Category: Home Improvement

Home Design Trends That Will Rule

If you’re looking to redecorate or renovate your home in 2019, you’ve come to the right place. We searched through data, browsed hundreds of home design photos, reread past articles and interviewed professional designers to bring you this collection of materials, colors and other home design ideas that you can expect to see a lot more of in 2019. Which will you bring home?

Full-tile backsplash feature walls. Attention-grabbing backsplash tile is nothing new in well-designed kitchens. We’ve seen colorful geometric and quirky patterns show up in a lot of kitchens for years now.

This idea aligns with some broader trends as well. The 2018 Kitchen Trends Study shows that half of homeowners are opening up their kitchens to interior spaces, and that the most popular kitchen layout is the L-shape. This openness means the kitchen is always on display and therefore in need of a good focal point. A full-tile feature wall draws your eye in, whether through shimmer and texture with something like a simple white subway tile or through bold color and pattern as with a Moroccan design.

Window walls. Cabinet design has become much more efficient in recent years. Deep drawers on perimeter and base cabinets that bring items at the back of the cabinets out into the open means that fewer kitchen cabinets are needed overall. In response, designers and homeowners have shifted to removing upper cabinets on at least one kitchen wall, often to create an expansive window wall that can deliver views and lots of natural light.

Wood on wood (on wood). Many of the most popular kitchen photos in 2018 featured lots of wood, and it’s easy to see why. Wood adds loads of warmth and character, and it pairs well with whites and grays, two of the most popular colors for kitchen cabinets and walls.

Readers Share Stories of How They Survived a Remodel

When you renovate your home, one of the big decisions you’ll face is whether to move out or stay while work is underway. Most homeowners and pros would agree that moving out best preserves your peace of mind, but sometimes this option just isn’t feasible.

The Upside of Staying in Temporary Housing

While a rented home or apartment may be the first option you consider, many readers found that other alternatives were better for their situations. Reader commented that renting an apartment, house or Airbnb for six to eight weeks would have been costlier than paying for an extended-stay hotel. “We are paying $60/night. The room isn’t fancy, but it has a kitchen and allows pets,”

renting an apartment or house, and staying with family during her 10-month-long remodel. “We ultimately decided to buy a little trailer and went south for the winter, returning in the spring,”

actually bought the house across the street. “With multiple dogs and the high cost of renting, we decided to use about half of the savings we’d set aside for our renovation and put it toward purchasing a temporary house,”

found a guesthouse through the Nextdoor app to rent for just three weeks. Something very short-term could be an option if you want to get away during just the toughest phases of the remodel. “It was 5 minutes away from our house which worked out great!”

How to Survive a Kitchen Remodel

So you’ve decided to remodel your kitchen. Congratulations, and I cannot wait to see pictures of it when it’s done. But in the meantime, you need to know what to anticipate and how to handle it.

Home remodeling pros and those who have been through a kitchen remodel agree that the best way to get through it is to flee and stay somewhere else. But this option is not always viable, so here is what to expect if you have to live in your house through a remodel and how to prepare for it.

Be Fully Aware of What’s Going to Happen

It’s going to be messy. It’s going to be noisy. For about a full week, you’re going to walk into a gutted kitchen expecting to turn on the coffee maker and then realize that you are barefoot in a construction zone.

There will likely be frustrating delays and unexpected change orders. Unable to fix anything else for breakfast, you may get addicted to Pop-Tarts. You will find yourself rinsing a dish in a small powder room sink or a bathtub. You won’t be able to imagine wanting to dine at a restaurant again, and you’re going to feel the hit of all that dining out on your wallet.

Concentrate on letting go of control because if you try to hold on to it, you’re toast. This would be a good time to take up yoga or learn to meditate. In addition to helping you find a calm place mentally, it’s a great excuse to get out of the house. Find some good classes or apps and head to the park.

Where Did You Stay During Your Remodel?

One decision you may face during a remodel is where to stay while your home is under construction: in it or somewhere else. Either way, we want to hear your remodel war stories.

