Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to give you a plan or guideline
to follow in pursuit of your
dream kitchen. If you are considering remodeling your kitchen,
or if you are building a
new home or cottage, this article will provide you with some
important information and
some great ideas to make sure your dream kitchen doesn’t
turn into a nightmare! We
have been in the Kitchen and Bath business for many years
and have sold literally
thousands of kitchens. From this experience, we have learned
a great deal about what
goes into a great kitchen remodel; and the design and beauty
of the products are only a
part of the whole project. This paper is going to lay the
groundwork of what you need to
do to ensure that your project goes smoothly from the design
all the way to your
completed kitchen, one that you will be proud to show off
to your friends and relatives.
It will also give you some insight as to how a kitchen-remodeling
project works and
hopefully answer some of the questions you might have about
the process.
We’re not going to spend a lot of time covering the
details of the products, as that
information is readily available from the manufacturers (for in-depth product information check out our e-showroom.) We also aren’t going to get into
detail on kitchen designing, that’s
why we have designers on staff but we will get you thinking
about some design
considerations that will help customize your kitchen to the
way you want to use it.
Let’s start out with a few broad questions (with equally
broad answers) that we hear over
an over again.
I’ve heard horror stories
about kitchen remodeling projects…are they true?
Unfortunately, some of them are, but in our experience the
vast majority of horror stories are the result of a few avoidable
situations. 1) A failure to communicate; A kitchen remodeling
project is an extremely complex project and one in which a
number of people are involved all at different times. There
is the designer, the installer, countless subcontractors (plumber,
electrician, flooring, etc) a miscommunication between any
of the parties can mean troubles. 2) Inexperienced or incompetent
designer or remodeling contractor. Unfortunately, there are
some of them around and that’s why it is important to
do business with only those with a proven track record. 3)
Unanticipated problem with the structure. This is the case
more often with older homes but unanticipated problems can
come up with some newer homes as well. The remodeler doesn’t
have x-ray vision so he or she can’t tell what might
lurk behind your walls floors or ceilings. Most often the
problems can be resolved but it can be disruptive to the project.
To
avoid the horror stories, make sure you are doing business
with a company or
individual that you can trust, make sure all details are in
writing, and check references
that the remodeler supplies. Be aware that if you have an
older home, some issues may
arise when the old kitchen is torn out. Standard Kitchens
uses a detailed selection form
that actually forces the exact detail of all product selection
to be written down and
thoroughly explained so everyone fully understands the project
specifications.
Only
contractors with a proven record of remodeling success are
allowed to become part
of the Preferred Contractor program at Standard Kitchens.
How much does a kitchen remodel
cost?
With every kitchen remodel being unique, that is a tough question
to answer. So our best
answer is “that depends” or to be more precise;
probably somewhere between $5,000 and
$50,000. I know that’s not the answer you were looking
for but it’s really the best we can
do. Here are just a few of the things that come into play
when determining the cost of a
remodel project; size of the room, type of cabinets (custom,
stock, semi-custom), type of
wood or other material the cabinet is made from, door style
of the cabinet, number of
cabinets, height of cabinets, number and types of cabinet
accessories used in the design,
type of countertops, size of countertops, cost of appliances,
flooring type, lighting, cost to tear out the old, site work
to prepare for the new cabinet install, plumbing and electrical
work required, plus a few dozen other variables. So throwing
out a meaningful number is
pretty much impossible.
How long does it take?
Once again…that depends. If it is an average size kitchen
and it is a simple tear out the
old cabinets and put new ones in along with new counter tops,
it might take two to three
days. But if it is a large kitchen where there are structural
changes that need to be made
to the home (i.e. new wiring, bulkhead work, windows, etc.)
it might be more like two to
three weeks.
Can I do it myself?
It could be done, but unless you have previous experience
as a finish carpenter, or you
can work side by side with one, we would not recommend a kitchen
remodel as a do-ityourself project. With the cost and complexity
of the product and the visibility of the
finished project, we feel it is best to put your project in
the hands of a qualified licensed
remodeling contractor.
Is it worth it?
