remodeling 2.22 – gtg

Remodeling Thoughts | Bath & Kitchen & Additions

Everyone has heard of horror stories after home renovation projects right? Your granite countertop began splitting because it was not glued down properly. Maybe you had a high end stove top installed but the wiring was not connected correctly. Please, have no worries none of this has happened with our company. The experienced professionals take all steps necessary to assure that this will never happen.

This is one of the reasons that we have withstood their value to their customers. The high quality products that are chosen will be sure to please both you, as the customer, and our standards.

It is important to make your kitchens have a unique renovation design, as well as be a functional space to make all of your families meals in. The space needs to be spacious and give of a warm feeling. That warm feeling is both in looks and literally feeling warm. The warm temperature should likely be from the daily use of your appliances to make that amazing apple pie for your family’s dessert.

One thing that may not be a bad idea is to form a plan. The plan should include how much money you have to spend on the kitchen remodeling project, what your ideal kitchen needs to have, what you would like to have in your kitchen, and how much space is needed to make all of your wants and needs fit into the space. When all of this is figured out you can then begin your search for the best home renovation company.

When searching for the best company that will fit your needs and wants it is always important to research reviews about their previous work. The better reviews the previous jobs for that company have the more likely they will be a good fit for your kitchen remodeling project.

The first question to ask the company should be whether they would be able to come out to your home and evaluate the space to provide you with an accurate quote. Many times the company will discuss with the home owner what types of home renovation projects are needed but may be quoted incorrectly because they never actually saw the space. The last thing you want to happen is for them to come to your home to begin the kitchen remodeling and they discover something that may cost more than they quoted you for. If they are able to see the space they will give you a correct quote.

Allow the professionals to provide you with their advice. You may already have in mind what you want but you may not be a professional. If they advise that you choose something of better quality, it would be a good idea to take that advice. They have knowledge about the products in the home renovating market so will have a better solution for you.

As the time comes when the home renovation project should begin, times can become stressful. The purpose of hiring a professional is for them to take some stress off of your shoulders. It is their job to make a renovation design go smoothly for the home owners.

When it comes to your home, you want everything to be exactly right. Unfortunately, no house is perfect. That being said, with the right help, you can alter your current house, to make it more like your idea of a perfect house. In this way, home renovations are one of the most amazing parts of owning your own home. There are different ways in which you can alter your home. You can make additions, or you can remodel what you already have. Furthermore, even when it comes to home remodeling, there are countless different options. Remodeling can be as small-scale as a single room, or it can involve your entire house. It is up to you how much you want to change. For many, home remodeling starts with one room, but then they begin to think that other rooms could look better, as well. This may be the best approach, of all. If you remodel one room at a time, you can really focus on every minute detail of that one room.

Remodeling and additions are two of the most common and general ways in which people make changes to their homes. Remodeling is better for those who want to work within the space they have, and additions are better for those who intend to actually expand upon their home. Both can be costly, but both can greatly add to the overall value of your home. When it comes to remodeling, the biggest factor is the aesthetics, in most cases. This is because when homeowners are willing to completely alter the interior of a room, it is usually due to the fact that they have a problem with its aesthetic. Having said that, this is not always the case, particularly when it comes to kitchens and bathrooms. Particularly in the case of kitchen remodeling, practical factors, such as the type of stove or refrigerator, come into play, as well.

Additions are a different story. When it comes to additions, the homeowner is generally dissatisfied with the amount of usable space they have, in their home. For that reason, the best additions are those that add the most to your total space, as well as to the functionality of your home. A lot of homeowners add extra bedrooms onto their home, since they both increase the monetary value and improve functionality, by creating more space. Another addition that increases the value and functionality of your home are bath additions. Because bathrooms are such an important part of the home, adding even one additional full or half bathroom can massively increase your home’s overall monetary value. Though monetary value should by no means be the only thing you take into consideration, it is definitely not a factor to overlook. Investing the money now, for a bath addition, can end up adding far more value to your home than you spent to make the addition, in the first place. Not only that, even if you never intend to sell your home, having an extra bathroom is never something to complain about.

Bathroom remodeling is one of those things that is maybe not the most needed thing in the world, you have a sink, a toilet and a shower and you can survive, but people love to do it anyway because you can do so many amazingly cool things when you start to renovate your bathroom. If you are the kind of person who really likes over the top and lavish things, you can have a historical bathroom full of marble and other beautiful stones and fixtures. These kinds of bathrooms can be incredibly beautiful, but I think that they work best when other rooms in the house have a similar theme or if the whole house kind of has the old Victorian mansion kind of feel going on.

If that is not the case for you, you can go the other direction, which is my personal favorite, the contemporary bathrooms. Here is where you can really let technology and rich European designing companies go crazy with innovation. You want a double sink installed in your bathroom? Why not have a double sink that lights up from the bottom and gives a beautiful glow whenever you turn the water on? What about the shower? You want a bigger shower? Why not have a shower with water streams coming from every angle? There are even showers that have water steams coming up from the ground. You are actually fully encompassed in your shower experience. You can even get showerheads with LED lights so you can make your shower experience a calm blue or green washed experience or get a changing LED that can tell you the temperature of the water and feel like a party in your bathroom.And what about bathtubs? You would have a normal bathtub or you can upgrade and have a whirlpool bathtub. This way you can really have a fully relaxing bath time whenever you want, full with jets and everything else you could ever want. If you live in a place with less than fantastic weather this is also really nice so you can take a nice bath whenever you want and still be warm and comfortable in your home.

No matter what level of fanciness you are looking for in your bathroom, you can find something that will fit your needs. You can even go around and look at what bathroom remodeling companies have done in the past and you can get a few ideas from there on what kinds of things you might be interested in putting in your bathroom. There are so many wonderful options, you can really find a way to make your bathroom your own and make it everything that you ever wanted in your bathroom. No matter what kind of a budget you are on, you can find something that will work for you and make your bathroom closer to your ideal, perfect bathroom. Even getting a few nice additions or renovations can really make a huge difference in the way that you feel about your bathroom.

Have you ever wanted to create a perfect deck for you and your family? There are so many different things you can do with your space to make it exactly the kind of home you want and for many people having a beautiful deck is just the way to do it. Think about those evenings you can have outside watching the sunset, if you are lucky enough to live around pine trees you can hear the pine trees talking softly to the wind, you can leave out peanuts for the blue jays and watch them fly away with a comically large peanut in their mouth and you can watch the deer come walking through your property. Now we all may not live in the mountains and get to see these sites, but wherever you live breathing in the outside air is incredibly powerful.

More than just building a deck, you can do various other home additions like adding on a new bathroom so your teenagers don’t have to complain about sharing one any more or you can remodel your kitchen so you and your mother in law can fit in there at the same time. Or maybe that’s not the best idea. Whatever you decide to do with your home is your choice and your call. With our company we understand this and want to help you get the home that you deserve to have. What is so incredibly about this company that has been around for 25 years is a family run is that they are happy to have you help them design your home remodeling project.

So if you have always wanted the perfect deck with a built in fire pit then you are in luck because we are here to help you get that. There is no task that we can not achieve. The sky is the limit and we don’t skimp on style and excellence. If you dream it they can achieve it and that’s the best part about working with us is they honor what you dream so they can achieve. That way you can really experience and love being in your dream home.

So don’t wait any longer to read your favorite book on your brand new deck being warmed by your perfect fire pit. There is no limit to what you can do with us. Allow yourself to go outside and breath in the fresh air so you can relax and unwind from a long days work. No matter who you are, you have stress in your life and having the home that you have always desired with bring ultimate relaxation results. It is a very wonderful thing to have the house you have always dreamed of and we will help you get what you want and deserve. Don’t wait any longer to sit by your fire pit, feed the blue jays and listen to the song of the pine trees. Give us a call today and we will get you started.

As you begin to explore through your options for home remodeling, you need to look into each company and choose the one you can trust the most. Though it might seem like a tedious process to find the most reliable remodeling contractor, you can easily find one with the right tools and tips. I am here to help you figure out which company to choose and why they are such a trustworthy company.

One of the better construction companies is ours. We are not your traditional construction company though. We handle more than just basic restructures and construction sites. Our company goes the extra mile by providing you with the necessary services to make your home look like-new and without a hassle. Our experts are skilled in all remodeling projects including bath remodeling, a rarity these days. Excellent Customer Service Never Seemed Easier

What will really amaze you about our company is our ambition. If you have ever hired a contractor before, you know that many of them are doing it because they want to make decent money for a living, not because they actually enjoy their job. While you are sometimes assured to get good services, if there is no ambition or pride within the work, you aren’t guaranteed a quality service. We came into business not just for the money, but also because construction was something they legitimately enjoyed. Even more, we are experts within kitchen remodeling among other things as well. We use our ambition to fuel each project in ensuring that you are getting exactly what you want out of your remodeling project.

As you get to know each contractor working on your remodeling projects, you will notice that this ambition is mutual among everyone. It isn’t just a select few or just the owners, it is the entire company. We have a rigorous hiring process to weed out the ambitious-less from the ones who show promise. You Can Get Anything Done

Our company doesn’t have preferential treatment toward any specific repair or remodeling project. We have a contractor who handles each position with ease and diligence, giving your work the perfect polish no matter what.

