The art of well designed living...

Kitchen Facts

• The key to any kitchen is the way the sink, stove and refrigerator flow together.
• Kitchen size is only as important as it relates to use.
• Good work flow, lighting and storage are the key components to good kitchen design.

Lighting

• The three types of lighting are: general lighting, task lighting and accent or ambient lighting.
• The goal is to balance general and task lighting in a way that illuminates the room without creating harsh shadows and use accents to set moods and tone.

Storage

The three basic principles to follow related to storage are:

• Put unused space to work (e.g., use a wall–mounted utensil rod or lazy Susan.)
• Mis en place --- “Everything in its place” (e.g., proper containers for proper storage.)
• Store according to frequency of use (e.g., seasonal and specialty items should be kept out of the way; everything else should be easy to reach.)

Remodeling

• Kitchen remodeling is one of the most popular home improvement projects, delivering an average return on investment of 70%.
• The four material costs are cabinets, counters, appliances and floors.
• Designers charge anywhere from $50-$150+ per hour and sometimes take a percentage of your budget.
• In-store designers are paid by retailers.

Cabinets

• Cabinets are the foundation of the kitchen, giving it shape and helping to determine the overall style.
• The three basic cabinet types are stock, semi-custom and custom.
• Stock cabinets are manufactured in bulk in a variety of standard sizes and colors. They’re a good basic choice and available in almost every home improvement store.
• Semi-custom cabinets use better quality materials, are available in a much wider variety and styles, are made to order and fit more precisely than stock cabinets.
• Custom cabinets are generally made onsite by a carpenter to exact specifications, made from the highest quality materials in many styles and cost more than stock or semi-custom cabinets.

Budgeting Your Kitchen Remodel

A good rule of thumb for kitchen remodel budgeting is to allocate:

• 40-50% of your budget for cabinets
• 20-30% for appliances
• 20-25% for countertops
• 10-15% for flooring
• 5-15% for lighting.

Outdoor Kitchens

• With features such as gas grills, pizza ovens, prep sinks, refrigerators, and even dishwashers, outdoor kitchens rival their sheltered counterparts.
• A good, basic setup might include a 17,000 BTU grill, an under-counter refrigerator and cabinets. For a mostly do-it-yourself installation, the total cost can be about $2,000.
• A high-end setup – with 25,000 BTU grill with rotisserie and side burners, prep sink, dishwasher, custom island and electrical/plumbing work – can cost upwards of $17,000.