The kitchen is the heart of any house; people can cook, eat, and socialize in this space, so it’s essential to devise finished kitchen ideas that tick all these boxes. You can implement various ideas in your kitchen, such as remodeling the interior or even putting up an extension that connects to your garden. Whatever kitchen remodel ideas you have, this review will offer valuable insight to help you plan and execute these ideas.
If you have a limited budget, consider refacing some areas like cabinets and walls with paint rather than making big changes. Finishing your kitchen is a smart move because it makes your kitchen appealing and boosts its overall value. Thus consider brainstorming finished kitchen ideas a worthwhile future investment. In this review, we’ll look at various facets of kitchen remodeling, including cabinetry, appliances, windows, maintenance, etc.
Renovate Your Cabinets
If you want to give your old kitchen cabinets a fresh and new look, you can call kitchen cabinet installation services for the following:
Install Pull-Out Kitchen Cabinet Shelves
Custom kitchen cabinets have a lot of in-built features to improve functionality, such as self-opening and closing door mechanisms and automated LED lighting, which you can do. But if you’re on a budget, you can still customize your cabinets by installing pull-out kitchen cabinet shelves. They’re easy to install; you can DIY or call a professional if you have a tight schedule. For instance, you can use them to slide out and tuck in your garbage disposal unit.
Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets
Your kitchen can feel dark because your dull cabinets have sucked out all the light. However, a cabinet makeover doesn’t mean you have to remove the dull cabinets and replace them with bright ones. If the framing and structure are sound, you can sandblast them and have a professional apply a fresh coat of paint or a couple, depending on their current condition. Paint can transform your cabinets from plain and dull to contemporary or rustic.
Reface Your Kitchen Cabinets
It’s not mandatory that you get rid of your old kitchen cabinets and have new ones built. Hiring a professional to design and build new cabinets for your kitchen might set you back roughly $5,000, but you can reface them for under $1,000. All your cabinet installer needs to do is use some veneer and install some new doors if need be.
Swap Cabinets for Open Shelves
Another pick for the top finished kitchen ideas for your cabinets is swapping cabinets for open shelves. You can do this the cheap way without spending cash by using the existing cabinet shelves, or you can call a professional to install suitable open shelves.
Under Cabinet Lighting
In most kitchens, there is a missing element, and it’s not an expensive stove like a Lacanche or a massive refrigerator, it’s cabinet lighting. You can install LED strips under your upper kitchen cabinets to bathe your countertops with white or ambient light. This can be crucial, especially if the light in the middle of the room doesn’t reach all corners of your kitchen. You can use the under-cabinet lighting to read recipes or dice fruits and veggies.
Consider New Countertops
Kitchen countertops are among the top finished kitchen ideas because they can define the look of your entire kitchen. It’s also not cheap to install new ones, so you want to put a lot of thought into this undertaking and consider all your options before making commitments. Some of the material options available when it comes to kitchen countertops include:
Ceramic Tiles
Ceramic tiles are an alternative to hard surface countertops. They’re relatively inexpensive, and unless you want them customized, you can install them yourself. Another benefit is you can match their color to your backsplash, which improves your kitchen’s beauty.
Granite and Marble
Granite and marble countertops are pretty much in the same category because they are both made of stone. These stylish countertops add sophistication to your kitchen that’s hard to match and beat. Note they’re not acid-friendly, so you want to wipe off spills of things like apple cider and white vinegar, as well as coffee. Also, they require a lot of work because they need to be sealed at least once a year, but then there is that incomparable finish.
Hard Surface
Hard surface countertops were once considered premium before the rise of materials like granite. These countertops are built using acrylics and resins to create an even surface.
Soapstone
Another top pick for finished kitchen ideas for countertops is soapstone. This material can give your kitchen a rustic and classic look, albeit it’s not as soft as many people presume. In addition, it can pick up scratches over time, but if you’re on a budget, you should pick it over marble. Soapstone also develops a patina which improves the aesthetic.
Wood
Wood is still used on countertops, albeit not in the entire kitchen. If you want a rustic look, this is one of the top finished kitchen ideas. Wood is available in dark and light assortments and varying hardness, so you can find something regardless of your budget.
Visualize Your View
Adding window treatment to your kitchen windows is an excellent idea whether the windows are small or large. You might want light control and privacy, or simply a decorative look. Check out some of the options available:
Classic Window Shades
Curtains are the most classic way to improve windows, but they don’t match every space. For instance, if your window is right above the sink, curtains might not be ideal because they can get wet and dirty. Instead, you should consider other finished kitchen ideas like classic Roman shades, which you can roll up when cleaning to prevent them from getting dirty.
Curtains
Curtains are a classic way to embellish any window, whether in the kitchen or not. In the kitchen, you want something nice and plain that doesn’t draw a lot of attention. When choosing the fabric, consider the color of your backsplash, cabinets and countertops because they are the most visible things in your kitchen. However, you should go for something that doesn’t have patterns, albeit you can get a patterned fabric as an accent.
