Congratulations - It’s Time to Remodel That Outdated Kitchen!

Kitchen design Mar 10

Many people are taking the plunge to make their dream kitchens a reality. After years of planning, discussing, compromising over design styles and colors (and yes, maybe even a little bickering), they have finally come to an agreed-upon plan to begin the remodeling process. And after watching too many television remodeling shows, hopefully they realize it’s not normally a two day process. When the most hardworking room in the house — the kitchen — is not working optimally for a family, it is much better to remodel. Some homeowners believe that moving to a new house seems like an easier option. While the process of remodeling the kitchen in a Clarkston home is not always considered a walk in the park, it is nothing compared to the stress of selling and moving. Few people truly realize (or remember) the amount of work involved in getting an old house ready to sell, passing inspections, going through the sales process with its myriad steps and hidden costs (don’t forget those pesky termite inspections), finding a new home, negotiating and arranging financing, then moving. Better to just tackle the one room that needs an upgrade.

Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder

When a homeowner chooses the cabinetry, flooring, countertops, backsplash and appliances themselves, they have the opportunity to truly transform their space and create a personalized, beautiful and functional room within their home. Some even say it’s life-changing. And with the help of an experienced designer, they can make kitchen remodeling selections for their Livonia home that complement each other and create a harmonious and cohesive look — or not. Not all decisions need to be made with resale in mind. One creative homeowner wanted to avoid a cookie-cutter look by mixing non-matching hardware, with a different knob style and color for each cabinet door. Her kitchen was a visually chaotic combination of whale tales, crystals, skulls, and polished stones, and she was thrilled with the end result, which was a great conversation starter and a way to show off her growing collection of knobs. She even planned to swap some of them out for each major season, with a few snowmen and bunnies waiting in the wings! Another couple had custom tiles printed for their backsplash with quotes from Julia Child, including the well-known “People who love to eat are always the best people.” One woman customized her backsplash with replicas of favorite quilt patterns, creating a truly colorful look set off with beautiful dove gray cabinetry with red knobs. This brings up one of the basic tenets of remodeling. One aspect of any remodeling project is to determine how long the homeowners intend to stay in the home. Are they remodeling for themselves, or for future resale? Do they want to spend a majority of their budget on a very personalized integrated pasta making station, or huge, top-of-the-line appliances? One owner who planned to live in her home for many years chose to have custom cabinetry installed to more ergonomically fit her six foot height. Others are looking ahead to “aging in place” and are incorporating accessibility choices into the designs. For those wishing for a more traditional look for their kitchen remodeling in Clarkston, a mind-blowing array of products await. One of the ways couples are finding to narrow down their choices is to start a shared Pinterest page. They create separate Pinterest boards for cabinetry, flooring, countertops, backsplashes and “other” (for faucets, appliances and hardware.) Each night, they can spend some time going over their favorite pins and coming to agreement on what they would select.

Choosing a Carefree Countertop

Although not the most expensive component of the kitchen, countertops are a crucial choice because they are something homeowners will quite literally see and use every day. The choice of a beautiful countertop can make or break a kitchen, and the assistance of an experienced kitchen designer often proves invaluable. Different types of countertop materials are popular in different regions of the country, so homeowners may also want to consider researching what is preferred in the communities being built in their city. Years ago, realtors reported that just three words immediately sold houses: “granite” and “hardwood floors.” Granite is still a popular countertop choice and is one of the hardest materials known to man — including exceptional heat and scratch resistance. Granite is usually cut in one and a quarter-inch thick slabs and is an excellent choice for kitchen and bath countertops because it has a natural resistance to bacteria. Another popular choice is quartz, made by mixing natural quartz crystals with a resin. It rivals the look of natural stone and has become hugely fashionable, in part due to its ability to mimic the look of marble with its beautiful veining and movement. Homeowners wanting natural marble have been disappointed in the past because it is very porous, and easily stained and damaged. Instead, a wise choice would be realistic “marble-look” quartz. With its easy to clean surface and stain resistance, more and more couples are choosing quartz to achieve the look they love without sacrificing the convenience and long-lasting beauty they need. Some quartz manufacturers offer a bacteriostatic protection system that inhibits the growth or reproduction of bacteria, resulting in a cleaner and healthier kitchen. Other countertop options are known for their eco-friendliness and a high glossy sheen.

Creating Dream Kitchens

 Enjoying the process of kitchen remodeling in Livonia begins with choosing an experienced and trusted remodeling company that offers top quality products. Researching on the web for reviews, contacting referrals, and asking family and friends are the best ways to find a remodeling company to do business with. Homeowners will be happiest when they find a company that believes it is a true labor of love to help them create the kitchen of their dreams.