Tag Archive for: kitchen design

Considering a Kitchen Remodel? Plan Ahead and Avoid These 9 Common Kitchen Design Mistakes

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A kitchen remodel is an excellent investment both for the present and the future. It increases the value of your property and provides an essential functional environment for what is considered the heart of the home. Yet without proper consideration for the smaller details, a kitchen remodeling project can go awry.

It’s incredibly easy to get caught up in the visual design aesthetics when designing any room. However, for a kitchen that serves multiple purposes like cooking and entertaining, functionality needs to remain a primary focus. With this in mind, we look at the common kitchen design mistakes to avoid when remodeling your new dream kitchen.

1. Forgetting the All-Important Work Triangle

Visualize in your mind a triangle connecting your cooktop, sink, and refrigerator. This important space is what is known as the “kitchen work triangle,” a tried and tested design concept used to create efficient kitchen layouts. When the concept is neglected or forgotten, the functionality and visual appeal of a kitchen can suffer.

According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), each leg of the triangle should measure between 4 and 9 feet for optimal results. Doing so allows home chefs to reach their cooking, cleaning, and food storage areas quickly and easily.

2. Lack of Counter Space

A lack of kitchen counter space can cause all sorts of frustrations and problems. When designing your new kitchen, make sure there is plenty of surface space for different tasks. For example, there are typically three stages of the cooking process: preparation, cooking, and cleaning. Ideally, it’s good to have three or more separate and suitably sized counter spaces for each stage to ensure efficiency throughout the entire process.

Modern kitchens are also multifunctional spaces where families congregate. It’s not uncommon to use a laptop or tablet at the counter, either during the cooking process or while working from home. Do you need your counters to function with additional seating? Are you a baker and need counter space for cooling racks or rolling dough? Consider how you might use your counter space for different purposes, including when friends visit.

3. Lack of storage

Underestimating the amount of storage space that you will need is another common kitchen design mistake. A lack of storage can lead to overcrowding which can impact both the visual aesthetic of your kitchen and minimize your counter space for food preparation. With so many wonderful storage options, including appliance garages, there’s really no excuse for a lack of storage, even in a small kitchen.

From built-in kitchen island storage features and lighted glass-door display spaces to corner pull-out shelving and walk-in pantries, and so much more, there are storage solutions big and small for every conceivable kitchen design, size, and style.

4. Choosing Low-Quality Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are one of the first features your family and visitors alike will see. They define the style and ambiance of the space, making them such a vital aspect of the kitchen interior to get right. Quality cabinetry is not cheap, but it would be a mistake to choose low-quality cabinets just to save money.

The best cabinets are made from solid wood and are durable and easy to clean and maintain. They are free of imperfections and support the aesthetics of the kitchen as a whole. These days you can order quality cabinets in a wide range of colors and designs.

5. Not Utilizing Vertical Space

Another common kitchen design mistake is forgetting to make good use of the vertical space. This is particularly valuable for small kitchens where ground-level storage space might be minimal.

Overhead cabinets or open shelves add both extra storage space and visual interest to a kitchen interior. Floating shelves can be fitted on either side of a fridge or range hood. Hooks and rails can be attached to the walls and even the ceiling to store pots, pans, and even potted herbs and plants. There’s enormous potential with some intelligent planning.

6. Poor Lighting Design

It’s surprising how often lighting becomes an afterthought in the home remodeling process. Poor lighting design has negative consequences for any space but for the kitchen, where safety and functionality are so important, it can actually be harmful. As such, lighting design needs to be a priority focus when redesigning your cooking environment.

It’s essential to consider the different zones of the kitchen when designing the placement of lighting. Some areas need focused lighting for specific tasks, aptly known as task lighting, while ambient lighting illuminates more general spaces. The placement and number of electrical outlets are also important factors to consider.

7. Lack of Ventilation

The smell of delicious home-cooked food can be lovely in the moment, but you don’t want cooking smells lingering and wafting throughout the rest of the house. Poor ventilation is another common kitchen design mistake that can ruin the enjoyment of dining and hosting guests.

It’s important to choose a good kitchen ventilation hood that complements the overall kitchen design aesthetic. A nice hood can act as a focal point, bringing the rest of the space together. There are many different hood designs that come in various materials, colors, shapes, and even placement options, including above a central kitchen island.

