customize your kitchen
As we gain a deeper understanding of how important everyday spatial design is to our lives, different rooms begin to take on their own importance. Nowhere is this more true than in the kitchen, traditionally the heart of every home and now a true extension of our tastes, our personalities and our lifestyle.
Personalization is becoming the watchword of home improvement, especially since we all continue to pay attention to every penny. So if you’re planning on renovating the kitchen, here are five things to consider before calling in the experts…
#1 – What do you actually do in your kitchen?
The obvious answer is ‘I cook’, but dig into that and you’ll find that it actually does a lot more than just ‘cook’. If you have a large family home with a large kitchen, you will probably find that it is the center of daily activity, from family gatherings to the kids doing their homework. So plan your kitchen remodel to accommodate everyone’s needs, not just the chef’s.
#2 – What do you already have that works?
‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, and that’s certainly true for kitchen renovation planning. While you may want a new kitchen, in this time of austerity you should be asking yourself if you really need a complete redesign or if there are elements of your kitchen that are still perfectly functional. If so, be sure to incorporate them into the overall design of your makeover.
#3 – How much space do you have?
You might want a breakfast bar and center island, but if you have a six-foot by three-foot galley kitchen, unless you’ve figured out how to twist the space/time continuum, you’re going to have a tough job fitting them together! Be realistic and use the space you have to your advantage.
#4 – Know the difference between a makeover and a redesign
You need to set boundaries and goals, and a makeover is all about maximizing what you already have and breathing new life into an existing space. A redesign is much more intrusive and will mean dismantling everything, including perfectly functional units that are still alive, changing the layout of the space, and even expanding it further. All of that costs money, so if you’re happy with the space you have and just want to ‘freshen it up a bit’, a makeover is the answer.
#5 Set a budget and stick to it.
One of the most common problems people have when they are improving their homes is a runaway budget. Not only can it drain your bank account, but it can also put a strain on family relationships as the project runs on time and on budget. With a renovation, you can set a budget that’s easier to stick to, making sure you don’t end up spending more than you originally intended.
Once you have all of these guidelines in place, then it’s a simple matter of starting the job yourself (if you’re a competent DIYer) or, preferably, calling in an expert kitchen refinishing team to carry out the cleaning. transformation for you. By planning ahead, you can reduce the time it takes to revive your kitchen, keep your budget in check, and end up with a kitchen you can be truly proud of.
