Great article on planning your Kitchen Remodel 

by Josh Garskof from This Old House Magazine.

Make sure to take a quick read through it all as he highlights important considerations and gets you thinking about the entire kitchen remodel process!  Jot down some important notes then start to plan out your kitchen makeover.  And definitely have your notes handy when you meet with a designer or contractor.

If you have ever been through a remodel or new construction, you know pretty much anything is possible for a price.  How many times did you hear  “we can do that”  without the contractor/designer/sales person telling you how much it will ultimately cost?  Too many people go way over budget when they fall in love with a concept and then just can’t let go of it even though it turns out to be far out of their financial means (Very few make up that cost later in the project so don’t try to convince yourself of that unless you have really figured it out on paper!)

There are 33 pages to click through… click them all!  So many good ideas on budgets, how to phase your projects, what can be done with blind corners, ways to save money on cabinets, comparing drawers verses roll-out shelves, cook tops, ranges, refrigerators, dishwasher styles, faucets, sinks, countertops, flooring, and more.  Trust me… not only will you be armed with more information but you will also come up with more questions to ask.

Because I am all about value, saving money, and planning, see below for a taste of what is included in the full article at This Old House Magazine… 1)What features are worth splurging on and 2)How to phase your project if you can’t afford to do it all right now.

What kitchen splurges make the most cents?

Worth the Splurge
1) Second sink: Place it outside of the main cooking and cleanup zone so that a second chef can prep food, wash hands for dinner, or bartend during parties.
2) Paneled cabinet ends: These decorative panels, which are essentially oversize doors fixed to any exposed sides of cabinets, give your kitchen a custom-built, furniture-like look.
3) Full-extension, soft-close drawer glides: Installed under or on the sides of a drawer, they allow it to pull completely out of the cabinet so that you can reach everything inside. Plus, they eliminate slamming.

Not Worth the Splurge
1) Glazed, distressed, and crackled finishes: These can increase cabinet costs by as much as 30 percent and can start to look dated as trends change.
2) Pot filler: It does make filling the pasta pot easier, but it doesn’t help with the far worse task of carting boiling water to the sink when your fettuccine is done.
3) Wine fridge: Do you really need 18 bottles of Pinot within arms reach and kept at precisely 55 degrees?

Do it in phases. Don’t compromise.

Where to invest NOW:
Layout: This is the time to open the floor plan, add the island, and rearrange the flow.
Infrastructure: Get the framing, subfloor, windows, plumbing, and electrical right or all those new finishes and appliances won’t perform as expected.
Cabinets: Go for quality construction, premium glides and hinges, and as many cabinets as you can afford.
Countertops: Conventional wisdom may say to phase-in upscale countertops, but demoing the old and installing new can damage your cabinets and plumbing.

What you can wait for LATER:
New appliances: Unless you’re changing their size or configuration, your old range and fridge will work just fine until you get your next tax return.
Pricey light fixtures: Throw in cheap placeholders while you’ve got the electrician on hand. You can easily replace lights yourself once the wiring’s complete.
Splurge-worthy faucet: You can get a decent one for less than $75 that’ll tide you over for months or even years. Just make sure the drill-outs in your countertop match the configuration of your future faucet.
Backsplash: Paint the walls above your counter with a scrubbable semigloss to protect them while you save up for that glass mosaic. Holding off also gives new cabinets time to settle, thus preventing grout and caulk problems at the seam where the backsplash meets the counter.

Don’t forget to check out all of the other information in This Old House Magazine – relevant for homes and homeowners of all ages!!

Jen McMorran, Realtor
jen.mcmorran@verizon.net
508-930-5259
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