8. Choosing a Design That will Become Dated Before It’s Time

A new kitchen is designed to last for a long time. Therefore, it’s important that the design survives the test of time both when it comes to functionality and visual style. From the rustic 70s kitchens with overhead beams to the oversized white kitchens of the 90s, identifiable trends come and go, and it’s wise to make your kitchen as future-proof as possible.

Consider using mixed materials that help prevent a thematic look. Mix and match styles according to functional requirements, technological advancements, and your family’s unique blend of style. An experienced and professional design team will help you create a tasteful bespoke design that will never look outdated.

9. Not Seeking Out a Qualified Design-Build Contractor

Talking of professional design teams, another common kitchen design mistake is hiring the wrong professionals to remodel your home. Or giving in to the temptation to do it yourself. As a space with significant functional and safety requirements, including complicated wiring, plumbing, and ventilation systems, it’s always best to work with fully qualified design and construction experts.

In the long run, it’s a lot more cost-effective to invest in professional design-build services where the project is carried out to the highest of standard from beginning to end.

Your Kitchen Remodeling Team in Lafayette, Indiana

Riverside Construction, founded in 2008, is the go-to professional design-build team that has earned the respect and confidence of discerning homeowners in the Lafayette and West Lafayette areas.

With an award-winning team of highly skilled and experienced professionals in a range of fields, we excel at listening to client ideas and then translating those dreams into reality. We can help you decide on a direction, provide guidance on pandemic-related remodeling issues, and be with you every step of the way to ensure your dream home is achieved.

Contact us now to schedule an initial conversation about your upcoming kitchen remodel. We’ll be happy to answer your questions, listen to your ideas, soothe your worries, and work with you to finalize your plans.

How To Create Better Storage in Your Kitchen

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Homeowners almost universally long for more storage space. It doesn’t seem to matter whether home is a condo, a retirement villa, or a large suburban ranch. Sometimes, it just seems that “stuff” expands on its own. It’s not a problem easily solved by a “junk drawer” or even by serious spring cleaning.

However, collecting “stuff” is part of what makes us human, and finding better ways to store the things we use and treasure may not be as difficult as one would think. The first step, of course, is to simplify, sort, pare down and eliminate duplications. Still, there are also some practical ways to create additional space to store those things you want to keep, particularly in the kitchen. The key is to tailor your storage to your individual needs.

Consolidate Your Belongings: Get Rid of What You Don’t Use

Collections are part of every family’s unique history. No one would suggest that you get rid of anything that has meaning in your life.

But never feel guilty about eliminating or replacing broken or damaged pieces, whether they’re “Grandma’s china,” your wedding crystal, or seldom-used small appliances. Hold a yard sale; in addition to the old toys and furniture, sell seldom-used dishes, glasses, and flatware, cooking pots, and serving pieces; take them to a thrift store or consignment shop, or donate them to a shelter. Someone will make good use of your castoffs.

Once you achieve that first goal, it’s easier to complete a “deep clean” of your kitchen cabinets and pantry, assess your priorities and reorganize your storage space.

Small Storage Solutions Make a Big Difference

If you’ve ever studied professional chefs at work during a TV cooking show, take inspiration from their solutions. Then adapt some of their ideas for your kitchen.

They’ll reach for a knife from a wall-hung magnetic rack or grab a wooden spoon from a vintage crock; frequently-used spices are often on display, and cutting boards and mixing bowls are stacked or nested in plain sight.

If you can’t manage a professional chopping block, get a cutting board that fits over your kitchen sink to save space and facilitate clean-up. Install a sleek utensil rack or spice shelf near your cooktop or range. Not all kitchen storage needs to hide behind closed doors.

Make use of inside surfaces on cabinet doors as well. Hang pot lids and kitchen towels from simple screw-in hooks; add wire racks to hold boxes of foil and plastic wrap, sandwich bags and spray bottles, even cookie sheets and muffin tins.

Corral table-setting necessities, including placemats and napkins, salt and pepper shakers, water glasses, and everyday flatware, on a simple tray or decorative basket right on the countertop. This can be especially helpful if your kitchen table does double duty as a planning desk or homework center, and it’s a real-time-saver at mealtime.