We cater to our clients because we want everyone to be satisfied. Nowadays, this can be a rarity within the construction business. Don’t hesitate any further and give us a call. You have nothing to lose and the worse thing that could happen is that you aren’t fond of them. However, I honestly doubt you will not want to hire them.

The bathroom in your home is a great room to create a relaxing and rejuvenating environment. After a long day of work or a stressful experience, people retreat to the bathroom to relax in a long, hot bath and unwind. Their are some great new trends in bathroom renovation which can transform your dull, uninspired bathroom, into your favorite room in the home! Here are some tips from the experts on new trends in bathroom renovations:- Let in the light: A nice, well lit bathroom is critical to creating a nice relaxing space. Natural light does wonders for a room. A bathroom with harsh lighting can truly run the whole experience. A bathroom renovation is not complete without a good plan to let in natural light. If your bathroom is not somewhere where you can have a window, consider adding in a sunlight! Sunlights can provide a solution to lighting a bathroom located in the center of your home.

– Include air circulation: Bathrooms get wet and steamy from showers and baths, so it is important that they are airy and circulate air well. If you do not have a bathroom which can circulate air, the room will end up humid and moist, which can also lead to mold, a common bathroom problem. Make sure that your bathroom renovation takes into account airflow throughout the room!

– Separating the toilet: Many design experts recommend separating the toilet from the rest of the bathroom. The toilet can be separated by a simple wall, making it feel like a separate space from the relaxing area which houses the bath and shower. This makes the area with the toilet feel more private, and the area with the shower feel more like a spa than a bathroom.

– Plenty of storage: If you want to relax in a nice hot bath, you don’t want to do it with cluttered countertops and messy piles of towels surrounding you. Clutter can really take away from a relaxing experience. When remodeling your bathroom, make sure to give yourself plenty of storage space for all of the rings that stay in your bathroom. Experts point out that bathroom drawers, unlike other types of drawers, should be relatively small, since their are often small items stored in them. Your mascara, for example, would get buried in a deep drawer.

– Renovate the shower and bath: A large standing shower, perhaps with duel shower heads and some nice tiles can be a wonderful change to your bathroom! In addition, a large tub which is separate from the shower will help you relax and help achieve the feeling of tranquility in your bathroom.

– His and her sinks: His and her sinks make a great addition to any bathroom renovation. If you opt for his and her sinks, you will each have your own space and the bathroom will not get as cluttered.

These are just a few tips on bathroom renovation. Stay up to date on trends and if you are thinking about renovating your bathroom, follow some of the tips above.

When it comes time to replace your roof, you know that you need to have someone working with you who knows about roofing and knows the very best ways to help you find the help that you need. Replacing or repairing your roof are frustrating and expensive tasks, and you need to have a home remodeling company at your side who will make certain that you are taken care of in every way. After all, your home is one of the biggest investments that you will make in your life time. Do not let it all be harmed when you experience an accident of some kind and end up with a damaged roof. You do not want to be stuck living with damage to your roof; make a good decision and find a roofing company who will help you make the best decisions for you and help you get your roof back into shape!

When choosing someone to do home contracting of any kind, you want to keep a few important things in mind. First, your roofing repair company should be a company you can trust. After all, this is an expensive project to take care of and you want to be one hundred percent certain that you will be treated fairly and given the best opportunity to fix your roof for the lowest possible cost to you. For this reason, you need to find a local roofing company. Local home contractors are the best choice because they know the place that you live in. The understand the local area’s climate and weather patterns and armed with this knowledge they will be better prepared to give you advice that is not only specific to your region, but specific to your town. Some roofers are like traveling salesmen. They move from town to town, following hurricane, tornado, and general wind damage and clean up the wake of natural climate patterns. The problem with roofers like this is that their main goal is to make money off of your tragedy. Do not let these people take advantage of you. Arm yourself by choosing a local company that has been in the business for long enough to ensure that they will help you make the best possible decisions. You also want to be certain that your roofing contractor has the expert knowledge you need to make sure that your roof will not only be repaired but also restored to its former glory. This is particularly important if the roof on your house is of an unusual or rarely used roofing material. Most contractors rarely use metal and cedar roofing, for example. If your roof is made out of either of these materials, then you need to be certain that the contractor you are selecting is able to work with those materials. You also need to be certain that if the roofer does not perform their job the way that you hoped that they would that you will be able to get a refund on your investment.

Your kitchen is much more than just a space in which you sit and cook and clean. It is not just a space that you associate with food and chores and cleaning and the hassle of that darn food disposable clogging again. Your kitchen means much more than that to you and your family, and even in your most frustrated moments, you know this to be true. For centuries, the kitchen has been the heart of the home. The hearth has been a symbol of love and familial devotion and growth for many years for a reason. Your kitchen truly has the potential to be the center and heart of your home. It is the place in the home where your family gathers together, where they share more than just meals, but their lives with each other. It is where families sit together and eat together. It is where food brings people together in a way that other activities simply cannot. When you think about these important parts of the kitchen’s function, how could you not take the time and energy to invest in the kitchen as a place of love and energy? Think about all the stories that have been shared in the kitchen. Think about the recipes that allow you to remember and reminisce about times and friends and family members gone by, the people gave you those recipes and those memories that still ring so strongly in your life and existence. The kitchen is a place that allows you remember and cherish those things in a way that other spaces simply cannot. All of this to say, making an investment in your kitchen in an investment that does not go unrewarded, both in physical cooking achievements and in achievements of love and devotion. Kitchen renovation means taking the time, energy, and financial resources to invest in those you love by creating a space that encourages the love and connection that you all hold so dear. So many memories are made in the kitchen that it makes good sense to continue to invest in the kitchen so that it can continue to be a gathering place for you and your loved ones. Sometimes, over time, kitchens become cluttered and unrecognizable as the great space they once were. Home renovation and, by extension, kitchen renovation is a great step to making your kitchen come alive again in the way it once did. Perhaps your kitchen has never really been that space. Perhaps you have always been saddled with a kitchen whose form does not properly allow for the function it was meant to serve. If this sounds familiar, looking into the new trends in kitchen renovation is an excellent decision. As life becomes more and more hectic and so much of communication is done via technology rather than in person, finding a central place to gather and share meals and memories is more and more important. Make an investment in your family’s relationships and in yourself. Take that next step and invest in renovating your kitchen!

Even though it might not seem like much, there are many intricate details that go into each and every bath remodeling job. While some people might think it is as simple as adding a new bathtub and a toilet, it goes far beyond just a simple replacement of bathroom hardware. The bathroom is almost like a very delicate ecosystem, as each component and measurement relies heavily on the other components. For example, did you know that there is a standard height for bath towel holders, vanities, and sinks? A great deal of bath contractors have made this kind of remodeling into a science, as each specific measurement can affect the entire room. While measurements are important to the final installation, you also have to consider the entirety of a bathroom. How many people are going to be using it, and are your upgrades going to last for years to come? In addition to staying stylish and with the times, you also need to consider the unseen details of a bathroom. For example, how can you avoid mildew and mold buildup in your bathroom? This is where a proper ventilation system comes into play, and is also one of the most under appreciated and unrecognized aspects of a bath addition. You see, there is always going to be excess moisture from the bathtub and the shower, so it is important to make sure excess steam and moisture doesn’t creep its way into the wallpaper or ceiling.

In addition to proper ventilation, you also need to be aware of bathroom safety. While it might not be at the forefront of your thinking, it is important to know that slips in the bathroom can occur, so you need to make sure to make every part of your bathroom as safe as possible. For example, if you opt for smooth tiles on your bathroom floor, this could increase the likelihood of a slip and fall! However, if you choose a bathroom tile that only has a slight texture to it, there will be enough hold on the tile that a wet foot is far less likely to slip out from under you! This is just yet another detail that isn’t paid attention to in the larger scope of a bathroom renovation, but is equally important to the rest of the installation.

Another unknown factor that comes into play during this kind of home remodeling is that of water efficiency. Since our society has become much more environmentally conscious, there have been many pushes for more eco-friendly utilities and applications in our world. Fortunately, many of these pushes for environmentally friendly utilities are also available in the bathroom! Many newer shower heads offer the option of low water usage, which not only helps the environment, but it also saves on your water bills. These benefits, once again, are not apparent when first undertaking a complete bathroom renovation, but they are still major components when deciding on how to manage and direct your upgrades. Remember, every individual choice you make for your new renovations plays into the whole of the upgrade!

Want to find some awe-inspiring designs for a bathroom renovation? Consider the following themes, as depicted by a Real Estate firm. It’s no secret that a renovation can increase the value of a home. In order to get the most bang for your buck – and looking forward into future sales, it’s best to consider the needs of potential homeowners and what the general public would be attracted to, in terms of design. Here are some of the themes to consider:

A Tropical Oasis – there are many reasons why someone would be magnetized by a bathroom featuring tropical oasis features. If you’re drawn to sandy beaches, bright colors and pastels and dream of laying on the beach – during the dead of winter, then this theme may appeal. It’s even more charming when you live in climates that are colder for a majority of the year. Similar themes include deep sea diving. A number of home renovation sites have the supplies needed to match themes you want. As an example, a larger, deeper tub may need to be installed in order to get this theme going.

