Making dreams come true
Kitchen remodeling
The top five reasons why you need a kitchen makeover:
1. Improve Functionality & Eliminate Inconvenience
Update an Awkward Layout
Above all else, you want a kitchen that functions for your needs. No one works well in an awkward space. Is your working area too small and too cramped? Maybe you can’t open certain cabinets if someone is in the refrigerator. You might need more countertop space for meal prep. These things can be fixed or at least greatly improved with the right remodeling job.
Ideas for improving functionality:
- Add storage organizers in the drawers
- Reconfigure the space to add a peninsula or island
- Add under cabinet lighting
- Create a food pantry storage area
- Install smaller appliances
Removing a wall can make the kitchen more spacious, convenient and inviting.
Update Deteriorating Materials
As you reconfigure the space in your kitchen, it makes sense to update deteriorating materials. No matter how durable, shiny and new everything appears when first installed, things fall apart. Dents appear. The wear and tear of life and general use takes its toll. The most important things to update include the cabinets, countertops, sink, faucet and flooring. Invest in high-quality, durable products that will last many years.
2. Renovate Your Kitchen to Meet Your Family’s Needs
Create a Space that Works for Your Family
With a well-thought-out space comes relaxation and peace of mind. When you renovate your kitchen, it’s important to do so with your family’s specific needs in mind. Maybe you want to make a large table for gathering in the center of the room. Do the kids do homework at the snack counter? Do you want more storage in your kitchen, like many homeowners reported in the Houzz Kitchen Trends Study? Or perhaps you want more counter space because you love to entertain in your kitchen. Whatever your needs may be, this is your chance to make your wishes a reality.
Once renovated to suit your needs, your kitchen will be the gathering place you’ve always dreamed about.
Kitchen Needs to Consider:
- Storage: Cabinet and pantry storage or a place for your China collection?
- Appliances: Double ovens, cooktop, range, beverage fridge, microwave drawer, etc.
- Seating: Do you want an eat-in kitchen or island?
- Do you want a beverage bar for wine or beer?
- Room for entertaining
If your current kitchen doesn’t fit your lifestyle, a kitchen remodel can make the kitchen of your dreams.
3. Upgrade to Fit Your Personal Style
Do you cringe every time you enter your outdated kitchen? If so, it may be time to create a happier go-to space. Your kitchen should be somewhere you want to be and spend time. That means pleasant surroundings that reflect your personal style.
When you have an updated kitchen, you’ll want to spend more time in your kitchen.
Some style considerations could include:
- Backsplash tile: Choose your favorite color or shape
- High quality countertops such as quartz or granite
- Hood : Get a brand-new hood above your range
- Hardware: Change the style or finish of cabinet knobs and pulls
- Lighting: Is your kitchen gloomy? Brighten it up with contemporary kitchen fixtures
- Plumbing fixtures: Update your faucet with a new style
Since you’ll be spending a good portion of your life in the kitchen, make sure it fits your aesthetics. Our designers can help you incorporate the most popular products, colors and designs in your kitchen.
4. Remodel to Boost Your Home’s Resale Value
Buyers Look for Updated Kitchens
Think beyond yourself when updating your kitchen. The updates will also be appreciated by new home buyers should you choose to sell. An updated kitchen will boost the resale of your home and adds value to your future.
Statistics show that you will likely recoup a good chunk of what you invest. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2021 Cost vs. Value Report, you will get back 62-77% of what you paid for the remodel. It is also likely you will sell your home more quickly as the kitchen is often the shining star for new home buyers.
A home with an updated and remodeled kitchen will almost always sell more quickly than a home without one.
Improve resale value with these updates:
- Modern Cabinets
- Countertops
- Appliances
- Lighting
- Backsplash
- Hardware
- Hood
- Wood floors
- New sink
5. Increase Energy & Water Savings
Update Your Appliances to Save Energy & Water
Are your appliances out-of-date and using unnecessary energy? A remodel is the perfect time to update. From ovens to dishwashers to stoves, kitchens are full of energy-sucking appliances that you may not even realize. There are other drawbacks to older appliances: If over 25 years old, your appliance won’t be stamped with the EPA’s Energy Star Seal. Also, a repair can be difficult and costly, with parts that are hard to find.
If your kitchen appliances are from the 1970s, it might be time for an upgrade.
A kitchen remodel provides a great opportunity to go eco-friendly. You can switch to environmentally-friendly and water-saving options.
New appliances include:
- Range or cooktop
- Refrigerator
- Beverage/wine fridge
- Microwave
- Dishwasher
- Smaller items like coffeemaker, blender, toaster oven
Get Started on a Kitchen Remodeler the estimate is free
How to pay for your Kitchen remodeling - Bathroom remodel -
Kitchen Remodeling made easy
What you’ll learn:
- What home equity is and how to use it
- Home equity financing options
- Government loan options
- Alternatives to equity financing
- How to choose the right financing option
Home renovations involve so many decisions, it can be easy to overlook one of the most important: how to pay for them. Yet figuring out the financing from the get-go is essential. Fortunately, banks and other lenders have created multiple financing tools to allow you to fund these repairs and upgrades, including by leveraging your home's equity. An easy way to think about home equity is that it’s the portion of your home that you actually own. You gain equity in a few ways. Your initial down payment is your first piece of equity and then you build more equity each month with your mortgage payments (specifically, the amount that goes toward your loan principal). You also gain equity as your home’s value increases over time. With certain renovation financing options, you can use that equity as a borrowing tool in the form of collateral. What if you don't have enough equity or don’t want to use your home as collateral? More good news: There’s likely at least one solution for any situation — even if you have less-than-stellar credit.