Adopt a section of countertop as a beverage center or snack bar:

1. Install open shelving for coffee cups and glasses, snack plates, napkins, and utensils.
2. Hang stemware and coffee mugs from an attractive wall or overhead racks.
3. Locate a coffee pot and toaster, nearby, and finish off the space with a drawer with custom inserts to hold supplies.
4. Or go one step further and include an appliance garage that will hide your small appliances when not in use.

Depending on your kitchen, this would be an ideal location for an under-counter fridge, ice maker or wine chiller, or a dishwasher drawer. The goal is to personalize your kitchen to reflect the way you live.

Customize Cabinets and Drawers to Maximize Storage

Kitchens have evolved over the decades from the strictly functional, utilitarian workspaces they once were. Today, the kitchen is not only for food storage and preparation, but it’s also frequently open to the main living space, so it must be as attractive as it is functional.

If a kitchen renovation is on the agenda, plan ahead by researching the innovative storage ideas widely available from cabinet manufacturers and by working with your design-build contractor. Rethink traditions, and re-envision your kitchen in a way that makes sense for you and your family.

Here are just a few of the best creative storage solutions:

● Eliminate unneeded doors to showcase china and artistic serving pieces on open shelving.
● Take cabinetry to the ceiling; add lighted glass-door display space at the top, or use that out-of-the-way space for party supplies and holiday storage.
● Take full advantage of an island or peninsula with storage that can be accessed from both sides, or install narrow shelves at each end to hold cookbooks, linens, or decorative pieces.
● Install a pull-out step ladder into a base cabinet to reach upper shelves.
● Locate a pull-out drawer in a base cabinet to serve as a pet feeding station that can disappear from view as needed.
● Install pull-out shelving, even under the sink, to eliminate getting on your knees to locate items in the back of cabinets.
● Use telescoping shelving in tall, narrow cabinets, and install telescoping blind-corner shelving to maximize corner storage areas.
● Take advantage of space between the studs for a recessed spice shelf.

Your remodeling contractor will have a wealth of other ideas for you to consider. The range of options is almost limitless, from baking centers with built-in flour and sugar bins to recycle bins in the pantry to a custom utility closet. Be open to possibilities — kitchens of the future don’t have to look anything like kitchens of the past.

Design a Walk-In Pantry

If your kitchen is currently short on storage, a walk-in pantry may seem like the ultimate luxury. However, even if a luxurious butler’s pantry is a reach too far, it might be possible to carve additional storage from floor space as compact as 3×5 feet. A space-saving bi-fold door will keep it hidden from view, but you’ll gain 15 square feet of floor space for customized shelving for food storage, large cooking pots, party supplies, table linens, and perhaps even cookbooks and a planning desk.

Think about your options, and work with your design-build contractor to make the most of the “found space.”

 

 

 

Discuss Your Ideas with a Professional

In the Lafayette area, Riverside Construction is your trusted resource for advice on all things remodeling. An award-winning design-build firm with a team that excels at listening to client ideas and then translating those dreams into reality, Riverside stands ready to help you redesign your kitchen.

If you’re still gathering information and thinking about possibilities, we understand. Why not add your name to our mailing list? We’ll share design ideas and remodeling tips with you via a monthly e-newsletter. Browse through our portfolio of completed projects to get your creative juices flowing.

When you’re ready to move forward, we invite you to contact us to schedule an initial no-fee conversation.

Check out these other blog articles you may like:

A Lesson In Kitchen Cabinetry Design
Kitchen Remodels: 3 Budgets, 3 Kitchens

Q&A: A Client’s Kitchen Remodeling Experience with Riverside

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Sarah tells-all, sharing her remodeling experience with Riverside Construction

Q: What prompted the need for your kitchen remodel?
A: Our home was built in 1902 and was last remodeled in the mid-60s. Our oven model was dated from 1964. Bless my husband who was wise and blessed with many talents, but his philosophy was “if it still works, we don’t need to fix it.” Fast forward to November 2018, the oven stopped working and I only had one element working on the stove. After putting money aside, I retired in 2020 and decided it was finally time to remodel the kitchen.

