3 Designers Talk the Latest Kitchen Trends

From an article in the Poughkeepsie Journal.com: "If you're thinking of remodeling, think about your kitchen.

According to Money magazine, it can add 90 percent of its cost to your home's resale value. But, that's only if you do it right. And that means knowing what's up to date.

Three local experts filled us in on the details:

Style, Overall Look

The trend is toward cleaner, airier, sleeker - but still traditional, Caruso said. The rustic, warm and inviting Tuscan look is still popular. The heavy English Country look is out.

More kitchens combine lights and darks and also combine materials, Schanker said. For example, antique white cabinets may be paired with some dark wood cabinets for visual contrast. Or, some countertops (an island, for instance) may be done in another material or color.

Cabinets

Additional storage, darker colors and new woods bring plenty of options for cabinetry.

Standalone pieces offer extra appliance storage - a pantry, a baking center much like a Hoosier cabinet or a liquor and wine cabinet with glass doors and backlighting, Dahl said. They may be on legs and made of a different wood species or even painted to coordinate with the rest of the kitchen decor.

Darker colors, such as cherry wood in dark red stains and walnut or birch in rich, brown stains like espresso are popular, Caruso said. Oak has taken a back seat to maple, which is now the lighter-colored mainstay. Cabinets also have simpler, cleaner-lined doors with raised or recessed panels.

Homeowners also have more woods to choose from, like the plantation-grown Lyptus eucalyptus hardwoods, Schanker said. And the beauty of these more exotic woods is really showcased in the newer, simplified designs.

Countertops

Owners of even reasonably priced kitchens are sinking their money into countertops the way people used to with cabinets, Caruso said. They're going bolder with colors -greens, browns and soft yellowy-beiges - but not gray and black, which are too contemporary.

Granite is still the most popular choice, Caruso said, but quartz products mimicking the look are becoming popular because they're stronger than granite and don't require resealing. Solid surface materials such as Corian are waning in popularity. If the countertop material allows it, people are almost always choosing undermount or fused sinks, which have no raised rims or sealant, for easy cleanups.

Extras

Convenience is the theme of this category. Pot-filler faucets on the back wall of the range eliminate trips from the sink to the stove, Dahl said. A prep sink - a simple drop-in bar sink or a top- or under-mounted sink - simplifies meal prep for two or more cooks.

Warming drawers are also popular, Schanker said. Their convenience is now helping busy families keep dinner warm until after band or soccer practice.

Drawers also are housing appliances such as refrigerators, wine coolers and dishwashers. Cabinet door fronts can hide their purpose. A pair can be stacked on top of each other under countertops or split in different parts of the kitchen.

Microwave drawers are a new innovation, Caruso said.

Flooring

People still are very much into hardwoods and tile, Caruso says. Although you might hear that tile is out because it's hard to clean or hard on your feet, it's still fashionable and in demand."

To find a local Kitchen Remodeling company, post your request on ConstructionDeal.com. Save Time and Money! It's a fast, free, and easy way to find a kitchen renovator in your area. Tell us about your project and sit back and wait on companies to contact you.

Kitchen Remodeling: Adding a Kitchen Island

If you have a large enough kitchen, it would be wise to consider adding an island to your new design when renovating the kitchen. If your current kitchen already has an island, consider a few options you have to update your more basic design:

What is a Kitchen Island?

If you don't have one or have only seen them in magazines or kitchen remodeling shows, you might not fully appreciate what an island can do for your room. A kitchen island is a cabinet that stands out in the middle of the kitchen, usually in L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen configurations. The long, narrow, or galley kitchens usually don't have room for an island. Kitchen islands are usually square or rectangle in shape, but many designs have included round and oval-shapes, as well.

The island provides the kitchen with additional storage space, food preperation area, counter space, and even an eating area on one or two sides. Some islands even include plumbing to add a sink or include some appliances.

Why Consider Adding a Kitchen Island?

The kitchen is such an integral part of the modern home. It's more than just a place to make dinner these days. It's the focal point for eating, meeting, and greeting. It's a much more social room than in past eras. The island gives you more cabinet space below, a place to hang pots and pans above, and even more valuable counter space which has been taken up by all of your new small appliances. It's perfect when more than one member of the family likes to cook because it gives room to have several projects going on at once. It's also a way to cut down on the lengths in a "work triangle" by giving a closer spot to jump doing during the cooking process. An island can even give you room to add a second dishwasher or other luxury appliances, like a garbage compactor, recycling bin, or wine cooler.

What Options Are Available?

