| With the plethora of Home and Garden Television | | | | When plotting out the design of the kitchen don't just |
| Programs currently on the air, many of us have caught | | | | take the kitchen planner or designers word that the |
| the "Renovation bug", that inexplicable desire to gut | | | | space is ideal for you and your family. Carefully |
| and rebuild our homes and create our dream home. | | | | examine your plan and think about how to best |
| Whether you are contemplating renovating, restoring or | | | | maximize the space in your kitchen as well as make |
| redecorating your home, in essence what you are | | | | your life easier. No one knows your needs and the |
| really striving to do is to create the proper stage for | | | | needs of your family as well as you do. What about |
| your lives and the lives of our families and friends. | | | | adding a multi purpose island with sinks storage prep |
| Changing your home can be an incredibly enjoyable | | | | and seating? What about the new and stunning |
| process that frees your inner creativity while | | | | professional sinks with pasta cookers built in? |
| expanding our understanding of ourselves, our families | | | | When speaking of Kitchen design we are really |
| and our aspirations. The key to a successful | | | | speaking about choices, hundreds and hundreds of |
| renovation can be broken down into your planning, | | | | choices for every aspect of your kitchen. For example, |
| adaptability and research. | | | | when selecting your counter tops you can have tile, |
| Of course the big question everyone asks prior to a | | | | granite (the designer fave), marble (stunning but not |
| renovation is "Will my renovation wreak Havoc on my | | | | child friendly), solid surface, stainless steel (sleek and |
| life and family?" The honest answer to this is "Yes", | | | | modern), wood, concrete (perfect for an ultra modern |
| but often in a great and unexpected way! Renovations | | | | condo or home), glass, laminate (the most affordable |
| or redesigning our homes allows us to grow, to learn | | | | and readily available) and many more, not to mention |
| more about ourselves and to create the proper setting | | | | the hundreds of options within each material. Don't get |
| for our lives that we envision living within. | | | | overwhelmed by the choices, always keep in mind |
| HOW TO APPROACH YOUR RENOVATIONo Be | | | | what works best for your style, your lifestyle and your |
| Realistic - If you live in a bungalow and you're redoing | | | | BUDGET |
| the basement family room and you love urban loft | | | | A small kitchen can be just as much a work of art as |
| living, 14' ceilings and downtown views - you're not | | | | a big family kitchen. It just means you need to plan and |
| going to get it. However, if you want it to have a | | | | research twice as hard, but often they can be the |
| contemporary flair with warmth, sexiness and edge, | | | | most dramatic because you can put more money per |
| then that is completely achievable.o Have a detailed | | | | square foot and make higher grade selections then |
| budget for your project. - Calculate EVERYTHING | | | | you would with a big barn sized kitchen. Details are |
| from the nuts and bolts to the silks and light plates. | | | | what will make a small kitchen sizzle. Add pull our |
| Make sure that your Designer and/or Contractor know | | | | drawers with stainless glides and pull out components |
| what the budgetary ceiling for each project and item is | | | | and a double door pantry with full interior access. |
| and if you go over on one of them, that it means you | | | | An often forgotten but critical component to great |
| will need to either cut back elsewhere or accept the | | | | design, in your kitchen, bath or anywhere in your home |
| increased budget.o Research the best contractor for | | | | is your Lighting plan. Good lighting is what separates a |
| you. - Find the best contractor that suits your project, | | | | beautiful room from a spectacular room. Incorporate |
| your personality and shares your design vision. Make | | | | under counter lighting pucks, overhead lighting in a cove |
| sure to meet with at least 3 Designers or Contractors | | | | moulding, lighting in glass fronted cabinetry, a beautiful |
| prior to making a decision.o Understand waiting times - | | | | fixture over the island or table, rope lighting hidden in a |
| Custom sofas can take up to 12 to 14 weeks. Custom | | | | recessed tray detail in the ceiling, the options are |
| Cabinetry is often 10 to 16 weeks - some fabrics can | | | | endless. Remember when speaking of lighting you |
| take up to 3 months. RESEARCH your selections so | | | | need to consider the 3 components of a great lighting |
| there are no misunderstandings.o Put a positive spin on | | | | plan: Task, Accent and Ambient lighting. |
| the process - The reality is that there will be | | | | TIPS ON KITCHEN DESIGNo Use quality materials |
| inconvenient ugly days with no water or no kitchen or | | | | whenever possibleo Determine your Cabinet heights - |
| both. If you have kids make it a fun experience, set up | | | | floor to ceiling whenever possibleo To paint or to |