A home renovation designer can furthermore help to cohesively take your ideas on paper – and in your head, and making them a reality, just by tying all the pieces of the puzzle together. The designer can focus on supplies, décor, art work and other elements that bring the theme together beautifully, so you can enjoy for years to come.

A Sanctuary – if you experience a number of stress from work, family and other obligations on a daily basis, taking even 15-30 minutes each day to de-stress and recuperate, can do wonders for your sanity. Be sure to consider a bathroom sanctuary that features calming Zen-like elements. Look for large tubs, Whirlpool Jacuzzis that may help to relax, and of course, energy efficient features to help eliminate the stress of paying extra-high bills on a monthly basis.

Victorian Inspired Themes – do you have a penchant for vintage, elegant designs? Recapture the old – in a charming, modern-twisting way, with your own ideas, or with the help of a home renovation expert. Home interior designers are also an invaluable source for finding ideas and materials as discussed earlier.

Feng Shui – similar to the sanctuary theme, Feng Shui is a trending concept that can be applied to just about any area you choose. Call in a professional Feng Shui advisor to see how adding key elements can improve a sense of calm and prosperity – even in your bathroom.

The above themes are not only beautiful, they’re trendy too. It’s important for homeowners to realize that by choosing in-demand themes, the prices for the home usually soar after the renovation has been successfully completed. Most homeowners are able to find a middle ground between what they like, and what’s in trend, so it’s neither too quirky for potential home buyers, neither too common for the homeowner.

To shop for furniture, tile, plumbing fixtures and more, visit online home renovation sites for ideas on pricing and delivery times.
Once you own your own home, you can finally make all the decisions, regarding how your home will look. If you do not like something about the interior or exterior of your home, you can change it. That is why some sort of home renovation is an eventual goal for many homeowners. There are all different kinds of renovations that can be done. Some are very minor and some are very significant. Before you make any final decisions, you should think about what you want. It is probably a good idea to consult with an agency that specializes in that sort of thing. There are many home renovation agencies to choose from, but it is best to select one that employs a qualified staff of various different kinds of professionals, who will be able to handle the various different aspects of remodeling. First of all, you need to consult with an expert is such areas, who will be able to figure out what kinds of projects fit your style and are in your price range. You can choose to completely remodel your entire home, or you can simply renovate one of your rooms to fit your style. Either way, a qualified design consultant will be able to help you figure out what you want. They can also show you examples of various different kinds of materials and even show you what certain features look like, when they are actually in use. The better the renovation design agency you have chosen, the more choices you will have. If you are ready to fully renovate the entirety of your home’s interior, you can begin planning that. On the other hand, if you want to start with just one room, that is an available option, too. In some ways, renovating a single room is easier because it allows you to put all of your focus into the details of that one room. When you are renovating everything at once, there is more to worry about. Of course, with the help of a renovation company, you will, at least, not have to do any of the painstaking or boring work, yourself. You make the decisions, they will handle the work. Nevertheless, with only one room at a time to worry about, you are able to focus more on every detail. Some rooms are more prone to be renovated than others. Bathrooms and kitchens are both popular rooms to renovate for various reasons. In either case, it is because people have differing opinions when it comes to style. Some people like stone countertops, while others like wood. When it comes to kitchen remodeling, appliances can be a point of contention. Some people prefer a certain style of appliance over another. In both kitchens and bathrooms, the flooring is important. These and countless other factors are all up to you. The interior design experts you have hired will be able to help you figure out what materials will work with what other materials, in terms of complementary colors and patterns.

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Plan A Successful Home Improvement Project With These Tips & Kitchen Remodeling Champs

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We see the same scenery every single day in our houses, and that’s why so many homeowners decide that it’s time for a little remodeling. Painting the walls, rearranging the furniture, and going with new molding — these can seem like easy enough tasks from the start. However, many people find that they’re daunting. No matter what your goals are, check out these home- improvement tips.

One of the quickest, easiest and cheapest ways to improve your home is paint. Whether it is the outside or the inside, both areas will look new and transformed. Pick neutral shades and brighter trim colors. Plain white walls tend to make your home look like a rental and not owner occupied.

Paint your doors with a fresh coat of white paint to cover up the wear of everyday use. After a while the doors get a grimy bland color, so applying a new coat can make your doors appear new, as well as, add brightness to the inside of your house.

Caulking gaps between drywall is a necessary step in home improvement. Even if you complete a beautiful paint job, if you don’t first completely caulk the gaps between the panels of drywall the room will look unfinished. Unfinished gaps will even show up when you wall paper a room. Caulking is a must, anytime you drywall.

When it comes to home improvement, be sure that you are not causing your home to awkwardly stand out from the rest of the neighborhood. This will ensure you will be able to resell it and also, that you will not receive scorn from your neighbors. Be creative, but try to lean toward conservative with colors. With additions, keep your the total size of your home somewhat near that of your neighbors.

Update the lighting in your home to add brightness. Changes in lighting fixtures and adding additional wall lighting can bring an entirely new look to your home. Buy energy saving bulbs to reduce your overall energy costs and consider investing in a smart lighting system that will automatically turn off lights when not in use.

When it comes to home improvement, be sure to have fun with it. This is important because it should be a rewarding experience for you. You will never fully enjoy your home improvement project if it was a burden and brings back bad memories. Consider hiring help if it is expected that you will run into issues completing the project on your own.

A well known rule for doing any kind of construction, repair, or renovation work is to measure twice and cut once. This age old saying still holds up today in every circumstance. Following this rule will allow you to avoid costly and time consuming mistakes associated with projects by using less materials and saving time and effort on labor.

Poke holes in your wall paper bubbles! Sometimes bubbles form when you are hanging wallpaper and you don’t notice them until it’s too late to pull the paper back and correct them. All is not lost! Just use a pin to pierce each bubble then carefully flatten it out against the wall.

Store your glue bottles upside down! Ever get annoyed when the tips of your glue bottled inevitably dry up between uses? Removing those plugs of glue is no fun. To prevent this just turn your tightly capped glue bottle upside down and sit it down inside another container to keep it propped up.

When considering what home improvement project to do, stay away from home repairs unless they are absolutely necessary. Things like painting the interior or exterior of your home have no impact on the value of your residence. Spend your time on other projects that will give you a better return for the money you spend.

During your next home improvement project, make sure to cover any exposed surfaces. For example, cover the floor with a tarp if you are painting or protect your counter tops if you are demolishing cabinets. If you fail to take the time to do this step, you may wind up spending a lot of money fixing scratched or damaged items.

If you are hiring someone to perform your home improvement work, never pay more than 10% down or $1000, whichever sum is less. Legally, a contractor is not able to accept more than this figure. If he asks for additional funds, it is a sign that the person you hired may not be very reputable.

Many home improvement stores offer classes and training sessions on different areas of home remodeling. You can sign up for these classes, often for free, and get great advice and tips on things like painting, simple plumbing, changing light fixtures, gardening and home decorating. It can give you not only the skills to do the job, but also ideas for your next project.

Carefully examine the benefits of rental equipment before securing it for a home improvement project. Any repair or renovation job can be made faster and easier by renting purpose-built equipment. Such equipment is not always economical, though. Before laying out money for rentals the canny homeowner will weigh the savings in time and effort the equipment offers against the expense the equipment adds to a home improvement project.

To reduce the number of unwanted pests in your home, cut back shrubbery and plants that are close to the windows. These plants are great homes to insects and spiders. If they rub up against your house and windows, they can easily crawl inside to find a warm dry place. Cut back these bushes to a foot or more from the side of the house and under the windows.

Kitchen Remodel

One of the expensive items in a kitchen remodel is your appliances. Remember to buy them in matching colors so they do not contrast each other. Also try to keep them in timeless styles, while you may love the stainless steel appliance look, does it really go with your kitchen decor? If you can, make them blend in with your cabinetry for a fantastic seamless look.

Something that seems on the surface to be so simple can end up being incredibly complicated if you’re not aware of how to handle a task. Painting can turn into a nightmare; adding more lights could leave you in the dark. The tips in this article will help you learn about home improvement, so put them to good use.

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Hard Time Fixing Up Your Home? Try These Great Ideas!

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Instead of laminate floors, consider real wood. Laminate floors may look like real wood and be easier to clean, however they cannot be refinished.

Have you been searching for inspiration when it comes to home improvement to help increase the value of your home? This is good! You should know some basic information about do-it-yourself projects. Use the advice offered in this article to guide you along the way.

TIP! Changing your air filters is very important. Not only do you create a better environment to breathe in, but it can also make your air conditioner run better.

Keep your air conditioner’s filter clean. If the filter is clogged, it will make it hard for the unit to cool your home. You may also be using way more electricity than necessary. Really look towards changing out the filter once every month.

TIP! Empty shoe boxes can be an inexpensive way to increase the storage space in any room. You can use fabric or wallpaper to decorate the outsides of the boxes to make them more pleasing to the eye.

Simple lampshades can be very boring with no personality. By using stencils, creativity, and paint, you will be able to transform your boring lampshade into a masterpiece. This helps add personality to your rooms and really enhances a plain lamp shade.

Aluminum Foil TIP! Cover electrical outlets with aluminum foil prior to painting your walls. It’s easier to use aluminum foil, and it protects the outlets. It’s also pretty easy to clean it up. Let your paint dry, carefully remove the aluminum foil and then recycle!

