Do you think or feel that it is time to upgrade and remodel your kitchen. All professionals and contractors say that it will raise the value of your house when you go to sell it; there are also a lot of other really important considerations you should look into and will ponder.
First thing you should consider is that your house is like a show room and every other room in your house is very elegant and nice except your kitchen. If every other room in the house is very elegant and nicely painted but your kitchen and you have been holding back on your kitchen because of time or financial issues, you might want to reconsider it. The two most important rooms in a house that increase the sell value of a house are the kitchen and bathrooms. Most of the estimates of remodeling a kitchen put them to about 80 to 90 percent, that’s a lot don’t you think? That is a huge potential when you want to sell you house so you might want to consider remodeling your kitchen.
Also if you aren’t planning to move anytime soon, remodeling your kitchen can put a big effect in to your house and your family that lives there. A lot of families, including married and unmarried couples spend most of their time in the kitchen. You might hear over and over again that the kitchen is considered the heart and soul of a house because so many activities go on in there. Don’t you think it is a good idea to make the most high traffic room in your house the most inviting?
Do your kitchen appliances seem out dated or do you have to always repair them you might want to consider remodeling your kitchen. There are a lot of brand new energy efficient appliances today out on the market you might want to consider investing in some new appliances. You will also save money and have a lot more fun and pleasure by using them. Do you or your family go out to eat a lot during the week because you have outdated appliances you might want consider investing in new ones. If you don’t want to spend a lot of time in your house, that is a sign that you might want to give your house some needed upgrades and some attention. If your kitchen is not a inviting layout out or is hard to cook you might want to consider remodeling your kitchen. Who wants to invite anyone over if it is hard and unhappy to cook a meal for them, no one does.
Another reason you might want to remodel your kitchen is for your family. Additions to your brood may require additions to your house, and the kitchen is going to be one of the first spaces that will show the strain of over-use. If you have high traffic in a room it wares the room out more quickly. Since everybody says that the kitchen has the most traffic in and out, you might want to consider remodeling it with affordable and very durable appliances and stuff. You will greatly enjoy the new benefits of the room and reap on how good it looks and feels.
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about remodeling as well as power tools at http://www.toolsandequipmentplus.com
If you are looking for a San Jose kitchen remodeling contractor, please call us today at 650.390.9545 or complete our no obligation consultation form.
Savvy remodeling contractors will surely tell you of the kitchen countertop's ability to utterly transform a kitchen space. Depending on the material that you choose, installing a kitchen countertop can maximize the dollars you have spent on design and set the overall tone of the space and the home in general.
Of course, most people choose those materials that are traditionally used today - everything from ceramic tile and stone to laminate and granite. But the copper countertop has also become a popular yet unconventional choice for California homeowners looking to change their kitchen countertops.
The copper countertop is an unusual way to offset a unique kitchen that you are looking to infuse with sophistication and style. Classic and visually stimulating, copper has enjoyed popularity throughout the generations and is currently making a comeback in homes across the nation.
Most high-end home improvement stores and kitchen retail stores carry the copper countertop - and different styles can be purchased in a wide range of prices. And if price is an issue, homeowners even have the ability today to polish and re-tone brushed metal to resemble copper - but at a fraction of the price of the real material.
If you choose to purchase the authentic copper countertop, you then have the ability to either install the material yourself or hire a professional kitchen remodeling contractor to do the job for you. Contractors can either be hired through the retailer where you purchased your countertops or through an independent outfit. Just be sure that you are dealing with professionals who are well skilled in handling and installing copper material.
If you choose to handle the installation yourself then there are some things you should consider. First and foremost, working with metals is not the same as working with stone or laminate; if you have never mounted a copper countertop before then you should at the very least attend an instructional class that will give you pointers on how to proceed with the greatest chance of success.
