Construction Deal Update

Many people want to remodel their kitchen, but not always for the right reasons. Most want "the look." The look of granite countertops, the look of cherry cabinets, the look of natural stone tile floors.

When you're talking with your Kitchen Designer or Remodeling professional, make sure you also plan for the functionality of your new space. Make sure you explain exactly how you want your kitchen to work for you. Even if you're not a master chef, you can plan for how you will best use the room.

A kitchen remodel can do more than make the room pretty. It can create the correct workflow (the Kitchen Work Triangle), add storage, increase access to needed appliances, add appliances you don't currently have, and add more room for your family or for entertaining.

The work triangle is key for just about any job in the kitchen because it cuts down on your movement and saves you time. It's basically the triangle for the sink, to the fridge, to the stovetop. The basic rules are:

• The triangle should measure less than twenty-five feet and be no smaller than ten feet.
• There should be no island, appliance, or cabinet that interrupts the triangle flow.
  
• The triangle does not need equal length sides but no side should be longer than ten feet or shorter than five feet.

Adding an "appliance garage" is a great new way to increase the amount of appliances you have access to while preparing food. Most have to store their blenders, mixers, and juicers way down low or way up high -- the garage gives you improved storage space at your level.

So many people are still trudging along without a dishwasher. Your kitchen remodel can allow you to add this (especially the hot trend of the heavily-insulated, whisper-quiet models) and a whole lot more. Many are adding two dishwashers, wine cooler/storage, drawer microwaves, trash compactors and the still red-hot trend in kitchen remodeling is the stainless steel surface. Matching appliances can really improve the look (Sorry, I forgot - we're talking about function...)

Do you know what room is sitting silent in most homes? The formal dining room. Many want to have their families close by while they're preparing food. Many are remodeling the kitchen to add eating areas, like a dining bar on the kitchen island or banquette seating. It's great for entertaining because the guests and host won't need to be separated during meal prep.

Not everyone has the room for a lot of these remodeling changes. Usually it means expanding into the house and losing the functionality of that room (invading space in closets, family rooms, even dining rooms.) If the lot allows, there has been a persistent trend in kitchen additions - expanding the size of the room out into the yard.

So, make sure you do more than talk about the surface materials, the hardware, and the colors with your kitchen designer - talk about what you want your kitchen to allow you to do. Talk about how you plan to use it. Talk about how you want to improve your life and save your time.