TIP! Look for obvious signs of neglect when searching for a new home, such as peeling paint, water damage and dry rot. Things like structural damage, poor ventilation, and roof defects, among other things, will only be detected by a home inspector.

If you are doing any home improvements in your kitchen, ensure you shut off the gas in your home before you begin. Caution is the best guide for these projects. Your vigilance can prevent a fire from starting or someone from getting injured while the home improvement work is being done.

TIP! Whatever your home improvement project, you need a designated space for all waste and debris that piles up as a result of your projects. It can cost a lot to get rid of all the trash, so planning for that beforehand can save you money and keep your project on track.

Homes with an appealing view can sell for much more than like houses on the market. If you pay more for the view from your home, keep in mind that this may be to your individual taste only. Future buyers might not appreciate the view as much as you do.

TIP! Doing work on your bathroom is a good idea. Buyers can easily customize the majority of rooms, but make sure your bathroom is attractive and in good working order.

You’ve made it this far, which means that you are ready to get started. Good work! Hopefully you have become better aware of issues to consider when undertaking your own improvement projects. If you need additional help, read the article once again.

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Expert Tips That Will Help You With Your Home Improvement Endeavors

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TIP! Use some aluminum tape to help you patch cracks in the roof. Apply the tape to a dry and clean surface but remember to peel off the backing first.

Many home improvement projects can be completed if you have the proper knowledge. The following article has advice that will assist you in making the most of home improvement projects. Find out to how you can turn your home into your dream home.

TIP! When improving your house, take the neighborhood’s character into consideration. A mini-mansion among a neighborhood of cozy cottages will look out of place.
It is very important to change air filters. In addition to making your home’s air more healthy, it’s also helpful for air conditioning and heating units. Many repairmen get calls when the machine simply needed a new air filter, which makes it cost more than it should.

TIP! You can use drywall mud to add texture and visual interest to your walls. This will also cover up any nicks or blemishes.

Take care of the bubble that has been haunting you in your vinyl! It’s simple to slice into these bubbles to let the air out. That will flatten the bubble for the moment. You should also inject a small bit of glue to ensure that the flooring stays flat. Stores sell a glue that comes pre-loaded in a syringe just for this type of purpose.

TIP! Give the bubble in your old vinyl floor covering a shot! Just cut it with a knife and let the air out. However, this will only flatten the bubble temporarily.

Put nail holes into the paint can’s rim. The groove where the lids goes on metal cans of paint usually fills with paint, causing it to spill over the sides when you attempt to put the lid back on. Driving several holes in the circumference of the lid should do the trick.

TIP! You can organize your carport or garage by using clear plastic storage containers. Label these boxes and ensure they are stackable.

Aluminum foil can be used to cover up electrical outlets before painting commences. Using aluminum foil is much easier and will protect your outlet covers just as well. And it makes cleaning up a breeze. Let paint dry prior to removing the foil.

TIP! Instead of choosing a pre-made coffee table, choose something unique. Something unlikely, like an old chest, can be used a great coffee table.

It’s not always a good idea to fix leaks on your own. You should just attempt to catch the leaking water using a large container, which can hold the water until a professional arrives.TIP!

Fixing faucets that leak is a smart project even for a beginner. Repairing a faucet quickly will minimize wasted water as well as wasted dollars on your bill.

Now that you’ve got the knowledge, start gathering your materials. If you encounter any problems with your project, take time to go over this article again and try to come up with a solution.

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When you have a home, you know that it is the meeting area for all people in your life to come to and there are many memories that are made within those walls. There are a lot of times that you wish that you could remodel your home, and one of those rooms may be your kitchen.

When it comes to kitchen remodeling you want to keep in mind that it is a not only an opportunity to increase the value of your home, but also to create a place that the family gathers comfortably, after all in many families, the kitchen is what the entire family revolves around most of the time.

Although it may seem easy, you’ll want to remember that it is a big job and you’ll want to have everything planned out and that you have as much knowledge as you can about taking this project on. Making sure that you have all the components to make the dream available is important to the success of this adventure.

The feel of the room is important to make sure that your family’s needs are met. In some cases where you have school-aged children you want to make sure that there’s room for them to do their homework. If you don’t have any children you’ll want to consider a small bar stool area, especially if you plan on entertaining people. There are a lot of options to take into consideration when it comes to this, because this design is what your entire kitchen will be built upon.

Much like the foundation of a home, getting the feel of your kitchen layout is important to ensure the success. If you bought a home with a large kitchen when you had children, you could be considering downsizing, or vice verse. Either way there are changes happening constantly in families and taking these into consideration is important.

You’ll also want to consider upgrading your appliances, this is a large part of your budget. If you have outdated sinks, or old dishwashers that don’t work, you’ll want to budget in the costs of new appliances. If you find a refrigerator, or dishwasher before you start the remodeling process it can be useful so you can build around it, and you know the exact dimensions.

If you’re guessing how large, or how much room appliances take up before you build cabinets and shelving areas, it could mess up the entire kitchen’s feel. Also knowing where you’re going to install these appliances and what type of electrical and plumbing needs are is also important so you don’t cover the possibilities with cabinets.

When you’re working on your budget for your kitchen you’ll want to make a list of needs and wants. Say your family is expanding and you need a larger table, than you could make cuts when it comes to flooring, or the top of the line sink. Taking the time to plan out your needs and wants can come in handy when you’re doing the actual shopping.

Of course you also want to consider how long you are planning on staying in the house, if you will only be there for a couple of years, comparable to staying in there and passing the kitchen down, can make a large impact not only on the planning aspect but also the budget.

Regardless of what you decide and how far you go with your renovation, from small time changes such as painting or cabinetry, to the big changes and completely redoing your entire kitchen’s scheme, there are always options to make your kitchen better for your entire family. The layout of your home starts in the kitchen.

Family meals, or romantic cooking, kids doing homework on the table, or entertaining friends, it is all centralized in the kitchen. There is no better investment to make in your home than making sure that you are comfortable, and you are making the best decision for your family. If you’re having issues, there are many home furnishing and do it yourself stores that are out there to take you on this journey one step at a time.

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Trendiest Countertops in San Antonio

If you are in the market for a kitchen remodeling project, you have probably spent a lot of time thinking about your counter top choices. After all, a kitchen remodeling job is something you only do a few times in a lifetime. Your choice of counter top is one of the most expensive pieces of a kitchen remodeling job, right up there with cabinets. Let’s look at the pros and cons of some of the trendiest choices in counter tops.

Granite

Granite is the holy grail of counter tops, every upscale kitchen remodel has it, and for good reason. Granite is beautiful and durable. Granite adds value to your home that doesn’t depreciate. It’s easy to clean and doesn’t harbor bacteria. It withstands heat, too; you can place a hot pan directly on the counter top with no concern of damaging the counter.

Granite does have its drawbacks, though. It may not fit your kitchen remodeling budget. It’s very expensive to purchase, and also to install. This is not a job that you want to try to do-it-yourself to save money. Granite is extremely heavy; if you drop it, you are out a huge sum of money. The same thing goes for a wrong cut. You need to leave this to the professionals, but you’ll pay accordingly. Installation can cost as much as three times the price of the slab itself.

Granite is not uniform. There is always some variation in color. If you decide that you don’t like the particular slab that you installed or even just change your mind about the color later on, you’re stuck with a very expensive piece of rock. It can be very difficult to remove as well.ncrete

Concrete is a beautiful, modern choice for your kitchen remodeling project. It is very cost-effective compared to granite if you are able to install it yourself. One of its perks is its mold-ability. You can shape it however you want; it can continue into a backsplash or frame the end of your cabinets. In addition, concrete can be dyed any color to match your decor. Concrete is clearly a durable choice and will last for many, many years.

On the downside, concrete has to be sealed and resealed periodically over its lifetime. You may need to add some reinforcement to your cabinets to withstand the weight of the concrete. And if you have to hire someone to install your concrete counter tops, the price goes way up, even rivaling granite.

Recycled Glass

Recycled glass is a popular choice for counter tops. The fact that it is made from recycled material is an advantage in itself. It’s beautiful, strong, and durable, to boot. Glass is also resistant to heat from your cookware.

Depending upon the particular type of recycled glass that you choose, the surface may be uneven, which results in an uneven wear pattern. Glass tiles are also more prone to chipping and cracking.

Despite being recycled, glass tile counter tops tend to be pricey. They can be difficult to find as well.

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The Top Ten Cabinet Options — Kitchen Remodeling

When it comes to kitchen remodeling, there are many decisions to be made. One of those decisions has the do with the style of kitchen cabinets you want. This will set the tone for your entire kitchen, so you should consider the options carefully before making a selection. Kitchen remodeling is certainly fun, but it helps to know the details about what you are selecting first, like what kind of woods are available for kitchen cabinets.

Here are the top ten cabinet wood options for all of your kitchen remodeling projects.

Cherry – If you prefer a reddish tint to your cabinets, then cherry wood is probably your best option. These cabinets come in lighter and darker cherry options. Right now cherry is probably one of the most popular types of wood in use.

Oak – Many lighter colored cabinets are actually made of oak. Oak is a very heavy, dense type of wood that can be stained very easily.

Mahogany – This type of wood tends to be very expensive, but it also is not a particularly strong type of wood, so you might want to steer clear of cabinets made of this material.

