Paul Radoy, Danny Lipford & Joe Boehm from Better Homes and Gardens review plans for the Kuppersmith Project.
For some the reality of remodeling may be a nightmare with visions of cost overruns, delays, strange people in your home, and endless decisions. At Merillat we have helped remodel and design thousands of kitchens. In fact, we are in the process of working with Danny Lipford and Today’s Homeowner on the Kuppersmith Project to rehab a 1920s Tudor style home in Mobile, Ala. So to take the nightmare out of getting your new dream kitchen, I’m offering some tips to consider before you start your next remodel. With this I hope to ease the process and make remodeling an exciting experience!
Think about how you will use your kitchen
To have a successful remodel it is important to take time and define the goals of your project and determine what problems you want your new kitchen to solve. And most importantly, think about how you’ll actually be using your new kitchen. Examples of common objectives include improving space utilization, personalizing the space, increasing natural light, or improving energy efficiency. Does your kitchen lack storage space, do you entertain a lot, do you want your kids to cook with you or do you just need an updated appearance? When deciding the goals of the project it is important to keep all of this in mind.
Decide if the current space can accommodate your needs, or if you’ll need to expand
With your goals in mind, consider the amount of space in your kitchen. Are you satisfied with the amount of counter, cabinet and floor space? Again, it is important to think about what you are doing in the kitchen. If you like to cook, adequate counter space is essential. Are you planning to eat meals in the kitchen or will there be a separate eating area? If so, you may want to consider installing an island or peninsula with room underneath for stools. Also, keep in mind the amount of cookware you have. You want your remodeled kitchen to have enough space to store all your small appliances and pots and pans. Check out Merillat.com for the various storage accessories we offer that will make organizing your kitchen much easier. The new and improved kitchen should provide solutions for all storage difficulties you had in your old kitchen. Now, everything should have a place and you shouldn’t have to deal with hard to reach items any longer.
Consider the other members of the family who will be using the kitchen
Next, it is important to consider who will be in the kitchen. If there is more than one cook in your household, you may want to consider making more room around the main workspace. If you enjoy entertaining, you may want an open plan kitchen that allows for more social interaction between the kitchen and other rooms. If you have young kids you might want to think about lower countertops and cabinets and definitely avoid sharp corners on countertops. It is also a good idea to update dated appliances since they can be hazardous for young children.
Think about your daily routines and design the space to be more functional
As far as the layout of the kitchen goes, think of ways that would make working in your kitchen easier. Such as installing the kitchen sink between the trash can and the dishwasher which help with easy clean-up. Moving the refrigerator closer to the entry from the mud room may be more efficient as you bring in groceries from the car. It is important to consider ways to design your kitchen to make it more fun to live in and easier to work in.
Consider these tips for your next remodel, and make sure to tune into Today’s Homeowner to watch Danny Lipford and his team take on the Kuppersmith Project where you will also see practical ideas for remodeling your kitchen.
Tags: cabinets, danny lipford, merillat cabinets, Paul Radoy, Remodeling tips, storage accessories, The Kuppersmith Project