Kitchen Remodeling Contractors

No other area in the home gets as much traffic as the kitchen. Whether it's snacking, food preparation, answering the phone or having family discussions the kitchen is the nerve center for most of the activity in daily life. So its no wonder that kitchen remodeling contractors report that the kitchen joins bathroom remodeling as the most requested renovation in the home.

Kitchen Cabinets

When most people begin to think about remodeling a kitchen cabinet designs are in the forefront of the kitchen plans of homeowners and contractors. This is because cabinets are the first impression that everyone gets when they first look at a kitchen. Cabinet designs are very important when a homeowner is planning to sell the home because choosing the wrong style, no matter how new the cabinets look, will date the kitchen and may turn off potential buyers.

In many cases the old cabinet boxes are fine and were probably made from good wood. There is a lot of storage and, except for worn doors and outdated hardware, they look okay. In this case the kitchen cabinets just need refacing with new doors and hardware. So for a fraction of the cost of new cabinets the old ones can be refinished and new doors put on.

For those who want some different the monolithic bank of cabinets that frame stainless-steel appliances and modern dining accessories is going out into the countryside. The rural kitchens of the Mediterranean the French farms are the models for the new kitchen cabinet designs featuring carved posts. And the island can be an entirely different piece of cabinetry as well

Kitchen Layout

Since the kitchen is a work center the layout is crucial to food preparation. By going into a kitchen showroom a homeowners can judge from an array of static kitchens which one would suit his or her home. Today, almost everyone wants an island as a second workstation because it is easy to work around and the base cabinets are great for storage. Some homeowners want the cooktop to be included on the island complete with a range hood.

In most kitchen remodeling layouts there are three areas that have to be reachable: stove, fridge and sink. Many designers call this plan the “golden triangle” because the layout makes it easy to access all three without too much walking. Depending on the main use for the kitchen this layout may not be written in stone. This is because more and more homeowners are opting for more than one island which would create individual workstations where more than two people can work at the same time without getting in the way of each other.

Countertops

Kitchen countertops are the sharp end of the stick in food preparation. This is where all the ingredients are sorted, cut and prepared before they go into a pot or pan. And like the cabinets themselves there are a great many materials from which to choose. Granite is a favorite and is great for rolling dough or doing any type of preparation work that requires a hard surface. However, it should be sealed at least twice a year. Many homeowners are opting for an engineered stone that is made from granite and quartz chips and doesn't need sealing. More specialized counters are also popular with those demanding these products: hardwood, soapstone, stainless-steel and copper.

On the main bank of cabinets some homeowners who want to save money will choose a formica surface that matches the granite or engineered stone on the island. Not only is this cheaper dishes will not be prone to chip or break on a formica surface whereas granite and marble, and even engineered stone, are hard on dishes.

Flooring

Custom kitchens would not be complete without flooring. To have beautiful new cabinetry and countertops without a floor to finish the space would be like having a new car with old hubcaps. It used to be that linoleum and vinyl was the most popular flooring because kitchen floors tended to get wet and most people felt that ceramic tile was too hard and cold on the feet. Wood was a definite non-starter because of the dampness problem.

Tile has made a stunning comeback due to the rise in radiant in-floor heating and, as well, the new designs and sizes. Tile as large as 18” x 18” are now being used on kitchen floors in a variety of patterns. In addition, these designs are being interlaced with other materials such as cork on the floors  around the area the food preparation is being done. And with the sealing techniques hardwood has made it back into the kitchen along with other species of flooring like bamboo. 

Backsplash

When everything else has been completed in the kitchen the backsplash should set off the cabinets and fixtures. There are so many materials and designs from which to choose: tile, stainless-steel, stone, tin-plate, copper and even wood.

For more information on kitchen design consult our Contractor Directory, or post your project at www.trustedpros.ca and a qualified professional will contact you. There is no obligation and you will get a better idea of what you want in your kitchen.