Pine – Cabinets that are made of pine can be very nice, but avoid finishing them yourself as some types of pine can be very difficult to stain. Certain varieties need special preparation before it will accept stain.

Maple – This is one of the most common types of cabinets you will see around. The versatility and strength of this type of wood makes it a great option for any kitchen remodeling project.

Poplar, birch, and sycamore – the reason these three types of wood are grouped together is because they fall on the lower end of cabinetry. They may not look as nice as the other types of wood because they are usually meant to be painted rather than stained. Paint covers up imperfections, while stain lets the beauty of the wood shine through. Some types of wood may also fall in this category.

Walnut – If you aren’t worried too much about price, then walnut might be something you want to consider. This type of wood is expensive but very strong. It gets darker with age, which adds character to your kitchen over time.

Bamboo – Anyone who is looking for a more eco-friendly option for their kitchen will want to consider bamboo. It grows much faster than trees, so it’s more earth-friendly. The only bad thing is that bamboo is not particularly strong. This means that you will have to go with a veneer finish, which basically means the bamboo is placed over another cheaper type of wood.

Cedar – This softwood is very durable and long-lasting. It even adds a sweet smell to your kitchen.

Steer clear of this type of wood completely. Cabinets made of medium density fiberboard or plywood won’t last a long time. They just can’t stand up to the stress of kitchen life.

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How to Recognize Quality Kitchen Cabinets — Kitchen Remodeling

If you’re planning a kitchen remodeling project, then one of the most important things you will purchase is the kitchen cabinets. There are many different kinds of cabinets on the market, including custom, semi-custom, and stock cabinets. The kind you choose depends entirely on your budget and the layout of your kitchen, as well as the style you like. Custom cabinetry will be the most expensive, while stock cabinets will be the least expensive. Semi-custom cabinets will give you a great blend of options and savings, but no matter which kind of cabinets you buy, it’s important to be able to recognize quality when you see it. Here are eight features to look for when you want to buy quality cabinets for your kitchen remodeling project.

Reinforced corners – Check out the corners of the drawers and cabinets. If they are reinforced, you’re looking at a quality piece.

Solid wood – The most important parts of the cabinet are the frames and front, so these should be solid wood.

Smooth hardware – The hardware that operates the drawer or cabinet should operate very smoothly without a lot of effort on your part. Look for full extension drawer guides rather than under-mounted double roller designs or integrated side rails. Some drawers even have special features that don’t allow you to slam them shut, even when you are being careless.

Closed backs – This may seem like a silly thing to check, but very cheap cabinets do not have backs that are closed. Since they are up against a wall most of the time, some manufacturers do not feel that it is necessary to put backs on their cabinets.

Construction – Some manufacturers use glue or staples to hold cabinets together. Obviously, this is not a great choice. Check to see how the pieces are being held together. Screws are the best choice because nails can easily pull out if they are low quality ones.

Interlocking edges – You will also notice on some drawers that they have interlocking walls. If you look at the edges, you will see this type of construction, which is known as dovetail. Think about how your fingers interlock when you put your hands together while holding them flat. This creates a much stronger bond than just flat surfaces that are joined together.

Sturdy shelves – Some manufacturers may skimp on the shelving, which is one of the most important parts of quality cabinetry. The shelves should be at least 3/4” inch thick plywood.

Hardwood mounting strips – Make sure that the cabinets you choose are installed with at least 1/2 inch strips of hardwood. An alternative is metal, which is also very strong. The bottom line is, you don’t want cabinets that are going to let your dishes fall to the ground.

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Six Tips for Choosing the Best Lighting — Kitchen Remodeling

While most homeowners are excited about choosing cabinets and countertops during a kitchen remodeling project, lighting is not usually at the top of their minds. Light is such a natural phenomenon that it is easily forgotten, but it is extremely important when you are cooking. You need to be able to see if your meats are done without having to squint. You also want to make sure that you’re adding just the right amount of spice or other ingredients without feeling like it is too dark.

When you begin to plan your kitchen remodeling project, you will find these six tips helpful for planning your light fixtures:

Go for a large, bright light in the center. You want a very bright light overhead in your kitchen so that there is plenty of light all around, but remember that corners and areas where there are cabinets can get rather dark, so don’t make one overhead light your only one in your kitchen remodeling project.

Opt for recessed lighting over those darker areas. Recessed lighting has become extremely popular because it enables you to see closely what you are doing. Cabinets and even your own body can cast shadows over the countertops where you are trying to work, so make sure that recessed lighting is on your list.

Light your kitchen in layers. While it may be possible to purchase lights that perform a few different functions, it is important to realize that you will need a few different kinds of light in the kitchen. Decorative light might be able to be blended with your overhead light, but don’t expect any one type of lighting to do everything.Add dimmers to your kitchen remodeling plan.

Many people use dimmers in their main living space, but they forget about the kitchen. Your cooking space can also benefit from dimmers, especially if they are for very specific lights throughout the kitchen. They can add a very romantic and private feel to a space that also needs to feel open and relaxing.

Make sure the island has its own light fixture. If you intend to include an island as part of your kitchen remodeling project, then it needs to have its own light fixture. Don’t depend on the overhead light in the kitchen to also catch the island. Recessed lights might be a good choice, but for maximum coverage, use a separate large overhead light or a series of pendants over the island.Just the right amount of light in just the right places.

Before you purchase any lights, make sure to see how much light they will throw out and how big of a space they are intended for. Too much light will beat down on you and just create a major glare, while too little light gets lost in a vast room.

Having a lighting plan as part of your kitchen remodeling project is very important because you don’t want to finally have a finished kitchen and then realize too late that you don’t have enough light. Ask a designer for help to maximize your lighting options in your next kitchen remodeling project.

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7 Budgeting Tips For a Kitchen Remodeling

1.) Set a budget

A Kitchen remodeling project is a big deal. Mention a kitchen remodeling project and it becomes an even bigger deal. A typical kitchen remodeling project can costs anything between $50,000 to $150,000. The important starting point during the planning phase of your kitchen remodeling project is to set a budget, which is how much you want or can afford to spend on the project.

Keep things in mind like whether you are planning to stay in your home for years to come or whether you might be looking to sell within a couple of years, in which case you should see your kitchen remodeling project as a real estate investment. If you’re planning on staying for years to come, you want to look at the optimal level of comfort and convenience to you and your family when remodeling.

Another thing when setting a budget for your kitchen remodeling project is to keep your area in mind. If you’re staying in a middle-class neighborhood and you may want to sell at a later stage, you’ll end up losing big-time when you’re opting for a flashy remodeling. Try to avoid over-spending when you’ll just end up losing.

2.) Set your renovation priorities

Having a list of priorities set prior to starting your kitchen remodeling project is essential. New cabinets? Extra windows? More storage? Extra washing facilities? Perhaps new appliances?

It’s important to break up your budget into the various items on your priority list. This way you can also keep track of what portion of the budget is spent where. Usually it looks something similar to the following:

35 percent: cabinets, labor 20 percent, appliances10 percent, windows 5 percent, fixtures 3 percent, fittings 7 percent, other

When setting up your list of renovation priorities, think of the importance of little things, and extras: weigh how important that extra cabinet is against the overall functionality and practicality of your kitchen.

3.) Know how you will finance the project

Simply because financing a kitchen remodeling project doesn’t come cheap, knowing how you will finance your project before anything else is crucial.

There are many ways to finance a kitchen remodeling project but home equity loans are the most popular because they are tax deductible. Other options may include taking out a personal loan, taking out a loan against a retirement plan, refinancing or if you’re fortunate enough, perhaps just a trip down to the bank to discuss the release of your nest egg you’ve been working on for the last couple of years.

Keep in mind that even though you may have the cash available, borrowing money at a low interest rate may be smarter than pulling your money from an investment plan getting a higher return.

If you’ve settled on taking out a loan, remember to consider other costs involved with a loan like interest and loan origination fees. Also be clear on when exactly your loan will pay out as you may need to make deposits to contractors before any work may start.

4.) Plan where you will stay during the project

Let’s face it, during any kitchen remodeling project your house will be a mess: contractors everywhere, building material lying around, dust all over everything and you probably might not even be able to prepare any type of food during this project. A good option to consider is to arrange alternative accommodation for you and your family during this process.

The cost of carrying out during a kitchen remodeling project needs to be considered carefully, which is something that may stretch any budget if not provided for prior to the project.

If you’re fortunate enough to have extra space available at your premises during your kitchen remodeling project, you may opt to set up a temporary kitchen area and sleeping quarters. Keep in mind that you’ll have to live with the mess though.

5.) Avoid Extras. Stick to the original plan/budget

It is not uncommon to stumble across something extra you love during your kitchen remodeling project which you haven’t planned to add. If sticking to your original budget is a priority which it should be, you’ll need to stop yourself before deviating from the original plan.

“If we put this *put fabulous kitchen appliance here* in this corner and move…” is how budgets get blown and you end up digging a lot deeper into your pocket than originally planned.

6.) Have a plan and do enough research

Setting up and sticking to a plan from the start is key to a successful kitchen remodeling Syracuse NY project.

Not sticking to a plan will have you spend way more than you probably can afford and is the easiest way to cause delays in finishing your project. Set out a clear plan with every bit of detail you can think of before the start of the project. You’ll be thankful in the end.