Did you stay in a camper? If you’ve got room on your property for a camper, you can stay close to your remodel and monitor its progress. But for some, going through a renovation close up may be only slightly less stressful than living amid the renovation work.

Did you stay in someone’s guest room? Friends or neighbors may be kind enough to offer temporary housing during the toughest stretches of a renovation. If that was the case for you, we want to know how this turned out. Was it a good idea in the end?

Did you rent an apartment? If you got away from the inconveniences of your renovation by living in a rented apartment, please tell us what you learned. What’s important to look for in a place to stay? What do you recommend bringing along? And how do renovators find a place willing to let them stay if construction timelines shift?

Whether you stayed in your home through a renovation or found temporary quarters elsewhere, share your stories in the Comments. If you have a good photo that illustrates your experience, please share it too!

What to Know About Bamboo Floors

If you’re searching for durable flooring with an organic look, bamboo may be an option worth considering for your home. This attractive material is relatively affordable and appreciated for its eco-friendly qualities. Here are some essential facts to know about distinctive bamboo floors.

What Is Bamboo Flooring?

Bamboo is a giant woody grass that grows chiefly in the tropics, so technically bamboo flooring is made of grass. This material goes through several stages to become hard, eye-catching flooring. First the stalk is split into strips and boiled to rid it of any insects, pests or grime. Next the bamboo strips go through a process called carbonization that involves subjecting the bamboo to high-pressure steam or heat. Carbonizing darkens the bamboo, giving it a warm and rich coloration; the longer it is carbonized, the darker its color. Some bamboo floors don’t go through carbonization, so their natural light color stays intact. These lighter bamboo floors can be stained.

After carbonization — or just boiling for natural-colored strips — the bamboo gets dried in a kiln. The strips are then glued together to form planks in one of three styles: horizontal, vertical or strand woven (more about these styles later). The final step involves milling a tongue-and-groove system into the planks for a snug fit during installation. A clear coating is then applied for protection against wear and damage.

3 Types of Bamboo Flooring

1. Horizontal bamboo is the most common type of bamboo flooring and is pieced together so that it shows a prominent grain pattern with knuckles, which look somewhat like knots, where the bamboo stalks come together. This style is most similar to bamboo’s natural form in its jungle habitat. If you’re looking for a cozy, eclectic look, horizontal bamboo is your best bet.

2. Vertical bamboo has a uniform linear appearance. Unlike horizontal bamboo, which showcases the wider surface of a bamboo stalk, vertical bamboo involves gluing together the narrow edges of the stalk (like books set side by side on a library shelf). The result is a more streamlined look suitable for modern spaces.

3. Strand woven bamboo features minimal variation, which gives it a contemporary characteristic. This type of flooring is made from shredded bamboo fibers mixed with resins and pressed into rock-hard planks. The strands are interlocked, making this the hardest (and most expensive) type of bamboo flooring. Strand woven bamboo’s flowing grain patterns make it a suitable choice for modern spaces.

Sizes of Bamboo Flooring

Whichever type you choose, bamboo flooring typically comes in lengths ranging from 3 to 6 feet and widths from 3½ to 7½ inches. Its thickness typically ranges from one-half inch to five-eighths inch.

What to Know Before meeting with a builder?

You’ve likely heard the cliché “new year, new you” more than a few times already this year. But what about your living arrangements? As people flock to gyms striving to get in shape and sign up to diet plans with the intent of eating better in 2019, it’s important to realize that where you live plays a major role in your overall well-being.

Psychologists assert that how you view your living space (and how comfortable you are in your home and neighborhood) makes a powerful impact on emotional and mental health. That’s why it’s essential to find accommodations that match your unique desires and requirements, and complement your values and ambitions. 

Thankfully, there’s a simple and straight-forward way to accomplish all of those goals this year. Read on to discover how building a new custom home could be a life-changing experience, and how you can get started with the process today.