Decorative Accents
You can still make your kitchen windows feel like new windows even without covering them. For instance, you can place vases or vintage seltzer bottles on the window sill.
Shutters
Depending on the style you select; window shutters can have a classic look or a contemporary one. Ensure your kitchen windows have clearance on the sides so you can easily open the shutters in the morning.
Window Valences
If light filtering and privacy aren’t a priority, you can get a window valence instead. Window valences are similar to curtains and shades, but they can be opened or closed. They can be mounted inside the frame or outside to make small kitchen windows seem more prominent.
Contemplate New Appliances
Getting new appliances for your kitchen is one of the best finished kitchen ideas. Appliances occupy a lot of space, so they will dictate how your kitchen is designed. Some of the appliances you should consider changing in your kitchen include:
Dishwasher
Dishwashers are more standardized than refrigerators, with the standard pick being 24 inches wide. Like refrigerators, dishwashers can be paneled by installing a lush door on the front panel to give your kitchen a streamlined look that matches your cabinets.
Fridge
Refrigerator sizes vary so much nowadays that a standard refrigerator no longer exists. You can buy a double-door fridge whereby the freezer is below or on top or a side-by-side fridge where the freezer and cooling space face each other. When getting a refrigerator, there are so many things to consider nowadays, for instance, the ability to integrate with smart homes and size in liters. The bigger, the better, especially if you have a large family.
Microwave
Among the top kitchen appliances, microwaves are often an afterthought because of their affordability and compact size. They can be installed on the cabinet on top of your stove or in combination with ovens.
Range Hood
A range or stove hood is functional as well as aesthetically pleasing, depending on what you get. Function-wise it helps aerate your kitchen by sucking out all smells.
Stove
The possibilities are almost endless when it comes to stoves. You can get a freestanding stove with a cooktop and oven or a countertop-mounted cooktop and cabinet-mounted oven. Also, there are many options regarding fuel, with the common ones being electric coils, gas and induction. Also, you can use wood pellets if you have a pellet stove.
Call Your Local Services
It’s vital that you contact your local services when you want to remodel your kitchen. Some of the local services you need include appliance installers and renovators.
Appliance Installation Services
When you purchase an appliance like a refrigerator or stove, the supplier might ship the product to your door, and that’s it. So who’s going to install it? That’s where appliance installation services come in. They have the tools and expertise to move any appliance to its desired location, install it and test whether the appliance is functional or not.
Kitchen Remodeling Services
When you look at most finished kitchen ideas, it’s apparent that you need to call a kitchen and bath remodeler because this isn’t an easy undertaking. You can DIY some tasks like painting, but for others like wiring, you need to call a pro. Pros can handle your remodeling from start to finish, and since there is a contract, they will fix any mistakes they make.
Also, when it comes to setting a budget for your bath or kitchen remodel, it might sound obvious, buts it’s a lot harder than you think. An experienced kitchen and bath remodel professional can help you come up with a realistic budget for your project.
Don’t Forget to Keep Up with Maintenance
You can come up with a home maintenance checklist, for instance, cleaning your gutters, replacing your HVAC air filter and unblocking clogged rains. All these can be headaches when left unattended, but there are many more, including:
Cleaning Up Stove Spills
If your range doesn’t turn on, perhaps you have spilled food in the cooling area, meaning you need to clean it. Electric ignition ranges or stoves have an igniter situated directly under the hot plate. If the igniter is blocked, the range won’t turn on. So you can use a toothbrush to clean the grease off the igniter or call a professional to do it for you.
HVAC Filter
You should clean your HVAC system’s air filter at least once a month for optimum airflow. If the air filter can be reused, you can vacuum it to remove dust and debris, but if it’s non-reusable, remove it and replace it with a new one.
Unblocking Clogged Drains
Clogged drains are considered inconveniences, but they can also pose a risk to your health. Not only that, a clogged drain in your kitchen sink or bathroom floor can lead to unforeseen damages if left unattended. You can try plunging your kitchen sink or bathroom floor drain, but if unsuccessful, you should call a reputable drain cleaning service. It might be expensive, but these professionals have the expertise, skills and tools to diagnose the cause of the blockage and fix it, preventing further damage to your drain pipe and home.
Washing Machine Hose
Whether your washing machine is situated in the kitchen or elsewhere, you need to check the hose to prevent leaks and/or floods. Check for cracks or deformities; otherwise, you might need to call an appliance repair service to fix your machine.
In conclusion, not many home remodeling plans give as much satisfaction as finished kitchen ideas. This is because the kitchen is the heart of any home, and improving it makes your home more livable and can also boost your home’s overall value. If you want to overhaul your kitchen, consider the ideas listed above.