Secondly, having the appropriate tools at your disposal will ensure that the job goes as smoothly as possible. Some of the basic tools required to do the job include a saber saw, drill and bit, block planes, belt sander, C-clamps, safety glasses for yourself, rubber mallet, hammer, level, 10-12 point fine-toothed handsaw, masking tapes, scriber compass, wrench, screwdriver, and sandpaper. Check with the retailer where you purchased your countertops to ensure there are no other materials that you may need.
Finally, it is important to remember that copper is a unique material that must be cared for accordingly. Once your countertop is installed you will want to make sure that you care for it appropriately to maintain its integrity for years to come. Experts recommend using a sealant at the end of the installation process in order to protect the surface of the copper from any eroding materials and scratches - to which copper is especially vulnerable.
The copper countertop may not have been something to which you had given any thought. But it may be just the material needed to complement your décor and bring out the natural warmth in your kitchen and home.
Still looking for the perfect counter tops? Try visiting http://www.typesofcountertops.com - a website that specializes in providing counter top advice, tips and resources including information on silestone countertops.
If you are looking for a California kitchen remodeling contractor, please call us today at 650.390.9545 or complete our no obligation consultation form.
By far, the kitchen is now one of the most important rooms in the house. Over the years it has grown in importance to such an extent that it is usually the first room that would be buyers head for when looking to purchase a new home. A good quality renovation could be the key factor in the sale of your home. Also, look at the amount of time you spend in your kitchen. You cook there, eat there, do homework there, and sometimes just relax there. So what better reason to give your kitchen a makeover? A good kitchen renovation will increase your property’s value while increasing your enjoyment of that area of your home.
Where do I start?
The first thing you should consider is the size of your kitchen. It’s no good looking at expensive kitchen islands when you have a galley style kitchen with which to work. Nowadays though, a small kitchen does not mean you have to sacrifice quality or style. It is possible to buy the latest designs from the best manufacturers even for a small space. That brings us to cost. It is well worth spending a while here planning your budget. Once you have started your renovation it can cost a large sum of money to rectify errors made whilst in the planning stage. Decide here if you want a modern or a retro design, something with a country feel, or maybe a colorful Mediterranean look. Remember though that there will be some tough decision here. More often than not, you will not be able to have everything you desire in your new kitchen. You must decide that if you want granite countertops, will your budget allow the latest space age appliances? Another part of a good kitchen renovation is flooring. The visual projection of creating a bigger area can work wonders. If you do have a small kitchen, then spending a bit of time and money on good quality flooring will pay dividends.
The next stage
Once your new kitchen is planned, you will need to decide whether to do the work yourself or hire some professional kitchen remodeling contractors to carry out the work for you. Now, I know a lot of people who have renovated their own kitchens and have done an excellent job. But if you have a really large or difficult project you should not think about carrying out the work yourselves unless you’ve had previous experience. Perhaps a compromise would be to have an experienced friend on stand-by, just in case you needed a bit of advice. I personally use professionals for all my renovation work. I admit I don’t have the skills to do most of the work, and if you spend a bit of time, you can always find excellent builders locally.
Appliances
Now your kitchen is finished…and you just have to fit your appliances. Ideally these should have been chosen during the planning stage. In today’s market, there is a massive range of gadgets you can purchase for the modern kitchen. From glass fronted refrigerators, to amazing lighting, to warming drawers that keep everything warm until everyone arrives home. If you have the budget, it always makes sense to finish your project off in style.
And Finally…
Throughout your project, remember your end goal. A quality renovation will give you added enjoyment of your kitchen. You will also have the knowledge that you have changed your home for the better, as well as adding a great deal of value. It may seem like a dream now… but with good planning and a lot of hard work, your dream can come true.
Lee Paradise writes on marketing and property related issues. You can learn more by visiting my blog, new-kitchen-ideas.blogspot.com
If you are looking for a California kitchen remodeling contractor, please call us today at 650.390.9545 or complete our no obligation consultation form.