• Sit Down Dining: if you want to add an island, and you have the room, you should seriously think about adding one with a counter surface that will allow people to eat there. To enhance the social aspects of your kitchen, having guests or kids be able to sit at the counter and talk with your while you're cooking is a great advantage. Plan on a counter that can allow for either regular chairs or bar stools, depending on the height.


• You Have Choices: consider whether you're going to go with a small, portable island that has wheels on it, or a larger built-in island. If you go with the built-in, consider whether you'll go with a stock island or have one custom-made for your room.


• Stock vs. Custom: you can save money with a stock island installation. A stock cabinet has already been manufactured and will cost less than custom. Also, a stock one is usually available for delivery right away. However, you have fewer options with stock. A custom island can be built specifically for your room with the options you want - like a sink, room for appliances, with or without counters, and in your choice of cabinet materials and color as well as the countertop surface.


• The Modern Trends: if you're feeling daring, you might consider putting a different countertop material or different color of material on your island versus the other kitchen counter top surface. The trend today is to mismatch, or jumble, the look of various cabinets and countertops.
  

If you'd like to talk with a kitchen designer or finish your kitchen remodel by adding an island, you can find a professional in your area today. It's a fast, free, and easy way to find local kitchen professionals - simply post your project on ConstructionDeal.com and sit back to wait for these experts to call you! It saves time over searching for a company or two, at random, in the yellow pages. And it saves money to have several companies bid on the job. You'll be able to pick the price and company that is just right for you.

Kitchen Renovation: Designing for the 2-Cook Kitchen

From the article Trends in Kitchen Design from the Northwest Renovation magazine:

"Depending on how the duties are divided in a two-cook kitchen, it may be necessary to create two work triangles, with adequate preparation space and clear work centers for each person in a layout that carefully avoids traffic jams. The traffic pattern of each cook should be free from interruption, allowing each to work without bumping into the other.

There are several ways to establish work zones in a two-cook kitchen:

Increase walkway clearances, providing each cook with adequate passing space when both cooks are in the kitchen. Walkways expand from 42” in a one-cook kitchen to a minimum of 48” in a two-cook space.

Expand countertop space to accommodate the needs of both cooks, with an eye to the accessibility of the equipment and material to be shared by each person.

Create a special work center adapted to the specialized needs for one of the cooks: a baking center or barbecue area separate from the primary cook’s triangle.

Vary countertop heights to accommodate the variety of heights of the current or future users, providing raised counters for taller users, dropped counters for shorter cooks. A dropped countertop, set at table height, is also a convenient height for a baking area, ergonomically favorable for rolling and kneading dough.

Include a work island to create a separate workspace apart from the primary cook’s activity centers"

Talk with a Kitchen Designer if you plan on having two cooks in your new kitchen. If you don't already have a kitchen renovation company in mind, post your request on ConstructionDeal.com. It's a fast and free way to let kitchen designers know about your project and, if they're interested, contact you directly. It beats picking one or two companies at random in the yellow pages.

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What's Cooking in Kitchen Design?

From a kitchen design article in the Alabama Press-Register there is some discussion of what the latest trends are in luxury kitchen design- of note, what some designers were seeing at the Parade of Homes tour: "Custom builder Mark Swanson and his wife, Jennifer, tour parade homes in other cities to get new ideas, he said. One feature people in higher-priced homes want are quartz countertops instead of granite, he said.

Swanson built a 4,300-square-foot house in Newcastle for the Parade of Homes, including many of the latest kitchen trends: Cambria quartz countertops; a 36-inch wide cooktop and oven, plus a separate, second oven; a pot-filler over the stove; a copper, vented hood; stainless steel appliances; built-in desk; and slide-out drawers in the cabinets.

Other kitchen items such as wine or beverage coolers, warming drawers, two dishwashers and islands with a sink continue to be popular, according to builders. Commercial ranges and Sub-Zero refrigerators are also must-haves for many of his clients

Still, Swanson said he can't build everything into a kitchen. He recalled once putting $25,000 worth of appliances in a client's kitchen that never gets used -- the owners don't cook."

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If you do like to cook and would like new appliances installed in your new kitchen, you can find a quality kitchen design company in your neighborhood with ConstructionDeal.com. It's a free service for all homeowners and it saves you time.

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Kitchen Remodeling Ideas: The "Jumbled Kitchen" Trend

From the Wall Street Journal Online: "After years of focusing on marble countertops and stainless steel, designers and manufacturers are pressing a new look: the jumbled kitchen.

An estimated six million Americans will renovate their kitchens this year, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association. To try to win some of that business, the industry is toying with new designs, from ultra-minimalist 'hidden' kitchens to colorful themes. But another strategy that's getting more attention lately combines multiple materials, styles and dimensions -- like three kinds of countertop stone, or cabinets in glass, metal and wood.

