Nothing about your dream kitchen should be ordinary—that includes your cabinets and shelves. Upgrading your cabinetry and shelving is crucial when taking your kitchen’s luxury and style to the next level.
When you think of kitchen building and remodeling, what comes to mind? If you’re like most homeowners, visions of counters, textured backsplashes, deep sinks, storage space, and stunning cabinetry dance in your head. Those are all definitely important and add to the function and “wow factor” of the design.
We would also encourage you, though, to consider another crucial component in the creation of a functional, stylish kitchen. Ready for it?
Lighting.
Choosing interior paint colors should be a fun, invigorating process. We purposefully used the word “should” because, as unfortunate as it is, a lot of times homeowners become a bit stressed by the idea of selecting a new palette for their home. This might be due to the fact that interior paint feels permanent; after all, it can’t be simply returned to the store if it doesn’t fit well.
This is all especially true when it comes to painting your kitchen. There is huge stylistic opportunity in this central room, but at the same time there are a lot of elements to consider. If you are planning a kitchen painting project, our suggestion is first to take a deep breath, relax, and try to enjoy the process. And, as you relax, consider these few tips that we have compiled below.
Your kitchen is a genuinely unique place. On one hand, it’s designed to work, being carefully organized for efficiency and productivity. Ideally (not always, though), you know where each cup, ladle, measuring spoon, pot or pan is located, and meals can be created with relative ease.
On the other hand, your kitchen is also a place where you can showcase your own style, holding tremendous opportunity to customize, personalize, and create a truly breathtaking space.
In our last entry we asked you to join us as we explored a kitchen remodel and expansion project in Larchmont. Specifically, we shared a few exterior pictures and discussed just how much of a difference can be made by even a relatively small addition, debunking the misconception that a life-improving change in your home can only come from a massive project. There is a quiet, valuable power in strategic planning and quality work.
As promised, let’s zoom in even closer now, throw open those beautiful French doors, and take a stroll through this custom kitchen.
Below you’ll find a picture of the finished interior. Quite a difference!
Our mission was to completely transform this part of the home. With this goal in mind, we started by demolishing the original kitchen and building the addition to provide the precious square-footage that the client needed.
The scope of the project included:
We also installed custom lighting to help create the perfect soft, warm ambience, as well as spotlights for specific work areas in the kitchen.
As an additional valuable feature, we installed radiant heat. This is an incredibly comfortable heating system which, in addition to being extremely efficient, also keeps your feet warm as you make the morning coffee. What could be better?
What do you think of how it all turned out?
This kitchen obviously boasts some good looks and quality finishing touches. It isn’t just a pretty face, however, but still needs to function as the day-to-day activity hub for this home. To answer the call, we included:
Perhaps the best part of this project was the fact that not only did the addition and remodel turn out beautifully, but our client was absolutely thrilled with the result. After all, that’s what it’s all about! At Gerety Building and Restoration, we want to help you make your home everything that you dream it could be.
Do you have any questions about home building, construction, or remodeling? If so, we would love to hear from you and help however we can. Please feel free to contact us!
Oftentimes when people think of building an addition, or remodeling, they assume that for a valuable difference to be made, a huge addition is required. And, depending on the specific goals you have and the objectives you need your new space to accomplish, a big change might just be in order.
On the other hand, you also could be surprised by how much of a transformation can be made possible by even a relatively small, but well-planned, project.
The kitchen is the heart of most homes. If you love to cook and entertain, you probably spend a lot of time in the kitchen. This is the room where families and friends gather most often, especially if you like to entertain and cook at the same time. Why would you want to spend all that time in a drab, outdated room that lacks space, warmth, and modern design?
While there may be high initial costs, high end kitchens allow for function, great design, and will actually add value to your home. Working with a designer to figure out a plan that will suit your current needs, as well as meet any future needs, is the best way to do a high end remodel. They will steer you in the right direction in order to help you meet those current needs and contemplate what the next homeowner may find useful or off-putting should you sell your home in the future.
Even though high end kitchen remodels will cost more than your average do it yourself modifications, the knowledge that everything will be done properly and with care is priceless. When a buyer walks through a home that is for sale, a nice, modern kitchen is usually one of the top things on their list of must-haves. In other words, your kitchen remodel will definitely bring high returns and pay for itself as the value of your home increases over the years.
Even when working with a designer, a high end kitchen remodel does not have to empty your pockets completely. There are many ways to ensure that your money is spent and stretched while still assuring the best quality of workmanship, design, and products.
Some things to consider when remodeling a kitchen are custom cabinetry, contemporary lighting and task lighting, ample workspace and storage, and modern, appealing and energy-efficient appliances. Choose pieces that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional. A lot of people look for stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and lots of storage.
When choosing a designer to help you with your kitchen remodel, do some research and find the one whose tastes fall in line with your own. Each and every piece of the remodel must be planned and approved, and you want to choose a designer who will not butt heads with you over details. You need a team who will work together to get the work finished in a timely manner.
