Category: Home Improvement

Renovation in a kitchen

Taking on a renovation in a kitchen can be downright daunting. It’s one of the most-used rooms in your home and needs to be equal parts functional and beautiful. But with all the different moving parts—appliances, sinks, lighting, cabinets, and more—it’s tough to know where to begin. Plus, there’s the issue of cost and time. It’s a lot! Thankfully, Apartment Therapy (and some helpful experts) did the heavy lifting for you. Here, pros weigh in on every step of the process, from planning all the way to the finish line, so you can feel empowered to create the kitchen of your dreams. Click on each question to find out the answer to anything you may be wondering about.

PLANNING IT OUT

1 How much will my kitchen remodel cost?

2 How do I finance my kitchen remodel?

3 Can I do a budget kitchen renovation?

4 How long will my kitchen remodel take?

5 Is there any one project I can do that will have a big impact on my kitchen?

6 Should I do a DIY kitchen renovation or hire someone?

7 What kinds of pros are needed for each part of the project?

8 How do I find reputable pros?

9 In what order should I renovate my kitchen?

10 Do I need a permit to remodel my kitchen?

11 How do I design a kitchen remodel?

12 What measurements do I need to know?

13 What else should I know about my kitchen before I get started?

14 I rent. Which of these things are for me?

15 How much value will a kitchen renovation add to my home?

16 Are there any upgrades that aren’t worth it?

ALL ABOUT CABINETS

17 How do I renovate kitchen cabinets?

18 How do I paint my cabinets? Can I leave the doors on?

19 How much time will it take to paint my cabinets?

20 How do I pick my cabinet color?

21 What materials do I need for this project if I’m doing it myself?

22 If I hate my cabinet doors, do I have to replace the whole cabinet?

23 Should I go for open shelving or not?

24 Should my cabinets go all the way to the ceiling?

25 How do I maximize storage if I’m not changing the size of my kitchen?

26 Is it better to get cabinets with doors or with drawers?

27 What if I live in a rental—is there anything I can do?

Kitchen Remodels

We take the time to understand your goals so we can build a kitchen that’s unique to you and your home. Maybe your ideal kitchen is contemporary or traditional, U-shaped or galley-style, custom or prefab — or somewhere in between. We can preserve the original look and feel, or build something completely different.

When remodeling a kitchen, there are countless layout and style options to choose from. Most often, our clients are interested in transforming a closed-off kitchen into larger open-concept space connected to the home’s dining and living areas. Common kitchen remodeling projects include:

Removing walls to create an open floor plan

Reconfiguring the kitchen layout to improve the room’s flow

Updating the appliances, countertops, cabinets, and other fixtures

Upgrading or repairing the appliances, electrical, or plumbing

Adding windows, built-ins, or other custom features

MERCER ISLAND NEW CONSTRUCTION

This high-end kitchen is part of one of our custom-built homes. Upgrades include a double wall oven, beverage cooler, and 6-burner gas range, and more.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE KITCHEN REMODEL

We transformed this closed-off layout into an open floor plan. By removing a wall and altering the layout, the new space flows much more naturally.

WOODINVILLE ADDITION & KITCHEN RENOVATION

We revamped this home’s layout to accommodate a new upstairs bonus room and garage. Downstairs, we introduced lots of light and modern finishes to the kitchen and living room.

Kitchen Remodels: 3 Budgets, 3 Kitchens

Is your current kitchen out of date or not functioning well? Is it too small or closed off from the rest of your home? Perhaps you’re ready to get cooking with a brand-new kitchen remodel, but the whole thing is feeling a bit overwhelming, from cabinetry to countertops, and appliances to air ducts.

The Basic Kitchen Remodel

Love to cook but not in love with your current kitchen? A basic, cosmetic remodel elevates your existing layout, appliances, and fixtures and spares expenses for plumbing and ductwork, while implementing the professional polish essential to a complete remodel. A basic kitchen remodel involves replacing easily removed products and typically runs $20,000 – $35,000.

So, what does a basic remodel look like? Here are some items it might include.

Efficient Lighting — Recessed lights are nice, but they offer a lot less illumination than the average light fixture (60 vs. 120+ W). Simple light fixtures with 120w, 180w, or more can be simple, tasteful, and brilliantly illuminating, all without the hefty price tag.

Simple Appliances — One of the keys to a successful basic kitchen remodel is the use of simple appliances that don’t need to be built-in. Nixing the custom cabinetry saves you both money and time.

Go Vinyl — What’s a remodel without new flooring? Vinyl is the versatile material of choice for floors and other surfaces, and can even make a great-looking backsplash. Speaking of backsplashes, if it’s in your budget, a ceramic tile backsplash is a great splurge for an extra stylish finish to your basic kitchen remodel.