7.) Expect the unexpected

As with any kind of project out there, unexpected things happen without prior warning and a kitchen remodeling project is no different.

Unfortunately there is no way of telling what you’ll find during the demolition process of your old facilities, nor what might turn up at the front door when you want to install a feature or appliance needing special clearance or regulations be met first.

Setting aside at least 20% for unexpected things that may turn up for the party of your kitchen remodeling NY project will give you peace at mind that you’re covered for the worst should that be your destiny.

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Kitchen Countertop Installation and Replacement Estimates – New Kitchen Counters

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The kitchen is the heart of your home and its appearance impacts the atmosphere of the other rooms around it. A kitchen that’s old and looks out-of-date can benefit from simple maintenance and renovation. One way in which to improve your kitchen’s look and functionality is with new kitchen countertop installation or replacement. With a variety of countertop materials to choose from, you can select one that complements the rest of your kitchen or changes its look altogether. Here are a few popular kitchen countertop ideas that might work for you.

Butcher Block

If you enjoy cooking, a butcher block counter can add to the convenience in your kitchen. A food prep area will always be ready for you with this style of countertop. Butcher block or wood countertops add a rustic touch to your kitchen. They’re easy to clean and care for, requiring period resealing to prevent water damage and stain penetration.

Natural Stone

Natural stone such as granite or soapstone creates classic appeal when used as your kitchen countertop surface. Soapstone is dark gray in color and found in both modern and historic homes. Naturally stain resistant, soapstone is often used for sinks too. The natural color variations found in granite make it a material that complements most any kitchen color scheme. Rated as the second hardest surface after diamonds, granite is a durable countertop surface that’s highly valued by home buyers.

Corian

Corian is a type of solid surface countertop. It’s made to the specifications of your kitchen and typically installed in one large piece. This seamless countertop material resists stains, which makes for easier cleaning. You can have a solid surface countertop made in most any color or pattern you desire. Scratches can easily be sanded out of the surface of Corian to keep it looking like-new.

Laminate

Laminate countertops are plastic-coated and cut to fit the measurements of your kitchen. This durable countertop can be made with a variety of colors and textures to complement your existing kitchen decor. Laminates are less expensive than many other types of countertops, making them an affordable option for home renovators on a budget. With laminates it’s important to be careful since it can be difficult to fix chips or cracks.

Ceramic Tile

Another inexpensive countertop choice is ceramic tile. This easily cleaned and maintained surface comes in a variety of textures, designs and colors. The ceramic tile you choose can become the focal point of your renovated kitchen or you can use it as a subtle complement to the current decor. Ceramic tile holds up well to use and when cared for properly can last for many years. This type of countertop surface goes well with most every decor.

The countertop you choose for your kitchen will be with you for many years to come. Consider your needs to help you choose the type of counter material that bests suits you in both appearance and function. Any of these popular kitchen countertop styles are certain to add to the beauty and value of your home.

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Compare kitchen remodeling contractors | find kitchen remodeling contractor

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Are you thinking about remodeling your kitchen? Take some time to learn about how to compare kitchen remodeling contractors. I will quickly take you a through some important facts to consider before you settle with a kitchen company.

I will quickly go over a few points to keep in mind. After you are done reading, you should be in any better position to make the right decision you’ll enjoy for as long as possible.

Pricing

I put this at the top because it is one of the most important key comparison facts to consider. Once you get a shortlist contact the companies to ask them for quotes. Now keep in mind that these companies will have to come to your place for an inspection before they provide the quotation.

Timing

Kitchen remodeling contractors are able to tell you upfront when they would be able to finish the remodeling job. The best company is one that is able to do the kitchen remodeling within the shortest time but yet deliver superb quality.

Compare options

Getting quotes and timelines from kitchen remodeling contractors is all well and good but you also need to compare the kitchen remodeling options they provide. You should consider many things before hiring a kitchen remodel contractor. Think about what you want and if any of the short listed companies are able to meet those requirements.

Must have the required level of experience

Compare based on the level of experience each of the kitchen remodeling contractors have. These should include experience in the range of styles they can deliver, budgets within which they are able to work and produce a top-class job. You can consider experience based on 1) the time the kitchen remodeling company has been in existence and 2) the combined experience of key people within the company.

Must offer a range of services

When considering hiring a remodeling contractor, make sure they can access, design and install. Consider their ability to provide things such as faucets, countertops, backsplash, sinks and much more.

Certification

You many not believe it but some long-standing kitchen remodeling contractors are not certified nor licensed to offer the services they offer. This is probably because the owners evade tax or do not have the necessary qualification to get them certified. One way or the other, a non-certified kitchen remodel contractor is questionable. Others factors to consider include experts and consumer ratings, must return all your calls promptly, must be able to offer after sale service, the number of employees and their qualifications. This will simply ease your mind and sleep well knowing your kitchen is in the hands of the best kitchen remodeling contractor

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Popular Bathroom Tile Designs

When deciding on the ideal bath design for the bathroom, there are numerous aspects of your project to think about before one last decision is created. First, how big is your restroom? If you have a tiny sized restroom, you will not need to overwhelm the idea with a significant tile design and style. Doing this will merely make the bathroom seem smaller and may throw off your ideal bathroom. In the end, that is what you are searching for isn’t it?

Elaborate designs work most effectively with small bathrooms, and also vice versa. Typically f, keep your bathroom tile bathe design symmetrical with the total size of the bathroom.
Here are several of the most well-liked bathroom tile shower models:

Glass

Nowadays, glass bathroom tile bath designs are getting to be more and more popular. Essentially the most up and coming variance of tile is known as the “mosaic” influence. The variety effect comprises of thousands of little square goblet tiles, typically in an alternative of tones within the identical base color. Glass tiled tub areas also entice the eco-activists due to the fact glass ceramic tiles are often made up of recycled glass. Aside from Corian, glass ceramic tiles are the most expensive bathroom tile bathtub design of your choices.

Train

Subway floor tiles may very well fall under the vintage category; even so subway ceramic tiles have always been one of the most well-known shower style options for more than half ten years. If utilized correctly, bath tiles will be the most effortless and clean-lines solutions. Want another excuse to choose train tiles to your shower re-tiling? These are by far the most cost-effective shower tiling option.

Granite

Since the turn of the 21st century, it appears that the design professionals have been enthusiastic about granite ceramic tiles, and not just regarding the bathroom. Interior designers love to make use of granite ceramic tiles as bathroom and kitchen counters, bathroom and kitchen floors, home backdrops not to mention, as bath tiles. The country has voiced; the most deluxe option for bathroom tiles will be granite. Of course, granite floor tiles in a bathtub look very lavish in a very shower, nonetheless this elegance will come with the hefty asking price. Using Corian is the most high-priced shower tiling remedy.

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Kitchen Remodeling

As you’re probably aware, kitchen remodeling is the most popular choice when homeowners decide to improve their houses. There are a number of reasons for this. Probably the main one is financial. Remodeling a kitchen is your best investment when it comes to upgrading, as it will usually usually return around 100% of the cost when the house is sold. That is assuming that the job was professionally done. If the homeowner does some or all of the work themselves, and manages to maintain a professional appearance, the returns can be much larger. Think about it – you invest $10,000 in remodeling your kitchen and do most of the work yourself. You get to enjoy your new kitchen for a few years, then you sell the house for an increase in price of $20,000, assuming prices are stagnant (which we know is rare). You can probably see why people go for fixing up the kitchen.

The second reason why homeowners regularly choose kitchen remodeling ideas over other renovations is just because people naturally tend to gravitate towards the kitchen. It’s more or less the gathering point whether the owners are entertaining or just staying home and relaxing. So why not put your money and effort where you’ll most often enjoy it?

This means there are a lot of resources available to anyone looking for kitchen remodeling ideas. People can go online and learn how to design a kitchen, how to choose a kitchen cabinet light, or to see kitchen remodeling pictures. You can buy books that show you how to do large or small kitchen renovations, including building your own kitchen cabinets or properly installing kitchen sink plumbing. If you’re in a couch potato mood, you can spend hours watching TV programs that show how to paint kitchen cabinets, do a kitchen cabinet resurfacing job, or plan a kitchen pantry design.

Also, with the advent of big box home improvement stores and websites that specialize in offering home improvement products, homeowners can buy almost anything they might need for a kitchen fix-up, whether it be black kitchen cabinets, or white, or anything in between, to under cabinet kitchen lighting, to even stainless steel cabinets. If you’re willing to do more work to save more money, it’s possible to buy ready-to-assembled kitchen cabinets that come in flat boxes and have to be totally assembled before they can be installed, and there are even stores that specialize in items that have been removed from houses being demolished or renovated, such as a used kitchen cabinet, countertop, or sink.

Even if there is a downturn in the real estate market, it appears that remodeling kitchens is here to stay. While some people who were planning to use their home’s equity to fund renovation have surely have had to postpone or cancel their plans, others who were planning to move but because of the slow market have decided to stay put will be upgrading their current places, and of course the kitchen will be the prime beneficiary.

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Black Kitchen Cabinets – Goes With Anything!

When many people plan the remodeling of their kitchen, they somehow feel obligated to choose medium brown woodgrain oak-type cabinets. These days, those cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and granite countertops seem to be the defacto starting point for the majority of renovated kitchens. And if you really like those finishes, that’s fine. I like granite and stainless steel myself – but I liked them before I started seemingly seeing them everywhere. Now, when it comes to those standard oak (or more likely oak veneer) cabinets, well, those I never liked. My tastes run more towards something like a black kitchen cabinet.