In many ways, creating a kitchen isn’t any more complicated than creating a cake. You can put a new twist on an old recipe or construct a brand new one step-by-step. Regardless, you first must decide:
- What you have a taste for
- How much you want to spendr
- When you want it to be doner
- What size and shape you preferr
Most cakes have the same basic ingredients. They don’t taste special until you stir in the chocolate chips or the raspberries. So it is with a new kitchen.
Every kitchen has the same basic design elements:
- Cabinetsr
- Appliancesr
- Countertopsr
- Flooringr
- Sinks and faucetsr
- Walls, mouldings, and other architectural detailsr
It’s a kitchen remodeling designer who plays the role of baker in your new kitchen remodeling plans. A designer can give your kitchen its own unique flavor by helping you find the right mix of styles, materials, and colors.
Starting points include:
The architectural style of your California home—by making your home’s interior reflect its exterior, you bring continuity to the whole structure.
Your needs—perhaps you want space to cook big family meals, you’re an at-home gourmet, or you have special accessibility concerns. Your cabinets’ door style and color will have the most impact on your new kitchen’s palette by making the strongest visual statement.
Appliances also deserve top billing. Which ones you select and where you put them will determine how cook-friendly your layout is.
Next you’ll want to choose complementary countertops, flooring, plumbing fixtures, and architectural details. Don’t try to get everything to match exactly. You can best give your kitchen a certain feel by making sure everything coordinates but still keeps its own character.
It’s hard to be patient while you’re waiting for your new kitchen to be installed. Make other arrangements for your meals and protect your belongings in rooms near the work area.
When it’s all done, celebrate with a party—and some chocolate cake!
If you are looking for a home remodeling contractor, please call us today at 650.390.9545 or complete our no obligation consultation form.
Kitchen cabinets reflect the heart and soul of the homeowner. The cabinets you have in your kitchen have the greatest impact on a kitchen's look. They come in many shapes and sizes as well as in a rainbow of colors. Only your imagination and your bank account limit the color and design of your cabinets. You can buy cabinets pre-made at your local home supply store or have them custom built.
You can also give your kitchen a fresh, new look with a makeover for your older kitchen cabinets. If you're happy with your existing cabinet layout, and the cabinets are still in good condition, then cabinet re-facing is an alternative to replacing them. Cabinet re-facing can be accomplished in a number of ways.
Kitchen cabinet doors can be sanded and re-painted using any color and texture you choose or stripped using a variety of chemical products available at any home supply store. It is always important to read the label and precautions on any chemical stripper prior to using them. Many of these products can cause serious health problems if the instructions are not followed.
When choosing new kitchen cabinets it is important to pay attention to type of wood used and the quality of the construction. The look of your kitchen cabinets will also be reflected in the hardware you choose from the hinges to the knobs. Once you finish all the choices and have them in place you will enjoy them for years to come.
If you are looking for a home remodeling contractor, please call us today at 650.390.9545 or complete our no obligation consultation form.
A homeowner might be used to using the antiquated appliances in the kitchen but home buyers will be totally turned off by them. The home remodeling values for kitchen upgrades are what can make or break the sale of a home. A homeowner can choose to upgrade only one appliance at a time or plan for a complete home improvement project that will bring in many additional dollars at home selling time.
There are many styles and colors that can be selected for kitchen appliances. The homeowner will have to take into account the coloring of the cabinets in the kitchen to determine which color of appliance will look best. Some kitchens are smaller than any other room in the home and homeowners will typically choose to expand these living spaces to give home buyers more incentive to purchase the home.
The additional space created in a kitchen remodel can be used for many things. The kitchen upgrade could give new home buyers a new pantry that is equipped with sliding shelves and open wire storage containers. The homeowner might even consider adding some recessed lights in the pantry as a special touch that many home buyers will really appreciate and a broom closet on the side will make cleaning up seem like a breeze.
Some homeowners go the extra mile when installing kitchen sinks. They choose to upgrade the kitchen with a home remodeling project that includes a garbage disposal or a trash compactor that would be really sweet. Equipping the double sink with sprayers and cleanser dispensers the homeowner is sure to get a good return on the money that is spent on these niceties.