A similar aesthetic emerged in other parts of the house 20 years ago, when homeowners traded bedroom and living-room sets for stand-alone pieces. Now, many companies are promoting the idea for the kitchen. The Los Angeles showroom for minimalist design company Boffi just installed an L-shaped island in oak and stainless steel, with Corian cabinets and melamine drawers. German kitchen manufacturer SieMatic recently introduced a new collection of wood cabinetry, designed by Chicago-based Mick De Giulio, that is built to work with multiple thicknesses of countertops and varying accent materials like stainless steel and stone. Wm Ohs, a Denver cabinetry company with 28 showrooms nationwide, added stainless-steel and glass-accent doors for the first time in April -- a departure from its traditional all-wood look.

Nickel and Limestone

When Lori Naccarato's designer proposed the idea, she wasn't convinced. 'I'm the kind of person who needs everything to match,' she says. But after seeing all of the components in a showroom, she agreed. Her new $150,000 kitchen has five different materials incorporated into the counters -- including French limestone near the oven, a handmade nickel sheet in the pantry and red granite on the island -- two sinks made out of stone and stainless steel, and a Turkish travertine floor in two patterns, herringbone and puzzle. Ms. Naccarato, a 34-year-old homemaker in Hinsdale, Ill., calls it 'more homey' than the all-white kitchen in her old house.

'At one point, everything had to be perfectly matched,' says Ed Pell, market-research manager for the National Kitchen & Bath Association in Hackettstown, N.J. 'Now people want diversity. They like to see things broken up.'

The campaign is making some headway. Two years ago, Wilsonart in Temple, Texas, launched a marketing campaign stating that 'mixing materials is the new black.' Annual sales of its collection of colorful mix-and-match laminates, which are used in counters and backsplashes and promoted for their compatibility with other materials, were up 30% last year, compared to 3% for the company's laminates overall. At DuPont, the Wilmington, Del., maker of countertop materials like Corian and Zodiaq, 10% of customers are combining two different surfaces in the kitchen, up from practically zero seven years ago.

'People are still asking for stainless, but they're asking for less of it,' says Robert Schwartz, owner of design firm St. Charles of New York. The company has specialized in stainless-steel kitchens, but one recent display, built for last month's Kips Bay Decorator Show House in New York, included a red porcelain island, brass ceiling, white compressed-glass countertops, crystal hardware, mosaic floor and cabinets in walnut and stainless steel.

Designers have experimented with mixing over the past decade for mostly functional reasons, by inlaying a cutting board directly into the counter or adding a few glass cabinet doors that would let homeowners show off their plates. They're building on the idea as kitchens become more of a place for entertaining and living -- and as they look for ways to differentiate their products from off-the-shelf kitchens sold at companies like Ikea.

Some homeowners may find that the melting-pot approach doesn't come with easy accessories, as Carol Flier did after a $140,000 renovation last August. In the month before Thanksgiving, the dance teacher in Newton, Mass., scoured a dozen shops within 20 miles, hunting for dishes that would match the three types of stone in four colors. She finally went with French country-style serving pieces. But Ms. Flier has no regrets about leaving behind her old kitchen, in white and stainless steel. 'That, apparently, is out,' she says."

If you'd like to talk to a kitchen remodeling company to help plan out your jumbled kitchen, post your request on ConstructionDeal.com. We'll match you with local kitchen renovation pros and it's a totally free service. Don't waste time trying to call a half dozen companies that you pick out randomly from the yellow pages.

The Kitchen within a Kitchen

We're always interested in discussing trends in kitchen design. People want to know what's hot and what's not. Whenever anyone considers remodeling their kitchen, they're generally spending a lot of hard-earned money to do it. So homeowners, like you, want to know what might be a wise investment and what might be a catastrophic renovation.

I found a article on KIROTV.com called "Beyond Fads: 5 Trends in Kitchen Design That Are Here to Stay" and here is my favorite section of it, on putting a 'kitchen within a kitchen':

"As more Americans build homes with kitchens that are open to living and dining rooms, kitchens are being treated more like any other room in the house, with elaborate moldings, specialty lighting, and finely crafted floor and ceilings. 'People need their kitchen to be expandable and collapsible, too,' Cheever added. 'On the weeknights, they need to be able to navigate their kitchen quickly when they're just warming up a simple meal. But on the weekends, they need it to open up enough so they can prepare a fancy gourmet meal and entertain a large group of friends while they are cooking.'

As a result, designers are creating quick prep areas where a small sink, cutting board, and microwave are close together. Larger homes are often using a small butler's pantry off the main kitchen for this purpose, with a clean up sink, microwave, prep area and small refrigerator.
The butler's pantry has the added convenience of keeping dirty dishes out of the way while entertaining, and storing large amounts of serve ware, linens and china.

