We sat down with Helen and Terri, the kitchen designers at Green Art, to go over some topics about planning a kitchen remodel. They shared some helpful tips and interesting insights about updating the heart of your home.
What are the most important things to consider before starting the process of a kitchen remodel?
First, you want to find your style. Look online or stop by the Green Art showroom for some ideas to figure out what you like best – modern and contemporary, or classic and traditional. You can even take some ideas from friends or family who have recently renovated.
Allow significant time for the project to be completed. Custom cabinetry can take anywhere between 4-8 weeks to be made and delivered. Let the process run its course; don’t rush to get it done. Rome wasn’t built in a day!
Make sure you are financially ready to take on the project. Set a budget, but also set aside extra funds just in case something comes up. This will make it much less of a burden if/when you run into unexpected expenses.
Organizing and prioritizing your wants and needs is important. For example, in my own kitchen, I decided I didn’t need a dish washer in lieu of more cabinet space. Think about the accessibility of your appliances and countertop space in relation to what the nearby drawers and cabinets will hold.
You want to get in touch with a professional designer to really understand the scope of your project. Whether you’re just replacing worn-out fixtures, looking for new cabinetry, or gutting the entire room, working with a professional will make everything easier.
What can a customer expect when coming into Green Art to work with a professional kitchen designer?
Expect to answer a lot of questions! We’ll need to know your price range, style preferences, the appliances you currently have, the new fixtures you’re looking for, along with a floor plan. So when meeting with a professional designer, you’ll want to know your measurements. Have a sense of the size of your kitchen, how large your appliances and cabinets are, and other important aspects of the space. That way, we can appropriately plan a layout and place everything into the 3D digital design software and you can see your new kitchen come to life.
What makes a better sink – stainless steel or cast iron?
It’s more of a style choice. Neither is better than the other and both will last if they are purchased from a quality manufacturer. Whichever one you choose, you’ll want to do an under-mounted sink.
What are the options for countertops?
Granite is a natural stone that comes in large slabs, which you could pick out at a granite yard. It is semi-porous, so it would need to be sealed once a year.
Quartz is a mixture of natural stone and man-made composite that has been crushed and made into slabs, so each pattern is different. It does not require any sealing nor much maintenance.
Marble is also a natural stone that comes in smaller slabs. It is extremely porous and needs to be sealed several times a year.
There are other surface materials such as Corian and laminates such as Formica that are man-made and do not require sealing. These options are not as popular as the first three because they are easily damaged by hot pans and sharp knives and are known to chip at the corners.
What are your thoughts on appliances?
Stainless steel is very popular because it’s strong and it resists tarnishing. Many choose the option to have their appliances paneled – where the cabinet style is installed over it – which is an added expense to include in your budget, should you choose to do it.
What would you advise to someone who is looking for new cabinets?
There are so many different styles, colors, and wood species of cabinets to choose from. First, decide if you prefer framed or frameless cabinetry. Framed cabinets are the more American style, where the hinges are on the frame. Frameless cabinet hinges sit on the box. Learn more by checking out framed and frameless cabinets from Dynasty or Omega cabinetry and KitchenCraft.
What about the hardware for the cabinets?
Handles and knobs are subject to style choice and preference. We see a lot of contrast, such as oil-rubbed bronze hardware on white or light colored cabinets, or a finish like polished nickel or chrome on darker colored cabinets.
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