Nothing can help freshen up an older home, or help in the sale of a property or inspire your kitchen workspace like a new or remodeled kitchen. Kitchen design is becoming increasingly more important as space is rapidly growing smaller. Designing or remodeling your kitchen can be an incredibly exciting adventure but with it can come a lot of stress, and complication!
Our goal is to ensure you are properly equipped with the right information required In order for you to make your new kitchen design work for you, make educated decisions and ultimately save you time and money!
Build a Design Foundation
During the kitchen design process the most important question you can ask yourself is; "Why do I want a new kitchen?" Is it because you are looking for more storage space? Is your kitchen space not being maximized? Does your kitchen cabinetry need to be replaced? Are your appliances in need of change as well? Is your kitchen too dark? Is your kitchen too small or too big? Too Boring? Or simply, too much??!
By asking yourself these important questions you will have a much better idea of what you need to get out of your kitchen space. This information will become the foundation for your kitchen design plan.
Make a Kitchen Design Wish List
Once you have your foundation in place it is important to ask yourself a few more questions. Now that I know what I need, what is it I want? What you would like to have in your kitchen? Give this a lot of thought because modern kitchen design can incorporate special storage and space savers into the cabinetry design today! Write a list of everything you couldn't live without. This list will also become a very important guideline for you, your contractor, or kitchen designer to follow. Here are a few questions to paint an example for you:
Do you want stainless steel appliances? Granite kitchen countertops? Ceramic tiled flooring? Is the flooring heated? Gas or electric cooking surfaces? What will your color palette be? What kind of kitchen cabinetry will you use? What can I not live without?
Budget Considerations for a Kitchen Renovation
How much can you afford to spend on your kitchen design? This is a big question that can affect the entire project. Kitchen design projects are rarely inexpensive so you must get out and do some pricing on items that are necessary for you to fulfill your foundation and wish list. Beware that if you plan on replacing your cabinetry it will account for more than half of your budget!!
When building your kitchen design budget you also want to include the cost of all labor (electricians, carpenters, gas technicians, plumbers, delivery charges, contractors etc.) and then consider the possibility of hiring a designer.
You must stay within your budget when planning a new kitchen design. Account for as much as possible and add on another 20% or more just incase. Unexpected costs arise all the time in kitchen renovations and the best way to overcome it is to create a great budget. Dreaming big is one thing, but placing importance on price and affordability will ensure that you get what you are expecting and save some money for unexpected emergencies.
Building a Kitchen Renovation Time Frame
It is also very important to know when your project needs to be completed. Kitchen renovation projects are notorious for being drawn out. Set realistic goals. The remodeling and new construction industry is booming and this can have a direct affect on your project. Many crew are working on several projects at a time so be sure to communicate your completion date with your contractor and demand a realistic response. Labor is not cheap so the shorter the time frame the higher the cost. It is also helpful to plan for you and your family to prepare meals at an alternate location or account for dining out into your budget. Remember that being inconvenienced at home can also cost you more money at the end of the day.
Custom Kitchen Design vs. Ikea Kitchens
In the last decade we have grown to love (and despise on many occasions) Ikea for their unique and stylish, but mostly affordable home decor and home furnishing products. The Ikea institution has truly opened the door for homeowners to access the home design market at half the price. Today anyone can express personal style through furnishings and decor and achieve an ideal ambience for their space and not break the bank.
This accessibility however comes at a cost in that the buyer is responsible for the assembly and we all know what that process can be like!
Ikea has done it again, tapping into a market that has been left up to the contractor and designer with a hefty price tag. A custom designed kitchen is always the best choice for quality, esthetics and resale however Ikea is presenting a product that is incredibly competitive.
You can save a lot of money but when you are considering a kitchen renovation there is a lot at stake and thus make sure you do your research on Ikea kitchen products and know exactly what you need.Ikea Kitchen Remodeling Help!!