[ad_1]
Kitchen remodeling is a great way to breathe new life into an older home and the best news is that you may be able to recoup quite a bit of the costs involved when the time comes to sell your house. Remodeling Magazine’s 2010-2011 Cost vs. Value survey estimates that homeowners can expect to receive about 69 percent of the costs associated with a major kitchen remodel in a mid-level home back in their pocket when their home is purchased. That percentage may vary a little depending on where the house is located, but few other home improvement projects offer that much return on your investment.
What’s Popular in Kitchens Today?
The current economy has many homeowners discovering their inner gourmet chef. Families are finding out that cooking and eating at home can not only help their budgets – it might be a lot more fun, too. Large open kitchens that invite family gatherings while meals are prepared are popular now, but the resident chef also wants a work space that’s efficient and user-friendly. A few indulgent upgrades to make cooking more enjoyable are welcome additions, too. When planning your kitchen remodel, consider these current trends:
- Island Convenience – many kitchen remodeling projects feature a prominent island workspace that includes a cook-top and adjacent prep sink. Consider installing a goose neck faucet to make filling pots and pans a little easier. Design Note – don’t make your island too large. It should be a convenience rather than a hindrance to working efficiently.
- Clear the Clutter – quite a few cabinet manufacturers now offer accessories that make it easy to get organized by clearing the clutter off your counter tops. Pull out trays, spice racks, and pantry cabinets can put an end to the frustrating searches for ingredients you’ve recently seen but can’t recall where and give you plenty of counter space for culinary projects.
- Double Ovens – ask your kitchen contractor about the possibility of installing a double oven in your kitchen remodeling project. Even if you already have a single oven cabinet, they can often be modified to accept a double unit. A double oven can make meal coordination a breeze and if one of the units has convection capability, expect your meals to be ready in a fraction of the normal time.
- Make Time for Breakfast – a kitchen that opens to your living area can be a perfect situation for adding a breakfast bar during your remodeling project. Your kitchen contractor can build a knee wall against the rear of the base cabinets, add a counter top that matches the rest of your kitchen, and all you need are bar stools. Design Note – make sure the bar overhang is adequately supported by brackets underneath to reduce the chance of accidents.
- Let the Sun Shine In – sunshine can put just about anyone in a good mood. If your kitchen remodeling plans call for your sink to be on an outside wall, ask your contractor about adding a garden window at counter top height for bird and flower gazing. Design Note – depending on your climate, having water lines on an outside wall is not always a good idea. If you live in an area subject to winter freezes, bring the lines up on the living space side of the exterior wall or make sure they’re adequately insulated.
These are just a few of the many popular trends in kitchen remodeling these days. Your remodeling contractor can tell you which of these options may be suitable for your project and fill you in on the many other options available.
[ad_2]
