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The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) has some great tips on how to save money when you're remodeling your kitchen. This list could be used entirely, or you can obviously pick and choose which ones would work for you. The whole point, of course, is to make sure you get to update your kitchen without breaking your bank.

Because the kitchen has become the most important room in the house, many feel pressured to spend more than they can afford. While it's nice to have all best luxury the world has to offer, you don't want to go overboard. Also, many people will get their first few estimates on a kitchen renovation and convince themselves it's either spend $60,000 or get nothing done at all. There are different levels for every remodeling project. And there is a wide choice in the materials that you use. Consult with a kitchen remodeling company and let them know that you'd like to use some or all of the following budget saving advice:

• "If at all possible, reuse existing appliances, and build your new cabinets around them. This could save you anywhere from $1,500-5,000 easily. However, be aware that appliances, like anything electrical, are sensitive to change and may develop problems if they are moved. Should you decide to avoid potential appliance "burn-out" and purchase new appliances, choose energy conscious models for a reduction in your utility bills.
• Maintain present location of major fixtures, appliances and utilities relative to the plumbing, gas and electrical outlets. This could even apply to the location of the telephone. Moving plumbing, wiring and jacks can be extremely expensive.
• The faucet can be a costly item. The least expensive selection is chrome. Even a high-end chrome faucet is considerably less than a mid-range brass or porcelain version. A standard two-handle faucet generally costs less than single handle. Faucets and handles are sold separately, so you may want to choose a chrome faucet with brass or porcelain handles for a different look. Faucet Caution: The price variances in faucets reflect the various internal and external features. Always choose a faucet with replaceable internal parts. You won't want to have to replace the entire faucet if it breaks-it's simply not cost-effective.
• Choose neutral colors in fixtures, appliances and laminates. They are less expensive initially and wont look dated when the color trends change. White and almond sinks are much cheaper than color varieties. And neutral laminate colors for countertops are less than custom colors or textures.
• Good floor covering is important. It ties one room to another and provides visual consistency. Familiarize yourself with the prices of the various flooring materials to make the best decision for your home. To get you started, vinyl or laminate flooring is less expensive than wood, tile or slate.
• Use the existing floor covering if it is still in good condition. If the kitchen has old vinyl flooring, there may be a hardwood floor underneath that could be sanded and refinished, avoiding the need for a new floor entirely.
• If you currently have a vinyl floor covering and wish to update with a newer version, you can install synthetic floor leveler material over the existing vinyl floor and lay the new vinyl flooring on top, rather than tearing the old flooring off to install the new.
• Consider your cabinet options carefully. Those choices will drive the overall price. You can add some options at a later date to defray some of the initial cost. Some that are easy to add include tilt front doors, spice racks and slide out wire baskets. However, if you decide to wait, make certain that the option you want will be available and can be added after installation. Note of Caution: Waiting will cost you more in the long run. Adding new cabinets often requires installing a new floor. Refacing existing cabinets not only eliminates the need for new flooring, countertops and appliances altogether, it is a major savings in any kitchen remodel.
• Go with a simple design in the kitchen employing single height wall cabinets, blind corner cabinets rather than those with Lazy Susans, and other standard options. Watch your upgrades.
• Use standard cabinetry instead of custom cabinets, or use a combination of the two if they are compatible.
• Choose cabinets that can be operated without the addition of hardware (those that are finger-pulled).
• Install cabinets without soffits to decrease the labor cost. Also consider cabinets without trim moldings or with simple trim.
• If you are going to put in new wood trim (in your crown molding, trims, and door casings) to match the new cabinets, order pre-finished trim instead of having the painting or staining done on-site. This will decrease labor cost. Ordering finger-jointed vs. clear vertical grain also will save you money.
• Consider stenciling on the backsplash instead of using tile.
• Laminate countertops are the least expensive choice among solid surfacing, tile and granite. You can dress it up with wood or tile trim for a more innovative look.
• Connect fluorescent light fixtures to the existing ceiling fixture box instead of installing new recessed lighting, which may require a new ceiling because of the recessed features."
  

Keep in mind that you need to make sure the completely remodeled kitchen looks good together. If you choose not to replace your appliances and they are now surrounded by a nice new countertop and new cabinetry, will those appliances look out of place and ruin the whole thing?

