The Importance of Cabinets & Countertops

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Kitchen cabinets and countertops are often the first items that a homeowner will consider changing. Old cabinets can make a house look outdated, and old countertops look worn after years of wear and tear. Replacing cabinets or countertops alone can transform the look and feel of your kitchen. New cabinets and countertops are an expensive change to make in a kitchen, but if it’s in your budget the end results will be worth the price.

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#1: New Cabinets

Cabinets can be ordered from a large company or a local cabinetmaker. Before you purchase new cabinets think about your needs. New cabinets can create more storage space, style and color. Customized cabinets can be made to fit a particular item. Utilize your cabinets in a way that ties in the rest of the kitchen to give the space a unified look. It is important to take the time to research the type of cabinets you want because there are endless options available.

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#2: New Countertops

The right countertop can take a boring, old kitchen and totally transform it. Countertops come in just about every color and style. There are several different materials that are used to create them, and you can choose one that best fits your price range and style. They can be customized to come with a knife block or one that matches the walls. Countertops are one of the most utilized aspects of a kitchen, and if you like to cook a good surface is extremely important.

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#3: Value

Installing cabinets and countertops in your home will increase its value. These elements can give any home a unique style that will stand out in a buyers mind. They can also provide extra storage space which is a big selling point for home buyers.

Adding these additions to your home is an expensive purchase so make sure you are happy with your choices. If you are looking to save money, laminate countertops that mimic the look of granite or quartz provide an elegant look for half the price.

If you’re interested in installing new cabinets or countertops, CRAFTSMEN Home Improvements offers a variety of cabinet and countertop options. The courteous professionals at CRAFTSMEN are always available for consultation, guidance and installation.

Request A Free In-Home Consultation For Your Kitchen Remodel

The Rewards of Renovation

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Craftsmen Home Improvements, Inc.The kitchen is the heart of the home. It provides a functional space for cooking, cleaning and a place for family gathering. These reasons often make the kitchen a deal maker or breaker for buying and selling. With this in mind, what should be taken into consideration for a kitchen renovation?

Whether you’re seeking to put your home on the market or planning to stay another twenty years, design and functionality should be kept in mind. Design trends change over time so it’s best to stick with a traditional approach that don’t go out of style. Stainless steel is always a safe option for appliances, and hardwood floors will never go out of style.

Focus design dollars on counter space, additional storage and light fixtures. These aspects will add beauty to the kitchen while providing functional value. Potential buyers often look for a stylish kitchen that works together to increase productivity.

Look at your space and ask yourself the following questions: Do the countertops and storage spaces work together or do they create confusion? Are the appliances updated? Do the light fixtures provide effective light and highlight the best features? What impressions do the light sources give? Are they functional? How worn is the flooring material and is an update needed?

If it’s time to update your kitchen you’ll have lots of choices to make when it comes to materials. Decide what is most important to you. Is it price, quality or durability? If your main concern is price, there are plenty of attractive options out there that won’t be too hard on the wallet. Granite and quartz are beautiful options for countertops, but there are laminate surfaces available that mimic their looks for half the price. If you’ve always wanted hard wood floors in your kitchen, but it’s not in the budget, alternative floors exist that give the look.

There are several remodeling projects in the kitchen that are DIY, such as, painting. Depending on your skill level, determine the projects you can do yourself because this will save you a lot of money in the end. However, jobs involving lighting, flooring and cabinetry require the attention of a specialist.  Find a contractor who is committed to giving you the kitchen you want.

Whether you are looking to increase the value of your home or just craving a change, you will gain a lot from a kitchen renovation. Go with a timeless style that you’ll never get tired of. Determine your budget and stick to it, by choosing materials that agree with your wallet. Most importantly, always practice safety while remodeling and know when it is appropriate to call on a professional. Contact Craftsmen Home Improvements Inc., for any questions, comments or concerns about remodeling.

The Kitchen or the Bermuda Triangle?

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Craftsmen Home Improvements, Inc.If your kitchen is like the Bermuda triangle and you keep getting lost, with no luck finding what you need, maybe you need to rethink the design of your kitchen. The kitchen triangle and zone system can help make your kitchen remodeling as convenient as possible.

