Everyone has a dream home and thus a dream kitchen. Therefore over 90% of people are considering a kitchen renovation.
This fantasy differs for each individual.
Certain home-focused and many general purpose magazines contain hundreds of pictures annually of the "ideal" home. Decorating magazines and design gurus tell and show you how to create the perfect kitchen for your home. Every month or two, various different types of magazines will devote page-after-page to the "perfect" home.
The best way to start is to sit down with a pen or pencil and paper or at the computer. Once comfortable, you can take that first step toward remodeling. You set down your goals.
1. IDENTIFY YOUR GOAL
It is a wise person who sits down and takes stock of what they have before they change it. This applies to many things, including kitchen renovations. You should never start a job of any scale without ascertaining what is already there. Only when you understand what you have, should you compare it with what you need. Then, you can consider the room in terms of what you want.
For example, you may have too few storage spaces. You need more. You want a certain model that demands more room than you have. Ask yourself, "Is there a solution?"
What becomes crucial is for you to organize. You need to compile a list of what already exists. You have to see the kitchen for what it is. Remove the rose-colored glasses. You need to look at the existing kitchen from every angle. In doing so, you will see what you have to work with.
Look at the following:
The goal does not have to be a complex one. For many it is simple. Your goal could be:
You may just be tired of the way the kitchen looks. Alternatively, you could have moved into this particular house with the very intention of changing the kitchen to reflect your lifestyle.
When you have identified your goal, you then need to consider what you plan to do. This is where fantasy and reality may collide.
While you may want to tear down the kitchen to its bare walls, you need to consider other inherent or pre-existing factors. As a result, before you can actually discuss the new kitchen plans, you need to look at the old or existing kitchen reality. You have to look at what you have before you can fully analyze how you can realize your goal.
2. ASSESSING THE KITCHEN YOU HAVE
The process will be long. It can be convoluted. You can simplify it right from the start by being clear in your methods and approach. Right now, you need to define two things: the reason for your make over - the Goal, and what you plan to do.
Storage Space
List the items you have to conceal things from sight. Consider the different types of storage space you have. Look at their location.
Are they convenient?
Are they accessible?
Do they reflect your lifestyle?
Are they sufficient?
Do they suit your decor?
Lighting
What type of lighting do you have? Is it glaring or too dim?
Are there sufficient light sources in the kitchen?
Do they address the requirements of all the activities taking place?
Eating Area
Do you eat in the kitchen? Where do you eat?
Does dining in the kitchen impede any other activity?
Counter Space or counter tops
How much do you have?
Where is it?
Do you like the style or look? Is the surface practical?
Garbage/Recycling Bins
Is there space in your kitchen for the different types of garbage? Do you need to sort? If so is there room to do so?
Traffic Flow or Traffic Jam?
Is your kitchen space crowded?
Does the traffic flow into your work space - the kitchen triangle?
Is there a gridlockat meal and/or snack times?
Do you feel nothing is getting done as efficiently or effectively as it could?
Cabinets
What type do you have? Are there enough? Where are they located?
Are they, practical and functional?
Are they decorative?
You need to note any problems you see in the design, the materials, the layout and the style. You should consider all aspects and components of your kitchen.
You should look at their functionality. Do they fulfill their purpose? Do they do so without problems? Only after you consider the practical aspects should you consider their look or style.
3. MAKING INFORMED CHOICES
When you go through your kitchen, you will note what you like. Consider retaining these features. You will also see what you want to change. As you list your kitchen's characteristics, both the positives and negatives will become obvious. It will quickly become apparent what works and what does not. Your next step is to consider the overall picture.
To do so, you need to ask yourself several questions.
Looking at your kitchen's assets, consider:
» What is the function of the kitchen?
» What is the current style of the kitchen?
» What do you do there besides cook?
» What type of cooking and other activities occur in the kitchen?
» What is the position of the kitchen in your household?