If you look at it from a strictly monetary standpoint, according
to Remodel Magazine’s
“Cost vs. Value” comparison, remodeling your kitchen
ranks toward the top of the list
when it comes to the percentage of cost recovered when the
home is sold. There are
many variables that come into play in figuring this and the
numbers they cite are national
averages but the study shows a return of between 90 and 100%
for a kitchen remodel. If
you look at whether it is worth it from what I call the “utility”
view, you need to consider
the increased enjoyment and convenience you will get from
your new kitchen as opposed
to the one you slave in now. That’s a judgment that
each individual has to make on his or
her own. And finally, sometimes updating the kitchen is what
it takes to make the home
saleable when it’s put on the market. In those cases,
it makes sense to remodel now and
enjoy rather than wait until you are going to sell the place
and then do it.
What’s
up with these discounts?
This is one we hear a lot. And you’ll be wondering too
once you start shopping around
for cabinets. So here’s the story. All of the cabinet
manufacturers use a list or reference
price this makes it easy for them to maintain pricing throughout
the whole supply chain
(manufacturer, distributor, retailer) It makes it easy for
everyone in the chain since all
costs and prices are calculated from this reference price.
When there is a price change or
a new product line introduced, the list price is changed and
automatically all of the sell
prices and costs are adjusted. The list price should never
be used as a comparison point
between cabinets from two different manufacturers as it is
likely they are using two
totally different discount structures to compute the final
selling price of the cabinets. We
always advise people to disregard list prices and discounts
and look at the bottom line
price the dealer provides if they want to make an accurate
comparison between two
cabinet quotes. Claims of savings of 70% and more should be
taken with a grain of salt
and approached with close scrutiny of the bottom line rather
than the discount off “list.”
What is the difference between
“stock”, “semi-custom”, and “custom”
cabinets?
This is kind of the good, better, best line up in the cabinet
world. Stock cabinets would
be more aptly called “standard” cabinets as they
mostly aren’t kept in stock (inventory)
any longer. These days, most manufacturers build cabinets
to order a kitchen at a time as
opposed to having warehouses full of finished goods. Stock
cabinets are the basic
cabinets of their line they are typically built in specific
sizes (widths in 3” increments
starting at 9” wide, and a variety of heights (12,15,18,24,30,36,and
42 inches) and usually
only 12 or 24 inches deep. Stock cabinets have fewer options
available than the custom
and semi custom lines but manufacturers keep adding options
blurring the line between
Stock and Semi-custom to where the distinction is some cases
is minor.
When you move from Stock to Semi-Custom, one of the big advantages
you will notice is
the broader range of colors, wood species, and door styles
that are available to you. Also,
many Semi-custom lines offer the option of extended widths
or reduced depths. Often
the Semi custom cabinets will also feature upgraded hardware
such as sturdier drawer
glides.
Beyond semi-custom cabinets are what are known as Full Custom
Cabinets. Here you
will see even more options and accessories and the ability
to have specialty cabinets
made to your exact specifications. You can have your cabinets
finished to match existing
furniture or trim; you can have pretty much any size cabinet
built to fit a specific area.
Of course you pay a premium for all of this flexibility. (top of page)
Building your team:
It takes a great team to successfully complete a kitchen-remodeling
project. You need to
involve a skilled professional remodeling contractor, a designer
who is skilled in kitchen
design and has your best interests in mind, and you need a
supplier who can provide the
products that go into the project on time, complete, and without
defects.
Let’s
look at each team member individually:
The
Professional Remodeling Contractor: The
remodeling contractor is the “conductor” of the
project. This is the person who is going to transform the
dream kitchen from drawings on paper to the real thing…your
new kitchen! Here are a few things to look for… Licensed,
the remodeling contractor must hold a current valid builder’s
license in the State he/she is doing business. Insured, it
is real important that the remodeling contractor that you
contract with has adequate liability insurance. Experienced,
it is best to work with someone who has remodeled kitchens
before. Just because someone has a builder’s license
doesn’t mean they are qualified to remodel your kitchen.
Professional, you want to deal with someone who runs their
business professionally, someone who uses contracts and presents
themselves in a professional manner, Personable, you are going
to be working with this person throughout the project so it’s
important that he/she is someone you can get along with, who
is friendly and who can communicate. Organized, with all of
the little details that go into a kitchen remodeling project
it is really important to get someone who is organized and
can keep all of those little details in order. If not, there
is a good chance the kitchen you end up with won’t quite
be the one you wanted. References, Most remodeling contractors
will have references from projects they have done. Take the
time to check the references out.