Know Your Wants and Needs

Maybe you’ve always wanted a flex room/multi-purpose space where you can exercise, accommodate guests, work or study, and accomplish all the tasks you’ve set out for yourself. Perhaps you’re never more at home than when you’re cooking or baking up a storm in the kitchen. Or, you might seek a relaxing outdoor space where you can unwind after a long day, and reconnect with nature.

Bring all your “must haves” to a meeting with your home builder. This sets the stage for what will eventually become the high-quality custom home you’ve always dreamed about.

Collect Documentation

It’s a good idea to have at least a basic framework of long-term plans for your custom home, including financial considerations. In addition, any other material you can provide helps your custom home builders get on the same page with the vision for your future residence. So, those interesting Pinterest items you’ve been browsing (along with other images and ideas) are certainly relevant during this stage.

In addition, if you have floorplans you’ve been considering or other essential inclusions for your custom home, this is an ideal moment to bring up and present your thoughts and ideas.

Prepare Your Questions

As you perform research, it’s wise to think of specific questions for your home builder. Don’t be afraid or hesitant to present these topics or share your concepts. This is the only way to ensure that everyone is on the same page, and shares a unified vision for your custom home.

Popular questions include:

• How long have you been in business? How many homes have you built during that time?
• How are you different from other builders? Have you won awards or received major accolades? Do you have customer testimonials?
• Who will oversee my custom home construction? Who is the point of contact?

You’ll likely have your own specific questions to ask. It will also be helpful if you can provide answers and personal preference details to your builder. That includes information concerning:

• what you most like/dislike about your current residence
• desired rooms and living space
• preferred activities and “must haves”
• budget, timeframe, and other details
• building/design preferences (green elements, energy-efficiency)

Any information or insight you can provide during the first meeting with your builder will help ensure the accuracy and efficiency of your custom home building project.

What to expect:

It’s one thing to plan your home from the comfort of your computer, poring over an endless stream of Pinterest boards, blog posts, and spreadsheets. But the day inevitably comes when it’s time to prepare for your first face-to-face meeting with a homebuilder. Obviously, everyone wants to feel prepared for their first homebuilding consultation. It’s natural to want to start off on the right foot. By now you probably have a pretty good idea of who you want to work with. You’ve done your homework and settled on a homebuilder that checks all your boxes and has already demonstrated they’re easy to work with.

It’s time to take action and schedule your initial consultation. Here’s what you need to know.

GOALS OF YOUR FIRST MEETING?

Typically, what are the goals of your first in-person consultation with a homebuilder? Well, that depends entirely on how far along you are, but the main goal should simply be to establish what you want. Typically, there are two distinct scenarios that play out in our office, based on whether or not a customer arrives with house plans in hand.

SCENARIO 1: “I HAVE MY PLANS!”

Great, this means we can jump right into discussions of finishes, materials, and costs. In order to put together an initial estimate, we’ll begin nailing down details such as …

• Exterior Finishes: Do you prefer brick, stone, vinyl?
• Foundation-Type: Will we be building your home on top of a basement, crawlspace, or slab?
• Interior Finishes: We’ll want to determine a laundry-list of interior selections including cabinet-types, floor-coverings, lighting and plumbing fixtures, window and door designs, fireplaces, and trim packages.
• Homebuilding Extras: Will you be expanding on your home’s footprint with the addition of decks, porches, and/or patios?

SCENARIO 2: “I DON’T HAVE MY PLANS.”

Don’t worry, most of our customers come to us with a general idea of what they want, but most look to us to help them choose and refine a design that fits their needs. If this is the case, expect your homebuilder to start asking questions — lots and lots of questions.

• What size home do you need? How much livable square-footage?
• How many baths, bedrooms?
• Can we find an existing plan that fits your needs?
• What home layouts fit your style and plans?
• What’s your budget?
• Within your budget, which trim-packages do you like?
• Do you need purpose-specific rooms?
• Will you build on a slab, basement, or crawlspace?

The list goes on.

In this scenario, there might be two or three meetings prior to building out a quote, depending on whether or not your builder has a plan that perfectly fits your needs.

