- Reasons to Remodel
By: National Kitchen & Bath Association Photos: Premier Kitchens & Cabinets
Many homeowners think their kitchen is outdated from the looks of their ugly countertop, worn cabinets, or dated appliances.What they may not realize is that there are many other reasons, more important than cosmetic, why a kitchen needs to be remodeled.The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) suggests the following considerations help homeowners evaluate the condition of their kitchens and decide if the time is right for a remodel.
• Adequate space
Are you satisfied with the amount of counter space, cabinet space, and floor space in your kitchen? The position of your refrigerator or shape of your counter may be taking away useful workspace or even blocking entrance to the room when the door is open. Per the NKBA Kitchen and Bath Planning Guidelines, when replacing a countertop or changing the shape of your kitchen, keep in mind that a total of 158” of countertop frontage, 24” deep with at least 15” of clearance above, is needed to accommodate all users, including landing area, preparation/work area, and storage.
• Traffic flow
If there’s more than one cook in your household, you may want to consider making more room around the main workspace. If you enjoy entertaining, you may want an open plan kitchen that allows for more social interaction between the kitchen and other bedrooms. According to NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines, the width of a walkway should be at least 36,” and the width of a workaisle should be at least 42” for one cook and at least48” for multiple cooks.
• Children
If you have children, depending on their ages, your kitchen may need to be remodeled. Dated appliances and the design of your kitchen can be hazardous for young kids. If you are in the process of adding to your family, you may want more room for cooking larger meals and lower cabinets for easier access to children’s food. Based on the NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines, microwave ovens should be installed 3” below the principal user’s shoulder but no more than 54” above the floor to avoid accidents. The NKBA also suggests avoiding sharp corners on countertops with kids around.
• Efficiency
If your appliances are dated, they may be costing you more money than you expect. New technological advances with dishwashers, disposals and refrigerators could save you a considerable amount of funds and may be well worth the investment. For example, purchasing a dishwasher with low-energy consumption, delay timer, and economy cycle or half load button will result in saving water and money.
• Universal Design
Is your kitchen accessible to individuals with disabilities? Will you be able to use your kitchen safely while you age? Considering these issues is vital in a kitchen remodel. Employing Universal Design techniques in the remodel will help assure that space is as accessible to or useable by all people, regardless of age, size or physical ability without the need for adaptation or specialized design later.
• Location
Thinking about adding a deck to the side or back of your house? Incorporating a door into the layout of your kitchen would be a great convenience for outdoor entertaining. You also may want to rearrange the position of windows to allow more or less sunlight or to watch your children play in the yard.
• Boost Resale Value
An up-to-date kitchen not only sets your home apart from the rest, but also adds resale value. Of course, renovation requires investment, but most typically recoup more than what they put into the project. Given the favorable return on a kitchen renovation as well as its many other practical benefits, it may be worth discussing your options with a designer, in-home consultations are affordable and will provide the most accurate idea of your project cost. It has been our experience that the best-laid plans come from a homeowners ability to fully capture and relay their desires, preferences, and dislikes. Therefore before you remodel your kitchen, make a number of checklists. Make a list of the features that you like within your kitchen. What spaces/drawers/cabinets do you love and can’t live without. Add a list of design qualities that you have seen and would like incorporated into your new kitchen. Do not be concerned with bringing too much information to a consultation.
• Take away
All of our designers are fantastic at their jobs, but as of this writing, they fail at telepathy. The adage still holds, a picture is worth a thousand words! Next make a list of what you don’t like, especially if it is something that has been a part of your current design. We want to make this a dream space, something that makes you want to invite all the neighbors over, even Steve next door whom nobody likes. Magazine clippings, articles, and photos from online, or product pamphlets from vendors and retailers, are also all great sources of inspiration. All of this will help our designers be able to sit down and incorporate everything that you and your family want into one cohesive kitchen design. The functionality of an intuitive design paired with the best product and installation on the market will create a space that will quickly become your families favorite gathering place. Allow us to make your kitchen truly extraordinary for your everyday living!
-Premier Kitchens and Cabinets
