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What’s Cookin’ With Kitchens
If you poll homeowners across the country, you will find that the kitchen is their favorite target for a remodeling project, and Boulder is no exception. Many people say the kitchen is the focal point of their family life, where family members congregate for homework, catching up on the events of the day, paying the bills, as well as preparing and consuming meals. Even when entertaining, the kitchen is the place to be--where the action is.
In addition to serving multiple functions, today’s kitchens often need to serve multiple cooks, with all family members taking part in "kitchen duty". Many kitchens were designed for cooking solo, and don’t lend themselves to the group approach demanded by the busy families of the 90’s.
Whatever the reason for remodeling the kitchen, the choice is a sound one from a financial perspective. Remodeling Magazine’s annual "Cost versus Value Report" indicates that kitchen remodeling offers a good return on the investment. According to the report, in our area, major kitchen remodels return an amazing 96% of the initial investment if the house is sold within a year of remodeling. That ranks among the highest returns of any type of remodeling project. Furthermore, remodeling will pay off again at resale by reducing the time a house stays on the market.
Remodeling may be a prudent financial decision, but the most important reason to remodel is to improve the family’s quality of life--and few rooms impact on that quality like the kitchen.
The elements of most kitchen remodels fall into one or more of the following three categories: light, convenience, and drama. If you’re looking for drama on a budget, add light. Skylights, bay windows, under-cabinet lights and hanging-pendant task lights are popular examples. Kitchens of the 50’s and 60’s typically had one central ceiling fixture supplemented by a light over the range and another over the sink. Anyone working at a countertop found themselves toiling in their own shadow. Dark-colored cabinets, floor coverings and appliances compounded the problem. Good task lighting reflected off light surfaces can make even a dated kitchen look more appealing--and certainly more convenient to work in.
There is nothing like natural daylight to brighten a kitchen, and skylights can bring in the light dramatically. Unlike the plastic and aluminum skylights of yesteryear, the new products offer natural light without the worry of leaks. Bay windows in front of kitchen sinks, or next to the kitchen table, can likewise brighten both the room and the mood. They are often installed for plants, views, and to enhance a feeling of spaciousness--and the effect can be dramatic.
Convenience features include easy-care surfaces, increased storage or utility, and easier access. Easy-care surfaces include laminates, solid-surface or granite countertops, hardwood floors, durable finishes (such as epoxy) on cabinets, and ranges with easy-to-clean surfaces.
The unused space above upper cabinets can be put to work by removing soffits and building cabinets to the ceiling, or providing a lighted display shelf for collectibles. Useful space can often be doubled by simply adding pull-out drawers in base cabinets, installing lazy susans above refrigerators, or adding fold-out shelves in pantries. The toekick space under base cabinets can be utilized as inconspicuous drawers, providing storage for such things as serving trays or pop-up step stools.
The awkward space in the inside-corner of kitchen base cabinets can often be used by opening a new cabinet door through the wall into an adjacent room, perhaps providing a dining room with much-needed storage. Many people are opting to convert a base cabinet into a recycling center with bins for sorting the "trash". Pet care centers are also popular, providing storage for food, leashes, medicines, etc. A small sink can prove handy as well.
New appliances and fixtures can make the kitchen more efficient. Adding a second sink for food or beverage preparation permits a helper to have their own workstation. If you need more refrigerator or freezer space, you might appreciate the new refrigerated drawers designed to fit under a countertop. Instant hot-water dispensers and filtered water taps are convenient and practical, and the new generation of ultra-quiet dishwashers allow you to wash dishes while enjoying music or video entertainment in the adjacent Family Room.
You may even want to bring the A/V equipment into the kitchen with a small strategically-placed television or stereo. A home-computer in an office nook can be handy for finding your favorite recipe (or the phone number of a restaurant that delivers).
In the drama department, consider having fun with accents. Custom murals of ceramic tile can jazz-up a backsplash. If you’re artistic, you and family members can paint your own at a ceramic studio, or create an original mosaic. Custom cabinet pulls, art-glass doors, or tromp l’oeil can add a little whimsy. If you really want to warm up the space, add a gas-fired fireplace.
While there are enough options available to strain almost anyone’s budget, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a large improvement. For a makeover on a tight budget, try painting the cabinet exteriors, adding new pulls, and installing a few strategically-placed lights. New countertops, floor coverings, and an appliance or two can complete the look without breaking the bank. After all--you’ll want to save some money for the Master Bath!
