Remodeling Your Home Kitchen

If you're the family member who does the bulk of cleaning and cooking in the house's kitchen, you might have planned some kind of remodel project for months. By the time it's ready to begin and you've saved for it, excitement is natural. To ensure happiness after everything is finished, consider these details specific to redoing a kitchen.

Avoid Drastic Layout Changes

If you've never liked the kitchen's layout, your primary intention is likely related to moving things around to be easier for the way you cook and work in the kitchen. You may want to put the dishwasher across from your sink on a center island, for example, or move the stove across the room. However, changing the entire layout of the kitchen will involve moving pipes and possibly gas or electric lines around. This can quickly become more expensive and time-intensive than you'd planned.  Instead, work with existing systems to make changes that will make you feel better about the space without making the room monstrously expensive or unusable for long periods.

Consider Painting Cabinets

If nothing is particularly wrong with existing cabinets, consider painting them instead of doing refacing or replacements. This can drastically change cabinets' appearance without taking the time or money other measures would. Even better, consider spray paint for this purpose. It can often be done much quicker than other painting methods. You may not want to handle that job yourself, though, as it can get messy.

Remember Foot Space

A lot of your focus will be on equipment, appliances, and fixtures, but if you're planning an island as well, you'll be working on how best to position it. Remember that you've got to walk and carry things in the kitchen. From grocery bags to the Thanksgiving turkey, you'll need enough room to ambulate comfortably. Ensure there are enough feet for your own feet to negotiate the space properly.

Expect Extra Costs

Shipping and additional incidental costs can slowly build; rather than surprise, you should approach this with a feeling of understanding. Schedules delayed or fixture changes could mean a difference in the estimates you got and what you'll ultimately pay. That's why contractor relationships are important; they should update you immediately when costs change.

Remodeling can increase your comfort in and enjoyment of one of the key areas of the house. Stay smart about decisions and interact frequently with professionals as the kitchen is redone.