According to a recent article in the Regina Leader-Post, kitchen renovations are on the rise in Queen City. Many homeowners are opting to gut their existing kitchens and create a new environment from scratch. While this can be a costly undertaking, a remodel often pays off in the long run!
A well-designed kitchen not only increases the value of your home but makes cooking and entertaining more enjoyable for you! With that said, if you're thinking about renovating your kitchen, you should keep a few things in mind.
Before hiring a professional to take care of your kitchen remodel – whether it's an easy upgrade or a full renovation – don't forget these essential tips!
Budget-Friendly Kitchen Renovation Strategies
Save money by painting cabinets rather than replacing them.
Investing in new cabinetry can account for up to 40% of your kitchen remodel costs! If you're happy with your current cabinets’ location and functionality but feel the finish is dark or dull, it’ll be more cost-effective to repaint than replace your cabinets entirely.
If you’re concerned about ensuring the paint job is top-notch, you can even hire an experienced painter to take care of this upgrade for you!
Prepare Before Painting.
Painting is a great way to spruce up your kitchen without breaking the bank - especially if you paint before installing any new cabinets or countertops.
Before applying any paint, ensure your walls, trim, and ceilings are at their best. Remember, paint and primer cannot cover cracks or holes on painted surfaces. Hence, before painting, be sure to check that uneven areas are sanded, seams are caulked, and holes and cracks are filled as needed!
The gloss of a paint’s finish impacts how easy it is to clean. We recommend using semi-gloss on all trim and a satin finish if you’re painting cabinets. Eggshell is the most popular paint for walls because it produces less glare and makes the walls look smoother!
Consider functionality and character when choosing a backsplash.
Choosing a backsplash can be a daunting task because there are so many options in the market!
Subway tiles offer a traditional look but can appear boring if they're not artfully placed. However, due to the unique shapes of these tiles any custom design you make with them may not line up properly. To avoid this stress you can look into backsplashes with pre-made designs like small mosaics.
Purchase a quartz countertop.
Quartz has quickly become the most popular countertop choice due to it being stain-proof, scratch-proof, and chip resistant. This artificial stone looks like granite but has some significant advantages over it.
For instance, Quartz never needs sealing, so you don’t have to worry about stains or dirt sticking to its surface.
Quartz is the perfect countertop material for kitchens. Fortunately, you can find it in many different styles and designs, which convincingly mimic natural stone options like marble or limestone - but needs less maintenance!
Install various kinds of light fixtures.
Kitchen light fixtures primarily come in three different styles - standard, pendant, and under-cabinet. You'll need to combine the light fixture styles detailed below to ensure your kitchen’s functionality!
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Recessed Ceiling Fixtures: Installing these light fixtures over an open floor space will provide ambient lighting where people are likely to visit with each other while cooking.
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Under-Cabinet Lighting: These task lights provide illumination so you can see what you're doing when working on countertops. Installing under-cabinet lighting with a sleek design also allows you to highlight various features in your kitchen like your beautiful backsplash or cabinets!
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Pendant Lights: Install decorative pendant lights above work areas like islands or peninsulas. These lights will give your work areas a brighter and more inviting atmosphere.
Consider using alternative materials for your flooring.
If you're looking for natural materials and traditional beauty in your kitchen, choose hardwood floors. But, keep in mind that wood is susceptible to dents and scratches over time.
Alternately, you can opt to install durable porcelain tiles. They come in colors and designs that suit traditional or modern aesthetics!
There are a lot of great alternatives to traditional flooring materials, including luxury vinyl and laminate. Vinyl and laminate offer a fantastic range of wood patterns that will convince even the most skilled eye!
Budget Guidelines for a Major Kitchen Remodel
The three factors that you need to consider when deciding how much to invest in your kitchen remodel are:
- How much money you’re willing to spend
- Your home’s worth
- How long you intend to stay in your home
Budgeting for a Gut Job
Tearing down framing makes it easy for a renovator to help you achieve your kitchen dreams! If you take this route, you can change the locations and sizes of doors or windows, add walls if needed, and run new electrical lines through your house.
A lot goes into tearing out old walls and installing new ones, from demolition labor to disposal of the materials. An experienced contractor will know best whether fully gutting your kitchen will be worth it!
Closing Thoughts
At Leenan Homes, we turn your dreams into reality. We customize our process to fit your needs and work hard so that we can build custom spaces you'll be proud to show to your family and friends!
Designed to make you happy, our custom homes are built with care and attention. We dedicate ourselves to achieving excellence so that when we've finished your project – whether it's a remodel or a new build – you'll have a fantastic space to live in that fully meets your standards!