All
of the Standard Kitchens Preferred Contractors meet all of
the requirements listed
above. We screen each contractor to make sure they fit our
demanding criteria before we
sign them up as a Preferred Contractor. We know the work that
they do is a direct
reflection on us so we take great pains to make sure we only
select the cream of the crop
to be a part of our Preferred Contractor program.
The Designer: The designer is the person who actually designs the layout
for your
kitchen. This is the person who ultimately determines if you
end up with a great kitchen,
a mediocre one, or even a bad one. Make sure you are comfortable
with your kitchen
designer… is he/she experienced? Have your best interests
in mind? Friendly. Does
he/she listen to what you say?
In the not so distant past, designing a kitchen was a piece
of cake; measure up the walls,
put the sink under the window, put the appliances in to fit
the “work triangle” and then
fill the empty space with cabinets. Today, however the vast
number of available options
and the new role as “nerve center” the kitchen
has taken on require a lot more thought
and creativity in order to design a kitchen that works the
way you do and looks the way
you want it to.
You may hear some people talk about “computer design”
or “computer aided design”
when it comes to designing kitchens. In many cases it’s
more “computer filled in” than
designed as many of these design programs simply fill the
wall space with cabinetry in
the most efficient way possible (not necessarily with the
best design principles). At
Standard Kitchens, we use the computer to generate computer
renderings and
perspectives of our designers’ kitchen designs.
Standard Kitchens hires quality designers and trains them
in proper kitchen design with
an emphasis on being able to design a kitchen that fits the
life style of the client rather
than simply designing a kitchen to fit the space available.
The Supplier: The supplier is the place where the products that go into
the kitchen come from. The way to select a supplier is much
like the way you choose where you shop for other things…you
want to consider the combination of quality, selection, service,
and price and choose the supplier that combines them to give
you the most value. Of these considerations, service is the
one of most importance in selecting a supplier for a successful
kitchen-remodeling project. Service here is not just about
a smiling friendly face at the desk when you walk in the showroom,
it is the ability to deliver your kitchen on time, complete,
and as ordered. It is being responsive to your questions and
concerns during the remodeling process. It is about being
treated courteously throughout the entire transaction and
it is about after the sale service. Standard Kitchens is a
part of Standard Companies a family owned company that has
been in business in West Michigan for over 100 years serving
homeowners and professional builders. (You can read about
our history on our website www.standardkitchens.com)
You: You are a big part of this team. And it is your responsibility
to become an astute shopper for this important purchase. Your
final product (your dream kitchen) and the total kitchen remodeling
experience will be enhanced if you invest a little time in
educating yourself and planning your project. Standard Kitchens
can assist you with this. Through our interviewing process
when you first visit one of our showrooms, the designer will
be able to incorporate your wants and needs into your kitchen
design.
So,
don’t be a passive consumer, take the time to do some
thinking about what you want your kitchen to look like and
how you are going to use your kitchen. The more we know about
your wants and needs, the better we can tailor the design
for you.
You
also need to spend a little time figuring out your budget
for the project, which is the next topic. (top of page)
Budgeting for
your new kitchen
It’s a good idea to get a handle on your budget for
the project prior to getting too far into the process. The
reason is that the designer can do a much better job of designing
your kitchen and tailoring it to your wants and needs if the
designer has an idea of how much money has been budgeted for
the project. It’s not that the designer is going to
make sure to use up the entire budget or to try to get you
to spend more than you want to. The fact is that there are
so many options and ways to design a kitchen that knowing
the budget will help guide the selection process and make
sure any trade-offs that need to be made to fit the budget
are the best ones to make.
How
do you determine what you want to spend for a kitchen project?
There are a number of things to consider; how long you plan
on staying in the home, the value of the home and homes in
the neighborhood, how much time you and your family spend
in the kitchen (preparing, dining, socializing), the availability
of funds to complete the project, the importance of amenities
(fancy trims, deluxe appliances, custom finishes, etc.)
In
a remodeling project, it is impossible to get a quote for
the project prior to the design being done, the remodeling
contractor visiting the home, and selections made. This makes
it hard to determine a starting budget figure. Books and magazine
articles throw out cost figures for kitchen remodeling that
are all over the board. But the fact remains you need some
sort of starting figure so you can get an idea for budgeting.
