KITCHENS
Auburn Glaze |
Black Shaker |
Blond Birch |
Cafe Latte |
Cherry Cabernet |
Cherry Stone |
Cinnamon Shake |
Cocoa Glaze |
Empire Maple |
A kitchen serves as the heart of your home. It's where the meals are prepared and often served. It's where all of your parties end up. Is it any wonder that kitchen remodels are so popular and have the largest payoff in terms of boosting a home's resale value? Of course, they're also the most complicated remodels and can be the most expensive. The cost will vary depending on the size of your kitchen, the quality of materials, the quality of the appliances and whether you're changing the layout of the room.
The first step is to consider the kitchen holistically. Before you get to the smaller questions, such as whether to reface your cabinets or replace them, ask yourself the big questions: What do you want from your kitchen? How do you want it to look and function? Is the size and configuration right? Figure out how much money you're willing to spend. If your budget is modest, you probably won't be able to create your dream kitchen. But that doesn't mean having a vision of that perfect kitchen isn't important. Maybe you can take incremental steps to getting there. Once you have a contractor you trust, work with him or her to develop a plan, including work and payment schedules. Then you can take a closer look at the details that will affect your overall cost. The cost of remodeling a kitchen may seem overwhelming at first, but if you plan in advance and prioritize the most important areas of your kitchen, that can help keep your kitchen remodel price in check and ensure you get exactly what you want and need. Kitchen CountertopsThe options can make your head spin: stone, tile, concrete, marble, butcher block, stainless steel, recycled glass, Formica, Corian
the list goes on and on. Choose a material based on what's going to look and functions best for you. Seamless materials, such as Corian and granite, tend to be more durable but are generally more expensive. Formica and concrete tend to be cheaper but add less value to the home. Tile can be pretty, but you can expect quite a bit of maintenance down the road. Within each category of material, you'll find huge price swings, depending on quality. When making these decisions, keep in mind the huge role that countertops play in the look and usability of your kitchen.
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Kitchen CabinetsCabinets often make the room's first impression, and if your cabinets are dated, that impression might be like walking into a business meeting in a powder blue leisure suit. The cost of new cabinets will vary depending on whether you go for standard sizes or custom, as well as the quality of the materials. If you want to give your old cabinets a new look for less, you may choose to refinish or reface your cabinets. You can change the color, look and feel without tearing through the kids' college fund
Kitchen FlooringThe largest factors in the cost of new flooring are the square footage needed and the material you choose. Vinyl and linoleum flooring tend to be the most affordable options but add little or nothing to the value of your kitchen. Tile, granite and wood are more expensive options and will help to increase the value of your home. However, the more expensive flooring options are sometimes the more difficult to maintain and keep looking new. Kitchens can be volatile work stations, and damage from stains, grease, heat and moisture can be as common as Sunday pancakes. So, if you can't keep up with the cleaning and maintenance, the more expensive flooring options might not be the best for you.
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