with a stocking dealer, rta cabinet orders can be placed and shipped within days allow you to have your new kitchen cabinets ready to install within 1-2 weeks. With this faster process it allows for you to adjust to inevitable changes that possibly will occur in your kitchen design process and will not slow you down much in the event of miscalculations. With custom cabinetry you are at the manufacturer’s mercy and might have to wait 2-3 weeks in the event of any problems that might arise.

Overall, what this purchasing decision comes down to is simply cost. Think about all of the money you are going to save by purchasing an already in-stock item and doing the minor task of assembly yourself. The evidence is totally conclusive when it comes to RTA cabinets. If you are interested in this process please check out some of our other articles containing tips on how to measure your kitchen and other great kitchen design ideas.

www.LKNcabinets.com