Cabinet Hardware — Reusing your existing cabinetry is one of the key ways to keep costs down, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with dated or damaged storage. Fix up any broken cabinets or replace cabinet doors and consider adding new cabinet hardware to upgrade your kitchen. When it comes to cabinets, a little goes a long way.

Lovely Laminates — Laminate is a surface material whose reputation has come a long way in recent years. Photo printed laminate countertops and a bevy of striking edge designs provide lots of aesthetic choices at low cost.

The Mid-Level, Pull and Replace Kitchen Remodel

Want to break the mold of your existing kitchen layout? A pull and replace kitchen remodel lets you do just that. Whether it’s a new island or professional-grade appliances, a mid-level remodel totally reworks your kitchen from the ground up, including moving appliances, plumbing, ductwork, electrical, and more. Ranging from $25,000 – $55,000, a mid-level kitchen remodel creates the space you need for the renewed functionality you desire.

A pull and replace kitchen remodel may include:

Professional Appliances — Liberate your inner chef with awesome appliances. From stainless steel refrigerators to double convection ovens, it’s all on the table.

The Island — As the focal point to your new kitchen remodel, why not consider an island? It’s perfect for serving up a meal hot from the oven, or for the family to gather around as dinner is being prepared.

Upgraded Cabinetry — Upgrade cabinets with standard cabinet sizes and eye-catching materials like maple with a custom glaze. Get the beautiful storage you need without compromising. Make the most of your kitchen’s existing storage space by installing a pull-out shelf in one—or all—of the base cabinets.

Designer Accessories — Select the details and accessories that make your kitchen feel unique. Custom handles and knobs are a great way to make it personal.

New Floors — With a bigger budget, wood and ceramic floors enter the picture, and boy do they make a great impression!

Surfaces Built to Last — For surfaces that look and feel amazing year after year, look no further than stone counters and glass tile backsplashes. Pricier than laminate, quartz and natural stone (like granite), look sharp for decades

How to Get Your Kitchen Renovation Done on a Budget

They say that the kitchen is the heart of a home. That’s because it’s where some of our fondest memories are made. It’s why we dream about beautiful, functional spaces to host our family and friends and invest time, energy and finances into transforming them.

When you have finally made the decision to entertain a kitchen renovation or remodel, a little bit of planning, the right guidance, and getting your priorities straight can go a long way to ensuring  your kitchen dreams are fulfilled without over spending!

Do your Homework and Have a Vision

Before jumping into kitchen remodelling headfirst, take some time to research. Social media accounts of designers, cabinet makers and other kitchen product providers are full of inspiring pictures.  The more thorough you are with your research up front, the more streamlined and cost-conscious your renovation project will be.

Once you have a clear idea about your kitchen’s appearance, you can plan the remodel accordingly and avoid any mid-way design changes that can stack up your expenses. When you are planning your kitchen remodel, consider carefully what your top three issues really are and channel your resources into solving those.  Maybe you don’t need to change  everything about your kitchen. If it’s storage you need, research how to gain storage without changing your kitchen layout drastically. If it’s functionality, get creative with your space and some of the space saving appliances that are in the market.

Focus on Details

Large kitchen renovations are certainly big on WOW factor, but you don’t always have to spend a big buck to get a big bang! A complete overhaul on your kitchen can be great, but sometimes a few small changes can make a big impact on your kitchen’s look and keep the renovation cost down.

Kitchen Remodel Contractor on Thumbtack cost

Nationally, the average cost of a kitchen remodel is $12,961. Across the board, Thumbtack kitchen remodel contractors state that the average time to remodel a kitchen is three to six weeks.

Average costs based on remodel size

Your kitchen size impacts your remodel costs. The larger the kitchen, the more materials, labor and prep work required. For example, Illinois estimates that in his region customers spend, on average, $18,000 for a small kitchen remodel, $30,000 for a medium kitchen remodel, and $50,000 for a larger kitchen remodel.

40 to 60-square-foot kitchen (small): $16,000-$18,000 for a standard renovation, including new counters, floor, backsplash, cabinets, and mid-range appliances.

135 to 165-square-foot kitchen (medium): $28,000-$30,000 for galley kitchen in a townhome or smaller home, including new counters, floor, backsplash, cabinets, and mid-range appliances.