Things to bring when meeting with your builder

Your first meeting with your home builder can be a little intimidating, especially if, like most people, this is your first time building a home. You know this is the person you want to build your home, but how does that process start, and how can you be sure you’ll be getting exactly the home you want? It all starts with that first meeting. It’s a good idea to put a little prep work in before you get to the meeting, so you know what you’re looking for, and you can tell your builder your vision. To make it a little easier on you, here’s a list of 5 things you should bring with you to that initial meeting with your builder:

Your budget

The first thing any builder is going to want to know is how much you’ll be spending. It’s important to have your budget all figured out before you even go into that meeting. You and your builder both will make all future decisions based on the budget you’re working with, so it’s important that you know exactly how much you can spend by the time you meet your builder.

Potential floorplans

If you have ideas about potential floorplans, or if you found your ideal floorplan online, definitely bring it to that first meeting. This will help give your builder a better idea of what you’re looking for, and they’ll be able to tell you if the floorplan you want will fit into the budget you have. Additionally, if you have pictures representing the type of exterior architecture you’d like to incorporate into your new home, it’s a good idea to bring those in too. The more information you have for your builder, the easier it will be for them to give you an estimate on the home you want.

Likes and dislikes about your current home

Since you’re not a builder, it can be difficult to put into words exactly what you’re looking for. That’s where the list comes in. When you write down all of the things you don’t like about your current home, along with the things you love, it gives your builder room to come up with a few different solutions to fit your needs. From there, you can pick the option you like the most, and that best fits into your budget.

A point of contact

It’s really important that you designate one person to be the builder’s first point of contact. Just as you’d like one person to ask any questions that you might think of, it’s helpful to your builder to have a go-to person to call with their questions. Typically, this is the person that knows everything about the type of floorplan you want, the fixtures you like, and the type of wood flooring you’re looking for. This definitely doesn’t mean you can’t consult your spouse on decisions, it’s just that having one number to call makes your builder’s job a lot easier, and it makes the process go a little quicker.

Relevant paperwork

Finally, you should bring any relevant paperwork with you to your initial meeting with your builder. This includes things like sketches, pictures, and county records of the lot you’ve purchased or intend to build on. If you’ve been pre-approved for a loan, it’s a good idea to bring a copy of that with you as well. This shows your builder that you’re serious about the project, and affirms the budget you’re working with.

Tips To Choose A Trusted Home Renovation Contractor

Are you thinking about renovating your home? If yes, you need a right renovation contractor who can understand your vision and turn your ideas into reality. Choosing a right professional who can coordinate with you throughout the renovation process is a challenging affair. While a careful selection can help you create a space of your dreams, a wrong selection can ruin all your ideas and expectations. Following are the 5 tips that will you choose a trusted home renovation contractor:

1. Research: Research is the key when it comes to choosing a right renovation contractor for your home. Ask for a free quotation from different contractors and see what they are offering and the overall cost of the project. Then select the one that meets your budget. At the same time, make sure that the contractor is experienced and skilled enough to handle the entire process. He must be able to give feedbacks and suggestions from time to time and discuss about your requirements too. Ask your friends or family too about an experienced contractor if they’ve ever renovated their home.
2. Plan your budget: If you will not plan a budget beforehand, you will feel lost during the hiring process. Different contractors will have different offerings. If you haven’t set a reasonable budget for your home, you won’t be able to find a right fit for the job. Setting a budget will also help you negotiate on the overall cost of project your contractor has told you.
3. Check for expertise: Depending on the expertise and the experience of the contractor, renovation can take a few days, weeks or even months to complete. So you would never want to hand over your project to an inexperienced renovation company who has handled just 2-3 projects in the past. The contractor you choose must be licensed and has a good portfolio of successful home renovation projects in the past.
4. Ask for estimated completion time: Choosing a contractor only on the basis of price quote is not a wise decision. You should also know what completion time they are offering with that quote. Even if one contractor is charging more than the other but offering less completion time, it would be worth your money if you want the work to be completed at soon as possible. Obviously, you would be looking for someone who can hand over the renovated home to you so you can start your routine life normally as fast as possible. Hence, before entering into a contract, read and understand all the terms and conditions carefully.
5. Warranties and guarantees: A good contractor will always give you surety of his good quality work. So find out if your contractor is giving you any warranty of certain materials he has used during the renovation or not. Bad materials and products used during the refurbishing can cost you a lot in the future. So make sure that your renovation contractor is covering all these.