Q: You started your remodel during COVID-19. How did the pandemic alter your remodeling plans? Did your functional needs change in any way?
A: Yes, we started our remodel during COVID-19 and it completed in August. The biggest impact on our remodeling plans was the availability of materials. We were 98% completed in August but then had to wait for the refrigerator, oven, and microwave which didn’t arrive until September. The cooktop was ordered right away because it was an older model and in short supply. Otherwise, Riverside Construction carpenters and subcontractors either worked when I wasn’t there or wore masks around me and each other when they were in my home.

Q: Can you speak to safety protocols during construction? Did you feel safe?
A: Yes, I never felt unsafe. Riverside Construction carpenters and subcontractors wore masks, put up barriers, used HEPA filters, and either worked in my home when I wasn’t there or masked up when we were in the home together.

Q: What concern(s) did you have going into your home remodeling project?
A: I was most concerned about the inconvenience during construction. I planned ahead for the kitchen remodel by loading up a dorm-size mini-fridge for perishables. I also ordered carry out a lot. My basement is where the washer and dryer are located. I was concerned about accessing it. But, after the guys were through working, I was able to get through to the basement without much problem. Riverside Construction also remodeled my half bath next to the kitchen. I wasn’t looking forward to having to use the upstairs bathroom during the renovation. More importantly, I live with three cats. It was imperative that the crew didn’t let any of them outside. They did great!

I never worried about the budget. When I signed a contract with Riverside Construction it was well-delineated. My design choices and materials were detailed from our initial planning meetings. The only exception was one change that I made and the other was an unforeseen circumstance. Otherwise, the budget didn’t change at all.

Q: What was your favorite part of your remodeling experience with Riverside Construction? Why?
A: I thoroughly enjoyed the Riverside Construction carpenters. Most days, it was the same group who was working in my house. They were skilled and very reassuring. There was one point in construction when I was fearful of how it was going to look. One carpenter, in particular, assured me to hang in there and it would turn out exactly as I had envisioned. He also said my project was his favorite one. He was right. It turned out exactly as I had envisioned, and even better!

Q: What was your least favorite part of the remodel? Why?
A: The dust. They put up dust barriers during construction a majority of the time. One of the subcontractors didn’t use a dust barrier. I believe it was the tilers, so it stirred up dust in the home.

Q: After living in your newly remodeled space, what has become your favorite design feature?
A: It’s all so wonderful. The ceiling and lighting have to be my favorite design features. The previous owners (in the 1960s) put in a dropped ceiling and panels in the kitchen. Riverside Construction removed the dropped ceiling and panels making it more spacious and brighter. The new pot lights and pendant lights over the island added the elegance and charm I was looking for.

 

Q: What was your inspiration behind your kitchen design?

A: I had visions of what my grandma’s beautiful kitchen looked like with dark oak cabinets, inset doors, and a particular type of latch. Under the linoleum was gorgeous oak hardwood flooring. I wouldn’t normally choose hardwood flooring in the kitchen, but because they were there, I couldn’t pull them up. Riverside sanded the floors and refinished them to perfection.

It was also important to me to design the kitchen to match the existing architecture of the home—to look like it had always been there, just refreshed. I think we accomplished that. As a testament, the cleaning crew came in after the remodel was done and said, “this looks like the kitchen was part of the original home.”

Q: Were there any big surprises during or after the remodel that caught you off guard?
A: Nothing big, no. There were a few small items like learning that the plumbers had to pull up the floor in the half bath to access the crawl space below. But, also not a big deal.

Q: Are you using your newly remodeled space differently now? How?

A: I absolutely spend more time in the kitchen. I’m not a really good cook. You have to remember, I haven’t had a fully functioning kitchen since November 2018, so I’m rediscovering cooking. I now spend a lot more time in the kitchen. And, I really like the butcher block island. Initially, I thought it would be hard to maintain, but I’m really enjoying oiling it—rubbing the oil into the wood once a month. My house gets particularly dry in the winter, so I’m sensitive to not letting it dry out.

Q: In hindsight, is there anything you would do differently if you were to remodel again?
A: Small things. There are a few of my lower cabinets that have pull-out shelves. I often think, having now worked in my kitchen, that I should have added a few more of those. Sometimes I also think I should have chosen different light fixtures, but there’s nothing major I would have done differently.

My original kitchen had a hanging pot rack. I thought I loved it and wanted it in there. As the design of my kitchen progressed, I realized that I could see more of the kitchen without it. Now, I have room for my pots and pans in the drawers and cabinets and they aren’t collecting dust. Ultimately, I’m happy with my decision to remove it.

