| Kitchen remodeling is among the most popular of | | | | National Association of Home Builders, updating and |
| remodeling projects each year, as kitchens have | | | | remodeling your kitchen will add more value than any |
| become the center of activity in the home. | | | | other improvement. Not only will you get a beautiful |
| Remodeling your kitchen is expensive and a lot of | | | | new kitchen, but also your home value will increase |
| work. But a well thought out, detailed plan could | | | | dramatically more than the cost of the remodel |
| produce a kitchen where you will enjoy years of | | | | job.AppliancesMore expensive, commercial type |
| memorable experiences.PlanningThe planning phase of | | | | stainless steel appliances have become quite popular. |
| your remodel is the time to keep in mind the | | | | So much so that at the National Kitchen and Bath |
| "work-triangle". This is the area of the kitchen from | | | | Association's annual show, one of the major appliance |
| the refrigerator to the cooking area to the sink. | | | | manufacturers referred to stainless steel as "the new |
| Connecting these 3 areas should form a triangle. This | | | | primary color".Another interesting fact about stainless |
| triangle helps to keep your cooking activities in one | | | | steel is that according to a study done at the |
| area, with everything you need close by.Under | | | | Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management, |
| cabinet lighting has become quite popular. And | | | | stainless steel received the 1st position for cleanliness |
| because they free up valuable counter space, under | | | | above five other materials commonly used in |
| cabinet mounted appliances are also in demand. If | | | | kitchens. In other words, after washing and rinsing, |
| you are planning on using under cabinet lighting with | | | | stainless steel will have far less bacteria on it than |
| under cabinet mounted appliances, or a kitchen | | | | any other material.In addition to the standard |
| cabinet accessory, or paper towel dispenser, decide | | | | appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, and |
| where each will go in the planning phase.Hiring A | | | | microwaves there are some slick new appliances |
| ProfessionalUnless your talents lie in this area, hiring a | | | | available. For your new kitchen consider the stainless |
| professional will save you many headaches as your | | | | steel automatic paper towel dispenser mentioned |
| project unfolds. There are lots of professionals out | | | | earlier, an in-sink dishwasher, a flat screen TVscreen |
| there - interior designers, contractors and architects. | | | | mounted under your cabinet, built-in warming drawers |
| Pick one that specializes in the kitchen. Most of these | | | | or refrigerator drawers to name just a few.Cabinets |
| kitchen specialists are certified by the NKBA and can | | | | and CountertopsThe biggest expense of your |
| be found on their website knowledgeable designer | | | | kitchen remodel will be the cabinets and countertops. |
| planner should discuss how you live. Generally people | | | | Cabinets range from the most expensive custom |
| know what they don't like. However, they may not | | | | built, to the "off the shelf" variety available at home |
| know what they will like or what may fit in with their | | | | centers. Countertops range from the upper end |
| lifestyle and how they use the kitchen. For instance, | | | | granite and marble type to laminate, the least |
| someone that is concerned about cross | | | | expensive. Whatever your budget, there is a large |
| contamination and unwanted germs in the kitchen | | | | variety of cabinets and countertops available that will |
| might want to consider some of the "no-touch" | | | | fit your taste and budget.ResourcesFor those of you |
| products available now.These products include a | | | | that have a kitchen remodeling idea of your own, or |
| "no-touch" automatic paper towel dispenser that | | | | simply want to educate yourself before contacting a |
| mounts under your cabinets and uses the same | | | | professional, HGTV (Home and Garden Television) |
| paper towels you use now, a "no-touch" faucet, | | | | and their website is an invaluable source for any |
| "no-touch" trash | | | | information you may require.From all the new |
| can and a "no-touch" soap dispenser. An avid cook | | | | products available, to design information and tips, you |
| may want to consider refrigerator drawers next to | | | | will find it all there.The National Kitchen and Bath |
| their food prep area, keeping recipe ingredients within | | | | Association's website is another source of information |
| easy reach.While you are remodeling your kitchen, | | | | you will not want to miss. There you will find the 31 |
| you may want to consider installing a home wet bar | | | | guidelines for kitchen efficiency, convenience, traffic |
| somewhere in your house. These are becoming quite | | | | spaces, distances between items and countertop and |
| popular and as long as you are hiring a designer you | | | | cabinet space.When contemplating a kitchen remodel, |
| can have them come up with a home bar design.A | | | | remember planning is the key first step. Deciding |
| kitchen planner/designer's focus should be to design | | | | beforehand what you will need from your kitchen |
| for the way a person lives, and asking the right | | | | depending on your own unique lifestyle (and budget!) |
| questions will ensure your finished kitchen fits you | | | | will help to make sure you end up with a kitchen you |
| and your budget.Consider Cost Vs. ValueKitchens are | | | | will enjoy for years to come.Even if you plan on |
| becoming more of a showplace and an entertainment | | | | moving at some point after the remodel, don't forget |
| area in homes. Remodeling your kitchen may be one | | | | that kitchen projects add more value to your home |
| of the most important home improvements you can | | | | than any other improvement.Mary C. Johnson |
| make, and it is the most valuable. More and more | | | | co-founded a company that manufactures a |
| people are spending anywhere from $50,000 to | | | | hands-free electronic "no-touch" paper towel |
| $60,000 on kitchen remodels. Even $100,000 is not | | | | dispenser for home use. |
| unheard of for some kitchens.According to the | | | | |