Most homeowners will go all out when selecting kitchen counters. Stone countertops seem to get rave reviews by home buyers because they are both beautiful and easy to clean. These surfaces add long lasting value to the home because they rarely need to be replaced. It is really hard to damage a stone countertop that has curved lips and splashguards to protect all countertop surfaces.
Most homeowners will consider adding vacuum systems that recess into the wall but this is one item that is perfect for a kitchen upgrade. Spills can be cleaned up in an instant and homeowners can truly get more enjoyment out of the busiest place in the house. When stone tiles are placed on the floor, the homeowner can upgrade even more by using grout in a complimentary color. All of these improvements will made the home remodeling a success and home buyers will probably match the asking price because the home is such a good value.
If you are looking for a bathroom remodeling contractor, please call us today at 650.390.9545 or complete our no obligation consultation form.
It's quite refreshing how many people are interesting in using environmentally friendly products these days, even when they're taking on expensive home improvement projects such as remodeling the kitchen. Fortunately, you can now get "green" materials without paying any more than you would for other high-end materials. Unfortunately, you can't always find these eco-friendly countertops, cabinets, and floors at your local home improvement store.
Specialty stores (those that emphasize green living) are your friend here, but since they're smaller, they won't always have all the options. It's a good idea to research online and decide what kind of flooring, countertops, appliances, etc. you want before you even look for a buyer.
That's where this article can help. We'll look at a few areas where you can make environmentally friendly choices when remodeling the kitchen. In the end, your new kitchen will look as good as anybody else's on the block (maybe better).
Countertops
There are lots of eco-friendly options for kitchen countertops. Concrete is low-maintenance and easy to mold into whatever shape and thickness you want. Natural stone such as granite, though a somewhat limited resource, doesn't give off harmful vapors that man-made materials can. Countertops made from recycled materials are increasingly popular. You can find everything from paper to glass to ceramic (how would you like a handsome Terrazzo countertop made from old toilets, sinks, and tubs that would otherwise be cluttering up landfills?).
Eco-friendly Flooring
Bamboo is becoming very popular in the flooring arena, both in the kitchen and other rooms of the house. Since it's a grass, it grows much more quickly than trees, so it's an easily replenished resource. If you prefer hardwood flooring, consider wood harvested from sustainable forests. You can also get hardwoods made from salvaged or reclaimed wood (such as from old buildings that were torn down). These natural materials are often more eco-friendly than man-made compounds.
Kitchen Appliances
Make sure to choose Energy Star appliances when you're shopping for your new oven, dishwasher, refrigerator. They may be more expensive than traditional models, but these appliances use 10-50% less energy and water so you will save money in the long run. You don't have to give up style for energy efficiency; you can get stainless steel and other high-end finishes in Energy Star-rated models.
Cooktops
Is there such thing as an environmentally friendly cooktop? Of course. The new induction units on the market use electricity to produce a magnetic field that causes molecular movement, which heats pans instead of burners. This method of heating uses less energy than gas and electric stoves, and induction cooktops are safer too (no need to worry about a child touching a hot burner).
Cabinets
Choosing cabinets that are functional and handsome is a big part of a kitchen remodel, since they take up a large portion of the room. When you're looking for eco-friendly options, choose the same sorts of materials you would with flooring. Bamboo and reclaimed wood are handsome choices. If you need less expensive cabinets, you can get fiberboard or particleboard, but make sure to find cabients that don't contain urea formaldehyde, which is as unpleasant as it sounds; it's not something you want in a healthy kitchen.
Paints and Finishes
Kitchen remodeling isn't just about countertops, cabinets, and shiny stainless steel appliances. Think about the paints you'll use on the walls and the finishes you'll use on cabinets and countertops too. You should choose paints and finishes with Low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) ratings. (Many conventional materials have high VOCs, and these compounds produce potentially harmful gases when they're applied. These can be troublesome for those with allergies or chemical sensitivities, and they diminish the indoor air quality for all.