Q: Anything else you want to share?
A: Yes, I definitely want to share something about Riverside Construction. I’ve had other contractors in my house before. They did a bathroom renovation upstairs years ago. I love Riverside Construction and all of its contractors and vendors. I was used to hearing a lot of cursing from contractors I’ve used in the past. Not that I’m a prude, but there was none of that language used by Riverside crew day in and day out. As they worked, they created a nice environment for me to be cohabitating with them in my home.

Now, Riverside is meeting with my daughter, doing a renovation on her upstairs bathroom. She was so impressed with my remodel that she decided to remodel her bathroom with them as well. Riverside Construction is becoming our “family renovator.”

For more information on this amazing kitchen remodel, visit our Portfolio.

5 Popular Kitchen Remodeling Trends in Lafayette

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As cooler weather approaches, you might be coming back into your kitchen from summer’s cookouts, thinking, “Wow. I didn’t realize how dated this looked,” or “This setup is really inconvenient.” Here at Riverside Construction in Lafayette, we’re excited about the upcoming kitchen remodeling trends we see for 2019. So, if you’re planning a kitchen remodeling project in the coming months, here are 5 trends you’ll want to consider:

1. Cabinets with a Color Pop

Yes, all-white cabinets are still popular because they reflect light and make smaller kitchens look bigger. Colorful cabinets, however, are increasing in popularity. This is partially because cooking and spill stains stand out so obviously on white—but also because homeowners are looking for more color in their kitchens. Here at Riverside Construction, we’re an authorized dealer of Wellborn custom cabinets, and they’ve introduced some new standard paint colors for their cabinets: Mink Gray, Olive, Gray Mist, Aqua, and Mint. One popular design trend is using lighter cabinets around the kitchen perimeter with a more daring color for the island. Some are opting for darker colors on the lower cabinets with a lighter shade of the same color on the upper cabinets. Those still choosing all white cabinets are playing with mixed countertops, bright accent walls, fixtures and backsplashes with different colors and designs. Mixing neutrals and whites with bright color accents is also growing in popularity. Take a look at some of these great custom kitchen cabinet designs to get a few ideas for your own kitchen remodel.

Photo courtesy of Wellborn

2. Appliances: Thinking Outside of the Stainless-Steel Box

Bright, silver stainless steel has been the go-to finish in appliances for several years now, but for all its solid, time-tested stability, people are looking for more color even here. Yes, you can have black, graphite and slate finishes. You can even have white if you want it bright. But this is your kitchen, and if you want to have brightly-colored appliances, your options are growing considerably. If this is the kitchen you will be cooking, eating and working in for years to come, why not try some bold color combinations? If you aren’t sure how long you’re staying or want to have your kitchen ready for resale in a few years, you can still choose colors, but think of timeless combinations that work with the colors of your cabinets and walls. Reds with white, black or gray, blues with white or light gray, earth tones in different shades, etc.

Photo Courtesy of Savvy Home Supply

3. Everything in the Kitchen Sink

If you thought kitchen sinks were all the same, get ready for the kitchen sink designs of 2019. Kitchen sinks are being created out of different materials and adding new, time-saving accessories that home gourmets are raving about. For example:

• New Kitchen Sink Materials—At least 70% of kitchen sinks are stainless steel. It goes with everything and is durable for years. But kitchen sink designers have been coming up with amazing, functional materials that go beyond what you’ve come to expect in a sink. For example, granite composite sinks (made of crushed stone and resin); they last a long time and are easy to clean and maintain. The timeless cast-iron enameled sink is also making a resurgence because you can choose different glaze colors than just silver or dark gray. It’s also very durable and easy to clean. The new fireclay sinks (often used in farmhouse sink designs) are made of high-heat glazed clay with a hard enamel finish (usually earth-toned). And while they are durable, they are vulnerable to impacts and may chip more than other materials. Natural stone, glass, marble, and copper are also up-and-coming kitchen sink materials you might consider.

• New Kitchen Sink Accessories—Newer kitchen sink designs also tool up the functionality of the ordinary sink to help you save time and effort during meal prep. In fact, you could call them “kitchen sink systems” because they integrate so many tools seamlessly into a larger sink. Consider multiple levels, built-in colanders, removable cutting boards, ice buckets, pot holders, etc. A large, custom sink with these accessories can significantly reduce your prep and post-meal clean-up time; you’ll have more time to enjoy your meal with family and friends.

