Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
Kitchen remodeling is cooking! It ranks among the most popular remodeling projects each year, as kitchens have become the functional and social hubs for many families. Good kitchen design has become more important than ever. The first element in design is the one that is the most fun for homeowners. It's exploring the many options you have when redoing a kitchen. In this stage, look at magazines, show rooms, builders' model homes and the homes of neighbors.
Some ideas people commonly overlook are space for a mudroom, a homework space, a computer space, second sink, a display space for fine dinnerware, mood lighting, and natural light. There are many other possibilities to consider. While you won't be able to afford them all, you might be surprised by how much is possible.
The second aspect of kitchen design is layout. Some call it the battle of the inches. Most courses and guides on kitchen design focus on this element. This is where you look at the various features of the kitchen and decide what should go where and how many inches every component should lie from every other related component. For years the key to the design was what they called the "work triangle": the arrangement of the refrigerator, sink and stove. With the increasing use of microwaves, many now refer to the "work diamond." Most kitchen activities involve these three or four fixtures.
One thing you'll inevitably discover is that you'll want to add space to your kitchen. Actually kitchens have been growing about 50% per decade since the fifties. The final element in good design is aesthetic. Choosing the right colors, finishes, textures, etc. is important to creating a pleasing space. Service professionals such as interior designers have a lot to offer on this front.
by David Hollies, reprinted courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com