Kitchen Remodeling: The Basics

Whether you designed your home as it was built or bought a fixer-upper, chances are you planned for a few updates to come along the way. Giving a room a new look can be as simple as changing a lighting fixture, or may require an entire gutting to give it an updated feel. Depending on the degree of your renovations, you may want to exercise your own skills as a handyman (or woman), or hire a professional.

Of all the rooms in your home, the kitchen and bathrooms can become outdated quickly. Don’t be embarrassed by bare cabinets or chipping paint when you invite your family over for a home-cooked meal. Instead of blaming the unpredictable Oklahoma weather for your limited weekend time to redecorate, use what little time you have wisely.

When it’s time to give your kitchen a makeover, it’s important to focus on the bigger picture: while your appliances may be outdated, how practical is it to get a larger stove with a hood vent? Likewise, soapstone countertops are beautiful but require a lot of extra care. Consulting a professional while you plan your attack may be the best initial route to help you avoid costly mistakes.

Getting Started

At the starting line, you should have your budget set and a general idea of what you want your new kitchen to look like. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2005 Cost v. Value report, the national average for remodeling a kitchen was $82,000, which may be more than what you’re willing to spend. If you’re looking for a makeover that won’t wipeout your budget, make a list of things that are most important to you: a new stove, new cabinets, or perhaps installing a window. Then take your list to a trusted professional for consultation regarding cost and labor.

While creating your budget, leave room for mishaps that may happen along the way. If you pull your cabinets out to paint them and discover you need to completely replace them thanks to termites, you need to be able to continue with your new renovation plans. If you’re hiring a professional, remember to include the cost of labor in your budget.

It’s also important to check out your neighborhood for renovation ideas: is your kitchen going to hold up to others in the neighborhood if you decide to sell your home? Changes that are too drastic or too personalized may not pay off in the long run, as your family (or neighborhood) grows and evolves. Renovations are expected to last an average of 10-15 years, so to ensure this doesn’t become an annual thing, choose designs that attest to your personality without being a shrine to your favorite Food Network Chef.

Getting Thrifty

If you’re still reeling from the estimated cost of a renovation, don’t panic. There are a few simple updates you can do yourself for a low cost to update your kitchen without breaking the bank. If you’re not comfortable doing the work yourself, or have questions regarding what exactly butcher block is, feel free to give us a call!

• Cabinets are the face of your kitchen, and can easily outdate a kitchen. For a simple update, sand them down and repaint them a new, fresh color. Choose carefully: cabinet colors should complement your wall color and backsplash, without darkening the room. For an extra touch, add new handle hardware to the doors: metal bars can be a modern look, while recycling old buttons, scrap metal, or hardware can be eclectic and personal.
• Paint can entirely change a room, without requiring too much work. While bright colors can lighten up your kitchen, warm colors can have your guests settling in quickly. Regardless of your color choice, be sure to complement paint choice with the rest of the kitchen. If you’re favorite color is lime green, for example, your choice of a classic Italian kitchen theme may not mesh well. For those fun colors, it may be best to stick with simple accents, such as a small mural or the cabinet knobs.
• The little details can make a big difference! Instead of a tile backsplash, you may want to wallpaper a favorite photo or even create a mosaic. Put your best china on the wall to create a colorful, classic display that also functions for space. Pull in small pieces of color with vases or containers on the counter, or even with barstools. Whatever you choose, be sure to shy away from fads that may not be popular in a few years. While a chandelier or hanging pots may seem like a good idea at the time, it’s often not a very functional design for a well-used kitchen.

Whether you consider yourself a chef or have trouble doing more than burning water, the kitchen is an important room in your home. Turn it into an entertaining, welcoming space by combining the space you love with an updated look. Be sure to bring in your own personal touches, and don’t forget to tell your neighbors you planned the remodeling yourself!