REPOST: The (Don't Get Burned) Kitchen Remodeling Guide

Marjorie E. Gage of This Old House Magazine outlines some of the ways homeowners can avoid the hassles associated with kitchen remodels.

Image Source: thisoldhouse.com

Hey, have you heard the one about the 36-inch pro-style range that ripped the molding off the back door on its way into the house? Or the poured-on-site concrete countertop that cracked three months after installation? Or maybe it was the contractor who was paid in advance, promptly skipped town, and was never heard from again.

Yep, we've heard those stories, too. Let's face it, in a nation where home renovation long ago surpassed baseball as the Great American Pastime, kitchen nightmares are a dime a dozen — and anyone who's ever traded Formica countertops and a Harvest Gold fridge for soapstone and a stainless steel side-by-side knows exactly what we're talking about.

Well, misery may love company, but what we all crave is a happy ending—a smart-looking, functional workspace that is a source of comfort, efficiency, and maybe a little neighborly envy (not to mention an excellent Porterhouse). To help you get there, we've compiled this handy guide to some common kitchen-remodeling disasters and offer expert strategies for steering clear of them. For each major phase of the job — hiring, planning, budgeting, and living through it — we've got an easy 10-point plan to follow. And don't let our cautionary tales scare you: Take our advice, and your biggest regret when your dream kitchen is complete will be that you didn't do it sooner.

Finding (and holding onto) the Best Pros

Kitchen remodeling is at the top of homeowners' wish lists. It is also, according to attorneys general across the country, a leading source of consumer complaints. Recommendations from friends are the best place to start your search for a qualified contractor. But before you make a decision, keep these caveats in mind.

Three Truths About Contractors

1. They're only as good as their last job. "General contractors often win jobs based on their good reputations," explains architect Dennis Wedlick, author of Good House Hunting: 20 Steps to Your Dream Home. "But circumstances can change. When the contractor switches subcontractors or laborers, quality can be affected." Ask your top three candidates to supply references, and follow up with the most recent ones.
2. What you see is what you get. In addition to completed renovations, try to visit a job in progress. You can learn a lot about a contractor's commitment to quality and safety by seeing for yourself how clean the site is and how carefully the drywall is hung and taped.
3. The best ones are worth waiting for. The best contractors tend to be the busiest ones. Build your schedule around the GC of your dreams, not vice versa.

Four Essentials to Ask References

1. What were the contractor's work habits? Did he show up on time and prepared to supervise the subs?
2. Did he stick to the scope of the work and cleanup plan as outlined in the contract? Were any unauthorized changes of materials or details made?
3. Did your project stay on or close to budget? Did materials arrive on time? Did he keep you up to date on his progress or potential delays?
4. Did anything go wrong? And if so, how — and how quickly — was the crisis resolved?


Three R's of Keeping the Crew Happy

1. Refreshments: You don't have to cater three squares a day, but at least offer a thermos of coffee or a cooler with soft drinks. They'll appreciate it.
2. Responsibility: The crew can't work efficiently if you're in the way. Ask questions, but don't overwhelm them with your TOH-taught smarts. And teach kids and pets the meaning of KEEP OUT.
3. Respect: Say good morning, good night, and good job when appropriate. And, please: Don't ask if they've met any desperate housewives lately. The appliances can be top-of-the-line, the finishes the most expensive around, but if the space doesn't work, it's money down the brand-new In-Sink-Erator. Here are 10 ways to arrive at the best design for you, even if—like the vast majority of Americans—you rarely cook a meal from scratch.

For the rest of the guide, please click here. 

Kitchen design and cabinetry professional Frank LaMark assists homeowners throughout North America in meeting their kitchen remodeling needs. Subscribe to this blog for more on kitchen cabinet design and installation.

REPOST: Custom Touches for Small Kitchens

These touches from Better Homes and Gardens can help bring out the uniqueness of one’s kitchen through flourishes in form and function, a few of which are shared in the following article:

Maximize Every Inch 

Image Source: bhg.com

Make the most of every square foot in a small kitchen. Often this small wall on the other side of a doorway would be left empty, but this kitchen boasts a small drink station and additional cabinetry, creating a custom and super-smart solution.

To the Ceiling 

When a cabinet is tucked into a tight corner, use a vertical hinge to avoid banging the door into the wall. This way the door lifts up and out of the way -- the perfect solution for small kitchens.

Utensils on Display 

Image Source: bhg.com

Keep everyday utensils within easy reach with a S-hook system hung right onto a beaded-board backsplash. It's also the perfect way to know where your 1/4 teaspoon is when you need it.

