Kitchen Remodeling

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Give your kitchen a makeover – 5 easy steps

I’ve often thought that some of the happiest moments in life occur in the kitchen. Picking
at the turkey before thanksgiving meal, late night ice cream raids, entertaining guests
with a glass of wine with a date, informal family meetings, or conversations over a cup of
coffee. The kitchen is truly the heart of the home. With use comes wearing out. Most
peoples kitchens are catch all of office, restaurant, etc, more than they resemble the
gleaming pictures in kitchen magazines. . Spring brings….
If you have the budget, nothing beats a kitchen designed for your particular lifestyle.

If you’re on a tight budget, theres things you can do to spice up this important room.
Remove clutter – if you haven’t used the pasta maker since you opened the box, it might
be time to ship it to the basement, making more room for useful items. A coat of paint,
better lighting, new seat cushions and curtains, all add to

1. Choose your style –

contemporary – modern, sleek, with lots of … and the latest gadgets. Many love them for
the cool, clean lines, the minimalist approach to clutter, and easy to clean surfaces.
formal
country
traditional

2. Rank your priorities -

A recent NKBA Design Trends Survey shows that electronics such as computer centers,
stereo and TV equipment are often being designed into current kitchen projects.
Microwave and convection cooking is also on the list of the most requested items in
kitchen projects. We see laminate as the most frequently used countertop material - often
enhanced with unique edge treatments to create an inexpensive decorating statement.
Solid surface materials (such as Corian) and granite have continued to see strong growth
in recent years, especially in the up-scale segment of the remodeling market.
2. Making the most of your space –
Joan Walsh of New York knows firsthand the frustration of a small kitchen. “Its always
a fight for space. The countertops are jammed with the coffeemaker, the toaster, the
microwave a food processors, and the kids use the kitchen table for homework and
papers, and cooking big meals are a balancing act,” she laments.

small spaces –
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Most kitchens are designed around four work centers:

THE CLEANUP CENTER around the sink should have at least 18" to 30" on one
side, and 48" to 54" on the other, to allow enough room to stack dishes, pans and
utensils. Always plan for at least 12" between the sink and the nearest corner, measured
from the front of the counter.

THE COOKING CENTER around the range requires 12" minimum on one side of
the range, and 15" to 24" on the other side, again with 12" minimum to the nearest corner.
Microwaves and built-in ovens should have at least 15" to 18" counter space on the right
side (assuming the door is hinged on the left side).

THE STORAGE CENTER around the refrigerator needs 15" to 18" on the handle
side of the refrigerator, to set food.

THE MIXING/PREPARATION CENTER should be handy to pans, bowls and

utensils, and should consist of at least 42" to 84" of free counter
space. If space permits, some designers also include a serving center - another 36"
to 84" of free counter space to set bowls and pans. As you design, you'll also want
to plan for the following minimum clearances so you'll have room to work: There should
be at least a 42" clearance from the front edge of the counter top to the nearest table
or island. Leave at least 20" from the front edge of the dishwasher door (when open)
to the nearest obstruction, so you'll have room to load and unload. Plan for at least
26" between the kitchen work area and the nearest traffic path. Allow 36" between
the nearest obstruction and an eating table, so there is room to pull a chair away from the
table. Kitchen layouts are based on a concept called the work triangle. The work
triangle consists of imaginary lines that connect the refrigerator, the range and the sink.
For maximum comfort and efficiency, the three legs of the work triangle should
total between 23 and 26 feet. There are four basic kitchen layouts the one-wall or
galley, the corridor, the L-shaped and the U-shaped. There are, of course, a nearly infinite
variety of layouts, but most are based on these four. The design is crucial…
everything works together in a system.

3. Features

4. Whats available – oh the details!!

5. your project worksheet -

Your budget –

Regardless of what you do budget, don't skimp on design, appliances, or labor. These are
the basis for a functional kitchen and you should get the
best you can affort. Instead, to cut costs, use stock cabinets instead of custom
work, laminates instead of corian, and keep your current
appliances, if you can. Try to keep existing plumbing and electrical. Don't make
structural changes to the room, and make the most of small
improvements like new paint, new wallpaper, new curtains and decorations.

Energy efficiency
Natural lighting, high energy value appliances.

