(Sarah Reep, Design Expert)

In an effort to call attention to these findings, Merillat cabinets and Masco Cabinetry (Merillat’s parent company) teamed up with Building Women magazine for the article titled, “What today’s woman wants from her kitchen and how builders can best deliver it” for the Winter 2012 issue. The tips below serve as a handy checklist for kitchen design remodels to ensure your wants are met in your home, and especially in your kitchen.

1. Start Off on the Right Foot. First impressions are everything. Look for a designer who is professional and organized, and ready to help answer your questions.
2. Kicking Things Off. After first impressions are made and you’ve chosen a designer, set up an interview with them to determine basic things like preferences, style, taste, trends and other fundamental elements you are looking for in the design.
3. Prioritize. Then, define what the kitchen needs. Make a list of the “must-haves” and include things that will make your life easier and fit your lifestyle. Consider questions like: Would a double sink be helpful? Do I prefer to wash dishes at an island facing into the home or at a window so I can look out?
4. Build the Roadmap. Next, commit your ideas to paper to ensure all communication is clear between both parties. Tools like the Merillat Kitchen Planner and the IdeaFolio can be helpful in completing this part of the process.
5. Time to Focus. Finally, after all of the ideas and preferences are captured, narrow down the options into one solid final design plan.

Next step? Begin designing!

With so many flooring choices available, it can be overwhelming to come up with the best fit for your kitchen and your needs. To help you along the way, we have created this handy two-part post describing the advantages (and disadvantages) of various types of flooring on the market today. So take a look and see which floor might work best for you!

Wood Flooring
Popular wood flooring choices include maple, oak, pine, and bamboo. Wood floors are installed before cabinets and often laid out in narrow strips, planks or patterned parquet squares.

Advantages

• Available in a variety of colors, looks and finishes
• Simple to keep clean with broom or vacuum (if the floor is polyurethane-coated)
• Quite durable

Disadvantages

• Fading: must be careful where rugs and mats are laid out.
• Warping and buckling when moisture is contained between boards
• Often expensive
• Needs to be refinished to eliminate major marks and scratches
• Can be slippery

Tile Flooring
Many different styles of tile flooring are available including ceramic, porcelain, mosaic and quarry tile.  These tiles are laid and assembled using grout.

Advantages

• Comes various colors, designs and sizes
• Durability
• Stain resistant (if glazed)
• Suitable for radiant heat

Disadvantages

• Can be hard on the feet
• Slippery and more dangerous to fall on
• Can be pricey
• Individual tiles can crack over time
• Unglazed tile needs to be treated periodically with sealants

Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl is a good budget-conscious alternative. It is scratch resistant and softer than tile or hardwood, easier on the feet and gives dropped dishes a better chance for survival!

Advantages

• Variety of colors and designs
• Less expensive than alternatives
• Soft on feet and dishes
• Requires very little maintenance
• Scratch, scuff and stain resistant

Disadvantages

• Easily dented by furniture, heels and other objects
• Peeling can occur
• Cheaper look and feel than more expensive alternatives

Stone Flooring
The stones that are often used for kitchen floors include slate, marble and granite. They offer an elegant and durable look, but often come with a hefty price tag.

Advantages

• Very durable
• Can be used over a radiant heat system
• Elegant and high quality look and style

Disadvantages

• More expensive
• Slippery and can be dangerous to fall on
• Stones can chip
• Stains and dirt often show on light colored grout between the stones
• Must apply sealants periodically to prevent stains
• Stone can be cold and uncomfortable on the feet

Check out Part 2 of this series for information on additional flooring types!

Merillat Accent Collections were created to help bring high-design and sensibly chic qualities to everyday spaces. The decorator accents can be easily used with any Merillat Classic kitchen, and we’ve made it simple to create endless options with our three distinct style groups.

Tapestry Collection
A remarkably simple way to create a stunning kitchen with a traditional design that includes a breathtaking wave and leaf design.

