kitchen improvements can range from simple to a complex complete redo. Sometimes fresh paint and refurbished cabinets will satisfy the need for a new look, and sometimes an old kitchen needs a total remodeling.
As with any new project the first place to start is with your budget. Don’t be shy about admitting what you can really spend, keeping in mind that you don’t have to break the bank in order to get a kitchen you will love! The products, materials, and any potential labor costs should all be in your budget—an estimate on all of these things is fine, but try to price high in case of any pricing surprises. Architectural design (adding a door, moving the sink, etc), cabinets, counter tops, floorings, appliances, sinks, and faucets are what you will want to budget for.
Next plan, plan, and then plan. You will never be too educated about the design you want. As you are planning, note what you love about your kitchen, what aspects of the room you are flexible about changing, and what simply must go/change. Try to be modest: cabinets can be sanded and stained or painted instead of getting new cabinets, laminate countertops look great and are much cheaper than granite, linoleum is less expensive than tile, and used appliances are going to be cheaper, and often they will come with a warranty to allow piece of mind about buying used.
Do you want to do some of the work yourself? Plumbing and electric should be done by a contracting professional, but the rest might be the perfect project for do-it-yourselfers. Many hardware stores hold free seminars and classes that teach us how to do many of these things for ourselves, so take advantage of them. You can learn how to install your own cabinets and how to do a fancy paint job on the walls. Plus, it can be fun and rewarding to see the fruits of your labor in your gorgeous new kitchen.
It is important to again stress that you should plan for the unexpected. If you pull out the old cabinets and find that the newly exposed wall has water damage, or you accidentally knock a large hole in the wall when trying to install something, bug infestation that wasn’t obvious until you were knee-deep in work…these things happen to the best of us, so leave room in your schedule and budget for the unforeseen.
If you decide to hand the whole project over to contracting professionals, that is great, too! Be advised to do your homework on everyone you hire: check references, make sure they are licensed and insured, and check with the Better Business Bureau and Chamber of Commerce. Again, you can’t ever be too knowledgeable.
As a final note: if you are planning on reselling your home anytime in the future, keep your kitchen as neutral as possible. Red and purple walls may be the perfect color choices for you, but they may not be for the potential buyer.
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