Windows
Most kitchens will have at least one window. You can help save energy by installing Energy Star-qualified windows (in the rest of the house as well as the kitchen).
Remember Recycling
The eco-friendly homeowner will make recycling a part of his or her life. You can make separating jars, bottles, and cans easy by building a recycling center into your kitchen. When choosing the cabinets you want to install, consider adding one with a slide out unit that holds a traditional garbage receptacle and a can or cans for recycling too.
If you are looking for a San Jose remodeling contractor, please call us today at 650.390.9545 or complete our no obligation consultation form.
Want to relive the excitement of California’s gold rush of the mid 19th century? Or the grandeur of the Victorian age? If your answer is a ‘Yes’, try installing an antique sink in your kitchen and mull over the glorious past of your ancestors while eating your meal.
Obtaining a real antique or vintage kitchen sink is not going to be easy. The kitchen sink from the pages of the history book is likely to have developed cracks or chinks and the one you are lucky to chance upon may not have the necessary accessories like faucets to make it workable in today’s kitchen.
The kitchen sinks of the mid 19th or early 20th century were made of marble, porcelain, fireclay or copper. They mostly came from Continental Europe – France and Italy.
Kitchen sinks from the early 20th century are quite difficult to find in useable original condition. This helps drive the price up.
To take one example, a classic 1900 model of marble sink, manufactured in Chicago by the Wolff Mfg. Co, which the Los Angeles-based Vintage Plumbing has put up for sale, has a 4' tall heavy French plate beveled mirror back splash. It has full original mixer hardware and complete supply and drain hardware below sink. It has nickel plated brass cabriole legs and carved soap dish in the slab drains into the basin. The store has priced it at $8,900.
According to the Vintage Plumbing, kitchen sinks from the teens, 20's and 30's are very popular among the customers and so they have a fairly good stock of them. The store stocks antique farm house kitchen sinks manufactured by the Kohler’s, Standard Sanitary Mfg Co, besides the Wolff Mfg. Co. However, the store admits it is difficult to find sinks in good condition.
Kitchen Sinks provides detailed information on stainless steel, copper, vintage, granite, corner, and acrylic kitchen sinks, faucets, and more. For more information go to http://www.e-kitchensinks.com and/or visit its sister site at http://www.e-granitecountertops.com for related information.
If you are looking for a San Jose remodeling contractor, please call us today at 650.390.9545 or complete our no obligation consultation form.
The kitchen, for all of its utilitarian functions, often serves as the core of a home. The old saying, "No matter where I serve my guests, it seems they always like my kitchen best!" is well founded in reality, both when the phrase was first coined and today. You know how it goes. You do your best to make the living areas presentable and comfortable so that your guests will congregate in your living room or family room. Then, during the course of your party, you notice that there seems to be less people there than walked through the door! Then you go out in the kitchen and there are a number of people - some sitting on the counter, others leaning against the butcher block and still others sitting at the kitchen table. Oh well, as long as they're comfortable and enjoying your home, who cares?
Since it is so important and so much time is spent there, it is absolutely necessary that the kitchen be planned out in advance so that it is as efficient and functional as possible. Recently, when remodeling our guest house, we really realized just how small the kitchen space is. We don't live in this house so it never posed any particular problem. But, when it came time to gutting the kitchen and starting over, we recognized that this was the opportune time to really make the space work.
We took accurate measurements and made a rough drawing of the dimensions and included the entryways and the one window. We then went to one of the big box stores to see what kind of assistance they could offer. They were great! They had a kitchen department complete with a computerized program specifically for kitchen layout. Even better, they offered a mylar sheet that had peel and stick upper and lower cabinets of all sizes, cut outs for dishwashers, ovens, microwaves, refrigerators and pantries. Though this seemed to be a rather elementary format, we embraced it. We took it down to the guest house and starting playing with different configurations to see how these various options would fit within our dimensions and to visualize how they would look within this space.
