Dierdra Doran © 2009
BobVilaContractors.com
Kitchen remodeling can be an exciting venture if you carefully consider all the cabinet, countertop, appliance, lighting and flooring ideas out there. The kitchen is the heart of your home, so look for quality and the right design for you and your family.
The floor plan is a primary factor when looking at the contemporary kitchen. Lifestyle and use could determine the best way to select such items as island countertops or carts on wheels which can add space for meal preparation, or an extra surface to use when entertaining guests. New kitchen plans have to include these considerations, in addition to cabinets and countertops.
Many kitchen design ideas assume that old cabinets must be replaced, but painting cabinets is a far more affordable option. If the cabinets are of reasonable quality, there are some good options to try to preserve them. Cabinets can be refaced with a veneer, or stripped and painted. An alternative idea for new cabinet design is to just get new doors and hardware and paint. This can produce great results with minimal investment.
A kitchen pantry is an idea for kitchen cabinet designs that is making a big comeback. It can help provide more storage area in the kitchen and free up available cabinet space. Choices in size, shape, style and other features give you more selection than ever in kitchen pantries.
Granite countertops are an elegant complement to any kitchen expansion project. They offer rugged durability and natural beauty. There are many other surfaces that are also luxurious looking as well as long lasting, such as marble and butcher block wood. For those looking for a more unusual and versatile countertop, concrete offers a variety of shapes, colors and decorative finishes.
New appliances complete the custom kitchen. One recent innovation is the kitchen or freezer drawer. This is a great, convenient accessory to supplement existing refrigerator storage. These drawers can fit in nicely with the kitchen cabinet designs selected. Another appliance that can transform the contemporary kitchen is the range hood. Using stainless steel and glass, ceramic coating or wood, this feature can be an architectural focal point of the kitchen.
Flooring is a central feature of the new kitchen layout, since it can set the tone for the whole room. The flooring has to be durable, easy to clean and a style that matches the home. New developments in sealing and preserving have opened up more possibilities, so that hardwoods such as maple, oak or bamboo, which have a natural beauty and warmth.
Lighting can focus attention on the fine new design features of a custom kitchen. Track lighting, under cabinet or decorative lighting can all be used to create contrast or illuminate work areas. Some of the lighting can even be solar-powered to reduce energy usage.
Kitchen design ideas can provide the perfect kind of welcoming atmosphere you want to create. If you balance the needs of your family and the limits of your budget, your kitchen remodeling project can bring new life into your home and the most used room in the house. Find a
renovation and remodeling contractor to oversee your most important projects to ensure a quality job, everytime.
More information on
Small Kitchen Remodeling.
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Green Kitchen Remodeling.
