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Your Questions About Planning a Kitchen Remodel Answered
For many homeowners—especially avid cooks—the kitchen is the best room in the house. You spend a lot of time there, so it should be not only attractive and welcoming, but also highly functioning and designed to meet your unique needs.
If you've got a kitchen remodel on your mind, you probably have a lot of questions about how to get everything planned out. We'll cover some of the most common questions below and hopefully give you some inspiration to get started on crafting your vision for the kitchen of your dreams.
When you've got a good idea of what you're looking for and it comes time to choose a handyman, our experienced and reliable team at Mr. Handyman of the Wichita Metro Area are the service professionals you need to get the job done right.
We have years of experience handling renovations from floor to ceiling, and we’re committed to providing high quality workmanship and excellent customer service for every single client—whether you're looking for a minor kitchen remodel or a major kitchen overhaul.
How Do I Determine My Kitchen Layout?
Naturally, your choices for layout will be at least partially dictated by the shape and size of the room you have available. A long, narrow space will require a galley style with rows of counters and appliances on either side and an aisle of walking room down the middle, but if you have a square or a wide rectangle to work with, there are more possibilities.
When it comes to layout, you should consider functionality over form every time. It might look cool to have the stove, refrigerator, and kitchen sinks all lined up next to each other, but it will quickly become frustrating when you're in the middle of preparing an elaborate meal. In fact, common kitchen layouts almost always use a triangular arrangement that strategically positions the stove, fridge, and sink on each point. This is done to optimize your workflow and give you the counter space you need next to each appliance or fixture. Another arrangement would just hinder your culinary masterpieces!
While the position of counters and appliances is obviously important, you should also consider the layout of your cabinets and drawers. The experts at Mr. Handyman can design and install custom cabinets that are made to serve your specific needs. If you've ever wished the cutlery drawer was closer to the dishwasher, or the dry goods didn't have to be right next to the plates and bowls, this is your chance to correct those issues.
What Type of Countertops Should I Use?
Countertops are big decisions since they’re frequently used and can be the most visually striking part of the room. That said, here’s an opportunity to add your own style and personality to your kitchen redesign. Each option comes with its own set of pros and cons. Countertop materials include:
Granite
Marble
Quartz (engineered stone)
Solid-surface material (man-made out of acrylic and resin)
Laminates
Ceramic tile
Wood butcher block
When you're considering your options, ask yourself these questions:
What is my budget for materials?
What kind of look am I going for? (Luxurious, minimalist, industrial, rustic, classic, contemporary, etc.)
Do I want to be able to use the counter as a cutting surface?
Is it important for me to follow current kitchen trends?
How Can I Add More Storage?
From big pots and pans to a wide variety of food items, storage is critically important in a kitchen, especially if you like a place for everything and everything in its place. An obvious way to add more storage is to add more cabinets, but that's often not possible. Other possibilities for maximizing storage space include:
Create a kitchen pantry to store all food that doesn't need to be refrigerated—a separate small room like a walk-in closet is nice, but a pantry could be as simple as a large cupboard that ranges in size from around the same volume of your refrigerator to twice that amount
Hang a rack over a stretch of counter (or the island) for pots and pans
Make good use of hooks for anything that can be hung up—most pots, pans, and utensils have holes for exactly that
Add a kitchen island with storage underneath for small appliances that you want tucked away, like the blender, toaster oven, and coffee grinder
No room for an island? Consider a rolling cart that you can push out of the way when its not in use
Include a slide-out prep station that pulls out of a counter to create more surface space—and make it wood butcher block for an instant cutting board
If you want an eat-in kitchen but don't have much floor space, put in a small tabletop that folds down from the wall or include an overhang on one part of the counter so that you can pull up a stool and tuck your legs underneath
Should I Replace My Cabinets or Just Reface Them?
When you want to change or improve your kitchen cabinets, a replacement installation or cabinet refacing are both feasible options. Refacing means replacing cabinet doors and drawer fronts, changing outdoor handles and drawer knobs, and applying new veneers to the visible parts of the exterior cabinet boxes. Replacement means removing the old cabinets entirely and putting in new ones.
If you are happy with the layout of your cabinets and they're in decent condition, but you want a different appearance and style, refacing is a perfectly valid way to save some time and money. However, if your cabinet boxes are damaged or you want to change their location, then replacing them will be a more effective choice.
Mr. Handyman is Your Local Expert for Kitchen Renovation Services
Kitchen remodels are among the biggest projects homeowners can undergo, so it helps to have a solid plan in place. If you have an idea of what you would like but aren't sure of all the steps, don't worry! The team at Mr. Handyman of the Wichita Metro Area have the experience and know-how to deliver your dream kitchen.
Give us a phone call at 316-285-1217 and let us know what you're thinking, or request service online. We'd love to make your kitchen remodel a reality!
