Finding kitchen inspirations that make financial sense

It is easy to go crazy when it comes to updating your kitchen. However, more important than just getting what you want, you have to factor what makes sense in the financial realm as well. Kitchens are the heart of the home, and as such have to be given the greatest priority in renovation and design. So knowing what is financially savvy is important for long term reward.

Trends Trends come and go, so be leery of jumping on a trend train. Look for timeless upgrades that will keep their value and public appreciation throughout the ages. Timeless design never goes out of style, and this is a wise move in design financially.

Hardware In a kitchen there are many different ways to update a look simply through the various finishes supplied by the hardware. Whether it's faucets, lighting, or cabinet pulls, make sure to be consistent. Pick a finish and use it throughout the design for a polished and professional result. Don't get stuck purchasing from just one place, sometimes the best deals on items come from casting a wide net. Ebay, Amazon and other online outlets often have great prices on bulk items like kitchen drawer pulls and handles.

Pick a look you already live with
 We all have our tastes in design. Some may love vintage, old world, while others appreciate the clean lines of modern design. Thumb through magazines, and save pictures of designs that speak to you. Walk through your home and look for recurring themes in patterns, textures, colors and style. Chances are these are choices you can apply to your kitchen design that you will be able to live with for a long time. Financially this means you'll live with the look a long time and be less likely to grow tired of it. That means less money spent changing things later.

Open concepts
 If your home is an open concept design, you'll need to make sure that the small details make sense.  While the kitchen doesn't have to mirror the room it is open to, it is important that it compliment the room it is connected to. Find common finishes, colors and textures to tie the rooms together. For example, if your living room is open to your kitchen and is primarily traditional in furnishings and colors, don't be afraid to go modern or contemporary in your kitchen, just make sure both rooms share common ground in colors or finishes.  A contemporary lamp with an oil rubbed bronze base, will still still compliment an Old World style oil rubbed lighting fixture because both share the same finish, just a different design aesthetic.


Enjoy your project and see the video below for more great practical tips:

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Renovation points to ponder

Image via WikipediaRenovations in a down market are a scary thing. You often wonder if you are making the right choices and if you are only throwing good money after bad. With the real estate
market in such dire straits, how do you know which renovations are worth it? Do you invest in high end upgrades with the hopes that it will boost your home's value? Or, do you let your home
stay as it is and ride out the market.

If you aren't selling-  The real estate market and design industry spend a great deal of time telling the homeowner and consumer what to have in their homes. Often times you will see a real estate show where as a couple won't even consider a home without the typical bells and whistles of stainless steel and granite. However, this is what the industry has spoon fed into the mouths of the consumer. There are plenty of alternative  counter tops out there that can be used. Don't shoehorn yourself in by what the design industry dictates. You never regret what you love and if you love Butcher block, and black appliances, by all means have it. Especially if you aren't interested in selling within the next ten years. After ten years, reassess your situation and go from there. Design that you love, is never regretted. Upgrades that are part of a media induced trend could come back and bite you, so please yourself first.

If you may sell-  What does your neighbor have? If the bulk of the neighborhood has laminate counter tops, and you run out and install granite, don't expect a whopping return on your investment. Consider a high end laminate upgrade. Laminate has come a long long way in its visual appeal and many offer the exact same look of granite, but at about 45 percent less per square foot installed. If you are selling, recognize in a down market, any upgrade is a good upgrade it doesn't always have to be the high end choices. Don't over improve for your neighborhood, that doesn't mean make no improvements, just make smart ones.  If most of your neighbors have hard wood flooring, by all means you should probably follow suit. If they have carpeting, make sure your carpeting is newer, and of good quality and that will give your home the edge of the neighborhood competition. As always, all upgrades to heating, cooling, roofing, electrical and plumbing are always recommended in every instance.


Older home renovation-  If your home is an older home, think long and hard about which renovations will help, and which will hurt your home. Example, older Victorian style homes
lose their appeal if they have been overly modernized. Always think in terms of what works with your homes style. If your home has a specific Victorian style, don't muck it up with a lot of contemporary changes if you are looking to sell in the next ten years. Instead think of the upgrades people won't see, but will appreciate. New air conditioning, roof, upgraded energy efficient windows, electrical updates, plumbing, heating etc. Older homes are notoriously known for not be energy efficient, so these upgrades will be a real eye opener if you sell and won't mess with your home's design and character nearly as much as contemporary lighting, or zen inspired decor for example.