Hope, these tips will help you get a renovation contractor who turns your boring space into a wonderland of your dreams!

Things You Must Do Before Renovating Your House—or Else

Renovating your house is an adventure, one that can easily go off the rails. There are a mind-boggling number of wrong turns homeowners can take, from going over budget, to hiring a shady contractor, to just realizing that the quartz counters or paint color they picked are so wrong—after the work is done.

So if you want to make sure your renovation turns out all right, it’s essential you be prepared. Here are five things you should do before embarking on any major home improvement project to avoid a whole bunch of headaches and regrets.

Know what you like

Oh that part’s easy, right? You want a totally new kitchen. But what exactly does that mean? You have to narrow down whether that’s just cosmetic (e.g., new cupboards, counters, and appliances) or structural (e.g., reconfiguring your space or knocking down a wall).

Run the numbers

There’s a reason we call it a “dream house”: It might not exist in real life—at least within the parameters of our budget! So before you get too attached to single-slab counters or spendy light fixtures, take a stroll down the aisles of your local design center to start pricing materials and labor.

Do a reality check

You might be wildly off base on what’s feasible in home renovation. For example, a project that might seem simple, such as adding a laundry room upstairs, can easily become a budget buster when you realize you have to configure complicated plumbing because of the location you chose. Having a consultation with an architect or a contractor can give you some insight into which projects will be workable—and which you might want to abandon before you even get started.

Vet your contractor

We’re not talking about doing just a cursory audit of online reviews or references, although those are helpful. You have to do a full-blown check and get proof of the following:

• Contractor’s license
• Certificate of insurance for general liability and workers’ comp
• Lien history
• Bond number and certification

And remember, you are going to be spending a lot of time with your contractor, as well as parting with a lot of cash and potentially a good bit of your sanity over the duration of the renovation. Your contractor is soon to become an almost-roommate, so take the time to conduct in-person interviews to find both a personal and professional fit.

Time your renovation right

Renovation projects are notorious for running over schedule, often through no one’s fault. Weather can delay projects; necessary materials can be on back order; subcontractors can get sick; tricky wiring can take longer than expected. It’s wise to just expect there will be delays, so plan the renovation with ample time if you have a “due date,” such as house guests coming or a special trip that will take you out of town.

How to Renovate a House

A look at the major elements of a whole-house renovation will give you a sense of what’s involved.

Design and Planning

A sketch on a cocktail napkin, full-blown architectural plans, or just a firm set of thoughts about how the remodel should progress. It is cheaper and less frustrating to correct mistakes before the remodel takes physical form. Ensure that you have funding for your renovation.

Roof, Foundation, Water Issues, Siding, Windows

Roof replacement or repair; foundation fix; stopping water infiltration; installing or repairing siding and windows. Large projects must be done first because

Structural Carpentry

Carpentry that is in support of other work such as drywall, new or moved walls, windows, doors, etc.

• Moving walls.
• Constructing new walls.
• Adding beams to support a greater weight upstairs.
• Punching in new doors (or removing existing doors).
• Adding framing for new construction windows, or significantly enlarging the window openings.

HVAC Ductwork, Electrical, and Plumbing

Vital services that need to be installed when the walls and ceiling are open.

• With the walls and ceiling open, it is time for the HVAC company to install ductwork for central heating and air conditioning.
• Run new electrical and plumbing systems. Electrical and plumbing inspectors will visit at this time, too.

Windows

Installing new-construction or replacement windows.

• Window installation, whether whole-house or partial, almost always plays into a home remodel project.

Insulation

Laying the insulation in the walls and ceiling.

• Install insulation in the walls and attic.
• Insulation goes fast, so make sure that your drywall company is ready to go soon after this.

