My Home Workshop
Your Link to Home Improvement, Do It Yourself, How To Tips, Tricks, Techniques, and All That is Pink,
Kitchens (under construction)
Your Link to Home Improvement, Do It Yourself, How To Tips, Tricks, Techniques, and All That is Pink,
Kitchens (under construction)
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All About Home Improvement
Inside Kitchens * Backsplashes * Cabinets * Countertops * Flooring * Lighting * Sinks |
1. CREATE A STYLEBOOK
If you're even thinking about a kitchen remodel, odds are you
have been leafing through design magazines and watching
HGTV. Both are great ways to jumpstart the process, but to get
the most out of this step, you'll need to do more than turn
pages and program your TiVo.
While looking through magazines, tear out photos of kitchens
that appeal to you and write what you like about the room in the
margin. Then slip the page into a clear sheet protector and
insert that into a three-ring binder to create a stylebook.
The Internet is another source for kitchen inspiration. If you see
a kitchen that interests you on HGTV, often photos of the room
will be available on HGTV.com. (Start by looking at Designers'
Portfolio: Kitchens). Simply print the photos and add them to
your stylebook. As your stylebook grows, a clear picture of your
desired style of kitchen will begin to emerge. That's helpful for
you, but it's also helpful for the remodeling professional you will
eventually hire.
"We like to go through [the stylebook] to get a blush of what
they're after," says Sara Ann Busby, owner of Sara Busby
Designs, a remodeling company in Elk Rapids, Mich.
2. DEFINE YOUR GOAL
There's obviously a reason you want to remodel your kitchen.
What is it? Perhaps you want a kitchen that will help with resale
in a few years. Maybe you desire a kitchen built for entertaining
or one that allows several people to cook at once. This is the
time to assess your needs and wants. Make notes about how
you plan to use the remodeled space, then try to distill all that
information into a one- or two-sentence goal such as, "My
casual and open kitchen will be a place for family and friends to
relax and enjoy healthy meals."
3. CREATE A BUDGET
To get a general idea of how much you have to spend on a
kitchen remodel, you will need to crunch some numbers. NARI
offers a worksheet that makes the math easy. Are granite
countertops a must-have? How about stainless steel
appliances? Do a little research into the costs of your wish list
items and compare them with your preliminary budget. Are you
on target?
4. SET A TIME BUDGET
When most people hear the word budget, they automatically
think of money. However, when remodeling, it's also important
to budget time. Is there an event on the calendar that would be
affected if your kitchen was under construction? Discuss your
time budget when interviewing potential remodelers.
5. HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Above all else make sure you have reasonable expectations
when it comes to your kitchen remodel. Talk to people who
have been through the process before.
"Sit down with your family and talk about what you're about to
embark on," says Suzie Williford, National Kitchen & Bath
Association treasurer and vice president of sales for
Westheimer Plumbing & Hardware in Houston. "It's going to take
a certain amount of time. It's going to have a certain amount of
mess. It's going to be a financial stress, and if you don't know
all this ahead of time and you go in with rose colored glasses,
then that takes all the fun out of it. And, you know, it should be
Step 6:Decide Whether to Replace or Reface Your Cabinets
Read Feature
Step 7:Buy Appliances That Match Your Needs
Read Feature
If you're even thinking about a kitchen remodel, odds are you
have been leafing through design magazines and watching
HGTV. Both are great ways to jumpstart the process, but to get
the most out of this step, you'll need to do more than turn
pages and program your TiVo.
While looking through magazines, tear out photos of kitchens
that appeal to you and write what you like about the room in the
margin. Then slip the page into a clear sheet protector and
insert that into a three-ring binder to create a stylebook.
The Internet is another source for kitchen inspiration. If you see
a kitchen that interests you on HGTV, often photos of the room
will be available on HGTV.com. (Start by looking at Designers'
Portfolio: Kitchens). Simply print the photos and add them to
your stylebook. As your stylebook grows, a clear picture of your
desired style of kitchen will begin to emerge. That's helpful for
you, but it's also helpful for the remodeling professional you will
eventually hire.
"We like to go through [the stylebook] to get a blush of what
they're after," says Sara Ann Busby, owner of Sara Busby
Designs, a remodeling company in Elk Rapids, Mich.
2. DEFINE YOUR GOAL
There's obviously a reason you want to remodel your kitchen.
What is it? Perhaps you want a kitchen that will help with resale
in a few years. Maybe you desire a kitchen built for entertaining
or one that allows several people to cook at once. This is the
time to assess your needs and wants. Make notes about how
you plan to use the remodeled space, then try to distill all that
information into a one- or two-sentence goal such as, "My
casual and open kitchen will be a place for family and friends to
relax and enjoy healthy meals."
3. CREATE A BUDGET
To get a general idea of how much you have to spend on a
kitchen remodel, you will need to crunch some numbers. NARI
offers a worksheet that makes the math easy. Are granite
countertops a must-have? How about stainless steel
appliances? Do a little research into the costs of your wish list
items and compare them with your preliminary budget. Are you
on target?
4. SET A TIME BUDGET
When most people hear the word budget, they automatically
think of money. However, when remodeling, it's also important
to budget time. Is there an event on the calendar that would be
affected if your kitchen was under construction? Discuss your
time budget when interviewing potential remodelers.
5. HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Above all else make sure you have reasonable expectations
when it comes to your kitchen remodel. Talk to people who
have been through the process before.
"Sit down with your family and talk about what you're about to
embark on," says Suzie Williford, National Kitchen & Bath
Association treasurer and vice president of sales for
Westheimer Plumbing & Hardware in Houston. "It's going to take
a certain amount of time. It's going to have a certain amount of
mess. It's going to be a financial stress, and if you don't know
all this ahead of time and you go in with rose colored glasses,
then that takes all the fun out of it. And, you know, it should be
Step 6:Decide Whether to Replace or Reface Your Cabinets
Read Feature
Step 7:Buy Appliances That Match Your Needs
Read Feature
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