What to Know Before Doing a Kitchen Remodeling
Kitchen designs were simple back in the day with the corridor model being the most popular design choice but with the ever-shrinking spaces, the modern kitchen prefers function over form and makes no compromises when it comes to practicality.
Whatever you decide, you’ll need to consider that civil work can require prior approval from relevant authorities. For most states, any changes done to the plumbing or electrical circuitry of a space can require prior approvals.
Planning Out the Remodeling
Even if you’ve seen some really exotic kitchens and added them to your bucket list, our suggestion is that you should stick to the practicality and make no compromises on the functional aspect of your kitchen.
- One-Wall Design
- Corridor Design
- L-Shape Design
- Double-L Design
- U-Shape Design
Not sure about any of these? There are a few excellent free home design softwares and websites that you can use.
Websites and Resources for Planning the Perfect Kitchen
You can use the following resources which will allow you to see a 3D sketch of the kitchen layout of your choice so you can weigh the practicality and feasibility of a particular design.
- Kitchen Planner online
The perfect website optimised for kitchen designs. You don’t need to download a graphics intensive software as all rendering is done online.
If you’re looking for free floor plans then kitchen planner is an excellent tool.
- RoomSketcher
RoomSketcher presents the perfect solution for people looking to plan the look and feel of their home. The online designing tool help you design the perfect kitchen in no time.
You can select from sample designs or get your own design from scratch.
- Planner 5D
Planner 5D is a complete solution to online designing needs of anyone looking to renovate their kitchen or build from scratch.
- Lowe’s Kitchen
Lowe’s kitchen planning tool is another great option as it has the most popular kitchen designs that are both functional and aesthetic. You get the freedom of choosing the perfect color scheme and can even put in your existing design to compare with the new one.
- IKEA
IKEA has perfected an excellent design tool that renders your kitchen design in 3D in real time. You get the choice of trying fixtures and fittings available at IKEA and can make the perfect design online free of charge.
Budget and Costs
Your kitchen project can cost anywhere between a few thousands and the costs can spike up to hundreds of thousands depending on the type of materials you use and the amount of civil work involved.
If you’re planning to extend your kitchen and are thinking of moving walls around that require professional services then your budget can easily go over $50000. Even the most inexpensive kitchen sink can set you back a few thousands.
It is suggested to keep at least $50000-$150000 budget in mind before undertaking a kitchen project.
DIY Tips
Remodeling a kitchen is generally easier than creating one from scratch. Whether you decide to remodel yours or build from scratch, a kitchen has more DIY options than any other room.
You can work on the wood cabinets or install the countertops yourself but most plumbing and electric work require a registered technician.
The requirement is legal and cannot be bypassed and we suggest that you hire external help for the same.
Even if you decide to do it on your own, there are a few things that you can’t do. We’ll go through each step so you can decide on each if you have the skillset to perform the task at hand or not.
Kitchen Remodeling; Hiring a Contractor or DIY?
There are a number of variations you could try when it comes to remodeling your own kitchen. While hiring a General contractor might prove effective, it can be a very costly option.
Doing the work on your own is also an option if you know your way around power tools, but if you’re not a professional, the work quality can be highly compromised. If you can do the effort and are not a thorough professional we suggest using a mix of two.
The best way forward would be to know your way around things and supervise the project yourself. This can reduce as much as 20% of the cost and will allow you to make amends while the kitchen is being remodeled.