Kitchen Renovation Guide

Kitchen Remodel: What You Need to Know

Are you itching to breathe new life into your kitchen? Before you meet with a professional or visit a showroom, you’ll need to do a little bit of research and soul-searching. A kitchen remodel is not a small undertaking. Is remodeling or upgrading your kitchen a good investment? There are two things to consider when taking on a kitchen project:

First (and probably most important), remodeling and upgrading your kitchen is an emotional investment in your family and lifestyle. A clean, bright space that is organized just the way you need and want it will undoubtedly cause everyone’s day to function more smoothly, and just feel good!

If you’re an entertainer, you can create a space that is inviting. The old adage “no matter where I serve my guests, they seem to like my kitchen best” will hold true for you, and your guests will enjoy spending time there.

If gourmet cooking is your thing, a space designed with a large commercial range could be perfect for you.  Custom cabinets to hold all of your cooking gadgets will surely put a smile on your face.

Secondly, remodeling and upgrading your kitchen is a financial investment. Remodeling Magazine recently released it’s highly anticipated Cost vs Value report, which contains some very encouraging news. The financial return on a major kitchen remodel is still holding strong, with the current rate of 68%.  This is slightly more than last year, and just about the same as it was 5 years ago.  These numbers confirm that a kitchen remodel is still a good financial home investment.

So now what?

So what do you need to know before remodeling your kitchen?  Read these four pro-tips on creating the cooking space you’ve always wanted:

Step 1: Think about what you need from your kitchen

  • The first step is all about how you utilize your kitchen and finding which features and layouts fit your lifestyle. Get ideas from every resource at your disposal including magazines, books, kitchen showrooms, photos, and Houzz guides.
  • Think about how you’ll use the kitchen. How many people will be gathering and cooking here, and how will they move around within that space? Will you require a room addition or can you transform the existing kitchen?
  • If you haven’t already, start keeping photos of kitchens with aspects that fit your style. Your collection can be filled with haphazard, unorganized images or it can be organized and beautiful like a scrapbook.

Step 2: Research and plan

Ready to green-light that house project and take the plunge? Start by figuring out your budget and develop what is commonly known as a “scope of work”.

This Old House breaks down a basic kitchen remodeling budget as follows:

  • 16% – Walls, ceiling, doors, floors, and windows
  • 29% – Cabinets and hardware
  • 22% – Design and installation
  • 10% – Counters
  • 14% – Appliances and ventilation
  • 9% – Plumbing and electrical

Scope and budget are entwined, and will often evolve during the planning process as you become more informed and capable of reconciling what you need and what you can afford. As a homeowner, you’re not required to walk into this aware of what everything should cost. Remember, this is a learning process.

Step 3: Schematic design

This phase includes space planning and design sketches to show cabinet sizes, layouts, and preliminary floor plans. Focus on space planning and layout, and you may be tempted to focus on what kitchen will look like. Remember, this is only the space planning phase.

Step 4: Fixture and finish specification

This is where you focus on the “look” of your kitchen. Whether your style is industrial, traditional, country, or a personal style all your own, you probably know the basics of how you want your kitchen to look.

In this phase you’ll think about:

  • Lighting
  • Window treatments
  • Appliances
  • Sinks and faucets
  • Cabinetry finish and hardware
  • Countertops
  • Floors

As you can see, there is quite a bit to manage during a kitchen remodel that can quickly become overwhelming without help. JM Construction Co is a design and build general contractor. We start the remodeling process with you and walk you through the entire project until its completion.

With our 25 years of experience in the construction industry, you know we’ll cover all of your questions before your project even gets started. We’ll clue you in on all the remodel challenges (before they even become challenges) in order to give you the smoothest remodel possible. Contact us today!

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