You’re tired of your old, dingy cabinets. They were installed 20 years ago and look the part. You want to take pride in your kitchen and cook for family and friends but don’t know where to start. We’ve got you covered! After years of remodeling kitchens – we know what it takes to make sure your kitchen is a success. Below you’ll find the top 5 most important considerations before starting your remodel.
Reface, Paint, or Replace?
Homeowners now have options when it comes to remodeling their kitchen. With cabinet prices higher than previous years, it may make sense to paint cabinets. This is the least expensive way to give your kitchen an uplift. This method simply involves sanding the existing cabinets, priming them, and painting them with a paint sprayer. Although this method is budget friendly, it is also the least impressive. When a kitchen is painted, all the cabinet and drawer faces stay in place and there is little opportunity to change the layout of the kitchen. The difference between painting and refacing is that re-facing involves replacing the drawers, doors and applying new skins to the cabinets. This is a great option if you love the layout of your kitchen but want a fresh look.
When replacing cabinets, you can change the layout of your kitchen and make it completely your own. Replace your cabinets if you want to add storage, reconfigure the kitchen, or want to be blown away with the final results. Check out this article by the legendary Mike Holmes for additional thoughts.
Painted or Stained Cabinets?
Stained cabinets generally cost more than painted cabinets. Painted cabinets are very popular right now which may or may not be a plus for you. Stained cabinets showcase the natural beauty of wood, although, painted cabinets offer a seamless and clean finish. Stained cabinets are better suited for rustic/farmhouse aesthetic. Painted cabinets can either be neutral colors or can pop – depending on your style. You can’t go wrong either way, just make sure the finish fits your style.
Choose Flooring Wisely
Always make sure your flooring ties in with your cabinets. We recommend flooring that uplifts the space and has natural tones in it. Think earthy tile, wood look plank, or best of all hardwood. A kitchen is a busy place which means you want a flooring that can withstand the wear and tear of daily life. Vinyl plank seems to be on the top of everyone’s list when it comes to flooring and no doubt it is a popular/easy to install option. However, vinyl plank tends to scratch more easily than other flooring types. If you’re looking for a budget friendly flooring consider laminate floors. We’ve found that laminate scratches less easily than the vinyl plank counterpart and can have a feel that resembles hardwood for a fraction of the cost. If you need help making this decision read on!
Hire A Kitchen Designer for Your Remodel
Don’t try to DIY your kitchen design. There are so many factors that go into a kitchen remodel. From measuring the space perfectly to understanding what design elements pair well together and will result in a beautiful kitchen. A designer can steer you clear of options that sound better than they actually are or warn you that the kitchen you saw on Pinterest will cost 3x what you thought it would. The other great thing about hiring a designer is that they know their products inside and out. You don’t have to worry about all the tiny details, you can simply hire a pro that has done hundreds of successful kitchen projects. A designer can help you make thoughtful product selections that suit the phase of life your in and even suggest creative ways to make your kitchen outstanding.
Don’t Go With The Cheapest Bid
The holy grail of all temptations is the price tag. As a homeowner, it may be difficult to understand why contractor’s pricing can vary so much. Why is contractor X $10,000 cheaper than anyone else? Here is how we approach this dilema. Don’t look at your kitchen remodel as a commodity you’re trying to get the best deal on – the so called buy low sell high mentality. You want to choose a contractor that offers the most value. For example: Contractor X may be $10,000 cheaper but he may also desperately need the work to stave off multiple past clients suing him (yes we’ve seen it happen). Here are a couple ways to tell if the contractor you’re getting a quote from is offering value or just a cheaper price tag.
- Ask for past client referrals – we happily give these out all the time – and actually call them!
- Read the contractor’s online reviews
- Keep a mental note if each contractor actually takes the time to interview you or if they’re just there to quickly give you a quote.
- Ask Them! Don’t assume a contractor’s price is higher because they are greedy. Every company is different and every contractor has different overhead.
At Vermillion Construction, we offer real value to our clients because they know they can trust us and our network of subcontractors to get the job done beautifully and professionally. You can check out our client testimonials on our Google profile or our Facebook page. Happy Remodeling!