Cheever noted that customers are also putting in larger sinks in the island, to make a food prep zone, and placing larger farmhouse sinks along the back wall for more elaborate "clean up centers.' 'The days when kitchens always had one sink right under the kitchen window appear to be over,' Cheever said."

If you'd like to discuss some of your kitchen remodeling plans with a designer, you can post your project with ConstructionDeal.com and we'll match you with local pros. For free. It's a fast, free & easy way to find a kitchen remodeling company.

Product Review - Intelligent Ovens

If you're going to be remodeling your kitchen, it's a good idea to know about the latest and most innovative products on the market today. Whether you're a diehard chef or you just like to make your own pizza, the oven is a central component of any new kitchen.

The latest trend in kitchen design is an intelligent oven. An intelligent oven, similar to a "smart home", is one that can be communicated with, operated remotely, and programmed to perform menial tasks.

Imagine an oven that is capable of keeping food cold. You prepare a meal the night before and place it in your refrigerated oven. The next day, you call your oven and it heats up and cooks the meal. By the time you get home, dinner is ready to serve!

Today, it's possible. TMIO Intelligent Ovens has a single and a double oven product that can refrigerate food, allowing for cool storage, and can be contacted via telephone, cell phone, and the Internet. The Connect IO Intelligent Oven is a 30" single or dual oven with state-of-the-art electronics and design.

These options are listed on the company's official site:

Refrigeration for Cooking Later

Telephone Remote Control

Star-K Certified Kosher Sabbath & Holiday Modes

Freedom to Eat Healthy Meals At Home Anytime

Easy-to-Use Touchscreen Controls & Menus

Touchscreen Displays

Microsoft Media Center Plug & Play Ready

Green Clean Energy Efficient, Environmentally Conscious Self-Cleaning

Oven Temperature Sensing Meat Probes

2000W Concealed Bake Element

3300W 10-Pass Broil Element

True European Advanced Third Element Convection

Proofing, Defrosting, Dehydrating

SmoothSwing Oven Doors

SpotStar Bright Halogen Lighting

Full Size Porcelain Broiler Pan

Largest Viewing Area in Its Class

Largest Oven Capacity in Its Class

Professional Quality Oven Racks

It's definitely a luxury option with the double oven running about $7500. But, if you're truly upgrading your kitchen, you might want to consider a high-end product here and there that can really help you maximize your time to prepare home-cooked meals. This oven might be a great option for your newly remodeled kitchen.

Keep ConstructionDeal.com in mind if you're looking to remodel your kitchen or add the Intelligent Oven to your home. We have a network of kitchen contractors and remodeling companies to help with your dream kitchen project.

Kitchen Remodeling: Outdoor Kitchen Designs

No matter what part of the country you live in, there is usually plenty of time in the summer to enjoy outdoor cooking. More and more people are having outdoor kitchens installed in back and side yards to make the most of their outdoor time (and maybe even extend it.)

If you're planning to add a kitchen outside for next summer, we wanted to give you some design ideas to consider and discuss with your Outdoor Kitchen Design company.

The Basics - What You Have to Have:

Most people wanting an outdoor kitchen may have, at most, a grill in the backyard. Perhaps there is a patio table with an umbrella. Each time you want to grill out, you've got to carry everything outside - food to cook, condiments, drinks, silverware & plates, etc. And you've noticed that you need prep space.

For a basic outdoor kitchen installation, plan for a counter that houses a quality grill. The counter should have some storage space to hold non-perishables and adequate countertop areas to prepare for grilling. Make sure the grill is accessible for repairs and that the propane tank can be easily refilled.

The Next Level - What You Want to Have:

The real value of the outdoor kitchen is a complete outdoor dining experience. You want it to be an extension of your house - a whole new room - that allows you all the conveniences of being in your regular kitchen but being able to spend more time outside. To take it to the next level, here are components you'll seriously want to consider:

• A Sink for your counter - not required but very convenient
• A Refrigerator - saves you time; great for storing condiments, beverages, and food ingredients
  
• A Wood Burning Oven - perfect for making pizzas, bread, veggies and more
• Electricity, Water and Gas Lines - water for your sink and for the ice-maker, outlets for running other appliances, and gas or propane for your grill to avoid constant changing
• Seating - if you can have furniture that is installed near or around your outdoor kitchen, it will really increase the enjoyment of the area. Similar to regular kitchens, it's important to be able to have family and friends around before and during food prep
  