We had fun with this. We moved cabinets around and placed the refrigerator in different spots, all the while imagining how it would be to work in this space, taking into consideration where you will place a pot or pan when bringing them out of the oven or how close the refrigerator is to the food prep area. Involving whoever does the cooking is vital in this stage of the planning! Last thing you want is to hear, for the rest of your life, is how stupid it is to have the closest place for the turkey roaster way over on the other side of the kitchen from the oven. Spend some time with it. Imagine yourself cooking, cleaning and, yes, entertaining in your kitchen.
Picture yourself at the sink, doing the dishes or getting them ready for the dishwasher and seeing yourself putting away the dishes, remembering that the ones you use the most are the ones you will want to have a space for close by. Take into consideration the flow of traffic into and out of the kitchen space so you aren't bumping into each other. If you are a recycler, you might want to have a separate, built-in bin next to your trash bin for easy separation. Same thing with pet foods and bowls. Having a convenient spot for just their bowls and food next to their feeding area will make it easier for you and house/pet-sitters.
If your kitchen is large enough, you might want to incorporate a small desk area with a phone and drawers for phone books and recipe boxes and a shelf for recipe books.
Under the counter lights controlled by a dimmer are an attractive and functional feature for a kitchen. It not only lights up your work area, it allows for mood lighting when you aren't actively working in the kitchen or as night lighting when passing through or for those midnight snacks.
Time and energy spent at the beginning of the project will insure that you have a kitchen that works in terms of efficiency, functionality and one in which the doors won't bang into each other. Done right, it will become the place that your "guests like best...!"
If you are looking for a bathroom remodeling contractor, please call us today at 650.390.9545 or complete our no obligation consultation form.
Take a close look at your kitchen while you think about its potential. Do you have any ideas as to what it could look like? Maybe your kitchen is just how you like it, but chances are if the opportunity was there, you would change a few things. If you are the creative type you may already have ideas for remodeling your kitchen which you have been considering for sometime now. If you think you would like to make some changes but do not know what they would be, you can find great kitchen remodeling ideas from magazines or your local kitchen or home improvement center.
Sometimes a few small changes like a fresh coat of paint in a new color or a trendy light fixture can make a significant improvement to your kitchen's overall look and feel. Or, perhaps you need kitchen remodeling ideas for other reasons, such as a growing family. If you can steal some space from an adjoining room, your kitchen remodeling projects takes on an entirely new dimension but do not disregard this possibility just because the project may be slightly intimidating.
If you know someone with remodeling experience, maybe a carpenter by profession or even hobby, ask them for their kitchen remodeling ideas in using some of the adjacent space as kitchen space. Perhaps knocking down a wall between the kitchen and dining room will open up the area and add extra floor space.
One of the most commonly heard complaints from homeowners revolves around limited counter space. Some space available is often not able to be used due to the layout of the cabinets hanging over the top. For instance, some kitchens have an L-shaped countertop that juts into the middle of the kitchen and this countertop more likely than not has a counter hanging over it. Yes, the counter is there, but using it may involve hitting your head on the cupboard.
Consider kitchen remodeling ideas that involve removing that extra cabinet so to free up the counter for actual use. This will also make the kitchen appear larger by eliminating the divider at the ceiling. You may also be able to enlarge the countertop at that section and create a breakfast bar included in the adjoining dining room, an incomparable addition to any kitchen remodeling design.
If you have looked at your kitchen numerous times resulting in no ideas, and your friends can offer no ideas for remodeling your kitchen, take the advice above and visit your local home improvement or design store. Or, look online for some fine kitchen designs that may just be enough to trigger some remodeling layout ideas to fit your kitchen. Once you get a look at some of the latest kitchen cabinets and appliances available today, do not be surprised if you suddenly have a flood of kitchen remodeling ideas that were nowhere to be found earlier. Sometimes it just takes one small idea to get the creative juices flowing!
If you are looking for a bathroom remodeling contractor, please call us today at 650.390.9545 or complete our no obligation consultation form.