My kitchen remodel was a do it yourself renovation. I even built the cabinets. Now, don’t go thinking I’m a professional carpenter or anything – far from it. But my kitchen was small and there aren’t a large number of cabinets in it, plus I renovated it in stages, doing one section at a time, then taking a break before starting the next one, so it wasn’t that bad building the cabinets myself. Anyway, the main colors in my kitchen are light colored natural wood, black, and stainless steel. As a matter of fact, those are the only colors in the kitchen with the exception of two shades of blue-grey on the walls.

Probably not a common color scheme, and very likely not the one you’d choose. But it’s my kitchen, and illustrates a point I’ve made a number of times on this site. When you remodel your kitchen, do what YOU want – not what magazines or TV shows say you should be doing. Make your kitchen conform to the way you use it, and make it appeal to your tastes. If you normally only do any real cooking on weekends and your fridge is full of microwaveable food, then you probably don’t need a professional six burner gas stove. Save your money, or spend it on something you’ll actually use. While you do want to consider resale value to some extent, don’t make it the primary criteria unless you’re in the process of selling right now and are only doing a kitchen remodel to get a better price.

Back to the black kitchen cabinets. I will say that my kitchen is the only part of my house where I regularly dust vertical surfaces. Black shows dust more readily than any other color, so if you decide to go with it, be prepared. I should have been ready for this since I have a black car, but I guess I expected it to be different inside a house. Live and learn 🙂 I’d do it the same way if I had it to do over again anyway. This is where I was going to say “When it comes to kitchen cabinets, black’s the new black”…..but I figured nobody would get it. Which didn’t stop me!

If you don’t feel like building your own kitchen cabinets and also don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for black ones, you might want to check out Ikea’s offerings. They offer a style called Nexus in “brown-black” which looks pretty black. Some of their cabinets also come in Rubrick black/stainless steel. If you’re not into black, they also offer a number of other kitchen cabinet colors. Additionally, the Ikea products conform to the European Union’s standards for formaldehyde emissions, which is much lower than the US’s. Actually, the US has no standards at all for this, which is another reason I built my own cabinets, but that’s a story for another day.

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Painting Kitchen Cabinets

If your cabinets are looking kind of weary, but they’re still structurally sound, there’s no reason to spring for a full kitchen remodeling. You can either paint the entire cabinets or reface them with new doors and drawer fronts and paint the boxes. While painting kitchen cabinets isn’t that hard, there are a number of steps that need to be included in the process. Leave any of these steps out and your results could be lacking – and if you’re going to go to this trouble, you may as well get good looking cabinets. So below we present our list of tips on how to paint kitchen cabinets.

The first thing you want to do is remove the cabinet doors and drawers, even if you’re just painting and not refacing. This will make the job much easier and allow for a much cleaner looking finish. Of course, you’ll need to remove all the food, dishes, and other items in storage in the cabinets. Being that the kitchen is a place where there is a lot of moisture and grease, the next thing you want to do is completely clean the cabinets. Omitting or not taking this step seriously enough is where many people’s cabinet painting jobs go awry. The paint will not stick to greasy dirt (and no matter how meticulous a housekeeper you are, your cabinets will have some greasy dirt on them), so you have to get the cabinets as clean as possible before moving on to the next step.

Next, you need to sand the cabinetry down. This will remove the gloss of the previous finish and provide what’s called “tooth” for the new paint to adhere to. Use fine sandpaper – 150 grit or higher, and be sure to get all the areas that will be painted. When done, be sure to remove all the sawdust with a wet rag or a tack cloth.

Now you need to apply primer. You might be tempted to go directly to the paint here, but resist. If you skip the primer, it’s likely that the painted cabinets will, over time, begin to peel or chip from contact with the doors or dishes, etc. Also, if you’re going from a darker to a lighter color the primer will allow you to use fewer finish coats because the primer seals the darker color in. The type of wood and finish you’re covering and the type of paint you’ll be using for the final coat will affect your choice of primer, so speak to the paint guy when buying.

Finally, you can apply the paint. Two or three thin coats are vastly superior to one thick one. If you have the equipment, go ahead and spray the cabinets, but a brush will work just fine. Remember – multiple thin coats! Sanding lightly with the finest sandpaper you can find between coats will help make the final finish smoother, but this step is not required. If you do it, be sure to remove the sanding residue before applying the next coat, however.

That’s it for our little tutorial 🙂 Put your repainted or brand new doors back on and enjoy your reinvigorated kitchen. If it sounds like too much trouble you can always hire a painter. You’ll still be saving big bucks over the cost of a new kitchen.

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How To Install Kitchen Cabinets

Most people who are interested in doing some or all of the work themselves when remodeling their kitchen will not want to build their own kitchen cabinets. However, a larger group of you may be interested in how to install kitchen cabinets. There are lots of different ways to go about it. I read a book or two, watched some how-to TV shows, and checked out a few online tutorials before doing it myself, and while the basics were pretty much the same no matter where I looked, almost everybody had different how-to tricks and tips that they felt made the job go smoother. I’ve only done it once, in a small, simple kitchen renovation, but I’ll tell you how I went about it. If your kitchen is large and requires installing a lot of cabinets or has an intricate layout, you may well run into situations that I didn’t encounter.

Some people like to install the upper cabinets first, while others prefer to start with the lowers. There are pros and cons to both methods. If you put the lower cabinets in first, you might find that they’re in your way when installing the uppers. However, people that like to start with the lower units say that you can use them (with the countertop installed) as a base for supports that help hold the uppers while you attach them. I installed the uppers first, and would do it that way again. There are ways to support the uppers without having the bottom units in the way.

Start in a corner of the room. Mark a level line on the wall where the bottom of the cabinets will be. The distance between the upper and lower cabinets is normally between 15 and 18 inches. Be sure to allow for the thickness of the countertops when you measure up. Once you have the level line, install a 1×3 or 1×4 wooden board (called a ledger board) temporarily on the wall, with the top of the board aligned with the level line. Be sure to screw into the studs. Now you can use the ledger to help support the cabinets while you attach them to the wall. The doors are usually removed from the cabinet enclosures as it makes installation much easier.

If you have a helper or two, you can screw a couple of cabinets together and lift them as one unit. If not, just put up one cabinet at a time. Once you have the cabinet in the correct location, Put a couple of screws through the back into the wall studs. Be sure the part of the cabinet you screw through is substantial wood. The cabinet should come with a manual or instructions that’ll let you know where the screws should go. Once you have the two screws in, then check the cabinet for level and plumb. If any adjustments are required, loosen the screws and insert shims to bring the cabinet into line, then retighten the screws. Add some more screws, evenly spaced out, then go on to the next cabinet. Once it’s resting on the ledger board, clamp it to the cabinet that’s already in, put in a couple of temporary screws to hold the new cabinet to the wall, then screw the two cabinets together. It’s best to screw them together near the front. Good places are through the side of the face frame or, if the boxes are frameless, through the shelf pin holes (this will probably require bolts instead of screws) or where the screws will be hidden by the hinges. Check level and plum, then add shims if necessary as before. Continue until all cabinets are in. Remove the ledger board and patch the screw holes. You may need to use a filler strip at the end to cover any gap between the last cabinet and the wall.

The base cabinetry is installed similarly, but rather than starting in a corner, you need to locate the highest point on the floor and begin there. This is so you can shim up the additional cabinets as you proceed. If you were to begin at a lower point, then the only way you could keep the cabinets level is to trim the bottoms – definitely not something you want to attempt. Since you may be starting in the middle of a wall, be very careful when measuring to locate this starting cabinet. Reaching the end of the wall and finding that your last cabinet is a quarter inch too big for the space you’ve left is not a situation you want to find yourself in.

When you get to the sink cabinet, you’ll have to cut out the back (or bottom, if the water pipes come out of the floor) for water supply and drain pipes.

That’s the basic scoop on how to install kitchen cabinets. Like I said at the beginning, if you have a small uncomplicated kitchen, that may be enough info to get you started, but most kitchens have a lot more storage and are more complex than mine, so you may want to pick up a how to book or look for more info online or on TV if your kitchen is one of them.

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How To Design A Kitchen

If you’ve been looking for information about kitchen renovation, you’ve probably found as many opinions regarding how to design a kitchen as you’ve found remodeled kitchens. I’ll be adding my two cents to the discussion. Having done my own small kitchen remodeling a couple of years ago, I’ve had the opportunity to compare the results of the research I did before starting my actual kitchen remodeling experience.

If you’ve been reading architecture magazines or watching those designer shows on TV, you may be dreaming of ripping out some walls and totally redoing your kitchen, making it twice its current size and including professional appliances, all the latest gee-whiz bells and whistles, and top of the line cabinetry. But is that really going to suit your lifestyle (not to mention your pocketbook?) First of all, moving the sink, stove and refrigerator to new locations can be extremely expensive, depending on your particular situation. Keeping those appliances in the same approximate location can free up a lot of money for other improvements.