Do it yourselfers …
Tips work with a full service showroom - Architect designer employed on staff is
probably trained and insured, where at a home center, its doubtful. design coordinated to
your exact space, etc.
Drafting, - ever buy a Christmas tree that looked fine on the lot, but was monstrously too
large for the spot – gives new meaning to trimming your tree. In any case, there’s a very
good reason that blueprints are drawn up.
a piece of furniture that looked good in the showroom, but monstrously too
Installation – yu can of course get your own contractors, but many people go for the
convenience of working with the contractors that a showroom recommends. If they don’t
do a good job, it reflects poorly on the showroom and in turn hurts business. It is in their
best interest to …

FAMILY AND LIFESTYLE

1. Number of family members: ___

2. Number and approximate ages of family members:

__ infants __ young children __ teens __ 20 to 30 yrs __ 31

to 40 yrs
__ 41 to 50 yrs __ 51 to 60 yrs __ 61 to 70 yrs __ 70+

3. If your family has young children, will they be using the

kitchen
frequently? __ Yes __ No
 4. How long do you plan on living in the home you are
remodeling/building?

__ 1 to 5 yrs __ 6 to 10 yrs __ 11 to 20 yrs __20+

5. Where does your family eat its meals?

__ Kitchen __ Dining Room __

Other:______________________

6. Where will your family eat after you remodel/build?

__ Kitchen __ Dining Room __

Other:_____________________

7. Do you require a kitchen table or would you be willing

to explore other options if a design could be improved?

__ A kitchen table is required

__ A kitchen table is preferred but open to other options
__ A kitchen table is not necessary

8. What other activities will take place in your new

kitchen?

__ Laundry __ Homework __ Watching TV __ Paying Bills

__ Sewing
__ Computer Center __ Other:___________________

9. After your remodel/build will you entertain frequently? __

Yes __ No

If Yes...What is your entertainment style? __ formal __

informal

Do you have __ large or __ small gatherings?

Do your guests help you in the kitchen when you entertain?

__ Yes __
No

10. How do you shop?

__ For the week __ Buy in bulk and freeze __ For each meal
__ Buy non-perishable items in bulk
 If you buy in bulk, do you require storage in the kitchen for
all or most of
these items?
__ Yes __ No

COOKING STYLE

1. Who is the primary cook?

____________________________

2. Is the primary cook __ left handed or __ right handed?

3. How tall is the primary cook? _______

4. What is the primary cook's cooking style?

__ Gourmet Meals __ Family Meals __ Quick & Simple

Meals
__ Bringing Meals Home __ Baking

5. What does the primary cook prefer?

__ No one else in the kitchen while preparing meals.

__ A helper in the kitchen when preparing meals.
__ Family or friends visiting during meal preparation.

6. Does the primary cook have any physical limitations?

__ Yes __ No

7. Who is the secondary cook?

__________________________

8. Do the secondary and primary cook prepare meals

together?
__ Yes __ No

9. Is the secondary cook __ left handed or __ right handed?

10. How tall is the secondary cook? ________

11. What are the secondary cook's responsibilities? __

Preparing side
dishes __ Clean up
__ Assist in preparing main course
 12. Does the secondary cook have any physical limitations?
___________________________________________

DESIGN AND STYLE

1. What are your color preferences for your new kitchen?

________________________________________________
_______

2. Are there colors you would not want in your new kitchen?
_______________________________________________

3. Have you created a scrapbook of notes, photos, and

ideas that you would like to use in your new kitchen? __
Yes __ No

4. If a design could be greatly improved, would you be

willing to make
structural changes? (i.e. moving windows, doors, and walls)?
__ Absolutely not __ I would consider it

5. What do you like about your current kitchen?

________________________________________________
_______
________________________________________________
_______

6. What do you dislike about your current kitchen?

________________________________________________
_______
________________________________________________
_______

7. Do you require a recycling center in your kitchen? __ Yes

__ No

If Yes... How many items do you need to sort? ___

8. Will you be keeping your existing appliances?

Dishwasher: __ existing __ new
Refrigerator: __ existing __ new
Oven/Range: __ existing __ new

9. What is your style preference for your new kitchen?

__ contemporary __ formal __ country __ traditional
 TIME AND BUDGET

1. When would you like to begin your project?

________________________________________________
_________

2. When would you like your project completed?

________________________________________________
_________

3. If you are building, is the kitchen in your contract? __ Yes

__ No

4. Do you have a budget for this project? __ Yes: $

________________
__ No