Kitchen Remodeling Ideas & Tips
Creative Ideas for Kitchen Design
Pinterest is a great place to begin gathering ideas for your kitchen or bathroom remodel. The easy-to-use platform was designed impeccably for this task. It offers a remarkably diverse image library where countless users have already saved and shared inspirational images, which are perfect for creating your own board of ideas! Consider following influencers, brands or designers you admire on Pinterest as they offer wide range of inspiration when it comes time to start brainstorming yours.
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Creating a special dream kitchen folder can be helpful to curate all your great ideas. This will help you communicate with the designer and track any cabinets or counters that might be of interest, so there's less back-and-forth before ordering anything.
When looking for ideas try to collect pictures for:
- Style
- Colors you like
- Cabinets - materials, and color
- Kitchen Counters - granite? quartz?
- Flooring - wood, vinyl, tile
- Plumbing Fixtures - traditional faucets, modern, industrial
- Lighting - fancy, modern, traditional
- Windows & Doors
- Kitchen Backsplash
- Smart Home Technology
- Appliances
- Layout
- Energy Efficiency
- Cabinet Storage Organizers
Collecting your Ideas in a Folder or Binder
We recommend making a special dream kitchen folder or binder to keep all your great ideas in. . Your collection will be helpful to show the kitchen designer later, so they can determine the styles and colors that you are attracted to. You can also keep track of cabinet brochures, counters, and estimates for the kitchen within the folder.
These are just a few design resources that are chock full of good ideas.
- 900 Pinterest Kitchen Ideas
- 100 Great Kitchens and Bathrooms by Architects
- The Perfect Kitchen
- HGTV
- House Beautiful Magazine
- Kitchen and Bath Design: A Guide to Planning Basics
How much does a kitchen remodel cost?
A kitchen remodel cost is hard to determine until you decide on final materials and get estimates. But on average if you’re planning to renovate the kitchen completely, be prepared to pay about 10% or 15% of your home’s current value. That’s no arbitrary percentage; it’s a budget that ensures that the quality of your improvements stays in line with your home’s worth. Having some idea of the average kitchens in the neighborhood will give you some guidance on your own remodel. Don't feel obligated to outdo the neighbors or go so "builder grade" that it feels like you haven't improved at all.
According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, the following is what you can expect on costs for a kitchen remodel:
Refresh $1,500-$10,000
- New basic cabinets or painting existing cabinets
- New cabinet hardware
- New countertops and backsplash
- New sink and faucet
- New lighting
- New window treatments
- One or more new basic appliances
Minor Remodel $10,000-$25,000
- New basic cabinets and hardware
- All-new budget-friendly appliances
- New countertops and backsplash
- New sink and faucet
- New lighting
- New ceramic tile or laminate flooring
- New window treatments
Major Remodel $25,000+
- Mid-level or premium cabinetry
- Professional-style appliances
- Stone countertops and backsplash
- Apron-front sink and pull-down faucet
- New island
- Stone flooring
- Multilevel lighting
- Designer window treatments
Some tips on starting your kitchen remodel
Scope - Decide on how much do you want to change.
Before you begin making your own budget you'll want to decide how much you want to change in the kitchen. There are really two categories for kitchen upgrades. You can decide to pick and choose just certain elements you want to change. Perhaps you'd just like to reface the cabinets, or change out the countertop. The other choice is to go all out and do a complete remodel. This means taking out the old cabinets, countertop, maybe even the flooring and creating a completely new kitchen.
Determine Splurge-Worthy Items Upfront
Is the budget tight? Worried about how you'll afford it? Guess what? Here's a secret tip that interior designers do. They have their clients :choose the most visible, noteworthy parts of the kitchen and splurge on just those key items. Then they have them economize on other items to balance out the budget. This is a pretty smart way to get the most out of your kitchen budget dollars. It's a compromise with yourself, but the great part is you'll get the major areas just as you wish. Just so you know, with Integrity Kitchens and Baths, you are in the driver's seat. You are always in control of the choices and how much you want to spend on your renovation.
Island or No Island
Again here are some questions on the functionality of the kitchen. Do you anticipate entertaining in your kitchen? Do you want room for guests to sit? Do the kids need somewhere to do homework? Unfortunately some kitchens just aren’t big enough for an island. Don’t install one unless you have at least 36 in. of clearance all the way around. A clearance of 42 in. is better, and 48 in. is ideal. You might even try prototyping a kitchen island that's the exact measurements before commiting to building the real thing. This can be done out of foam core. This is the material that architects use with an Exacto-Knife and glue for models. Try out the prototype within the space you have. It's only foam core, and if you don't like it because of cramped space you can change your mind.
Moving a Wall? Look Before You Leap!
If you want to open up your kitchen by removing a wall, make sure the wall in question isn't load bearing. Also keep in mind moving a wall is not trivial. Make sure that financially it makes sense. It's naturally a good idea to consider keeping plumbing and electricity on the side of the kitchen they are currently on. Moving those elements can be quite costly and unnecessary.
Choose your Kitchen Countertop
These days there are a variety of durable and beautiful countertops to choose from. They include:- Granite - a natural heat resistant surface, but needs to be sealed
- Engineered Granite - made to look more uniform and consistent, also heat resistant
- Quartz - crushed quartz crystals bound with resin. Acid, scratch, heat and impact resistant and no need for sealing.
- Recycled Glass - variety of textures and colors. Many surfaces are embedded with materials that allow for a mix of browns, blues, greens and other colors
- Concrete - virtually indestructible, can be stained and patterned to resemble stone. But yes, concrete is heavy!
- Stainless Steel - good for modern looking kitchens, used in commercial kitchens
- Wood - beautiful and warm, but watch out for cuts into the wood and potential warping. Acrylic sealing will help to protect.
Cooking & Preparing Areas: Countertop
Beautiful design is wonderful. But don't forget plenty countertop space to prepare and cut food. You'll want this area to be generous right next to the stove and sink. In this way you won't be short-changed for space, and items won't get dripped or dropped on the floor. Cooking utensil drawers should be close to the stove. Have storage for bulky pots and pans be deep enough and obviously right next to or underneath the stove if it's a cooktop. Pot fillers behind the stove in the back splash area are a cool and functional upgrade. An area for spices really shouldn't be overlooked, as who really wants a bulky spice rack on top of their countertops?
Lighting Design
You'll want lighting to be thoughtfully selected, and not done as an after-thought. There are three areas for kitchen lighting:- Ambient lighting - soft overhead lighting. Lights the way so you can easily enter, exit, and navigate the kitchen.
- Task lighting is brighter to illuminate countertops, islands, sinks, and other work areas for increased precision during food prep, cooking, and cleaning.
- Accent lighting, in between ambient and task lighting in brightness, highlights architectural features or decor in the kitchen, such as a coffered ceiling or a collection of fine china.