While the kitchen triangle may be a simple concept, for many homeowners it’s completely foreign. However, it’s not as complicated as it seems.  The kitchen triangle is a fairly old and effective model first used in the 1940’s to help homeowners like you make your kitchen more efficient. This idea for kitchen remodeling in Cincinnati refers to the placement of the three most important stations in your kitchen: The prep station (sink), the food storage station (refrigerator), and the cooking station (stove). Improving the relationships of these three areas can save you steps and make your kitchen easier to use.

The kitchen triangle was especially helpful at the time of its conception, when kitchens were smaller and appliances larger. Positioning the appliances in optimal places relative to one another helped to make cooking more productive. To make your kitchen remodeling in Cincinnati more efficient and user friendly, determine what frustrates you most about how you use your space. Call us for a free in-home consultation, and we will measure the kitchen and appliances to determine space limitations, and plan how placement of each appliance would be most beneficial.

If you find the triangle system is for not you, think about incorporating the zone system for your kitchen remodeling in Cincinnati. This system has gained popularity as kitchens have become places for more than just cooking. Once again, the system is not difficult to implement in your Cincinnati kitchen remodeling. Talk with our consultants. We will help you determine what activities your kitchen is used for, where in the kitchen those activities are performed, and aim to keep each activity in its own zone, with as little overlap between zones as possible.

What is most important about your Cincinnati kitchen remodeling is to know what your family’s needs are – whether you love gourmet cooking or just hanging out. From there, we can help create a design using the kitchen triangle, the zone system, or something else entirely. We are the experts for kitchen remodeling in Cincinnati and can help you with your kitchen triangle, and answer all your questions. Call us at 513-942-6300513-942-6300 to get a free in home Craftsmen consultation for kitchen remodeling in Cincinnati.

Is it Time to Remodel your Kitchen?

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Craftsmen Home Improvements, Inc.When we visit a kitchen for our free in-home consultation, it was probably designed decades ago. While the old wooden cabinets and fussy pastel wallpapers were fashionable in their day, our customers want a newer look. Designs for a remodeled kitchen are trending towards white or gray cabinets and stainless steel appliances, with an overall cleaner, more minimalist feel. Countertops will be simple and apron and farmhouse sinks are popular. One of the top cost saving options for a kitchen is to reface the cabinets rather than replace them. You can save a lot of money and create a new look with refaced cabinets, and our consultants at Craftsmen can help you figure out your best options. Here are a few suggestions.

Appliance Finishes: Most homeowners prefer stainless steel appliances. You can now get appliances with less metallic sheen, rounded handles and rounded edges. The clean, minimalist look is still there, but somewhat softened. Some customers want their kitchen to have appliances integrated into cabinetry for an even more streamlined effect, especially in open kitchens where appliances can be seen from a distance. The most important consideration is that the appliances blend seamlessly into your overall design concept within your entire space. Our consultants can help you create the look you love.

Countertop Finishes: Most homeowners remodeling kitchens want new countertops, with 50% of homeowners choosing granite, and 36% choosing quartz. When we design a new kitchen, it may also have a mixture of different countertop treatments. For example, a butcher block may be incorporated into the workspace. Waterfall countertops, where the counter flows over the side, are increasingly used. Our customers are choosing fewer patterns and more black counters in both granite and quartz – the top two countertop materials we see today.

Apron and Farmhouse Sinks: Apron and farmhouse sinks have a very traditional style. And yet, this is a trend we see on the rise in kitchen design. The new trend is that homeowners mix styles within one kitchen. While a farmhouse sink may seem rustic, there are now many designs with sleeker lines and flat fronts that mesh well with the clean lines our kitchen customers are looking for. Your sink can be a focal point, so be sure to look at our wide variety of styles to choose the features that meet your needs.

Consider Saving Money by Refacing your Cabinets: One way our customers save money remodeling a kitchen is by refacing their kitchen cabinets. This is a cost-effective way to save money, but it does have its limitations. When you completely replace cabinets, you can redesign their size, look and configuration within the space of your kitchen. But when you reface cabinets, the underlying cabinet remains the same. Only the front is updated. The savings are there, but the limitations are there as well.

We are Craftsmen Home Improvements, a Top 500 Remodeler nationwide. To see all that we offer, you can visit us online at Craftsmen Home Improvement Inc. Or, for your free in-home consultation to remodel your kitchen, call us at 513-942-6300513-942-6300.