Drywall

Closing up the walls with drywall: hanging it, mudding it, and sanding it.

• A second inspection from the electrical inspector (and perhaps the plumbing inspector) will give you the go-ahead to close up the walls.
• Drywallers hang sheets of drywall, apply drywall compound, and let the compound dry. After drying, they sand it smooth. Sometimes, they will repeat the process until they achieve a seamless surface.

Fine Carpentry

Carpentry that is not supportive: baseboards, molding, trim around windows and doors, built-in elements (bookcases, breakfast nooks, etc.).

• Fine carpenters give your house that finished touch.

Interior Painting, Wallpaper, and Other Surface Finishes

Painting interior walls, hanging wallpaper, painting molding and trim, staining and sealing trim.

• All of these detail-oriented surface finishes should be one of the last items you do indoors as this work can damage other work of yours.
• Should you paint before installing or sanding your flooring or the reverse? This is debatable. Laying flooring first means that paint might get on the flooring. Painting first means that the floor sander may scuff your walls.

Flooring

Your final floor covering—laminate, solid hardwood, tile, engineered wood.

• Installing the flooring as late as possible in the renovation process saves your flooring surface from significant damage.

Where Should You Start First When Renovating a House?

You’ve decided to renovate your house but don’t know where to begin. If you’re renovating so you can stay in your home for a longer period of time without systems breaking down, your approach is different than if you’re renovating to get a higher price when you eventually sell. Analyze your reasons, needs and how much money you have for the renovations before you put your plan into effect. In most markets a complete renovation only increases your value slightly, according to a report issued by the National Association of Homebuilders(NAHB).

Assess Your House

Hire a licensed home inspector to check your house from top to bottom. He’ll climb into the attic to check for dampness, scour the basement looking for leaks, test the heating and air conditioning systems, examine the roof, the plumbing and electrical panels. Evaluate the results before deciding on a plan of action. Whole-house remodeling is down from its peak in the mid-2000s, according to the NAHB, while repairs increased.

Systems

If your heating and air conditioning unit is problematic, decide whether a full replacement or a temporary fix is in order, depending on your goals. Providing a comfortable environment is paramount to your enjoyment of your home. A faulty air conditioner promotes mold which is unhealthy for you and your family, and is expensive to remediate.

Plumbing

If you’re going to upgrade your bathrooms, be sure your plumbing can tolerate increasing pressure and usage. Repairing leaky fixtures, damaged flooring and improper ventilation results in lower water bills. If they’re not repaired and you’re selling the house, the problems will be pointed out by the buyer’s inspector. In a survey by the NAHB, bathroom remodeling jobs were the most common upgrades purchased in 2011.

Efficiency

Homeowners are guided by energy efficiency. The importance of downsizing and using energy efficient appliances is reflected in the Energy Star ratings attached to appliances today. Renovating a kitchen with granite, stainless steel, new cabinetry and flooring is the second most requested renovation project, the NAHB says. A new kitchen increases your home’s value, and installing energy-efficient appliances attracts a buyer’s eye.

Windows/Doors

A home renovation project that includes installing new windows and doors leads to less cost in running the house. Double glazed windows and solid doors are an expensive renovation but yield benefits, both for the homeowner and a potential buyer.

How to Set a Home Renovation Budget

Here are five key steps in planning your home remodeling project.

1. Estimate home renovation costs

As a general rule of thumb, you should spend no more on each room than the value of that room as a percentage of your overall house value. (Get an approximate value of your home to start with.)

For example, a kitchen generally accounts for 10 to 15 percent of the property value, so spend no more than this on kitchen renovation costs. If your home is worth $200,000, for example, you’ll want to spend $30,000 or less.

2. Consider home remodeling loan options

3. Get home renovation quotes from contractors

Some contractors will give you an estimate based on what they think you want done, and work completed under these circumstances is almost guaranteed to cost more. You have to be very specific about what you want done, and spell it out in the contract — right down to the materials you’d like used.