Also, while those humongous kitchen designs may look good on TV or in magazine spreads, think about how it would be to work in them. If your kitchen normally has four or five people jostling for space while preparing meals, then having a lot of elbow room is a good thing, and a more spacious kitchen may well be in order. But if only one person usually prepares the food in your kitchen, then taking five or six extra steps from the stove to the sink, and five or six more to the fridge, can get real old after awhile. I can think of less expensive ways to get some exercise than building a kitchen twice the size I need.

It may be that the layout of your current kitchen will function just fine if you were to replace all the appliances and cabinets. If your cabinets are still sound but just ugly, you may even be able to just replace the cabinet doors, a process known as “kitchen cabinet resurfacing”. You’d be surprised what such a refurbishing can do to a tired old kitchen. After new cabinet doors, new countertops, a new sink, all new appliances and new floors, you just may not recognize your old kitchen. You can also replace some or all of your cabinets with more functional ones, switching doors for drawers or installing some newly developed innovations, like those that can make corner cabinets more useful, give you a long tall pantry drawer, or a myriad of other recent inventions.

The next thing you might want to consider when thinking about kitchen design is that more complicated renovations will entail the kitchen being under construction for a more extended time frame, which means you’ll be eating takeout or cooking microwave dinners for a longer period of time. Remember, the more work that has to be done, the more things that can go wrong. If you’ve never lived through a remodeling job, you might not realize how one little snafu can snowball as it affects other parts of the work. While some of this will probably be unavoidable, complexity always increases the opportunity for Murphy’s law to rear its ugly head.

Finally, when designing your new kitchen, think about how much of the work you can do yourself. Even if you’re not the handyman type, you may be able to do all or much of the demolition work. This might save you a bunch of money if you’re up for some manual labor. Of course, you don’t want to get in over your head by ripping out the kitchen sink plumbing without turning off the water or some similar snafu, so make sure you get an honest appraisal from your contractor as to whether or the work is within your capabilities – and make sure you have read the complete instructions before beginning any particular project. You can also find how-to tutorials for just about any diy remodeling task on the Internet.

While on the subject of doing it yourself, one advantage to keeping your remodel to a simple refurbishing where the appliances keep their present locations is that, if you are at all handy, you may be able to complete the entire project yourself, whereas if moving of plumbing, electrical, etc is called for by the new plans, it may be beyond the scope of your skills. And realistically, you need to balance the cost savings from doing the work yourself against the fact that a professional can work five or six eight hour days per week, while you’re probably limited to nights and weekends. Meaning a longer period of time ordering pizza….

If you are in the process of researching the possibility of a kitchen remodel. My best advice to you would be to continue the process, do your homework, and get opinions from all sides before deciding what makes the most sense for your pocketbook and the way you live. Your real estate agent, the people in the magazines and on HGTV, your contractor, and me can all give you their tips, but in the end, you’re going to be the one cooking in your new kitchen, and if you’ll thrive with black kitchen cabinets, purple walls and three sinks, well, so be it!

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Kitchen Cabinet Resurfacing
Kitchen renovation can certainly be expensive. Start with the cost of new cabinets, which surprises most people at first, then we have to add in countertops, appliances, and all the other bits and pieces that go into remodeled kitchens. However, if the cabinets in your current kitchen are structurally sound, why replace them? Consider kitchen cabinet resurfacing. If your current layout is functional, and you’re not planning to relocate your major appliances, then what you’d be doing is throwing away perfectly good cabinets to put expensive new ones in the same place. Not very cost effective, huh?

You may find it hard to believe that your old cabinets can be made to look like new, but cabinet resurfacing, also referred to as cabinet refacing and cabinet door replacement, can make a remarkable difference. Once the old doors and drawer fronts are removed, the old cabinets can be cleaned up, primed, and then painted. When the new doors are added, the cabinets usually look brand new.

While there are many commercial firms that specialize in cabinet resurfacing, if you have basic DIY skills you can certainly make a do it yourself job out of this. There are companies that will make the new doors and drawer fronts for you. You remove the old ones, measure each one separately, and bring or send the measurements to the door company. They will have a selection of materials and colors you can choose from, and you can usually change the type of hinge if you’d like to go from visible to hidden European type hinges, or vice versa. While the new doors are being manufactured, you can clean the old cabinets, sand them if necessary, then prime and paint. By the time the new doors are ready, the paint should be cured and the cabinets ready for their new look.

So far I’ve mainly focused on the cost savings of cabinet refacing. However, time savings is another advantage, in that if you do it yourself, the kitchen can probably be used during the work, or during most of it, anyway. If you hire a contractor, you may lose the kitchen for a day or two, but the job will go much faster than a complete remodel. And whether you do the kitchen cabinet resurfacing yourself or hire someone to handle it for you, there’s nothing that says it’s an all or nothing proposition. You could reface most of the cabinets while replacing one or two with brand new units. Perhaps you’d like to remove a couple of regular cabinets and replace them with drawers, which can be much more efficient storage, depending on what you use them for. Entirely possible.

Even if you decide to have someone else do the entire job, you will still save big money compared to installing new cabinets. Additionally, there may be a health benefit for you and your family in going with kitchen cabinet resurfacing. New cabinet boxes are usually constructed of particleboard (less frequently plywood) which is glued together with formaldehyde glue. The formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, and has been shown to outgas from the wood into the air over time. The old cabinets probably did contain formaldehyde when new, but chances are that it has all already outgassed and dissipated. So if your new doors are solid wood, and you use a low or no VOC paint, which is becoming widely available, you’ll probably have much healthier air in your new kitchen with a brand new look to boot!

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European Kitchen Cabinets – Popular In The US Too!

As the incidence of kitchen remodeling has snowballed over the past few years, certain items that were once rare in an everyday house have become much more commonplace. First on this list would be stainless steel appliances. Five years ago, only top-of-the line appliances came with stainless skins. Now just about every refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher, regardless of price range, is available in stainless steel or a lookalike finish. Next we have stone countertops, specifically granite, which were until recently also primarily reserved for the elite. Now they’re the most popular countertop choice when it comes to remodeling. Finally, the European kitchen cabinet used to be seen mostly in….well, Europe, in addition to a few upscale American kitchens. Now they’re almost as popular as our traditional type of cabinet, which is referred to as “face frame” because it has a frame laid over the face of the cabinet.

European cabinets are also frequently called frameless cabinets, due to the lack of the face frame referred to earlier. Basically, they’re just a box. The hinges on European cabinets are invisible from the outside, which explains why they’re frequently called concealed hinges, and normally have adjustment screws that allow the doors to be shifted in three directions to achieve a perfect fit. The door part of the hinge normally ‘clips’ onto the part of the hinge that’s attached to the frame, making it very easy to remove the door for cleaning or access.

While the original design of Euro cabinetry was a very plain and simple “less is more” look with flush doors having no ornamentation whatsoever, the new versions still use the frameless construction and hidden hinges, but any sort of design is permissible on the door. So you’re not limited to the modern “Euro-kitchen” or contemporary style looks any more. European cabinet doors are available to match Victorian, Shaker, Craftsman, Colonial or any other type of decor that might be used in kitchens.

The concealed hinges integral to European cabinets have become so popular that there are now retrofit versions that will accommodate the face frames on cabinets that have them. So if your face frame cabinets are structurally sound, but you are remodeling and want the Euro look, you don’t have to rip perfectly good cabinets out. You can just reface them with new doors and the concealed hinges made for those types of boxes.

While face frame kitchen cabinets almost universally have solid “toe kicks” (the area below the cabinet that allows your feet to go under the cabinet box and therefore lets you stand close to the cabinet without stubbing your toe), Europeans may use a toe kick or may instead use furniture legs on the cabinet in order to emphasize a clean open look. In regards to functionality, European cabinets are about as good as face frame versions when it comes to the storage of food and other kitchen essentials, but some people feel the lack of a face frame makes access a little easier.

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Kitchen Remodeling Pictures – Decorating Trends

The World Wide Web is a boon to people thinking of any sort of home remodeling. There’s a myriad of information that comes from various viewpoints. Many sites have great kitchen remodeling pictures that can give you some useful ideas. You can also find tutorials on just about any facet of home improvement or repair, should you be interested in doing all or part of the renovation yourself. How did we ever get this work done before we had the Internet?

However, there is a danger with having all this information so easily accessible. You might start out with the intention of getting some ideas so you can make your old dated kitchen look good and function optimally. However, once you start seeing all the pictures of great big remodeled kitchens that are as large as a typical living room, incorporate the most up-to-the-minute decorating trends, and have all the latest bells and whistles along with a set of cabinets that costs more than your typical new car, you forget your original intent in going onto the web, and begin to plan out your own version of one of these showpieces.

And it may well be that one of these top of the line kitchens is within your financial means and also will work for your lifestyle. But it’s just as likely that building it will mean spending twice what you can afford and be totally inappropriate for the kind of use you’ll be giving it. So, as I’ve said in other articles on this site, make sure your planned remodel actually fits your needs. Don’t pay lots of money for things you’ll never use, or for a lot of extra space which looks great in pictures but just makes for a lot of walking when only one cook normally occupies the space.

You may incorporate a cabinet on wheels and can moved around to offer easy access to the dining room and a more open feel, or swiveled into the position of the original cabinet if you are in the mood. This is an idea many people can implement in their small galley kitchens, and is an example of planning your kitchen to fit you rather than somebody else’s idea of what constitutes an efficient layout.

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