Estero Collection
A stunning, well-crafted Mission-style collection that can instantly take the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Windmere Collection
An eclectic evolution with an ornate rope design, Windmere is an easy way to transform any kitchen into a decorative statement.

Each of our style groups offer several different sized legs, feet, corbels and crown moldings to help add the finishing touches to make your kitchen really stand out!  Below is a brief description of the various accent pieces you may want to consider.

Crown Molding
Crown molding can add a stunning effect to the look and character of your kitchen. Molding can completely transform your room from traditional to modern, or contemporary to period.

Corbels
Decorative corbels can make any home look more elegant and classical. Kitchen designers often use corbels to add visual definition to a space and soften sharp edges on cabinets, bars, kitchen countertops or islands. Corbels come in different sizes applicable for decorative shelving or countertop support.

Feet and Legs
Furniture-like feet and legs transform ordinary kitchens into one-of-a-kind statements. These different sized accents provide flexibility to use them in areas underneath cabinets, sinks, islands, vanities and more.

Today, homeowners have many options to determine the appropriate kitchen remodel or renovation budget. You might know you want new cabinetry, but are not sure how to budget in the cabinetry with new flooring. Should you spend more on lighting or appliances? What about plumbing and electric? These answers all vary depending on the final goals and functionality you want your new kitchen to serve.

Talk to an Expert

Whether you are doing a complete makeover (floors, cabinets, electric, plumbing, accents and appliances) or starting slowly with a few elements (cabinets and flooring), the best method for determining your budget is to talk to an expert – a certified kitchen design professional who can help you establish your priorities  within the budget you have in mind. This will help you avoid spending an inappropriate amount in one area or on one item, and not having enough to complete the job.

For example, most kitchen design experts would advise that you spend more on cabinetry than you do on flooring. Chosen well, your cabinets can last for decades. Spending money on quality cabinetry construction with thicker, stronger backs and shelves, wood boxes and dovetailed drawers will benefit you in the long run.

Budget Guidelines

Overall, experts advise that your kitchen remodeling budget shouldn’t exceed 15% of your home’s value. Of this budget, at least one half of the cost should be designated for cabinetry. Another 15% can be expected for appliances, flooring and other goods like lighting, plumbing, fixtures, etc. The remaining 35% includes the costs of labor, design, contracting services, permit fees, etc.

Self-Service Tools

Should you prefer to budget your project without the help of an expert, there are a number of kitchen budget tools and calculators available for your use. We particularly like Fine Homebuilding’s new calculator. Here you can estimate your dream kitchen upgrade by selecting from different countertop and cabinetry choices, and mix and match by price and material. Another good source for kitchen remodeling information and tips is The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA).

Planning is Key

To sum it up, planning ahead is crucial to a successful kitchen remodel. You should know exactly what you want and how much you want to spend before the project begins. Being very specific in your planning is the best way to avoid blowing your budget and enjoy the kitchen of your dreams.

Today’s Dream Kitchen Sweepstakes winner Kimberly Osburn poses with husband Joshua in front of their pre-renovation kitchen.

From Mark Ayers, Vice President of Marketing

We recently partnered with Today’s Homeowner and Danny Lipford for a 24 week period and concluded the first-ever Today’s Dream Kitchen Sweepstakes which ran from August 9 – September 20, 2009.

With nearly 10,000 entrants from all over the U.S., Kimberly Osburn of West Bloomfield, Mich. was the sweepstakes winner. As a result, her kitchen was transformed by our design partners at KSI (Kitchen & Bath showroom in Birmingham, MI).

The remodeling is complete and the unveiling took place on the Today’s Homeowner show during February sweeps.  For a behind the scenes look at this kitchen makeover, we’ve documented the entire renovation process and will be bringing you a photo and video blog update in the days ahead.

It’s such a fantastic feeling to be able to give the Osburns their dream kitchen! And it’s an even better feeling to know we’ve transformed a space in their home that will be enjoyed and appreciated to the fullest.

Stay tuned!  We’d love to hear your thoughts on the project.