A medium kitchen can also be $65,000-$70,000 or more, depending on finishes and components. explains that the  difference is spending:

$2,200 on countertops or $9,000 on countertops

$5,000 on cabinets or $20,000 on customized cabinets

$1,000 or $4,000 on tile backsplash

$800 on a hood oven

or $5,000 on a hood oven with exhaust

360-square-feet and up (large): $45,000-$50,000 for a large kitchen renovation with standard finishes

THE FINAL INSPECTION WALK THROUGH WITH YOUR BUILDER

Before you go to settlement on a new home, you and your builder will “walk through” the house to conduct a final inspection. The walk-through provides an opportunity for you to learn how your new home works and to spot items that need to be corrected or adjusted.

Often, a builder will use the walk-through to inform buyers about:

The operation of the house’s components.

The buyer’s responsibilities for maintenance and upkeep.

Warranty coverage and procedures.

The larger community in which the home is located.

The Walk Through Process

When you buy a new appliance or piece of equipment, such as a washing machine, you usually have to read the instructions before you can understand how to use all of the features. With a new house, you will be receiving a stack of instruction booklets all at once. It helps if someone can take the time to show you how to operate all of the kitchen appliances, the heating and cooling systems, the water heater, and other features in the home. Such an orientation is particularly useful considering that when moving into a new home, people often are so busy that they have trouble finding time to read instruction booklets.

Learning about maintenance and upkeep responsibilities is very important. Most new homes come with a one-year warranty on workmanship and materials. However, such warranties do not cover problems that develop because of failure to perform required maintenance. Many builders provide a booklet explaining common upkeep responsibilities and how to perform them.

Should a warranted problem arise after you move in, the builder is likely to have a set of warranty service procedures to follow. Except in emergencies, requests for service should be in writing. This is not because the builder is trying to be bureaucratic. Rather, it is to ensure that everyone clearly understands the service to be performed. The person receiving a service request is not likely to be the person performing the work, and you don’t want to rely on word of mouth for transmission of your service order.

Things You’re Afraid to Tell Your Builder

We live in a time when information has all but replaced money as a person’s most valuable asset. It’s no surprise that when someone asks us for our name, our phone number or – the granddaddy of all – our email address, we protect our personal info with gusto. We want to know why they want it and what they plan to do with it if we give it to them. So it stands to reason that when a builder starts to ask you personal questions, especially related to your finances and budget, your instinct is to be guarded; play it close to the vest; take care not to over-share. But, there’s a danger in this approach that’s just as real as broadcasting your Social Security Number on social media. Not being honest with the folks who will craft your dream log home can only result in dissatisfaction. As a builder and a Log & Timber Home University professor, I’ve heard it all (or not heard it, as the case may be), and I want to help you understand why honesty and full disclosure are the best policies when dealing with your log home team. Here’s my topfive list of what people are afraid to tell their builder, and why they shouldn’t be.

How much money you have to invest in the project.

There’s an important distinction between how much money you have and how much you are willing to invest on the design, fabrication and construction of your log home. Being sincere with your builder about this is vital, because every decision from that point on will be based on that number. If you think you’re being clever by telling him you have less money to spend on your home than you actually intend, then you’re doing yourself a disservice. He’s already looking to limit your selections or even cut items from your project that could improve the quality of your home, just so you can stay within a fictitious budget. Some of these choices might include settling for fiberglass-batt insulation in the roof instead of energy-efficient (but more expensive) spray foam insulation or structural insulated panels; upgrading to an on-demand hot water system, which costs more now but saves money over time; or choosing higher-quality windows, which will boost your home’s thermal envelope, resulting in lower energy bills. A better approach is to be honest with the total amount you have to invest, broken down by how much you’d like to spend upfront and how much of that number is set aside as a contingency. For example, say your all-in number is $500,000, but you’re setting aside $75k as a sideline for unforeseen issues or other uses, like smart upgrades. Tell your builder this information. This way he can work to keep the bulk of your build to $425,000 but know that if he has a problem or cost overrun, he doesn’t have to cut from other areas to make the numbers work. This kind of transparency will go a long way to establishing a good relationship between you and your builder.

Your knowledge (or lack thereof) about construction.

A lot of people don’t want to let a builder know that they don’t have construction experience out of fear that if they’re viewed as unknowledgeable, they will be, somehow, “taken.” You shouldn’t be worried about that, but you should be concerned with being appropriately informed. If you do have construction experience, by all means share that detail with your builder. You and he will be able to speak intelligently as milestones approach and about ways to create value in the project. If you don’t know much about construction, don’t fake it. Your builder may assume you understand key components of the process and skim over them rather than bring you into the conversation, leaving you in the dark and causing you to be frustrated. Be honest and rely on his talent and expertise. That’s why you hired him in the first place.

Tasks you can tackle to save money.