4. Stick to the home remodeling plan

As the renovation moves along, you might be tempted to add on another “small” project or incorporate the newest design trend at the last minute. But know that every time you change your mind, there’s a change order, and even minor changes can be costly. Strive to stick to the original agreement, if possible.

5. Account for hidden home renovation costs

Your home may look perfect on the outside, but there could be issues lurking beneath the surface. In fact, hidden imperfections are one of the reasons renovation projects end up costing more than you anticipated.

Choosing Kitchen Cabinets

cabinets form the backbone of the kitchen. Configure the cabinetry to make the most use of your kitchen’s size and floor plan. Consider different layouts and looks.

Base cabinets get the most attention, whereas hanging wall cabinets are sacrificed for aesthetic features—windows, dramatic backsplashes—to create atmosphere and a living room appeal in the kitchen. That said, base cabinets are moving away from doors and toward drawers. Drawers make storage more accessible for more people.

Kitchen Cabinet Styles and Trends

Wall cabinets today extend to the ceiling, making use of high-up space for storing infrequently used specialty serving-ware and cookware. Or, wall cabinets are blown to full-length proportions, stretching from floor to ceiling to create an accent wall that can house everything from cookbooks to appliances

Style. Cherry wood is big for cabinets with rich, dark finishes. For a more exotic look, go for alternative woods such as mahogany, bamboo, sapele and anaglade. These can be stained or even lacquered to provide a sleek finish (show image). The glazed cabinet treatment is phasing out with the rise of textured looks: wood grain peeking through brushed finishes—a more natural look.

Function. European-style frameless cabinets afford more storage than traditional rail-style cabinets that are typically found in U.S. kitchens. Soft-close on drawers and doors is a must. Some hinges have this feature built-in, but it’s an add-on cost for other models—about $5 retail, according to Burgin, adding up to $350 to $500 for an entire kitchen, depending on size. Touchless cabinets are a luxury add-on that Poteat thinks will move into the mainstream before long. This application is especially convenient for waste/recycling drawers

Choosing Kitchen Materials

before you shop for appliances and choose the material for your countertops, make sure you have a well-thought-out plan for your kitchen renovation. You should identify goals and priorities, with the help of your completed Day in the Life of Your Kitchen Questionnaire and Kitchen Goals Worksheet. You also should have a clear vision of what your new kitchen will look like, after exploring various kitchen designs and layouts. Finally, you should carefully plan out space and storage

Now it’s time to drill down to the details of your kitchen remodel. It’s best to choose all of the appliances, materials and finishes down to the hardware before the project begins. That way, you will have a truly realistic idea of how much the project will cost. (Allowances can quickly get out of hand.)

As you choose among fixtures and materials, visit specialty design showrooms for appliances, lighting, flooring, cabinets, etc. You’ll get a real feel for what’s available in the market, and you can talk to the professionals who work there about your ideas and what products will achieve your goals.

With your goals, floor plan and budget in mind, consider all of the possibilities you can include in your kitchen and focus on choices that meet your needs.

Tips for Choosing the Perfect Kitchen Cabinets!

How to choose the perfect kitchen cabinets!

Dreaming of an upgrade to your kitchen? After living in my home for 16 years, my dream finally came true! I’m so excited to be giving my kitchen a FULL makeover this summer! If you follow me on Pinterest, you have probably seen me pinning kitchens like crazy. ha!

Choosing new kitchen cabinets can be such a hard decision to make. I’m thrilled to be partnering with The Home Depot and Thomasville Cabinetry! They are The Women’s Choice Award winner for the most recommended kitchen cabinets. Knowing that other women have voted Thomasville the top rated company has made choosing which brand to go with a no brainer. Plus, they are exclusive to The Home Depot which makes it easy to shop their amazing solutions that can easily transform any room!  Be sure to follow along my kitchen remodel on Instagram. I’ll be doing some LIVE Facebook updates as well.

Cabinets are one of the most important decisions you can make when remodeling your kitchen. If you go with a company recommended by The Women’s Choice Award, like Thomasville Cabinetry, you will have no worries about getting high quality products along with beautiful designs.