New home improvements-  Most of us may think a new home would not need any improvements, but a lot of first time home buyers can't always afford the upgrades, or may change their minds
about what they like after living in their new home. Some choices made earlier on may not work any more and it calls for a change. The question is should you make costly improvements on a new home?
If you have bought a new home within the past five years, you may have discovered that you have fallen prey to the real estate market. Some new home owners may be dealing with an upside down mortgage due to small down payments and long mortgage terms. If your home is already in this predicament, you may be well advised to hold off on any major renovations, especially if you are thinking about charging improvements, or tapping into some assumed equity you may not have. Make sure that any renovations are warranted and not just on a whim. Check your homeowners warranty to make sure you aren't waiving your coverage, and don't expect a return on your investment any time soon. If you still wish to go forward with renovation to a new home, do so, and make sure you research your project well. If you are in doubt, hire a architect before ripping down what may be a weight bearing wall, and make sure you have all the necessary permits, as well as checking to make sure your home owners association will allow for changes to your home.

Related articles by this author:

• Things to do before you put your home up for sale
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• DIY Network's Ugliest Kitchen Contest underway
• HGTV helps you become your own designer

Top Home Maintenance articles

Image via WikipediaOnce a year, homeowners need to evaluate condition of their home
Old man winter has definitely made his presence known all over South Carolina as well as the United States. Often times bringing to mind the condition our homes may be in. This is also a good time to start making lists of areas of your home that need winterizing, weather-proofing and over all maintenance. These tips will give you a starting point.  
Read more on: Once a year, home owners need to evaluate the condition of their home

Dealing with damaged drywall
In today's world of interior decor, wall-papering has somehow gotten a bad wrap. Actually there are times when not only is it appropriate, but down right necessary to use wall paper. Often times removal of old wall paper alone, calls for a remedy that is easy and much more forgiving. 
Read more on: How to repair damaged drywall


Maintaining a home renovation and repair file
When we renovate, decorate or make any improvements it is a good idea to keep track of each and every improvement. Not only will this be handy for yourself in the future, but a well maintained and detailed file offered to the next buyer of your home is a great added bonus/incentive. If you keep this file in a safe place, it is also a handy reference if you should need it for insurance purposes.
Read more on how to:  Maintain a home renovation and repair file

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Wonderful ways to renovate on a budget

Image by dawnella66 via FlickrHaving a budget when renovating can either be a hindrance or open up a lot of wonderful creative possibilities. It really comes down to the individual and the determination and creativity they are willing to put their efforts to. If you are the type that has to play it safe with every project, you could be missing out on some wonderful ideas that may seem unconventional but will have broad scope appeal in design.  Read more on Wonderful ways to renovate on a budget

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Trends that may date your home in the future

Image via WikipediaGreat design is all about a seamless transition throughout the ages. Great design seldom follows trends, but instead relies on timeless proven beauty merged with great form and function. When renovating and updating your home you have to use a keen eye to be sure not to be tempted into  a momentary trend that may be taking place at the time your do your remodeling. It is very important in your renovation process not to over use trends that may end up "dating" your home later on.
One has to train their eyes to know the difference between a design element that is timeless, and one that may only be a trend of the times. So how does one avoid the pitfalls of decor trends that will come back to haunt you in the future? There are a few signals to be mindful of. Look for big pushes of certain decor related materials in the home stores. When you see stores stocking up on a lot of certain types of design element, chances are it is a new trend that has emerged. For instance, glass tile backsplash is easy to install and seen more and more in kitchen and bath renovations. Because it is a hot item right now and also is convenient for do it yourself types to install it is going into kitchen and baths everywhere. There is no sure fire way of determining that this may be a temporary trend or an ear mark of the time period, but from a designer stand point it is beginning to seem a little "too trendy". That being said, if you truly love it, you should always do it. Other ways to determine whether some renovation element is a trend, is by seeing if it has been around for a while. Usually items that are here to stay in design and decor will have shown up many times through out the ages. Go back 20-30 years and see what design elements are still being used. This is a good indicator that this may be a design/decor element that will have some staying power and be hard to pin down to a trend that was done in the 2010 period.  This is not limited to any particular material, or style. Sometimes the best way to get a trendy look to stay fashionable after it has stayed its welcome is to always incorporate old and new together. Merging old and new together keeps the livelihood of the design going and it is able to easily transition the eras. See HGTV's Flooring Trend: Layering area rugs.
Old bathrooms that have some high end finishes, can actually become a trend in and of itself. Make sure though, the old element of another era still has something attractive working for it. Salmon colored tiles will have a hard time merging with anything contemporary in a classy way. There are usually great work around for all bad trends from the past. Mixing traditional, with contemporary, and modern with classic can be a great look. See:  HGTV's Contemporary Style in a Traditional Living Room. The most important thing to remember is they still have to share some common way  in how they relate to each other. Sometimes the new design trend needs to be downplayed, sometimes the older traditional elements in your home need to be downplayed.
With most clever budget friendly designs and remodels it is all about the moderation, and the relationships between the contrasting items. An old iron candlestick may pair well with a new set of contemporary bookends. What can the common ground be? Maybe it is the dark colors, or the shapes involved. Train your eye to find the likenesses between old and new and you will be able to bypass being caught in a trend time warp.

