
Kitchens are the thriving heart of any house. You can cook delicious feasts on your stove, enjoy banter with friends perched atop counters during parties or have a pleasant evening with your family over a hot meal. Whether you're simply trying to spruce up your home's interior design, or you're trying to sell your home, you cannot afford to ignore the kitchen. According to experts, properties with renovated kitchens tend to be a hit with home buyers.
Renovating your kitchen can be a costly endeavor. Based on some estimates, remodeling a small kitchen could cost about $4,000. But a complete kitchen remodels with all the work can set you back a whopping $50,000. If you plan on renovating your kitchen any time soon, you will need some help.
Below are a few tips you should consider before remodeling your home kitchen.
1. Upgrade Stoves
The range and the refrigerator are the two focal points in your kitchen, with the sink a close third. Therefore, you must make sure the stoves are in pristine condition and that they're the best fit for you. Unless your home is themed around a sort of antique charm, you may wish to upgrade your stove every few years. This is because new stoves have more safety measures and a lot of other conveniences.
For example, some stoves today show you the temperature they're using, which means no more guesswork when you're cooking finicky soups or other fares. Investing in some Viking cooktop parts or even an entirely new electric range could make your cooking more efficient and your kitchen a lot safer.
2. Ditch the Linoleum
The kitchen sees a lot of foot traffic, whether it's from your pacing as you check on various dishes or from people wandering in at all hours looking for a snack. Your flooring may become scruffy and even disheveled after a few years. This is especially true if your kitchen is finished with linoleum. Peeling linoleum isn't just unattractive, they're also dangerous.
When remodeling your kitchen, updating the flooring is an excellent way of increasing its appeal and making it safer. Instead of linoleum, use tiles. You'd be amazed at how classier your kitchen looks with the right kind of tiles, some caulk, and a tile spacer. Tiles are more expensive, but they're easier to clean, won't peel after a few years, and provide a certain elegance.
3. Eating In is In
Experts have determined properties with eat-in kitchens are more popular with buyers. This is because it's more convenient to eat next to the food source without walking some distance to get a second serving.
If your kitchen is smaller than most, you may think they're no way you can convert it into an eating-in area. But there are many ways to ensure people can enjoy their meals right there in the kitchen.
First, expand your countertops, giving people somewhere to place their food. Second, install a large kitchen island or create a window through a nearby wall. A new kitchen island or a low divider can serve as a table or a preparation surface, enhancing the space's utility either way.
4. Get a Range Hood
Fumes and smoke are always very concerning in the kitchen, just like hot air. Exhaust fans and cross ventilation can only do so much, which is why many states and municipalities require range hoods. Range hoods are exhaust installations placed directly over your stovetop that siphons hot air and smoke, and they can also potentially vent outgas if the range is turned on without being lit.
There are many range hoods, but you don't need to go overboard when remodeling your kitchen. Some people get overly large range hoods for their stoves, which only inflates your budget. Find a range hood appropriate for your stove and make sure it vents the air outside to avoid violating safety codes.
5. Watch the Flow
Kitchens are busy places, which is why you must consider the flow of people and activities when renovating. For example, you don't want to put your refrigerator on the opposite side of a kitchen island from your stove. Cabinets and hutches should also be close to the kitchen sink, so it's easier to put cutlery and flatware away.
A great way to determine the ideal flow is to draw your new kitchen floor plan and trace someone's movement when they're cooking, cleaning, or serving food. This will show you how many times someone will go back and forth and how long they need to go before accomplishing any task.
Kitchen remodeling is a tricky business, but it's gratifying. You could secure a great sale or enjoy cooking more with your new kitchen with the right advice.
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