Use the End 

Turn the end of a row of cabinets into usable space with chalkboard paint. Create the perfect place to jot notes and grocery lists, while adding personality to a plain spot in the kitchen.

Wine Storage 

Image Source: bhg.com

Sometimes a tiny cabinet isn't good for anything -- except a bottle of wine. Remove the door and add a few small shelves to create the perfect spot to store extra bottles.  

Frank LaMark, president of CabinetsDirectRTA, believes in combining form and function in kitchen cabinet design and construction. Visit this website for more on kitchen remodeling.

REPOST: Spruce up your kitchen cabinet

The space above your kitchen cabinets may seem useless and relatively unimportant. However, they can actually make some interesting contributions to your kitchen’s overall grandeur. Read this post and learn how you can turn this seemingly unnoticeable space into a stunning home fixture.

Image source: standardmedia.co.ke

You may want to add some personality to your kitchen but don't know how. Do you have some space above the cabinets? This is the space to do that. Get creative and start adding pop to your kitchen If you have a kitchen cabinet that has some space above it, what have you stored there? I can guess, empty jerri-cans, cooking fat containers, supermarket paper bags, newspapers, or sufurias. But have you ever thought that this space can offer your kitchen the allure that you die for? Pull up a stool and pick these tips on how to decorate above your kitchen cabinets, one of the toughest spots to decorate. Below are ideas you can utilise.

To start the process, remove everything from above the cabinet. Now put your items together and start toying around with different ideas and positioning. The results may not be perfect the first time. Keep moving the items around and you will be surprised how they will eventually come together. Remember to vary the heights and sizes of your pieces.

Collection: The cabinet top is every collector’s dream, the perfect place to display unique finds. You may be a collector of something, especially during your travels. Do you have a collection of pottery, plates, bottles, jars, baskets, candlesticks or vases? Display those that you love and that you will enjoy seeing every day. If you don’t have a collection, you can paint the space above your cabinet a colour that you love; a pop of colour like red will make your kitchen interesting and intriguing.

Focal point: You can also turn the space into a focal point for your kitchen. Get something that will draw the eyes’ attention. Start with a large item that will be your focus, and place it slightly off the centre. A large plate, picture or lanterns displayed at eye level is all you need. You can then add to your theme of the space with objects related by colour, culture and geography but different in texture and height. Since the top of the cabinet is high up and you will be standing at a distance, the bigger the item displayed the better. Display the taller items at the back and the shorter ones in the front.

Baskets: This works perfect especially if you have a small kitchen since they offer extra storage space. Use the baskets above your cabinet to store items that you do not use on a daily basis such as paper towels, extra bowls, baking supplies, among others. You can label them for you to know what you have stored in each.

Unique items: Display unique items like interesting photographs and notice how it will transform the look of your kitchen. Figurines too, can make good for this space. Just place something new and different without fear. If the item you display doesn’t seem to work, you simply change or remove them.

Frank LaMark kitchen cabinetry offers customizable shelves, racks, and drawers made of the finest industry-grade hardwoods, offering durable, stylish, and tight-sealing storage for all types of kitchen tools and appliances. Visit this website for more information.

The discount kitchen cabinet hunt

Kitchen cabinets add character to the kitchen and provide ample storage space, but can be quite expensive to create, purchase, or install.

However, there are ways to get high-quality cabinet pieces without spending too much. Here are some kitchen cabinet types with prices that won’t break the bank:  

Image Source: rtacabinetmall.com

1. Ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets

RTA cabinets use cheaper materials than regular cabinets, and are shipped to the buyer not fully assembled, which further lessens its cost of production. Assembling RTA cabinets is easy: most models come with simple lock and bracket systems. Also, instruction manuals are included for easy reference.  

Image Source: fastaanytimeclock.com

2. Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) cabinets

These types of cabinets use fiberboard material that is lighter than wood, but has the same durability. Since fiberboard is easier and cheaper to produce, MDF cabinets are relatively cheaper than wooden cabinets.

3. Custom-made cabinets

Some makers offer custom-made cabinets that are less expensive to produce than regular ones. Since the buyer has the choice of materials to use, customized cabinets can be made using a variety of less expensive wood and other materials.  

Image Source: wakerestore.org

4. Used cabinets

Used cabinets found in thrift shops or garage sales are viable and attractive options. Depending on the quality, pre-loved cabinets are a fraction of a cost of brand-new cabinets, and might require minimal refurbishing.

 Frank LaMark is a cabinetry professional and head of Cabinets Direct, a kitchen cabinet e-commerce company. Visit his company's official website for additional tips and pointers in kitchen and cabinet design.