Some people are afraid to tell their builder they are willing to purchase their own flooring or cabinetry for fear they’ll offend him. The truth is, with all the balls a builder has to keep in the air to complete your home on time and on budget, they welcome a client who is willing to participate in the process. The key is to keep your involvement to tasks that won’t disrupt the schedule. For instance, you may think you can save a lot of money if you sand your floors or stain your logs yourself, and maybe you can; but these types of “sweat equity” tasks rely on two key factors to keep your build running smoothly. First, you have to be available in the builder’s window for when certain tasks need to take place; and second, you have to have the time and expertise to complete the project within that window. If you can’t comply with these parameters, not only will you not save money, you actually could add to the overall cost if you throw the schedule off track and hold up the job.

When you really need to move in.

Giving a builder a false move-in date is common, and it’s counterproductive. If you have a year before you absolutely have to move into your log home, don’t tell your builder you only have five months. This will put your builder in a position where, in trying to fast-track things to meet your deadline, he may have to pull in trade contractors he hasn’t worked with before or squeeze you in between other jobs he has going on — not ideal, since you want your builder to be focused on your home. A better approach is to tell him that you’d like to be in by a certain time (August, for example) but also be honest about your drop-dead date (December). This allows your builder to properly schedule his experienced subs to work on your home.

Things to consider while selecting a home builder for your dream home

Customised homes are the trend of the town. Of course, what’s better than having your home built exactly the way you always envisioned

With more and more Australians choosing to have their abodes constructed as per their tastes, choosing the right builder can be the bridge between a dream home and a disaster (read bad quality, no after-completion support, non-availability of the builder during the construction process etc.)

Go beyond the price

Price is an important part of the equation when you decide to build a home; we all know luxury doesn’t come cheap. However, don’t let price be your only guiding factor. Rate various builders on different parameters important to you including quality, experience, efficiency, building layout, promptness and transparency in paperwork.

Ask the right questions

Before you zero in on a builder, ask the right questions to make the right choice. Here’s what you need to ask the builder for sure:

Contacts of at least 3 previous clients, for there’s nothing like word of mouth to know a builder’s repute.

Is the builder licensed and does he carry indemnity insurance? Remember, a builder must be licensed to carry out works costing over a certain amount. Do not work with unlicensed builders.

What is included in the contract? Is the cost of the concrete slab, the foundation of your home, included? If not, it can adds thousands of bucks to the final cost. What about prices for materials yet to be decided (prime cost material)?

Experience and reputation

While you may be impressed by a builder’s designs, do not ever over look the importance of experience and repute. A builder who has been in the market for few years with a good number of projects under his belt is bound to have happy customers that enabled him to continue in the market. This is exactly the kind of builder you want – one who knows the market, who has experience and is bothered about maintaining his reputation, and thus, never compromises on quality.

Self Build: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

Choosing to self build is a great way to create a home that is exactly tailored to your needs and can often enable you to get more bang for your buck

If you are looking to create an individual home that is tailored to your lifestyle and requirements, then you should absolutely consider the self build options available to you.

Self building can allow you to create a low-maintenance home that will change with you as your needs change. It can also give you scope to design in energy efficient features from the outset.

But it doesn’t mean that you will be the one on site digging foundation trenches or laying bricks yourself. There are numerous self build routes available — depending on your available time, budget and skillset — from building your house on a DIY basis or acting as your own project manager to a completely hands-off approach through a package supplier.

What is a Self Build?

A self build is an individual house that has been commissioned by an individual homeowner to perfectly fit their exact requirements and tastes

Things to Consider When Choosing a Custom Builder

Planning the services of a custom builder to build your dream home? When it comes to building a new home, everyone wants to construct it according to choice and needs. Home is the place where you will ideally spend a happy and peaceful life with your family. If you are looking for a custom builder to build your new home. It is crucial, that you do your research and select a builder who you can trust to guide you, design and build a beautiful home.

Consult Builders and Consider Your Needs

When looking for the services of a builder, you first have to consider your needs, but you must also plan your home according to your available budget.

Only Choose Licenced Builders

When choosing a home builder, it is imperative that you can verify the builder’s licence. You should be very strict and choose to build with only a licenced builder. All builder’s must provide insurances including builders warranty insurance as part of their permit application.

Experience is Essential

When choosing a home builder, you should always choose an experienced company. Working with a highly experienced home builder often means they will offer better architectural design options and offer a higher quality service. Experienced builders have a greater understanding of know what a new home owner needs and can build according to those needs.

Check Reviews

When selecting a home builder, you want to be able to find out the quality of that builder. It is important to check reviews and even contact past clients if possible. All you need to do is ask them if they were satisfied with the service. If they were, this is generally a pretty good indication that the builder is of a decent quality.