Published: March 25, 2011

 Kitchen remodeling can turn a ho-hum room into your home’s pride and joy. Here are strategies to help your project run smoothly. A significant portion of kitchen remodeling costs may be recovered by the value the project brings to your home. Kitchen remodels in the $50,000 to $60,000 range recoup about 69% of the initial project cost at the home’s resale, according to recent data from Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report.

To make sure you maximize your return, follow these seven smart kitchen remodeling strategies.

1. Establish priorities

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) recommends spending at least six months planning your kitchen remodeling project. That way, you won’t be tempted to change your mind during construction  and inflate construction costs. Here are planning points to cover:  Cooking traffic patterns: A walkway through the kitchen should be at least 36 inches wide. Work aisles should be a minimum of 42 inches wide and at least 48 inches wide for households with multiple cooks.

Child safety: Avoid sharp, square corners on countertops, and make sure microwave ovens are installed at the proper height—3 inches below the shoulder of the primary user but not more than 54 inches from the floor.

A professional designer can simplify your kitchen remodel. Pros help make style decisions, foresee potential problems, and schedule contractors. Expect fees around $50 to $150 per hour, or 5% to 15% of the total cost of the project.

2. Keep the same footprint

No matter the size and scope of your kitchen remodel, you can protect your budget by maintaining the same footprint: Keep the walls, locate new plumbing fixtures near existing plumbing pipes, and forget bump-outs.  Not only will you save on demolition and reconstruction costs, you’ll cut the amount of dust and debris your project generates.

3. Get real about appliances

It’s easy to get carried away during your kitchen remodeling project. A six-burner commercial-grade range and luxury-brand refrigerator may make eye-catching centerpieces, but they may not fit your cooking needs or lifestyle.  High-priced appliances are worth the investment if you’re an exceptional cook. Otherwise, save thousands with trusted brands that receive high marks at consumer review websites, like www.ePinions.com and www.amazon.com, and resources such as Consumer Reports.

4. Light your way

Good kitchen lighting helps you work safely and efficiently.  Install task lighting, such as recessed or track lights, over sinks and food prep areas; assign at least two fixtures per task to eliminate shadows. Under-cabinet lights illuminate cleanup and are great for reading cookbooks. Pendant lights over counters bring the light source close to work surfaces.

5. Be quality conscious

Functionality and durability should be top priorities during kitchen remodeling. Resist low-quality bargains, and choose products that combine low maintenance with long warranty periods. Solid-surface countertops, for instance, may cost a little more, but with the proper care, they’ll look great for a long time.

6. Add storage, not space

Here’s how you can add storage without bumping out walls:  Install cabinets that reach the ceiling: They may cost more–and you might need a stepladder–but you’ll gain valuable storage space for Christmas platters and other once-a-year items. In addition, you won’t have to dust cabinet tops.

7. Communicate early and often

Establishing a good rapport with your project manager or construction team is essential for staying on budget. To keep the sweetness in your project:  Drop by the project during work hours: Your presence broadcasts your commitment to quality.  Give your cell phone number to subs and team leaders.  Set house rules: Be clear about smoking, boom box noise levels, available bathrooms, and appropriate parking.

Related articles

• Top 5 Remodel Projects For High ROI (dobbsferry-rivertowns.com)
• Kitchen Remodeling on a Budget: Tips & Ideas (dawnrajda.wordpress.com)
• 2010-2011 Best Value Home Renovation Projects (bargaineering.com)
• Remodel or Move? (athomesense.wordpress.com)

 The first improvement/repair homeowners should consider are those that impact the home’s basic structures and systems.  Potential home buyers generally do not want to face expensive repairs, and if items such as the foundation, roof, air conditioning, water heater, or other basic structure need to be fixed, the property will be considered a fixer-upper and its market price will be discounted accordingly.

Some minor replacements will produce big results for minimal cost.  Replacing and coordinating bathroom and kitchen hardware and fixtures are generally inexpensive, but tend to make a big difference.  The same can be said for getting rid of any dated finishes, such as old wallpaper and brass light fixtures.

Homeowners who don’t know when or even if they will be able to sell their home are advised to choose home improvement projects carefully.  Unless the home is located in an upscale neighborhood and the property already is immaculate, owners can skip expensive upgrades – such as remodeled bathrooms – and focus on the fundamentals.

Information obtained by the Calif. Assco. of Realtors with permission. Photo by Barry Ripp.

Light-Up Your Kitchen:  Add “under-the-counter” lighting with battery-powered LED lights. With adhesive-backing, they are easy to install.

Create an Accent Wall: Paint or wall paper one wall in your living or dining room. Choose a color that goes well with your furniture.

Paint That Old Brick:  Don’t be afraid to paint the old dirty brick around your fireplace or the front of your house.  White will always give it a clean fresh look.

Add a Stainless Steel Backsplash behind your stove. Nail the easy-to-clean panel on the wall.

All of these things should be easy to find at your local hardware stores.  I hope you enjoy your new upgrades while saving money too.

 ~ Barry Ripp

www.barryripp.com

Light your home at night, by using solar-powered spot lights shining on the front of your house. Easy to install and no wires to worry about.

Add a chair rail wood trim  in a bedroom and paint the lower part with an accent color.

Use new stick on decals in your child’s bedroom, they peel on and off easily without taking off paint, but stay on very well. 

Install new address numbers on your home, you can get creative with style color.

1-   Remove the top set of cabinets doors, then paint them inside & out with a fresh coat of gloss paint.

2-   Hang matching pendant lamps on each side of the couch. This will free up space on the end tables.

3-   Create cubbies in a bookcase, by cutting vertical dividers to the depth of the unit. Secure them with glue & finishing nails.

4-   Paint your front door a vibrant color. Welcome your friends with a new color, like a rich red or another. Use exterior semi-gloss.

5-   Change the hardware in your kitchen. Give it a new look with new polished nickel knobs and handles.

2. Flooring & Counters
Ceramic and porcelain tile, as well as natural stone tile, remain popular kitchen flooring options, but hardwood will dominate the kitchen landscape more than ever in 2010. For countertops, granite continues to be the most popular option, but quartz will nearly catch up in popularity. For backsplashes, ceramic or porcelain tile and glass will serve as the primary materials.

3. Flexible Faucets
Standard kitchen faucets will become less standard in 2010 in favor of more convenient models. Pull-out faucets continue to increase their market dominance, while pot filler faucets will also become more prevalent. Kitchen faucets will most often be finished in brushed nickel, followed by stainless steel, satin nickel, and polished chrome.

4. Refrigeration
Bottom freezers and side-by-side refrigerators remain a popular option. A surprising trend is the extent to which under-counter refrigerator drawers are being used in the latest kitchen designs. Perhaps even more surprising is that under-counter wine refrigerators have been recently specified by half of kitchen designers.

5. A Range of Cooking Options
The tried-and-true range continues to serve as the workhorse for cooking, although the combination of a cooktop and wall oven is beginning to overtake it. Gas will remain as the most popular type of cooktop over electric.

6. Dishwasher-in-a-Drawer
Standard dishwashers, with the traditional door that pulls from the top down, will once again be easily the most common type in 2010. However, an increasing number of dishwasher drawers will be installed in kitchens this year for their convenience and their ability to wash small loads of dishes in each drawer, thereby saving water and electricity.

7. Appliances Stainless steel appliances will continue to be a popular choice of kitchen appliances, followed by black then white.

~ Barry

Information obtained in part by the National Kitchen & Bath Assco.