A Cut Above - What You Want: The Upscale Version

You'll want all the items above, but you'll want to add a lot of the creature comforts to the design mix. An upscale outdoor kitchen will also have:

• A Fireplace, Heaters, and/or a Fire Pit - keeping your guests warm will go along way to giving you the perfect outdoor kitchen and can extend the grilling season
  
• A Roof - overhead protection from the elements can also go a long way to extending time spent outdoor. A roof can also allow you to add accent lighting for more ambiance
  
• Custom Cabinetry - quality cabinets, with granite counters, and kitchen islands and outdoor kitchen bars will give you the best of the best in moving the kitchen outdoors
• Appliances - some want all the conveniences and are adding dishwashers, microwaves, and other regular kitchen appliances

Different designs can help give you what you want and can physically add a whole new room to your house. Depending on how far you go on the quality and amenity scale, your outdoor kitchen can run anywhere from $2000 to $50,000. Some are even spending upwards of $100,000 for a complete state-of-the-art outdoor kitchen. If you're not sure what you'd like to do with your outdoor space, you can talk to an outdoor kitchen expert.

Post your project on the ConstructionDeal.com site - for free - and we'll match you to quality outdoor kitchen design experts who can help make a space that's perfect for you (and for your budget!)

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Tankless Water Heater for the Kitchen

Let's face it - plumbing is not sexy. Granite countertops and cherry wood cabinets are sexy. Plumbing is probably the very last thing you're thinking about when you remodel your kitchen.

Right?

What's usually the first thing you need when you're cooking in your kitchen - I bet it's hot water. You might want to consider a bit of a plumbing upgrade in the designs of your kitchen renovation project.

If your home already has a traditional or even a tankless water heater, your kitchen is more than likely far away from it. Distance is what causes problems for any water heater so it might be a good idea to install a tankless heater that can run your kitchen sink, dishwasher (and maybe a nearby bathroom or clothes washer.) This could help you get hot water much faster when you need it.

It's important to consider several factors when adding a tankless water heater for your kitchen:

• When selecting a unit, consider how much water flow you'll need for the room. A qualified plumber should be able to let you know what your needs are for the sink, dishwasher, and everything else in use in the kitchen.
  
• Consider location for the unit - a tankless water heater needs proper venting and, to avoid long distances (which is your advantage), needs to be close to the kitchen.
  
• Have your plumber inspect your gas lines and meter to make sure it can support a tankless water heater.

If you would like to save money on heating your water and you'd love to get a fairly unlimited supply of hot water, think about adding a 2nd and smaller tankless hot water heater to your kitchen remodeling plans. It will certainly cost more than installing another traditional hot water heater (units can range from $800 to $1200 and cost about the same to install) but if you're developing a high-end kitchen with all the modern conveniences, it could be a vital ingredient of your renovated home.

Post your kitchen remodeling project with ConstructionDeal.com and we'll match you - for free - to qualified Kitchen Remodeling Design companies or contractors. It's a fast, free and easy way to find a professional. Save time by avoiding searches through the yellow pages and save money by receiving multiple bids (which get you the best prices.)

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2007 Kitchen Design Trends

According to the Kitchen & Bath Design website, there are two emerging trends for the kitchen for next year and beyond:

"One [trend] is a sleek, ultra-contemporary kitchen aesthetic, with appliances built-in and concealed. The other is a slightly more traditional, but still uncluttered, kitchen style that puts stainless steel, pro-style appliances on proud display.

And what's the common thread linking the two distinct kitchen design trends? The demand for a host of appliances that go beyond the dated 'stove, fridge and dishwasher' combo.

Indeed, the designers agreed that having double ovens, two dishwashers and/or dishdrawers, multiple refrigerator/freezer drawers, and even a cooktop with a separate range is fairly commonplace in upscale kitchens. How many "multiples" of appliances installed in an upscale kitchen is only limited by the size of the space, with every inch maximized for optimum function.

Specialty appliances are also in demand, noted the designers, with built-in coffee makers, warming drawers, undercounter beverage centers and wine storage units leading the pack.

Demand for function also extends to cabinet interiors, with myriad storage options being installed by designers to better organize busy clients and de-clutter their lives.

Green design is also making headway, with designers noting that consumers are becoming more aware of the need for water conservation, and for easy-to-maintain products.

In terms of overall kitchen and bath design, Friedman noted: 'It's very interesting that after the last 15 years of more minimalist designs, which was in answer to the more ornate designs from 20 to 30 years ago, designs are becoming softer, more romantic and more sensual. There's a movement toward more decorative designs that are more refined, tasteful and contemporary than those 30 years ago. People are seeking more authentic period pieces, and classic, contemporary pieces that are better detailed than years ago. There’s more of a classic look with much cleaner lines now.'"