In this general overview, you'll learn about the different financing tools, their potential pros and cons, and when each option might make the most sense. Keep in mind: all of these options are complex and deciding to use any one of them would require a deeper dive to truly understand if it’s the right choice for your situation.
Before you get started, you'll want to understand some key terms:
- Home equity: The current market value of your home less the mortgage owed.
- Secured vs. unsecured loans: Secured loans are backed by collateral (e.g., your home or car) as opposed to unsecured loans, which aren't.
- Debt-to-income ratio (DTI): The percentage of your income that goes toward paying down debt, such as your mortgage, car loan, or student loans. When it comes to borrowing money, the lower your DTI ratio, the better.
- Loan-to-value ratio (LTV): Your outstanding mortgage amount divided by the value of your home. For example, if you owe $300,000 on a home worth $400,000, your LTV is 75%. A high LTV means you have less equity in your home. A low LTV means you have more. Lenders use LTV ratios as a one way to assess your borrowing power.
- Origination fee: A lending fee that covers the cost of processing the loan.
- Early closure fee: A penalty for paying off the loan before the end of the term.
Understanding how to leverage your home equity
You can easily calculate your home equity by subtracting the outstanding mortgage balance (or other liens) from the current market value of your home. For example, if you owe $100,000 on a $300,000 home, you would have $200,000 in equity.
Equity = $300,000 - $100,000 = $200,000
Kitchen remodeling
How Will Kitchen Remodeling Affect Your Home's Value?
8 MIN READ | JUN 20, 2022
If you want to spice things up with a stylish showpiece in your home, the kitchen is the hottest place to be. It’s no surprise that the kitchen space is one of the most important to potential home buyers.
1. if you’ve got the budget, why not enjoy those bonuses in your own home right now?
People choose kitchen remodeling for a variety of reasons. According to a 2017 Houzz study, 43% of respondents remodeled because they could "no longer stand the old kitchen."2 Following closely behind, 40% said they wanted to update their kitchen all along but just became financially ready.
2. It makes sense that the price tag can stop some people from a renovation project. Whether you’re planning for just a few well-chosen updates or a complete overhaul of your current space, kitchen remodels don’t come cheap. So how do you know if it’s the right investment for you and your home? Is it really worth it?
We’ll tackle all of those questions (and more) to help you update your kitchen the smart way!
How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost?
1. Renovating your kitchen can get expensive very quickly, especially if you have dreams of custom cabinets, quartz counters and spacious islands.
2. Remodeling Magazine’s 2018 Cost vs. Value Report says the average cost to renovate a 200-square-foot kitchen with wood cabinets, an island, laminate countertops and a standard sink and faucet is just under $64,000. That price also includes new appliances, lighting and flooring.
3. But it’s also possible to spend much more or much less than that. For example, a gourmet kitchen with granite countertops, custom cabinets and a tile backsplash—along with built-in and commercial-grade appliances—could cost close to $126,000.
4. On the other hand, a simpler remodel that consists of replacing appliances, updating only cabinet fronts and hardware, choosing new laminate counters, and installing new flooring costs an average of just over $21,000.
5. So what do most people spend? Over 70% of those who completed a kitchen remodel in 2017 budgeted to spend somewhere between $5,000 and $50,000.
6. Only 1 in 10 homeowners actually spent over $100,000.
7. How much will your renovation cost? That’s up to you and your budget!
How to Budget for Renovations?
The budget is an essential first step if you want a successful kitchen remodel.
How much do you plan to spend on cabinets? What about new hardware? Will you need new light fixtures? You want a solid plan, detailing what projects you want to tackle and how much you want to spend. That will help you stay on track throughout the remodel.
Three Budgeting Tips:
- Tip #1: Commit to spending the bulk of your money on things you don’t want to replace often—such as appliances and cabinetry.
- Tip #2: Make sure you’re not over-improving your kitchen. You won’t be able to recover the costs of your updates—no matter how nice they are—if they make your home the most expensive on the block. If you’re not sure what’s typical for your neighborhood, talk to an expert real estate agent.
- Tip #3: Set aside 10–15% of your budget for unexpected expenses. Renovations never cost less than expected.
With a firm budget in place, you can make smart kitchen-remodeling decisions with confidence.
How Can I Save Money on Kitchen Remodeling?
The first tip is simple: Start with a plan. The last thing you want to do is install beautiful new counters and then realize that you have to remove them in order to install a farmhouse sink. It’s okay to space out your projects, especially if you’re doing some of them on your own, but make sure you’ve done your research. Having to go backwards when you’ve already done work only costs more.
Updating your kitchen doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. If you want a big impact without the huge price tag, here are some practical ways to save money:
- Paint or Refinish Your Cabinets. Instead of getting rid of your current cabinets, consider painting or refinishing them to give your space a completely new look. Are the cabinet faces too outdated? Consider re-facing your cabinetry. It’s more expensive than painting but still less expensive than replacing the existing cabinet boxes.
- Don’t Underestimate the Backsplash. A new tile backsplash can bring a kitchen color palette together, and it usually only costs a few hundred dollars in materials. Paying for labor won’t break the bank, but it’s even cheaper if you do it yourself.
- Paint Your Appliances. If your appliances are still in good shape but the colors are dated, you can get them painted at a local body shop. Using your existing appliances instead of buying brand new ones is a great way to save money.
- Consider All of Your Flooring Options. Vinyl flooring has come a long way and is cheaper than installing real hardwood or slate floors. You can find styles that mimic high-end finishes for a modern, low-cost look.