Cabinetry And Kitchen Design Tips

Give lighting in your kitchen the attention it needs when you’re planning a remodel. New light fixtures will add that delightful decorative touch, and make cooking and entertaining your friends and family so much easier.

Most kitchens are equipped with ambient or just general lighting, which are usually a row of recessed lighting or one single light fixture hanging above .  They allow you to see and move about the room, but kitchens should also be equipped with two other forms of lighting:  Task lighting and accent lighting.

Task lighting makes your kitchen more functional by providing bright light to areas where specific task are performed.  For example, installing additional fixtures by the sink, counter top or cook top, allows you to read recipes without straining your eyes or chop carrots without chopping your fingers off.

Accent lighting accentuates the kitchen’s style by focusing on decorative components, glassware, artwork or pottery.  You may have installed a beautiful back splash that needs to be shown or highlighted. Accent lighting will do this and more.

Popular options for accent lighting include mini-pendants or pendants hanging over an island.  Disk or puck lights are great choices for under and inside cabinets.  Wall sconces can be installed on either side of the cook range, and a beautiful chandelier to hang over the formal dining table.  You can also use rail systems that combine both pendant and spot lighting.

Your choice of lighting is a crucial step in the planning phase of your kitchen remodel.  Shop around before deciding.  There are light shops with some gorgeous kitchen lighting selections to suit your kitchen’s style and your individual taste.

A kitchen remodel can be an intrusive project in your home. There are a few things to consider before venturing off into this direction and what you should expect.

• Remodel Time Frame

On your way to your new shiny appliances and kitchen cabinets, your house will be literally turned upside down. You’ll be wiping off dust from everyone and everything for weeks. There will be delays and frustrations and your family ties will be tested to the max. You may have spent months planning your remodel, but instant gratification is far away once you order your products and materials.

Some products and materials may take up to nine months to get, and if you’re having custom made cabinets, they start arriving anywhere from 12 – 16 weeks. Semi-custom can take 8 – 10 weeks and stock about 4 weeks or less. Once the products do arrive, you can expect installation to take from 2 – 12 weeks. That depends on how involved your project is and how many set backs you have.

• Remodeling Your Kitchen Compared to Having One Constructed From Scratch

The obvious big differences in a remodel are: Demolition has to take place before construction can take place. The floor plan and style of your kitchen must take into consideration the surrounding rooms and architectural design of your home. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical components may need to be brought up to current building codes. Columns and other structural components may need to be reinforced. Slanting floors and walls may require installers to adjust the heights of cabinets and appliances.

With all the unexpected things that can happen, cost can mount very quickly blindsiding homeowners. Be prepared to make the adjustments and make them as frugal as can be. Partner with your contractor to come up with the most cost efficient approach.

• Financing Your Project

You can finance your project in several ways.

• Cash
• Credit Cards
• A personal or bank loan
• A loan from your insurance company or credit union
• A loan from a savings and loans institution
• Refinancing your mortgage
• A home equity loan
• A home equity line of credit
• Federal Housing Administration loan.

All of these options are available and need to be thought through very carefully. Take time to research these options that best suits your needs. Once the project has been given the green light, you need to make sure that financing is in place.

• What will a designer do for me?

Working with a professional can take a lot of the stress and uncertainty out of planning and building/remodeling a new kitchen. Let them help you figure out all the technicalities and details. Their expertise will help prevent costly mistakes, come up with cost efficient solutions and help with the entire planning phase.

They typically work out of showrooms with tons of catalogs for viewing and samples as well. Partner with a professional kitchen designer. They are there to help you by thinking through all the measurements, material coordination and all the logistics involved with the actual construction.

Take some defensive measures and know what to expect. Know how to prepare for your kitchen remodeling project.