For most Canadian homeowners having a new dream kitchen tops the list of Canadian renovations. Besides being a status symbol, and great showcase for the home, a kitchen remodel will revolutionize the functioning ability of the kitchen from food preparation to storage.
Beautiful Kitchens On a Budget
The most remarkable thing about a kitchen renovation is that it can be either extravagant or modest in scope. In other words even homeowners with a modest budget can make changes that can transform their present kitchen into a space that could be featured in a home improvement magazine. All it takes is a good plan and a little imagination.
Kitchen remodeling can actually be a simple renovation because, unlike in bathrooms, the cabinets and appliances are made for squared-off spaces and they can be trimmed or expanded to fit. In addition, careful shopping can carve off a large chunk of the budget as many parts of the kitchen are marked up as much as 200% more than wholesale. So rather than spending $19,000 from a home improvement center, with some smart shopping and some do-it-yourself effort, the same results can be realized for half that amount..
1. The Plan is on the Grid
Kitchen planning is actually a very logical process. Once the ideas are in place then it's just a matter of making the parts fit into a defined space. For example, if storage is the optimum plan then pantries and wall units should be up-front in the planning. If horizontal workspace is preferred then counter space should be maximized and an island, or islands, should be on the list.
Computer Programs: When in the planning stages many people will rush out and buy computer software. There are dozens of great kitchen design programs on the market and those with the time and money can benefit from these conveniences.
Graph PaperThose who do not want to spend hours reading computer manuals can do things the old-fashioned way. A pad of graph costs less than $2 and the kitchen can be drawn in. First, get a measurement of the intended kitchen and draw the floor plan to scale on the graph paper. Include the base cabinets, islands and appliances. Once the plan is finished make copies of it so that changes can be made without destroying the starting plan.
2. Appliances Can Vary
Although most ranges and dishwashers come in standard sizes, refrigerators can vary in height, width and depth. This is why the plan should accommodate the desired major appliances. Also the homeowner should decide what smaller appliances will be included: microwave oven, mixer, toaster, coffee machine, etc. This will go to storage considerations and counter space.
3. Who Needs a Plumber?
The positioning of the utilities is another priority in the kitchen. To keep the costs down it is wise to keep the drains, water and gas outlets as close to the original kitchen as possible. This will prevent tearing up the floor or walls to feed new gas, drain and water lines. So if the placement of the dishwasher and sink can be left where they are then the new fixtures can be grafted to the present lines. By keeping the utilities where they are the homeowner can save over $1,000. Of course, before touching gas lines a certified gas fitter needs to be consulted.
4. Cabinets Can Be Inexpensive
The price of kitchen cabinets can vary from $90 to $1500 for a single unit. Most kitchen cabinets are made from panels containing pressed wood chips. A mash of composite wood particles and glue is rolled and pressed between melamine sheets. Like laminate floor planks these plastic sheets are actually pictures of real wood and the only solid wood in the cabinet is the door. Many cabinets purchased today are produced in factory situations to be assembled later. In fact most can be put together by do-it-yourselfers and this saves the price of a carpenter. When the cabinets are put in place they may not always fit. In these cases they can be trimmed or special boards can fill the spaces. Installing the cabinets may be one place where hiring a carpenter may come in handy
5. Hardware on the Cheap
Much of cabinet hardware is based on home dècor and fashion. Therefore much of it has a mark up of over 100% and sometimes higher. Therefore when hardware goes on sale a homeowner can save hundreds of dollars on great-looking, quality knobs, pulls, hinges and storage accessories.
6. Inexpensive Countertop Design
The cream of the crop in countertops is granite. However, they are expensive, heavy and need to be maintained. Therefore, to get the most out of granite look for bargains for pre-cut granite island tops. These can be found in many home improvement stores and often go on sale. Find one that suits the dècor and then match it with a quality laminate countertop for the rest of the cabinets. For as cheap as $400-$500 a homeowner can offer real granite for show while the laminate is in the background. So at a total price of less than $1,000 the kitchen can look like the counters cost $6,000
7. Floors Can be Soft
To keep kitchen costs down many homeowners choose cushioned-vinyl flooring. It looks great, is cheap to install and easy on the feet.
8. Kitchen Demolition
A homeowner can save hundreds of dollars in labour costs by taking out the old cupboards, flooring and countertop, and also doing the crack-filling and painting. In this way there can be money left to hire a professional for the installation.
There is a method to this process beginning with planning for the family's kitchen needs. The fridge should be moved to another room where plastic boxes should be available to store perishables like cereal. As most homes only have two 220 volt outlets (stove and dryer) a hot plate and convection microwave oven will come in handy for the several weeks it takes to put the new kitchen together.
For more information on dream kitchens consult our Contractor Directory or simply post your project online and a qualified kitchen contractor will contact you.
Posted by: Kim Kinrade