| a tent and go camping in an area in the house so that | | | | staino Select the best countertop you can affordo |
| it's fun for them and budget for a hotel suite for the | | | | Install a Kitchen Islando Don't overdo the adornments |
| worst period and have all the ugly bits done during | | | | or detailso Add interest - Add your personality |
| your absence. Make sure to think creatively on how to | | | | INEXPENSIVE KITCHEN "QUICK FIXES"o Paint your |
| put the best "spin" on the rough times to your family | | | | kitchen - walls, ceiling, trim, cabinetso Change your |
| and yourself.o Don't sweat the small stuff - If for some | | | | backsplasho Change all your Kitchen Hardwareo |
| reason something is delayed beyond anyone's | | | | Change the Kitchen Fauceto Add Crown Mouldings |
| expectations its not going to do you any good to | | | | and beef up millworko Update your accessories and |
| explode and send your blood pressure through the | | | | small applianceso EDIT - EDIT - EDIT clutter and |
| ceiling. In the case of the "no show" item, either | | | | unused items |
| reselect the item or accept that it is delayed. Literally | | | | The next most important area in a home renovation |
| those are the only choices so make life easier on | | | | and nearly as complicated as a Kitchen with its |
| yourself (and your family) and learn to adapt your | | | | endless choices, selections and style is your Bathroom. |
| design plan (I always recommend having a back up | | | | WHEN PLANNING YOUR BATHROOM |
| selection just in case to prevent losing time and | | | | REMEMBERo Doors should never impede the use of |
| money). | | | | any fixtureo All receptacles should be GFCIo Allow a |
| Of course before you can begin ANY renovation, you | | | | min. of 6" between fixtureso Select non slip flooringo |
| need to find out "who you are" and "what is your | | | | Provide ambient, task and accent lightingo Designate |
| style". Are you passionate about Traditional, | | | | areas for storageo Consider how to encourage sense |
| Contemporary, Transitional, Modern, Urban, Zen, Ethnic | | | | of privacy |
| or Eclectic styles? You can not successfully begin this | | | | Our bathrooms are our personal haven to rejuvenate |
| process without being able to firmly state what your | | | | our spirit and our energy; they are home Spa's that act |
| style is and what the goal for your renovation is and | | | | as a refuge after a trying day. Critical to this is the |
| how you live your life. You will also need the help of a | | | | design of your shower, now the most coveted aspect |
| good designer to hone what it is you are trying to | | | | in a great bathroom design and an important detail on |
| create. Make sure to go out and see what is available; | | | | resale. Don't forget "SPA" is the key word. Go to a |
| go to as many showrooms and suppliers as possible. | | | | variety of showrooms, the options are endless from |
| You will find these trips to be inspiring and also a great | | | | steam, waterfall, multi jet and massage options. |
| learning experience as well. | | | | Remember to pamper yourself and treat yourself as |
| As we all know, the biggest, most expensive and most | | | | well as you do a guest. Always select the best |
| detailed project in renovating your home is your | | | | fixtures that your budget will allow and really research |
| Kitchen. When planning the design for your new | | | | the best deal. I have seen products at showrooms for |
| kitchen, determine what suits your lifestyle; you're | | | | 2500 dollars for a product and then shopped online |
| growing needs and your aesthetics. Always keep in | | | | and gotten the exact same product for less than half! |
| mind as well that your kitchen is critical to the resale of | | | | Look around, research and shop smartly and don't |
| your home, so plan wisely. Plan out not just the big | | | | forget to always sit in your bath tub or Jacuzzi before |
| ticket items, such as appliances, flooring, cabinetry and | | | | you buy it. What is comfortable for one is not always |
| counters but the small details that truly make a design | | | | comfortable for another. |
| great such hardware, lighting, hidden and built in storage | | | | Always keep in mind while renovating your kitchen, |
| and items that reflect your personality and style. Think | | | | your bathroom or any other room in your home that |
| about whether you LOVE to cook (then add a spigot | | | | the goal is to create the proper stage for our lives, our |
| over your stove), do you entertain frequently (then put | | | | family and friends that best exemplifies your spirit and |
| a trough sink in the island), do you have a large family | | | | expresses who you want to be and how you want to |
| (then open up some walls and really make it the heart | | | | live. Inspire yourself, challenge yourself and ENJOY |
| of your home. The answers to these questions will | | | | yourself and those you love and don't ever be afraid |
| guide the fixtures and appliances you choose for your | | | | of change. |
| kitchen. | | | | |