If you are thinking of remodeling your existing kitchen, then you must know that doing it is one of the most expensive home remodeling projects. Having a clear idea about what you want and how you want the kitchen to look, is essential if you do not want to go over budget. Most homeowners have a very vague idea about the way they want their kitchen to look. And many of them do not make the distinction between wants and needs in designing a kitchen. While designing a kitchen and choosing fittings and materials, it is essential that you pay attention not just to the aesthetics but also to the functionality. There is no point in having a beautifully designed kitchen, only to find that you have no storage area for your utensils and food items. The best way to avoid such a situation is to make a kitchen remodeling checklist. Given below is a checklist for remodeling kitchens that you can use.
Checklist for Kitchen Remodeling
Kitchen Layout
Before you purchase any hardware for remodeling the kitchen, first take stock of the size of the kitchen. If you have a small kitchen with a small floor area, then you need to make judicious use of the space. Plan a design that has a good layout so that you can move without bumping into cabinets and kitchen islands while cooking. The layout of a kitchen is of primary importance and without a proper layout your efficiency as well as time taken to put together a meal is greatly compromised. There are different types of kitchen layouts from U shaped, L shaped to galleys. Choose a layout that is most suitable for you. An L-shaped kitchen layout works very well for a small kitchen that is long and narrow.
Kitchen Storage
An often overlooked component in kitchen designing is the kitchen storage. While making a checklist for kitchen remodeling, you not only have to decide about kitchen cabinets but also pantry and utensil storage. For kitchen cabinets, you can choose from face frame construction or frameless construction. Frameless kitchen cabinets are more suitable for a modern kitchen dcor whereas face frame ones look good with a traditional dcor. You can choose from materials like laminate, wood and metal for kitchen cabinets. Your budget and choice of dcor will dictate the material and design to select for kitchen cabinets. For storing food staples like rice, pasta and wheat, constructing a pantry shelf is advisable.
Kitchen Countertop
Kitchen countertops are an important component in the kitchen and there are lots of options available in choosing a countertop for the kitchen. A kitchen countertop material should be heat resistant, scratch-proof and easy to clean. You can choose from laminate, tiles, stone and wood. Stone is one of the best and the most durable material for kitchen countertops. It is heat and scratch-resistant and has a very stylish look. But it can be on the expensive side. If you are remodeling your kitchen on a budget, then you would do well to choose laminate countertops as it is durable and inexpensive.
Flooring
Kitchen remodeling would not be complete without installing proper flooring. You can choose from hardwood floors or bamboo floors, if you want to give your kitchen a warm look. Budget does not permit hardwood floors? Then choose from ceramic tile floors or vinyl tile floors. These type of tiles are available in a variety of designs, sizes and colors that is sure to match your kitchen dcor. Avoid installing marble floors since they are highly porous and any stains from food is going to be hard to get rid of. Stone floors though beautiful are not a great option if you reside in a cold place as they become too cold in winter.
Lighting
Good lighting in a kitchen is a must. For a kitchen, you will need both task lighting and general lighting. You can choose from recessed lighting mounted on the ceiling of the kitchen to pendant lighting on the walls. These types of kitchen lighting are great for general lighting purposes. For task lighting, you can choose undercabinet lighting fixtures. You can also select lighting fixtures that come with both uplighting and down lighting. Uplighting helps in fulfilling the general lighting needs while downlighting will provide task lighting. In addition to these lighting system mentioned above you can also install a dimming system that will create mood lighting in the kitchen giving it a stylish and cozy ambiance.
Kitchen Sink
Always choose high quality kitchen sinks and faucets. Kitchen sinks are available in various shapes and sizes in materials like granite, slate, steel and tiles. Choose a style and material that best suits your needs. For kitchen faucets, you can choose from pull out faucet and pull down model. Both have their pros and cons so choose a style after careful consideration. Faucets are available in materials like chrome, copper and brass.
Preparing a kitchen remodeling checklist will not only help you in budgeting but it will also help you to determine whether you have covered all components of the remodeling project. Take some time out to make a checklist for kitchen remodeling and you can remodel your kitchen without any hassles.