We recommend you use the following ranges for initial budgeting
to give you a very rough idea of how much of an investment
is required.
Basic
small to medium kitchen (L-shaped) entry-level stock cabinets,
laminate countertops, basic appliance package; No structural
work required (electrical, plumbing, walls, bulkheads, windows,
doors) you should figure $8,000 - $10,000 as a starting point
for this type of remodeling project. The cabinets represent
approximately 1/3 of this total with appliances and counter
tops another 1/3, and labor the other 1/3. That’s a
pretty
wide range and a real general description of the project and
the $8,000-$10,000 figure
really only gives you a starting point. Some publications
simply break kitchen
remodeling projects down to minor and major remodeling and
show $15,000-$20,000 as
a range for minor and $40,000 and up as major remodeling.
So, to sum it up, these dollar amounts are very rough guidelines
to give you a general feel
for what is might cost to redo your kitchen. It is not to
say you will be able to re-do your
kitchen for that amount. Also, don’t be fooled by outrageous
discounts and claims of
“this kitchen installed in your home for only $2,999.”
A kitchen remodel is a complex
project and no one can produce an accurate quotation without
seeing the actual project
site. (top of page)
Determining
what you want
In this section, we are going to talk about some of the decisions
you will need to make
during the design process. Standard Kitchens designers are
trained it what we call
“lifestyle design” which simply means designing
the kitchen to fit with your
lifestyle…young growing family, single, empty nester,
etc. Our designers will be asking
you some questions about how you will be using your kitchen…do
you like to bake,
gourmet cook, have a group of people over and hang out in
the kitchen? Do you often
have two or more people cooking in the kitchen at the same
time?
There is really no right or wrong way to go about determining
what you want you kitchen
to be. But if you invest a little time in the process the
payoff will be a kitchen you will
enjoy working in and will be proud to show off to you friends
and relatives. First thing to
do is start a list of the things that ‘bug’ you
about your current kitchen. A good way to do
this is have a writing pad handy right in the kitchen and
jot down the little irritants as they
come up…like when you go to put the frying pan away
and there is no good place to put
the lid and you have to take out five other pans to fit the
fry pan in. Or when you bring in
the groceries and there is no place near the refrigerator
to put the bags so you end up
walking back and forth all the way across the kitchen just
to put the groceries away. Get
the idea? You should also write down things about your current
kitchen you wouldn’t
want to give up. Like if your current kitchen has a three-bowl
sink with a built in hot
water dispenser and you’ve gotten to where you would
feel lost without it. Write it down,
cause you’re going to want one of those in the new kitchen
as well. The next thing to do
is make a wish list, “I really wish my kitchen had lazy
susan” or “It would sure be nice to
have a spice drawer where I could keep all my spices in order”
Write out all you wishes
on another page of you pad.
Another thing you will find helpful is to review the selection
guide found at the end of
this paper. This is the information the designer will be asking
you for in order for the
designer to design you kitchen to fit your lifestyle.
You are going to be picking out a lot of products, cabinets,
accessories, appliances,
countertops, etc. By doing some thinking ahead about the choices
you are going to be
making, you will be less apt to become overwhelmed when the
time comes to choose. If
you are working with a design professional like the ones you
will find at Standard
Kitchens, the designer has the expertise to guide you through
these decisions. The goal
of a good designer is to help you make the best selection
decisions for your kitchen, not
to see how much stuff he or she can sell you.
As far as product choices go, the larger the budget, the more
you have to choose from.
Here again, a good professional designer can give you a lot
of help and direction.
Cabinets: Door styles, wood species, finish,
options, hardware, accessories
Counter tops: Type of material (laminate,
solid surface, granite, etc.), color, edge - see our countertop buyers guide for more info
treatment, backsplash material and style, sink
Appliances: gas or electric, color, features,
options
Don’t get overwhelmed by all the choices, but do take
some time to check out what’s out
there. Check out the Web, visit Parade of Homes, look at lifestyle
magazines (and tear
out ideas that strike you) and be observant whenever you are
in someone else’s kitchen.
This will help educate you and make the selection process
a bit easier. (top of page) |
