It's true with any remodeling project, of course, but a
well-designed, detailed plan is especially important when it
comes to remodeling your kitchen. Regardless of whether you're
planning to do it yourself or will be using the help of a
professional, your first step will be working out a plan that
will address three main kitchen criteria: food preparation,
storage, and clean-up.
In the 1950s, and up until a relatively sort time ago, kitchens
were designed in a triangular pattern, with the three points of
the triangle being the stove, refrigerator, and sink. It was
considered the most efficient set up at a time when most women
stayed home during the day and worked by themselves, making the
family's meals from scratch.
Of course, that's no longer the case, so kitchens have evolved
to match people's cooking habits, since most women now work
outside of the home, share cooking duties with their husbands or
significant others, prepare only a few meals from scratch. To
reflect those changes, modern kitchens are designed with
multiple work areas, including islands, to allow more than one
person to work in the kitchen at one time. Many kitchens even
include two sinks, in the island and on the traditional
countertops, to further facilitate the division of labor.
Since nearly twice as much storage room is required in modern
kitchens, cabinets become a major issue when planning a remodel.
You'll want to decide on the types of surfaces, colors,
materials, and styles that match both your preference and
budget.
The same is true with countertops. They should be durable and
attractive, yet well within your price range. One thing to
consider is that expensive surfaces such as granite or marble
may be extremely durable, but they are very difficult for the
average do-it-yourselfer to work with.
When it comes to flooring, modern kitchens are now generally
done in vinyl, as opposed to the linoleum that was most commonly
found in 50s kitchens. Whether you use sheets or tiles, you'll
have a wide variety of styles and textures to choose from. Wood
floors have also been making a comeback in both high end and
moderately priced kitchens.
Kitchen sinks can be found in cast iron, stainless steel and
plastic, and come in many styles and colors, as do the faucets
to fill them. Whether you choose a single or double sink, with
one handle or two on your faucet will again be limited only by
your taste and budget.
A similar variety of will be available in stoves, microwaves,
range hoods, refrigerators, and freezers. It's up to you to
decide what works best for you, without breaking your budget,
but regardless of what you choose, it all begins with sitting
down and working out a detailed plan of what you want in your
new kitchen.
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