When you're ready to remodel your kitchen, consider posting your project with ConstructionDeal.com. We can match you with local kitchen designers to help you get the kitchen of your dreams and to help keep you up to date with the latest trends in remodeling. You can post your request for free on our site, you'll receive multiple bids from interested kitchen companies, and you'll save money by going with the best bid for your plans.

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Save Money when Remodeling your Kitchen!

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) has some great tips on how to save money when you're remodeling your kitchen. This list could be used entirely, or you can obviously pick and choose which ones would work for you. The whole point, of course, is to make sure you get to update your kitchen without breaking your bank.

Because the kitchen has become the most important room in the house, many feel pressured to spend more than they can afford. While it's nice to have all best luxury the world has to offer, you don't want to go overboard. Also, many people will get their first few estimates on a kitchen renovation and convince themselves it's either spend $60,000 or get nothing done at all. There are different levels for every remodeling project. And there is a wide choice in the materials that you use. Consult with a kitchen remodeling company and let them know that you'd like to use some or all of the following budget saving advice:

• "If at all possible, reuse existing appliances, and build your new cabinets around them. This could save you anywhere from $1,500-5,000 easily. However, be aware that appliances, like anything electrical, are sensitive to change and may develop problems if they are moved. Should you decide to avoid potential appliance "burn-out" and purchase new appliances, choose energy conscious models for a reduction in your utility bills.
• Maintain present location of major fixtures, appliances and utilities relative to the plumbing, gas and electrical outlets. This could even apply to the location of the telephone. Moving plumbing, wiring and jacks can be extremely expensive.
• The faucet can be a costly item. The least expensive selection is chrome. Even a high-end chrome faucet is considerably less than a mid-range brass or porcelain version. A standard two-handle faucet generally costs less than single handle. Faucets and handles are sold separately, so you may want to choose a chrome faucet with brass or porcelain handles for a different look. Faucet Caution: The price variances in faucets reflect the various internal and external features. Always choose a faucet with replaceable internal parts. You won't want to have to replace the entire faucet if it breaks-it's simply not cost-effective.
• Choose neutral colors in fixtures, appliances and laminates. They are less expensive initially and wont look dated when the color trends change. White and almond sinks are much cheaper than color varieties. And neutral laminate colors for countertops are less than custom colors or textures.
• Good floor covering is important. It ties one room to another and provides visual consistency. Familiarize yourself with the prices of the various flooring materials to make the best decision for your home. To get you started, vinyl or laminate flooring is less expensive than wood, tile or slate.
• Use the existing floor covering if it is still in good condition. If the kitchen has old vinyl flooring, there may be a hardwood floor underneath that could be sanded and refinished, avoiding the need for a new floor entirely.
• If you currently have a vinyl floor covering and wish to update with a newer version, you can install synthetic floor leveler material over the existing vinyl floor and lay the new vinyl flooring on top, rather than tearing the old flooring off to install the new.
• Consider your cabinet options carefully. Those choices will drive the overall price. You can add some options at a later date to defray some of the initial cost. Some that are easy to add include tilt front doors, spice racks and slide out wire baskets. However, if you decide to wait, make certain that the option you want will be available and can be added after installation. Note of Caution: Waiting will cost you more in the long run. Adding new cabinets often requires installing a new floor. Refacing existing cabinets not only eliminates the need for new flooring, countertops and appliances altogether, it is a major savings in any kitchen remodel.
• Go with a simple design in the kitchen employing single height wall cabinets, blind corner cabinets rather than those with Lazy Susans, and other standard options. Watch your upgrades.
• Use standard cabinetry instead of custom cabinets, or use a combination of the two if they are compatible.
• Choose cabinets that can be operated without the addition of hardware (those that are finger-pulled).
• Install cabinets without soffits to decrease the labor cost. Also consider cabinets without trim moldings or with simple trim.
• If you are going to put in new wood trim (in your crown molding, trims, and door casings) to match the new cabinets, order pre-finished trim instead of having the painting or staining done on-site. This will decrease labor cost. Ordering finger-jointed vs. clear vertical grain also will save you money.
• Consider stenciling on the backsplash instead of using tile.
• Laminate countertops are the least expensive choice among solid surfacing, tile and granite. You can dress it up with wood or tile trim for a more innovative look.
• Connect fluorescent light fixtures to the existing ceiling fixture box instead of installing new recessed lighting, which may require a new ceiling because of the recessed features."
  

Keep in mind that you need to make sure the completely remodeled kitchen looks good together. If you choose not to replace your appliances and they are now surrounded by a nice new countertop and new cabinetry, will those appliances look out of place and ruin the whole thing?