Potential hazards to be aware of during home renovations

Image by Enokson via Flickr

Many times when a homeowner decides to take on home renovations, hazards are uncovered that must be addressed. Some are obvious such as mold, and others are not as obvious, like Radon. It is a waste of time and money to make any improvements if the potential hazards are not addressed first. Many older homes pose additional threats to the health and safety of those renovating them. It is important to know what hazards your home may be hosting.
Lead- In homes built prior to 1978, lead was used liberally in everything from the paint on the walls to the pipes that were installed for the plumbing. Lead is a toxic metal and can permeate the air in the form of dust particles when sanding walls down, or in the water of the plumbing pipes. It can even be found in the soil around the home. When purchasing a home, it is in the buyers best interest if the home is older than 1978 to have a certificate that the home is lead safe. If you have bought a home that was built prior, do not sand any painted surfaces. There are lead encapsulating paints available to contain the lead from becoming airborne.

Radon- This is a colorless and odorless gas that comes up into the home from the ground, and is considered the one of the primary causes of lung cancer today. If a home has a basement or any part of its foundation that is in the ground there could be a chance of risk of this gas seeping into your home. The Environmental Protection Agency provides maps of areas that have been known to have high concentrations of this gas found and you can contact them to be on the safe side. Radon detectors are also readily available and should be used prior to renovations.

Mold- Mold is comprised of microscopic organisms that grow in a wide variety of areas. Mold can be found growing in old damp areas, carpet, walls, ceilings, even wall paper and wood. Mold also can be in a wide variety of colors, ranging from green, black, gray, yellow and even pink. A home with large amounts of mold present is a hazard and should not be purchased. On a large scale mold is costly to remove and is a red flag to drainage and leak issues. Where there is mold, there is likely damp rotten wood, which is attractive to termites. Small isolated areas of mold can be taken care of by the homeowner, as long as the source of the problem is addressed first. Washing the areas in a bleach solution will only temporarily take care of the problem if the core cause is not addressed.

Asbestos- The use of asbestos was banned in 1985 in the construction of homes and in all materials associated with homes. Asbestos is a fibrous material that was once desirable because it offered great insulation and was fire resistant. It is found in a number of materials used in construction from siding to floor tiles to roof coverings. Disturbing anything that may have asbestos in it may cause it to be airborne and result in severe illness. Assume any home built prior to 1985 has this material used in it throughout and consult with professionals before doing any major renovations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Older home renovations, things to consider

Older homes have charm and beauty galore, but they also need to be updated in ways that make sense economically and environmentally. There are things to be prepared for before renovation begins. Never go into a home renovation project without some information beforehand.  Otherwise, you could end up spending a fortune in a renovation that has no end in sight.
Priorities - Always factor in what is a priority in renovations with older homes. Is the purpose to simply update old fixtures and appliances? Is your goal to replace heating, electrical, plumbing etc? Think from the outside-in with older homes. Issues concerning energy efficiency should be addressed initially. Don't start something you can't finish. Make sure you know what your own personal limits are with regards to renovation/home improvement experience. If it could get over your head, be smart enough to realize it and call in professionals.

Expect the unexpected- Even well planned renovations can be sidetracked by things that come up that couldn't be factored in. Always leave a buffer in the budget for those unforeseen issues. Sometimes you open a hornets nest when doing a project. This is good and bad. Sometimes a hidden issue like termites or mold could be lurking that you would never have realized until it was too late. That being said,  don't let renovations that make sound economic sense stop you.

Reface or replace?- When doing older home renovations, you may opt for refacing a lot of the surfaces. This could be a bad idea especially in homes that are very old. For instance putting sheet rock over old walls that are poorly insulated and built with plaster and wooden slats isn't wise. There could be underlying issues that you can't see that could come back to haunt you later, resulting in a tear down of the reface and the old layer beneath. New over old usually isn't the best route to take.

Does it fit?- Do not make the mistake of assuming that the new standards fit  the old standards even when the measurements are the same.  Even dealing with homes that are only a few decades old, replacing things like sinks, and tubs in bathrooms will be a challenge. Many homes had cabinetry, tubs and sinks site-built and installed  during the construction. The room may have been built specifically around those pieces. When you go to replace an old tub unit with a new one you may be in for a surprise. Yes the measurements may be the same, but it doesn't mean it will fit into the space. Be prepared to do additional carpentry to make the new unit fit into the old space. This is particularly important if you are replacing a tub/shower single piece unit with a tub and wall set.

How much and how long ?- If you are doing all the work yourself, assume that it will cost around 15-30% more than what your initial budget is. The same goes for how long the project will be. Never assume a weekend project is a "weekend project". Be prepared for it to take several weekends, even if you thought it was a simple renovation. In older homes, there are no simple renovations, especially if you are doing the job yourself.

Safety first- Older home renovations, especially those 30+ years old, have certain risk factors involved. Research the potential hazards, and have your home checked out prior to any renovation for lead paint and asbestos. Make sure to purchase safety gloves, goggles, and filtered masks during renovation. Don't renovate on the fly, do your homework first.