A kitchen renovation is one of the smartest ways to add value to your home. Real estate experts agree that a well-designed and updated kitchen attracts buyers. Whether you are completely remodeling or simply making a few updates, homeowners can improve the appeal of their home and increase the value with a kitchen renovation.
According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2010-11 Cost vs. Value Report, a homeowner will recoup about 60% of the cost of a major kitchen renovation. This makes it one of the best remodeling choices for homeowners looking to build equity in their home. A modern kitchen makes your home more valuable and more attractive to buyers when the time comes to sell.
The kitchen is the heart of a home. It is a place to gather as a family, visit with friends, and share meals. Because it is one of the most popular rooms in the house, kitchens tend to suffer a lot of wear and tear over time. Countertops, appliances, and flooring can get worn and damaged, decreasing the style and appeal of the room.
A kitchen renovation may include knocking down walls to add space or redesigning the layout to improve functionality. Homeowners have the chance to design the room they have always wanted. Make the most of it by increasing storage space and improving traffic flow.
Consider upgrading your appliances to high-efficiency models. Not only can they save you money in energy costs, you may be eligible for tax rebates. Be sure that your electrical wiring and plumbing are properly installed to prevent damage and ensure that your appliances will work correctly.
Your existing cabinets can be re-surfaced or you may decide to replace them entirely with new ones. Choose a countertop surface that will blend well with your cabinets. Stone, especially granite, gives your kitchen an up-scale and classic look that will last the lifetime of your home.
Hardwoods and ceramic tiles are the most popular choices for kitchen flooring. Both materials are attractive to buyers and need very little maintenance to look good.
Lighting is extremely important in the kitchen. Ambient lighting will keep the room bright. Task lighting illuminates the food prep and cooking area. Under cabinet lighting can accentuate the beauty of your room.
Find a wall color that will accentuate your new cabinets, flooring, appliances, and countertops. Consider the addition of a colorful backsplash or accent wall to create a focal point in the room.
A kitchen renovation is a large project and can take months to fully complete. Discuss a timeline and a specific budget for your project with us so you will know what to expect.
Not everyone is willing or able to complete a large-scale renovation of the kitchen. Even minor improvements can change the entire look of your kitchen and make it more appealing to potential buyers. Whether you are selling your home or simply want to improve the room’s appearance, small projects like painting or replacing outdated appliances can make a big difference to the value of your home.
If you consider choosing custom kitchen cabinets an open and shut matter, you are gravely mistaken. Whether it is a new or a remodeled variety that you want, you could have a tough time getting hold of the variety that you want. Since the choices and options are endless; you will really have a tough time finding the item of your choice. Cabinets add up to 70 percent of almost every kitchen’s cost so you need to ensure that you are getting the best return on your investment. A single mistake on your part and it could ruin your entire investment! So make sure that you are carrying out each and every process of selecting your custom kitchen cabinetry with the required amount of attention and precision.
If, you wish to control your costs, and at the same time want to have great looking custom cabinets, you will need to do some research. Or you can even go for the option of purchasing standard sized cabinets and then opting for upgrades. You would have fewer finish options but you would surely get custom kitchen cabinetry at a much lower cost. You can always get custom units which offer the perfect fit and exact dimensions if you are ready to research adequately. Top-quality materials and craftsmanship can be used if you are not on a tight budget and these superior quality items are easily available in the market.
Your first task will be to analyze your kitchen’s layout and cooking habits of your family. Depending on these factors, analyze what you would need to store in your custom kitchen cabinetry. You may even have plans to get accessories for your cabinetry, but for that you need to organize your kitchen activities through the skillful organization of your cabinetry. If you feel that you are not competent enough to carry out the task, seek professional guidance. An architect or a kitchen designer can help you in the process of making choices thereby making the most of your space.
You should always select your cabinetry based on the material used to manufacture it. Take some time to select the wood and the desired finish. Try to choose those which are easy to clean and are durable. Opt for those manufacturers who offer warranties and cover typical repairs. Browse through showroom samples in order to get a broad idea of the items that these manufacturers make. Since custom kitchen cabinetry should be designed on the basis of your desires and demands, you need to spend a good amount of time and energy finding a design that is appropriate for you and your kitchen. You can even get help from your friends and relatives who have purchased such cabinets at some point of time. Their suggestions can be of great help when it comes to choosing your cabinetry.
Custom cabinetry is the best investment you can make in your home improvement. Make your house a home with kitchen cabinetry crafted to your exact requirements for the kitchen you only dare dream of. Now it can be reality. You’ll be surprised how affordable your dream custom kitchen cabinets can be.
This gorgeous kitchen remodel we have been working on in Chappaqua, NY is nearing completion. Recently, we installed the custom ubatuba granite countertops. Below are some pictures of the new installation. Let us know what you think in the comments below, or click here to view more view more kitchen remodeling projects.