Photo Courtesy of Homestyle PR

4. Earth-Toned Rustic Never Goes Away

One look that never really goes out of style is the organic, natural, earth-toned rustic look, from backsplashes and cabinets to floors and farmhouse sinks. Think neutral colors that make custom wood cabinets glow warmth into your kitchen. If you’re going rustic, you’ll likely avoid glossy finishes and opt for rugged, matte, natural finishes instead. Ceramic or cast-iron sinks, wide-plank wooden floors, antique metal fixtures like distressed bronze, wrought iron or rubbed brass look great in a cozy, rustic kitchen. Butcher block or honed granite countertops complete the natural, sturdy look if you’re going this direction.

5. The Mix-it-Up Eclectic Kitchen is Now

And yet, if traditional or rustic kitchens aren’t your thing, variety may be just your style. Good thing too, because mixing up materials, colors and finishes is taking off like crazy. Bold colors on the custom cabinets, floating shelves, polished concrete countertops, stone accent walls and wild mosaic backsplashes with pops of color and shine will turn heads whenever guests arrive and have you feeling like you’re cooking in your dream kitchen every day. And really, if you can dream it, we can make it happen in your kitchen.

If you’ve got your eye on a kitchen remodeling project for the upcoming year and aren’t quite sure where to start, be sure to sign up for notifications on our upcoming kitchen remodeling seminars. We’ll notify you as soon as the next one is scheduled so you can be the first to sign up for these in-demand events where we can answer your questions, provide ideas and offer expert guidance on your dream kitchen.

If you’re ready to start now, schedule a personal consultation with Riverside Construction’s kitchen design experts today: (765) 838-1644.

Kitchen Remodels: 3 Budgets, 3 Kitchens

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Is your current kitchen out of date or not functioning well? Is it too small or closed off from the rest of your home? Perhaps you’re ready to get cooking with a brand-new kitchen remodel, but the whole thing is feeling a bit overwhelming, from cabinetry to countertops, and appliances to air ducts.

That’s where the design and planning at Riverside Construction adds enormous value. We’ll get to know you and your kitchen needs through an initial on-site consultation. Then, we deliver a comprehensive scope of work alongside a realistic budget, fit to bring your dream kitchen to life.

Before that, though, let’s start with an overview of the three types of kitchen remodels to consider: Basic, Mid-Level, and Deluxe.

The Basic Kitchen Remodel

Love to cook but not in love with your current kitchen? A basic, cosmetic remodel elevates your existing layout, appliances, and fixtures and spares expenses for plumbing and ductwork, while implementing the professional polish essential to a complete remodel. A basic kitchen remodel involves replacing easily removed products and typically runs $20,000 – $35,000.

So, what does a basic remodel look like? Here are some items it might include.

Efficient Lighting — Recessed lights are nice, but they offer a lot less illumination than the average light fixture (60 vs. 120+ W). Simple light fixtures with 120w, 180w, or more can be simple, tasteful, and brilliantly illuminating, all without the hefty price tag.

Simple Appliances — One of the keys to a successful basic kitchen remodel is the use of simple appliances that don’t need to be built-in. Nixing the custom cabinetry saves you both money and time.

Go Vinyl — What’s a remodel without new flooring? Vinyl is the versatile material of choice for floors and other surfaces, and can even make a great-looking backsplash. Speaking of backsplashes, if it’s in your budget, a ceramic tile backsplash is a great splurge for an extra stylish finish to your basic kitchen remodel.

Cabinet Hardware — Reusing your existing cabinetry is one of the key ways to keep costs down, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with dated or damaged storage. Fix up any broken cabinets or replace cabinet doors and consider adding new cabinet hardware to upgrade your kitchen. When it comes to cabinets, a little goes a long way.

Lovely Laminates — Laminate is a surface material whose reputation has come a long way in recent years. Photo printed laminate countertops and a bevy of striking edge designs provide lots of aesthetic choices at low cost.

