Tuesday, May 17, 2011

List of items to pick for kitchen remodel

About halfway through the kitchen remodel process I realized that there were still a lot more things and details I needed to select. Below is a list of the obvious and the not so obvious selectable kitchen items/details. I have included some of the options (my choices are italicized) and comments in parenthesis.
  1. Cabinets
    1. Finish (stained, stained and glazed, painted)
    2. Style
    3. Features - (i.e pull-out shelving, trash can cabinet, soft-close cabinets/drawers)
    4. Dimensions (I hope you have measuring tape) and locations
  2. Cabinet handles (pulls or knobs or both?! color/finish)
  3. Cabinet handle placement
  4. Flooring type (tile, wood, laminate, vinyl)
  5. Flooring layout
  6. Grout color
  7. Back splash (which includes layout and grout color if you use tile for your back splash. By the way... there are a lot of creative back splash ideas out there, so don't feel as if you should limit yourself to tile.)
  8. Appliances - in addition to location, brand, and color there are options for each type
    1. Refrigerator (side-by-side, bottom freezer, ice maker, water dispenser)
    2. Oven (convection, storage/warming/baking drawer, gas or electric, 4 or 5 burners)
    3. Dishwasher (hidden buttons, adjustable racks, smart dispense detergent - yes that exists)
    4. Microwave (on counter/above stove/in cabinet, if one of the latter two then how vented)
  9. Paint Color(s)
  10. Counter top (Granite, Quartz, Wood)
  11. Edging for the counter top (half bull-nose, bull-nose, flat, beveled)
  12. Sink (double, D-shape, square - depends on the size of cabinet you can fit)
  13. Faucet (there are a ridiculous number of faucet styles that vary on the number of holes they use, the finish, the height)
  14. Disposal
  15. Disposal on/off (switch or button)
  16. Light switch and outlet colors (yes, these come in different colors)
  17. Light switch and outlet cover colors, size, and style
  18. Under-cabinet lights (how many, if any, and which cabinets)
  19. Overhead lights (recessed, fixtures, fan)
  20. Floor transitions into other rooms (type of wood or metal)
 I hope that knowing these details will help you with future decisions and budgeting. All of these choices have a cost associated with them, so it would be good for you to research these things and prioritize so you know where to invest your money. For instance, I heard the recommendation that the things you interact with the most, like the faucet, would be where you should invest your money.

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