Choose a Cabinet Door Profile First

Cabinet doors are the most visible design elements in your kitchen, so your door style is one of the most important decisions you will make. A great way to narrow down your choices of cabinet doors is to decide on a door profile. Here are samples of some I got to choose from with Thomasville

Narrow Down Your Favorite Cabinet Door Styles

Next decide on the style. A lot of times, this is easily narrowed down by budget. So with your budget and door profile in mind, the choices get easier. Thomasville carries many gorgeous styles. I recommend going to the store to see samples and taking photos of your top 3 or 4 styles on your phone. Just take four photos max and don’t go back to the cabinet samples! Look through your photos and delete the ones you don’t love. This should lead you to your top choice for a cabinet door style.

steps to choosing the right kitchen cabinets

Cabinets can be the biggest expense in a full kitchen remodel, accounting for up to 40 percent of the overall budget. They also set the visual tone for the kitchen, and they’re a huge part of how well it functions. Bottom line: Get the cabinets right and your chance of loving your new kitchen will go way up

Set the budget

Cabinets fall into three categories: stock, semi-custom, and custom. Stock cabinets start around $70 per linear foot (a typical kitchen has 25 to 30 linear feet of cabinets). Home centers sell them fully assembled or stores such as Ikea offer flat-pack versions that will need to be put together onsite; styles and sizes tend to be fairly limited. Semi-custom cabinets, which range from $150 to $250 per linear foot, come in more configurations, so they’ll fit your kitchen more precisely, if not perfectly. Custom cabinets can easily cost $500 or more per linear foot; they’re crafted to your exact specs and can include many personalized features

Choose a style

The big decision is between framed and frameless. Framed cabinets consist of a box and face frame, to which doors and drawers are attached. Frameless cabinets, often referred to as European-style, eliminate the face frame; doors and drawers attach directly to the cabinet box. That provides great accessibility and a more contemporary look. On the downside, the absence of a face frame can compromise rigidity; better manufacturers compensate by using a thicker box—say, ¾-inch plywood instead of ½-inch particleboard. For the European look in a framed cabinet, opt for a full-overlay door, which covers all or most of the face frame.

Pick the features

Accessories can improve cabinet functionality, but they’ll also increase the cost by 20 percent or more. A pull-out trash can is a worthwhile addition. Built-in charging stations are helpful, too, because they keep the countertop clear of electronic devices. Appliance garages, those countertop compartments designed to conceal small appliances, don’t always offer the best organization. Instead, consider a lift cabinet with a spring-loaded shelf that swings up and out, providing easy access to a mixer, food processor, or other hefty device

Lighting

“Integrated lighting has become very popular. As soon as you open the drawer, the light comes on. We also do a lot of undercabinet lighting, including LED fixtures with a built-in plug for countertop appliances and a USB port to charge your smartphone and other electronics.”—Kathleen Wilber, Ikea, U.S. sales leader for kitchens

Your Guide to Choosing Kitchen Cabinets

The right kitchen cabinetry can make or break your kitchen’s functionality and style — not to mention your budget. No pressure, right? Don’t stress yet — Houzz’s kitchen cabinet guides can walk you through the process, from start to finish. Resource guides covering everything from Shaker to flat panel, from corbels to aprons, from glass knobs to recessed pulls, are all listed here in easy-to-access fashion.

Door Styles

Shaker, flat or inset? Your cabinet door style is important — it may be your biggest kitchen expense, after all — but choosing it doesn’t have to be stressful. See which of these popular cabinet doors fit with your home’s style.

Hardware Styles

Of course, once you have your cabinets chosen, you have a whole other task ahead of you: choosing hardware. Even if you’ve got simple Shaker cabinets like these, your choice of drawer pulls and knobs makes a big difference in your finished look.

Flat-panel cabinets tend to work best in modern kitchens; make sure you choose hardware to match. Clean, simple and contemporary pulls work well with this cabinetry style.

Raised-panel cabinetry tends to suit traditional kitchens. Look for classic, old-world fixtures to fit this beautiful style.