Kitchen Remodeling

Renovating your kitchen to meet your family's needs makes good economic sense. Not only will meal preparation become easier and more efficient, but also the value of your house will significantly increase. According to most estimates, kitchen remodeling offers the biggest payback of any room remodeling in the house.

Kitchen Layouts

Most kitchen designs are based on one of the three standard layouts:

the U-shaped kitchen
the L-shaped kitchen
the galley kitchen.

Finish Materials

Cabinets
There are two basic cabinet styles: European-style (frameless) and face-framed cabinets. Either can be ordered from custom or semi-custom cabinet-makers or from stock supplies. Each style has a variety of door, wood and finish options. Cabinets vary in degree of construction quality so look for small details like roll-out and tilt-out drawer features.
Countertops
Countertop choices range from very durable, yet very expensive materials like solid surface or granite to the less expensive, but attractive choices of ceramic tile and laminates. Solid surface, marble and granite tops are not typical do-it-yourself materials—unlike tile and laminate tops that are definitely within reach of do-it-yourselfers.
Flooring
Recently, sheet vinyl has been the predominant flooring choice for moderately-priced kitchens. It has a variety of textures, designs, price ranges and has virtually replaced linoleum that was popular in our grandparents' era. Ceramic tile has always been popular in pricier kitchens, and wood floors are gaining popularity in both moderate and high end kitchens.
Kitchen Sinks
Kitchen sinks are made of materials such as solid surface, cast iron, stainless steel and plastic. Mounting styles are either top-mount or undermount with a combination of sizes and features: single-bowl, double-bowl, deep or shallow. Faucets offer different finishes: polished brass or nickel, brushed nickel, chrome, stainless steel. Other options and price ranges include pull-out sprayers, single-levers, double-handled.
Appliances
The main appliance choice involves built-in or free-standing styles. This decision definitely factors into the overall design. In addition, you'll choose between side-by-side refrigerators or units with top or bottom mounted freezers. Besides the traditional gas or electric issue, range options include: halogen or smooth-top cooktops, double and/or convection ovens, trash compactors, microwaves, range hoods and down-draft vents.