After you have the answers to these questions, you can go on to list what you want from your fantasy kitchen. This combines both your goals with your desires and dreams.
This process will temper your fantasy kitchenand a successful kitchen renovation. It will add a touch of realism.
A little planning for your kitchen renovation will go along way. It is like booking your family holiday a little planning will go a long way to meeting everyones goals.
Have a great week.
Talk soon.....
The best way to start is to sit down with a pen or pencil and paper or at the computer. Once comfortable, you can take that first step toward remodeling. You set down your goals. 1. IDENTIFY YOUR GOAL It is a wise person who sits down and takes stock of what they have before they change it. This applies to many things, including kitchen renovations. You should never start a job of any scale without ascertaining what is already there. Only when you understand what you have, should you compare it with what you need. Then, you can consider the room in terms of what you want. For example, you may have too few storage spaces. You need more. You want a certain model that demands more room than you have. Ask yourself, "Is there a solution?" What becomes crucial is for you to organize. You need to compile a list of what already exists. You have to see the kitchen for what it is. Remove the rose-colored glasses. You need to look at the existing kitchen from every angle. In doing so, you will see what you have to work with. Look at the following: The goal does not have to be a complex one. For many it is simple. Your goal could be:
If you are looking for a challenge, why not plan a kitchen renovation.
It is one way to give yor home that new home feeling. It also gives you a chance to entirely, or moderately change the look or style of this special room in your home. In the process you will easily accomplish two important goals:
1. You will increase the investment in your home
2. Improve your home to reflect modern life styles
Kitchens are where you and your family can cook and eat. It is also where your tribe can work and play. The kitchen is where the family often comes together. From here many parents and individuals organize their daily activities. The kitchen table, corner nook or counter top becomes the place where people sit with a cold or hot drink in hand. Leaning over one of the kitchen's may surfaces, pen in hand or ipad at the ready, they sit and pay their bills, plan a vacation or review a new recipe. The kitchen is also the scene of many a heart-to-heart talk over a cup or two of coffee.
The kitchen is the heart of the house. It is also one of the first rooms many home buyers check out when they come to view a home. This is the so-called "hot ticket" among real estate agents. It is one of the several reasons why people decide to remodel their kitchen. It increases the speed and likelihood of the house being sold.
There are other reasons to remodel your home. They can vary from the fact the size of your family has changed to an upgrade is required to install a range of new energy and time saving appliances. Like computers and motor vehicles there have been great advancements made in the technology now installed in appliances. Not to mention the style, design and colour that is now available.
Another reason for change is food preparation. A number of studies have shown that one of the biggest issues in homes is cross contamination of food in kitchens leading to sickness and poor health in families. So families decide to renovate their kitchen so that they can have easier access to the refrigerator, cooktop, benches and not have food being ahndled a number of times and cross contamination occuring.
With the introduction of new technologies the a kitchen renovation can lead to a greener environment. The applainces today are manufactured to the highest standards and comply with the strictest energy ratings. This means a whole lot of benefits to the environment for all of us.
There is another popular reason why people renovate their kitchen. Theya re simply tired of how it looks. Deciding to renovate an eyesore is agreat way to inexpensively increase your satisfaction with your home. You may want a new home but economic times or circumstances may force you to opt for remodeling or renovating.
This is because a kitchen is a complex entity containing all the elements from earth (wood) to fire (oven) to water (plumbing) to air (ventilation). In no other room is there such a complex intersection of the various systems that make living comfortable. Not to mention all this has to be combined and assessed with the traffic that goes through the kitchen with people going from one room to another, crossing paths, meeting etc it certainly is an important and complex room.
A kitchen renovation does not have to be a major headache or challenge. If you are clear on your goals, budgets, ideas and do some pre-plannign then it can be an exciting yet demanding process. Over the next few weeks we will go further into how to plan your kitchen renovation and steps you need to take.
Until next time take care and please leave a comment.
Talk soon.....
