Investing in your kitchen can make it safer for kids to be in the room and more appealing for family and guests. Kitchen Remodeling Tacoma WA can also help you meet your storage needs, ranging from adding drawer organizers to building new cabinets.
Visiting showrooms and home renovation stores can provide you with information on layouts, designs, appliances, and building materials that will fit your style, budget, and functional requirements.
The appliances in a kitchen are big-ticket items that can throw off the entire budget for a remodel. It’s important to consider how much of a premium you want to pay for your appliances and to compare features to find the right fit for you and your lifestyle.
It’s also important to remember that the placement of your appliances can be a big factor in workflow. Make sure that your dishwasher, refrigerator, and oven are in a position that makes sense for how you typically use them. The time-tested design concept known as the “Kitchen Triangle” can help with this. The idea is that the primary work areas—sink, fridge, and stove (or cooktop)—should form a triangle that’s roughly 4’ to 9’ in length.
Other considerations include determining what type of storage options you’ll need to accommodate all the items you plan on stowing away, from pots and pans to cookie sheets and cutting boards. You can add extra storage space by repurposing empty cabinets or adding a built-in pantry, for instance. Another option is installing a pull-out pantry system that can be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of appliances.
Finally, be sure to choose the right lighting for your kitchen. It can add ambience and highlight certain features, like wall art or an island. Consider the style of lighting you prefer as well as how it will impact your overall decor. You should also think about the amount of light you need in the room and if it will need to be task-specific.
Countertops
Countertops are a crucial part of any kitchen and require special attention during a remodel. They must be able to hold your cooking utensils and look attractive at all times. But most of all, they must have a durable surface that can withstand the wear and tear that comes with frequent use.
Before starting a kitchen remodeling project, it is important to research the different countertop options that are available for your home. Some of the most popular choices include granite, quartz, and corian. Each has its own unique benefits that should be considered before making a decision.
Granite is a popular choice for many homeowners due to its natural beauty and durability. It is resistant to heat, moisture, and scratching and can be found in a variety of colors to complement any kitchen decorating style. It is also an affordable option that can add resale value to your home.
Another option that is becoming increasingly popular is engineered quartz. This man-made material is made from quartz and flexible resins that create an extremely strong and durable surface. It is also nonporous and resistant to bacteria, so it can be easily cleaned. It is also available in an array of looks, including some that convincingly mimic the natural variation of marble and other natural stones.
If you are considering granite or quartz for your countertops, be sure to work with a contractor that has extensive experience working with these materials. A quality contractor will be able to ensure that your countertops are installed correctly and will look great for years to come. They can also help you determine the best layout for your new countertops based on the layout of your kitchen and any existing appliances.
Cabinets
Cabinets are the largest and most visible element of a kitchen. Kitchen cabinets provide storage for a wide array of items, including cooking equipment, food and utensils, cleaning supplies, appliances, cookbooks, and much more. An organized and well-stocked cabinet system can make it far easier to keep a kitchen clean and functional.
A cabinet’s layout is based on its intended use, with some of the most important considerations being accessibility and utility in the context of the kitchen workflow. For example, lower cabinet drawers can eliminate the need to crouch down while opening doors and offer more storage capacity than shelves. They also allow for better organization of the contents, reducing the likelihood that a specific item will get lost.
Considering the fact that cabinets are typically one of the most expensive elements of a kitchen remodel, the decision to opt for a higher-quality construction option will often yield a greater return on investment. There are a variety of custom cabinet modifications that can be implemented to add a degree of personalization to any kitchen design. These include up to 1/8-inch incremental adjustments in cabinet box sizes, finished interiors, beadboard ends or interiors, mullion door designs, and glass-ready doors, among others.
There are two basic types of cabinet construction: framed and frameless. A framed cabinet has a face frame at the front of the cabinet box that offers reinforcement to allow hinges and doors to attach. A frameless cabinet does not have a face frame, which allows for a thinner box that can be used in tighter spaces.
The choice of framed versus frameless cabinetry will also influence your ability to choose a door style. Some cabinet companies offer full overlay and partial overlay options, while others offer inset doors that sit flush with the frame. In addition, the type of back panel used in a cabinet can impact its durability and stability. The most durable back panels are constructed from solid wood, while less costly options may feature metal hang rails and brackets, thin plywood, or picture-frame construction.
Flooring
Kitchen remodeling adds value and function to a home, but you need to decide what your goals are. You may want to focus on aesthetics or the layout. If your goal is to improve the flow of a room, consider working with a space planner or architect. They can take into account how you use your kitchen and help you with the floor plan.
Another important aspect of a remodel is the flooring. The right flooring will set the tone for the kitchen and tie together your decor choices. It also needs to be durable and easy to clean. You can choose from many types of flooring, including linoleum, vinyl tile, hardwood, and engineered wood floors.
If you’re on a budget, try to limit your changes to the flooring and painting. This will save you money and make the kitchen feel new without a major renovation.
A professional remodeler will recommend that you wait to install the flooring until after the drywall and insulation have been installed and the plumbing and electrical work has been completed. This will minimize the amount of dust in your home.
While trends for open shelving may prompt you to forgo upper cabinets, there’s no better way to hold your appliances and create storage underneath them than cabinets. In a remodel, it’s often possible to add extra cabinets or reconfigure existing ones to create more usable space. You can also look at adding unique storage options like pull-out pan racks and baskets to maximize your storage potential.
Lighting
While it might seem like an afterthought, the lighting in a kitchen is one of the most important components to consider when remodeling your home’s hearth. The right combination of ambient, accent, and task lighting can transform the mood and atmosphere of your favorite room, making it feel inviting to family and friends for meals and gatherings.
The first consideration is the overall illumination of your kitchen, typically provided by overhead recessed lights that are controlled by a switch in the entryway to the room. This layer helps brighten the space and eliminate shadows or glare, creating a warm environment. The fixture style you choose will also play a role in the overall look of your kitchen.
Decorative lighting, which highlights design features and adds visual interest to the room, can be achieved with simple fixtures such as flexible rope lights that create a soft glow under cabinet toe kicks or a fanciful center-of-room chandelier. This layer can be as whimsical or as functional as you like, illuminating art or a collection of pottery and adding texture to your kitchen.
Another way to enhance your kitchen’s ambiance is by enlarging or adding well-placed windows, which allow natural light to flow into the room and add color. This can be a tricky choice since it may mean eliminating some upper cabinet storage, but it can make a huge difference in the look of your kitchen. The extra light will also make it easier to see what’s inside your cabinets and keep the area clean. It’s also a good opportunity to install GFCI outlets and move electrical outlets away from water sources to reduce the risk of shock and fire.