The Mid-Level, Pull and Replace Kitchen Remodel

Want to break the mold of your existing kitchen layout? A pull and replace kitchen remodel lets you do just that. Whether it’s a new island or professional-grade appliances, a mid-level remodel totally reworks your kitchen from the ground up, including moving appliances, plumbing, ductwork, electrical, and more. Ranging from $25,000 – $55,000, a mid-level kitchen remodel creates the space you need for the renewed functionality you desire.

A pull and replace kitchen remodel may include:

Professional Appliances — Liberate your inner chef with awesome appliances. From stainless steel refrigerators to double convection ovens, it’s all on the table.

The Island — As the focal point to your new kitchen remodel, why not consider an island? It’s perfect for serving up a meal hot from the oven, or for the family to gather around as dinner is being prepared.

Upgraded Cabinetry — Upgrade cabinets with standard cabinet sizes and eye-catching materials like maple with a custom glaze. Get the beautiful storage you need without compromising. Make the most of your kitchen’s existing storage space by installing a pull-out shelf in one—or all—of the base cabinets.

Designer Accessories — Select the details and accessories that make your kitchen feel unique. Custom handles and knobs are a great way to make it personal.

New Floors — With a bigger budget, wood and ceramic floors enter the picture, and boy do they make a great impression!

Surfaces Built to Last — For surfaces that look and feel amazing year after year, look no further than stone counters and glass tile backsplashes. Pricier than laminate, quartz and natural stone (like granite), look sharp for decades.

The Deluxe, Custom Kitchen Remodel

Got great taste and a budget to match? Let’s talk cutting edge style and chef-approved functionality. Whether it’s a built-in refrigerator or a Wolf gas range, a custom kitchen remodel, quite literally, can have it all. From $40, 000 to $125,000, the deluxe kitchen remodel wipes the slate clean with a brand new, well, everything — all put together in a totally fresh layout. It involves redesigning the layout, moving walls, demoing an existing area or adjacent spaces, new framing, relocating and updating plumbing and electrical, and installing custom cabinetry.

Here are some of the items you might look forward to in your deluxe kitchen remodel:

Architectural Consistency — Not only should your kitchen look great, but it should also look like a part of your home. Tall ceilings with beadboard finishing, leaded glass windows, crown moldings, or authentic baseboards and casings are just a taste of what’s possible when it comes to integrating your remodel into the home you already love.

High End Material — Start with the richest of materials and accessories for your deluxe kitchen remodel— wood floors, stone counters, and even a chandelier. Add an oriental rug to add to elegance and style that’s uniquely yours.

Totally Custom Cabinetry — The finest craftsmanship and construction goes into fully custom-sized and custom-designed storage to make your kitchen cabinets both uncommonly beautiful and functional.

Creative Storage — Why settle for stock cabinets? Go custom with drop-down doors that turn into extra counter space for those big holiday spreads, or that tastefully conceal a small appliance when it’s not in use.

Cooking with Elegance — Serve up meals using pro tools in world-class style with a hand-made La Cornue range (or Sub-Zero and Wolf) and custom hood built to your specifications. Truly, it’s the most beautiful, stylish, and functional kitchen fixture that money can buy.

Backsplash With Style — Ground your cooking area with a stone mosaic backsplash that is the finest in class and can last literally decades.

Unified Style — Add the details that tie the whole kitchen together, from the table-like island to feet on the base of the sink, and know that cabinets don’t have to look like cabinets! Get all the details that age and style the kitchen to the surrounding house without sacrificing any functionality or efficiency.

Built-In Appliances — Tuck high-end appliances behind wooden doors and custom wood panels consistent with the style of the rest of your kitchen.

Attention to Details — Get the extra attention that achieves your vision of a perfect kitchen, such as a farmhouse-style sink or a faucet from the era in which the house was built.

You’ll pay more for high-end materials and detailing, but your remodeled kitchen will be both a visual treat and a joy to you and your family for years to come.

 

If you’re ready to get remodeling, join us at our Kitchen and Bath Seminar to learn how to successfully remodel your home. We’d love to see you there!

If you can’t make it to the seminar, you can always schedule a conversation with one of our qualified design-build professionals to discuss your home remodeling timeline, budget, functional needs, and design preferences.