Also, you don't ever need to try to put in the same kitchen you'd find in a million dollar house - in fact, it could really make the rest of the house look sad and outdated. Not every kitchen needs to have granite countertops - ceramic tiles are perfectly acceptable, look great, and can save you a lot of money.

Finally, be creative with your kitchen renovation. You could add a chalkboard-like surface material to your refrigerator to write notes to the family. You could make your kitchen match a French cafe with a statue of a chef holding the menu for the day. Consider going with a 50's Diner Retro theme. All the expensive kitchens have the cherry cabinets and granite countertops -- be different, be innovative, and have fun!

If you'd like to discuss your kitchen remodeling budget with a local kitchen design pro, you can post your request with ConstructionDeal.com - it's a fast and free way to get matched to quality kitchen experts!

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Kitchen Renovation: Kitchen Geography

I found an excellent article over at the website for Absolute Remodeling in Westchester County New York. It has some excellent kitchen renovation tips and I've selected a few for you - check out their site for more!

"If you're remodeling an old kitchen or planning a kitchen addition or a new home, here are some strategies to keep in mind:

• A coffered or pitched ceiling can also distinguish the kitchen from neighboring rooms. Going for a high ceiling in the kitchen can boost the perception of spaciousness. Going low in a dining area imparts a sense of intimacy.
  

• Banish rarely used goods -- the picnicware, the punch bowl, the turkey roaster - to the basement, mudroom, or garage. Store the good china in a lighted china cabinet in the dining area.
  

• If you're a baker, consider putting in a baking center with a work surface at 30 or 32 inches rather than the standard 36. It's a more comfortable height for rolling out dough or using a hand-held mixer.
  

• Add a raised ledge or breakfast bar to an island or peninsula to hide the cooktop. If you can't position tall double ovens so that they're out of view of neighboring spaces, think about installing a second under-the-counter oven in an island or peninsula.
  

• Alternate countertop and backsplash materials. Reserve granite for an island and use a neutral solid surface material for all the other countertops. Top a baking counter with a slab of marble. Use ceramic tile or laminate in the wet areas and top a peninsula with maple butcher block. As for backsplashes, you might want to use stainless steel behind a range but ceramic tile elsewhere."
  

There are quite a few great articles on the site. Renovating your kitchen is always the safest, smartest, and most reliable investement in your home. The more you know, the more prepared you'll be to take the plunge. If you need a good kitchen renovator, consider posting your project on ConstructionDeal.com. We'll help you find a quality remodeling company for free - in fact, we'll help you find several! And having multiple bids means you'll get the best price.

And multiple companies bidding on your project give you a better chance to find the right kitchen designer for the most important room in your house.

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Kitchen Remodeling Ideas - The Hidden Fridge

If you're planning out your kitchen remodeling project, consider a hidden refrigerator.

You can put a large cabinet door over the door of your fridge to make it blend in with the rest of the kitchen. If you're not going with a new fridge or you simply want a cleaner look to the room, have your kitchen remodeler or cabinet company make a custom door for you. You can do the same with a few other kitchen appliances, such as your dishwasher or your garbage compactor.

However, if you've got a lot of new cabinets and cabinet door fronts, you should consider varying the cabinet doors. If you've got all the same cabinet doors at all the same heights, it can look too uniform. Add a door with glass and lighting inside the cabinet.

Also, add a wine rack or appliance garage to break up an overwhelming "same-ness" in your kitchen cabinetry.

Looking for a Kitchen Renovation Contractor? Look no further! Consider posting your project with ConstructionDeal.com! It's a smart, fast, and free way to find all types of contractors. And there's no obligation or commitment.

Budget Kitchen Remodeling: Cabinet Replacement

Everyone wants to save money. But everyone also would love a new look in their kitchens. One of the most expensive elements to any kitchen remodeling plan is the installation of new kitchen cabinets. Whether you go with stock, semi-custom, or fully customized kitchen cabinets, they are expensive. A great idea to revitalize your kitchen, and save your cash, would be to leave you current cabinets in place and to have the surface, or visible area, of the cabinets replaced.

It's not for every kitchen remodel. If you need additional cabinet or storage space or if you're unhappy with the current layout of the room, this won't help you. You may be able to add a kitchen island for more counter and storage space, if you have the room, but a door replacement is cosmetic and not structural. It's sort of like painting your car - it's not giving you a new car, it's giving you a fresh new look on your current one.

If you'd love a new look in your kitchen, you can save by replacing the cabinet doors and hardware. Add to that a new countertop and maybe even new flooring, and you could save thousands over a complete kitchen remodeling project.

