The kitchen is the heart of a home. A remodeled kitchen enhances your lifestyle while adding value to your home.
To choose a contractor, evaluate their licensing and insurance, review their portfolio and expertise, and ask for a walkthrough of previous remodels. This will help you find a professional who can understand your vision and bring it to life. Contact Kitchen Remodeling Houston for professional help.
Cabinets are built-in pieces of furniture with shelves and drawers that can conveniently hold items, especially in kitchens or bathrooms. They can come in many styles and materials, including wood, laminate, metal, and glass. Whether you choose to paint, stain, or refinish them, your cabinets can easily become the focal point of your kitchen and influence the overall style of your home’s decor.
Refacing your kitchen’s cabinets is a cost-effective way to give them a fresh new look. Simply remove the old doors and drawer fronts, clean and sand the cabinet boxes, apply a veneer, and install the new door and drawer hardware. You can also add crown molding above the cabinets for an instant upgrade that makes your kitchen look more refined and polished.
When choosing your cabinet color, consider the color of your counters and floor. White cabinets are a classic, but you could also go with gray or even black for an ultra-modern feel. Dark colors can also help ground the space and create a more visually interesting contrast against light surfaces.
Make the most of your kitchen’s storage potential by installing pull-out shelving in your base cabinets. This easy-to-install feature makes it much easier to access items stored in the back of the cabinet.
If you have sentimental dishes, barware, or decorative teapots, consider removing the doors from your cabinets and displaying them on open shelving for a custom, eye-catching display that adds a personal touch to your kitchen. It’s a great alternative to hanging them on the wall or placing them in a decorative cabinet.
Countertops
Countertops are one of the most visible parts of any kitchen and act as a focal point in the space. They communicate your style and help set the tone for the room, so choosing the right countertops is a big decision for any kitchen remodeling project. While aesthetics are a key factor, think about durability and maintenance as well. Some countertop materials, such as marble, require regular sealing and specialized cleaning, while others, like quartz and concrete, are highly resistant to heat and scratches.
Tile is a popular choice for countertops, and it comes in many different styles, colors, and textures to complement any design. It is also a cost-effective option, with the added bonus of being easy to install yourself. It’s important to note, though, that grout lines can be difficult to keep clean, so you may want to consider a darker color.
For those who cook often, it’s a good idea to invest in countertops that are durable and easy to maintain. A few popular options include granite, quartz, and solid surface, as they resist heat, scratches, and stains more effectively than other natural stones. On the other hand, marble and natural wood countertops have a timeless elegance but are prone to staining, so these might be better options for less-used areas of the kitchen.
It’s also common for homeowners to pair contrasting cabinets and countertops to provide an eye-catching contrast. For example, dark gray or charcoal cabinets are frequently paired with white quartz countertops for a modern look. Other popular choices include light wood or cream-colored cabinets paired with darker stone like quartz or granite.
Flooring
Flooring can be one of the most expensive parts of a kitchen remodeling project. It is also a very noticeable and impactful component of the room’s aesthetic, so choosing the right material for your budget and style preferences is important. A new floor can add a clean, finished look to the room and complement or contrast with an existing style.
When deciding on the type of flooring for your remodel, consider the amount of traffic and wear and tear that will be placed on it. If you have children, pets or frequent guests, a durable and easy-to-clean material may be best. Laminate has long been a popular option for kitchens because it mimics the appearance of hardwood floors at a lower cost. It is also durable, easy to clean and available in many styles.
Vinyl is another easy-to-clean and durable option for kitchens. It can come in a wide range of colors and patterns, and some even have built-in antimicrobial protection. Some are waterproof, which is useful in the kitchen, where spills and steam can occur frequently. If you are planning a full remodel, it is best to have the flooring installed before you rebuild the walls and cabinetry. This way, you can be sure that your new floor is properly supported.
While a DIY approach to kitchen remodeling can save money, it is best to hire a professional to ensure flawless results that will enhance the value of your home. A general contractor can help you stay on budget, and they will know which materials are within your price range and which may be outside of it. They will also have relationships with local suppliers and subcontractors and can often get you better rates than you would find on your own.
Appliances
Appliances don’t just help your kitchen function – they can be a focal point of your new design. Whether you choose a stylish stainless steel refrigerator or a sleek white microwave that coordinates with your cabinets, the right appliances can pull your remodel’s look together.
If you’re planning on replacing your kitchen’s appliances during your remodel, it’s best to have a plan in place for where those items will go during the project. Leaving appliances in the old kitchen can be disruptive to the remodeling process, so it’s important to make sure you have a temporary space for them. Ideally, it should be somewhere away from the work zone so that the crew doesn’t accidentally damage them or get dust on them.
Aside from relocating your appliances, you should also consider adding some extra storage spaces to accommodate your new kitchen gadgets and cookware. For instance, a blind corner cabinet pullout makes it easy to access hard-to-reach spots for pots and pans, dishware and other essentials. Similarly, under-cabinet trash and recycling pullouts keep these essentials neatly contained while offering easy access.
Adding smart technology is another way you can blend style and functionality in your kitchen remodel. Options such as hidden outlets and power drawers allow you to conveniently add outlets where you need them without taking up valuable counter space. These clever additions allow you to charge tablets and phones, plug in coffee machines and other kitchen gadgets, and have quick access to a plug for reheating leftovers.
While it’s tempting to customize your kitchen with the latest technology, remember that overly-customized features may limit its appeal to future buyers. It’s also a good idea to prepare for living with limited kitchen access during the remodel by stocking up on supplies of food, drinks and other necessities.
Lighting
One of the most important things you can do in a kitchen remodel is to light the space properly. A well-designed lighting plan will illuminate working areas and add style to the overall design. Kitchen light fixtures are available in a wide variety of styles, shapes, and finishes, so you can create an appealing look while meeting your functional needs.
When choosing lights, you can go for a more decorative style to suit your personality or the design of your home or opt for practicality in the form of cost-efficient LED ceiling lights that come in different colors and can be adjusted on dimmers. If you want to add a more intimate feeling to your kitchen, hang pendant lights over the island or dining area. These can be hung in a group or in pairs, and they’re a popular choice because they add height to the room.
You’ll also want to install task lights that will light up the countertops where food prep is done, as well as recessed or puck lighting that can illuminate a pantry closet so you know what you have on hand. These can be positioned in the center of your kitchen or in the corners where workspaces exist.
It’s also a good idea to install the infrastructure for your decorative lights during the remodel, such as installing junction boxes or recessed boxes in the ceiling. This can save on costs because you won’t need to rewire your kitchen during the renovation. It’s also a way to avoid scope creep, which is when homeowners make changes during the project without fully understanding how it impacts the cost and timeline. This can lead to frustration and disappointment, especially if it causes the budget to blow out.