Design a Custom Kitchen Perfect for Entertaining

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Assess how well your own kitchen functions this holiday

It happens every year—you host a memorable, family gathering; every room is decked out with your favorite holiday decorations; you’ve made a crackling fire; and appetizers are spread out ready for sampling.  Where do all of your guests end up?  You got it… the kitchen.  The well-known expression “the kitchen is the heart of home” is never truer than during the holidays.  Since food is central to most festive occasions, your guests spend much of their time in the kitchen visiting with you as you finish the final preparations of your meal.

As you host your family gathering this year, pay close attention to the functional use of your space. Use these design considerations to determine whether your kitchen can use an upgrade—perfect for entertaining.

A Kitchen Fit for Festivities

The challenge for many homeowners is configuring their kitchen to accommodate a house full of guests a few times a year, while serving their immediate family needs the rest of the year.  This holiday, pay close attention to how much space you have. If it is becoming an issue, square footage can be added with a new room addition. You may also be able to reconfigure your existing space to increase efficiency and room flow without adding an addition.

Before any work is started, it’s important to ask yourself what you want to accomplish in your kitchen space.  If you entertain all the time, a larger open concept kitchen might be ideal for you.  If you host large gatherings two or three times a year, adding a large center island with additional seating might be the perfect solution.  Create a “must-have” list for your new kitchen and keep those priorities top of mind as you plan your ideal working space.

Seating

Seating is a premium when you entertain large groups. If your kitchen doesn’t currently have an island, consider what it might be like to have one. An island creates additional seating and more surface area for prepping and serving.  In fact, a popular trend is to have two islands in the kitchen – one for cooking and food preparation and the other for seating and serving. If you have a L- or U-shaped kitchen, an island can also eliminate the “dead end” space where people can end up “stuck” in the back of the kitchen.

Tiered counter heights on an island or a long counter are also a great way to create additional space for guests. Your family or friends can visit you in the kitchen without interfering with the food preparation or cooking process.  It can also give your guests an area to place beverages and eat hors d’oeuvres, while concealing food that is being prepped on the other side.

Flow and Function

When you’re working in your kitchen this holiday, consider how you use your space. Are you in easy reach of all the kitchen appliances and supplies you need to complete your holiday preparations and finish your holiday meal?  Do you have to maneuver around guests to get from one end of the kitchen to another?  When you evaluate your kitchen space, consider the kitchen “work triangle,” which is a concept used to determine efficient kitchen layouts. The work triangle makes up the primary tasks in a home kitchen that are carried out between three points—the cook top, the sink and the refrigerator.  Something as relatively simple as moving the sink to a more central location can make a huge difference in the efficiency and flow of the space.

Is there an empty wall near your kitchen or eating space? If you find yourself maneuvering around your guests in your kitchen, you might consider installing a custom side bar. This will create a natural place to set up a beverage bar or appetizer area for your guests to congregate while they are waiting for you to serve them.  It’s also a great place to store additional beverages and glassware.

Storage

Speaking of storage, when you do a lot of cooking and entertaining you tend to have a plethora of kitchen supplies, i.e., glassware, pots and pans, dishware, cooking utensils, special holiday dishes, linens, etc. Consequently, storage becomes an important consideration to your kitchen plan.  How easy is it for you to access your special holiday dishes? Are your chaffing dishes tucked away behind your pots and pans or are they on a shelf buried deep in the garage? As you rethink your kitchen, consider ways to maximize your storage space.

Walk-in pantries are a great option for storing holiday items that are used just a few times a year. If you don’t have space for a walk-in pantry, custom cabinetry can go a long way to maximizing your kitchen space.  Custom cabinets can double or triple your storage by not only leveraging floor space but also areas up high.  Instead of installing cabinets one or two feet from the ceiling, you can run them all the way to the top of the ceiling.

Appliances that Enhance Entertaining

There are some great products on the market today that can help a host or hostess pull off the perfect party or family gathering. Consider these appliances to enhance your entertaining experience: Warming Drawer, Cappuccino Maker, Convection Oven, or Ice Maker. A secondary dishwasher, refrigerator or freezer placed adjacent to the main kitchen area can also help with quick, easy clean-up and extra storage.

For questions about remodeling a kitchen in your home fit for entertaining, contact Riverside Construction today!

Take the first step by scheduling an in-home meeting with your very own personal design consultant.

We also schedule complimentary kitchen remodeling seminars regularly each month. Let us know your interest in attending by signing up today.

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