Also, you don't ever need to try to put in the same kitchen you'd find in a million dollar house - in fact, it could really make the rest of the house look sad and outdated. Not every kitchen needs to have granite countertops - ceramic tiles are perfectly acceptable, look great, and can save you a lot of money.

Finally, be creative with your kitchen renovation. You could add a chalkboard-like surface material to your refrigerator to write notes to the family. You could make your kitchen match a French cafe with a statue of a chef holding the menu for the day. Consider going with a 50's Diner Retro theme. All the expensive kitchens have the cherry cabinets and granite countertops -- be different, be innovative, and have fun!

If you'd like to discuss your kitchen remodeling budget with a local kitchen design pro, you can post your request with ConstructionDeal.com - it's a fast and free way to get matched to quality kitchen experts!

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Labels: Kitchen Design, Kitchen Remodeling, Kitchen Remodeling Budgets

When you're building a new home or even remodeling your current kitchen space, you need to consider the design layout. You can make changes or set your new kitchen area up based on how much room you have to work with.

The size of the kitchen will dictate the choices you make - for example, you may not be able to install a horseshoe, peninsula, or "U" shaped kitchen if there is limited space. Many really want to have a kitchen island in there home, but if it prevents clear travel through the kitchen -- it's probably not going to work for you.

Most new homes have plenty of room in the kitchen area and the sky is the limit when designing your kitchen or remodeling it.

Layout Options in Kitchen Designs:

Linear - in a very narrow kitchen, you can sometimes only have kitchen cabinets on one or two sides of the room (with no room for a peninsula counter or island.) The Linear design shape is where you go with a single set of cabinets on one wall only. You may have room for a 2nd set of cabinets on the other wall, but if it prevents a free flow of movement or the ability to do all the work needed in the kitchen, it can be best to limit to one row of cabinets. When you have only one wall of cabinets, it can be a good idea to make sure the cabinets go floor to ceiling for maximum storage. Also, you might consider raising the ceiling height to accomodate more cabinets and to open up the room.

Galley - the Galley Kitchen Design is similar to the Linear. You've got a narrow kitchen space and need to have as much cabinet space as possible. In a Galley design, you'll have cabinets on both walls, with entrances on one or both sides. There is room to move, turn, clean, and cook with both sets of cabinets on either side. This is a great arrangement when the kitchen is wider than the area in a Linear room, but not quite as long. Floor to ceiling cabinets and increased ceiling space can also help with storage space. It's important to have adequate task lighting and accent lighting in the Galley or Linear kitchen - the area is small and enclosed. Also, there is usually only room for one window at best. Increased lighting will help "open up" the kitchen.

Peninsula - in wider kitchen rooms, you can pull countertop cabinet space out from the walls to form a peninsula or attached island area. It's a nice option to add additional counter space, additional cabinet or appliance storage, and you can even add an eating area. If the kitchen is wide enough, an island can be added to run parallel with the longest part of the kitchen wall. If there is not enough room for people to pass comfortably with an island in place, it is not recommended to have one installed.

Corner or "L" - to open up a room or if the kitchen is more square-shaped, an "L" shape set of kitchen cabinets can be installed. Similar to the Peninsula, the Corner kitchen excludes an attached cabinet and usually has cabinets that extend out on one side (usually against a perpendicular kitchen wall.) When the L-shaped kitchen is installed, it usually leaves room for a stand-alone island. This open design allows the kitchen to extend into the dining room or family room.

Horseshoe or "U" - the largest kitchens usually can have a Horseshoe design, allowing cabinets on three out of the four walls. The fourth wall usually opens up into the dining room or family room. There is sometimes another entrance on the opposite wall. With larger rooms, the kitchen should easily hold a center island. With such large rooms, it's important to vary the heights on all your cabinets and to install a variety of cabinets (wine rack, spice storage, and perhaps some translucent cabinet doors) to break up all the straight and uniform lines in the room. It gives the room more depth and character.

With nearly all these kitchen styles, a great way to open up the room further and give more light is to install an overhead skylight or two.

If you need to find a kitchen remodeling company or a kitchen designer in your area, let us know. We'll match you to quality companies in your area - for free. Simply post your request on our ConstructionDeal.com site and choose how many companies you'd like to contact you. And getou get more than 2 bids to help make sure you get the best price!

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Labels: Kitchen Design, Kitchen Design Ideas, Kitchen Remodeling