The kitchen has evolved from the standard oak cabinets and Formica countertops to a modern showplace with commercial grade appliances and exotic stone countertops. The days of the extreme 'over-the-top' kitchen remodel may be gone, but that still doesn't change the fact that the kitchen is one of the hardest working rooms in the house. Choosing durable yet attractive finishes is still extremely important, but it shouldn't break the bank. Here are some tips on choosing materials for your kitchen, including how to get a high end look without spending a ton of money.
- Kitchen remodels traditionally give you the best ROI in your home. Sure you can renovate and repurpose existing space, but just replacing your old laminate countertops with a new recycled glass counter surface, or changing out that old cracked ceramic floor tile with a highly sustainable bamboo material, will instantly add value to your home and improve your air quality at the same time.Often the first thing I consider for flooring choices are the same materials on the floor of adjacent spaces. If there are hardwoods in nearby rooms, a good solution can be to extend the wood into the kitchen. This is especially true in a smaller room, where continuing the same flooring material will usually make a space look larger. If you do not want wood floors in the kitchen, then choose a tile that is a similar color value to the adjacent wood floor, so the transition is not harsh and it does not separate the space. A resilient material like cork can be an excellent choice for the kitchen as it is slightly soft underfoot and is more forgiving if you drop a dish on it. Natural materials like Marmoleum are also great and a good 'green' choice.I'm making a concerted effort to live more responsibly and to design my projects more efficiently. Building and designing green is really an exercise in sensibility - where newly built and renovated homes are designed to be more energy and water efficient, durable, longer lasting and healthy to live in due to high indoor air quality - free of radon moisture and mold.- Increasing your energy efficiency by improving the R-values in your attic insulation or basement and crawlspaces will help reduce your energy costs - which in turn improves the overall value of your home.Storage is definitely a consideration in designing a functional kitchen. If you are limited by floor space, just look up. There is often a great deal of space between the counter tops and ceiling that just isn�t being used in a kitchen. Look at the space above the refrigerator. Is yours just collecting dust or take out menus? If so, add a cabinet and you�ve got a great place to store seldom used platters or treats you want to keep hidden from the children.Choosing the Right CountertopsOther new choices are countertops made with glass, paper, and concrete. Many of these are fine for kitchen use, but some will not be durable enough over time. If you are using a material that is not time tested inspect an installation that has been in use for some time..Kitchen cabinets come in more styles and finishes that you can imagine. However, if your budget is limited then you don�t need to replace them for an entirely new look. Cabinet refacing lets you select cabinet patterns that are up to date and beautiful.Another newer countertop option is Quartz. Quartz countertops turn a natural material, quartz, into slabs that appear almost like natural stone. One of the many benefits of these countertops is that they do not absorb liquids spilled on them.The newest gadgets in these mega kitchens make timesaving and energy efficiency into an art form. There are refrigerator drawers right next to the range and microwaves that brew your coffee while making your toast!- Adding solar panels or geothermal heat pumps are a costlier commitment than a traditional HVAC system - yet add high value to a home. If nothing else schedule regular maintenance at least twice a year to ensure that your current system is operating efficiently.Fixtures and Furniture
While choosing materials for the kitchen can be difficult, take it step by step and you'll get there. Start with the countertop and cabinet finish. Once you have those chosen, select a material for your floor. Then choose your backsplash and wall and ceiling paint colors. This process will help you get everything chosen more quickly, so you can get through the construction a little sooner, and then to enjoying your new kitchen.
Author: Nazim Nice
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