It’s easy to get carried away when planning your new kitchen. A six-burner commercial-grade range and luxury-brand refrigerator may make eye-catching centerpieces, but they may not fit your cooking needs or lifestyle. Your kitchen remodel is so much more than neat appliances; it's about design and functionality that best suits your needs, space, and budget. So unless you’re a super passionate cook who wants to cook a lot, concentrate your dollars on long-term features that add value, such as cabinets and flooring. Then choose appliances made by trusted brands that have high marks in online reviews and Consumer Reports.

Also, let's not forget to study your existing kitchen: How wide is the doorway into your kitchen? It’s a common mistake many homeowners make: Buying the extra-large fridge only to find they can’t get it in the doorway.To avoid mistakes like this, we create a drawing of your kitchen with measurements for doorways, walkways, counters, etc. and can match you with the best options and fit!

Think about traffic patterns: Work aisles should be a minimum of 42 inches wide and at least 48 inches wide for households with multiple cooks. And than matching that foot traffic pattern, we need to consider design with ergonomics in mind: how to drawers and cabinets pull out? Are the counter heights and oven ranges accessible to everyone?  All of these features can ruin or set the flow to your kitchen and make it a pleasure to work in.  

Also, as we can plan for completely re-arranging electrical units and plumbing pipes, it will increase the totatl budget. If budget is something we're being conscious of, we sould try to keep appliances, water fixtures, and walls in the same location. 

You will you save on demolition and reconstruction costs. 

Lighting can make a world of difference in a kitchen. It can make it look larger and brighter. And it will help you work safely and efficiently. Our clients are liking two different types of lighting in their kitchens: 

1. Task Lighting: Under-cabinet lighting lights up dark work areas and is an easy hard-wire to add during the remodel.  At least two fixtures per task area to eliminate shadows and pendant lights are great for above islands and other counters without low cabinets. Recessed lights and track lights work well over sinks and general prep areas with no cabinets overhead.

2. Ambient lighting: Flush-mounted ceiling fixtures, wall sconces, and track lights create overall lighting in your kitchen. Include dimmer switches to control intensity and mood.

Functionality and durability should be top priorities. so we really want to resist low-quality bargains. Let's look at affordable products that combine low maintenance with long warranty periods. Solid-surface countertops, for instance, may cost a little more, but with the proper care, they’ll look great for a long time.

Also, if you’re planning on moving or selling, products with substantial warranties are a selling advantage.

Storage will never go out of style, but if you’re sticking with the same footprint, here are a couple of ideas to add more space and storage: 

Ceiling Cabinets: They may cost more — and you might need a stepladder — but you’ll gain valuable storage space for Christmas platters and other once-a-year items. In addition, you won’t have to dust cabinet tops.

Mounted Shelving Units: Unused wall areas and inside cabinet doors are great to hang stock pots and large skillets, there or on a ceiling-mounted rack. We can add hooks to the backs of closet doors for aprons, brooms, and mops.

Establishing a good rapport with you during planning and construction is most important to us!

We will want to establish a communication routine that best works for you and ensure you have the direct contact info to the project manager and owner. 

Feel free to set house rules: Be clear to any contractor about your needs, privacy, noise levels, available bathrooms, and appropriate parking. It is your house and we respect that.