In a cabinet door replacement job, you can replace them with completely new doors and hardware. You can choose the new style, the new color or stain, and the finish on the hardware. If you're doing a budget kitchen remodel, you should start with your cabinets - once you've decided on the style and design of the cabinet doors, you can build the rest of the renovation around them. Matching or contrasting the new stains or color of cabinet doors can really change the look and feel of the room. You might even be able to bring more light into a dark kitchen with lighter colors on the cabinet doors and countertops.

Another aspect to changing your cabinets is that you can upgrade the hinges on the doors. You can switch from the standard hinges that are visible on the outside of the doors to the hidden, or Euro, hinges that are within the cabinets. They can give a much cleaner look and feel to the design of the room.

Cabinet door replacement companies can also make minor adjustments to your cabinet and storage spaces. Lazy Susan spinning cabinets can be installed in existing spaces. Wine racks can replace a single cabinet. Appliance garages can also be added to countertop areas or underneath your current cabinets. Lighting can be added underneath, as well.

A great contemporary option is to add transparent or nearly-transparent cabinet doors along with lighting inside the cabinet (and maybe even glass shelves.) It makes a powerful impact to the room and can considerably lighten a darker kitchen.

A final option - if you've got cabinets that are quality, handmade, or custom in nature - you might consider finding a wood restoration company. These company won't simply replace the doors, they will resurface the existing doors. The door can be cleaned, sanded, wet burnished, and new stains or dyes added. Damage or gouges can be refinished. Coats of gloss or semi-gloss sealers can be added as a final touch. These new finishes can make cleaning easier and protect the surface from any UV damage.

If you need to locate a kitchen cabinet replacement company, or cabinet resurfacing pros, you can post your project for free at Construction Deal. Click through this blog and give us your details - we'll send your request out to as many Cabinet Experts as you would like (which save you time by not having to call them all yourself!) And you can choose how many of the companies in our network will contact you!

Always get multiple bids on any remodeling project so that you can get the job done for the right price in your budget.

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The Perfect Kitchen Floor?

What is the best material to use on your kitchen floor? Whenever anyone plans their kitchen remodeling project, it's usually the 2nd question -- after deciding on the kitchen countertop material. What type of flooring you use in the kitchen is very important. The kitchen has become one of the most important rooms in the house. More and more homeowners are spending more time in their kitchen. Kitchens usually have a lot of foot traffic. Even people who do not cook extensively in their kitchen still spend a large amount of time, on their feet, on those floors. The kitchen flooring needs to be comfortable, durable, low maintenance, and aesthetically pleasing.

Many love the look of natural stone - like marble, slate, granite, or travertine - for their flooring material. It can be very durable and could withstand a lot of traffic. But most natural stone flooring needs to be sealed to avoid stains, and there can be a lot of potential for staining on a kitchen floor. It's also too hard to stand on for lengths at a time.

Decades ago, people put carpeting in their kitchens. Carpeting was certainly comfortable to stand on. But, again, because of spills and stains, carpeting is not a great idea for the kitchen.

Your best bet is to consider a tile, wood, or laminate flooring. Vinyl, laminate, or linoleum flooring brings back horrifying images of bad kitchen designs from the 60's and 70's, but check out some of the latest versions of these materials. They've come a long way to looking more like wood but with less maintenance requirements.

Wood is also a great option for kitchen flooring. Nothing can compare with the look and feel of natural wood on kitchen floors. It can be purchased in a contrasting color or stain to the cabinets to really stand out and make a statement. But keep in mind that wood is not impervious to moisture and there can be a lot of moisture in a kitchen.

Two materials to consider as a slight alternative to wood - Bamboo flooring and Cork flooring. Both are similar but have less environmental impact and can be more durable and less expensive than a traditional hardwood floor.

The nice thing about going with vinyl, wood, cork, or bamboo is that you can soften the material further by adding non-slip rugs to the room.

To help keep installation costs down, make sure you go with a compatible flooring material that will match up with your current kitchen floor substrate. If you've got a concrete substrate in your kitchen, your flooring contractor may need to install additional materials before installing a hardwood floor. This can add to installation costs. Especially if adding a thick wood flooring affects cabinet and door height in the room. If you've got a wood substrate, you may not be able to go with ceramic tiles directly applied to the wood because of structural weakness. Adding to the wood substrate could also increase installation costs. It's best to save money if you can make sure your flooring choice matches your kitchens substrate.

If you need to find a local Kitchen Remodeling Company, look no further than ConstructionDeal.com. We'll match you with Kitchen Remodeling Pros in your area - and you can post the job free of charge. It's the fast, free, and easy way to find a Kitchen Expert!

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