Thursday, December 31, 2009

Tips for Remodeling and Modernizing Your Kitchen

By Sue Tandor

If your kitchen is out-dated and you are considering a remodel, the best place to start is deciding a budget and how you will spend it. Some people opt for an extreme route that involves removing a wall to create a larger kitchen with an open, more modern feel. Generally speaking, though, you probably will make some small changes to improve and modernize the look and functionality of your kitchen. Below are some remodeling suggestions:

1) Kitchen granite counter tops are now what is "in" as practically no new home is being built without granite. There are several reasons for this, the most obvious one being that granite comes in all sorts of colors and looks absolutely great. Another reason is that granite is one of the best surfaces you can get for cleanliness. Granite can be made very smooth on top and this leaves no minute nooks and crannies for germs to gather as they might do in other counter top materials. Installing a granite counter top in your old kitchen is one of the best ways to make an immediate impact for the better.

2) Your kitchen sink can be as fancy as you want it to be. Since the kitchen sink gets the most use of any sink in the house, you want to be sure yours will wear well and not chip. Another classic look for kitchen sinks is stainless steel, and you'll see these stainless sinks in many new homes, too. The most important thing is that the sink style you choose blends in well with your kitchen design.

3) Islands are one of the more common installations during an upgrade. If you are lucky enough to have a kitchen large enough for an island, be sure to consider a variety of designs so that you choose an island that suits your style and function. Some homeowners prefer to install the sink or range in the island itself. Of course, you have the option to install a plain island to provide extra counter space. The most important thing to consider before getting an island is whether your kitchen is large enough to house it.

4) Flat screen televisions are everywhere now that the prices on them have gone down substantially. One of the places people are interested in having one of those flat screens is in the kitchen. When you look for kitchen TVs, you have the option of getting one that was specifically made for the kitchen or one that wasn't. Usually the ones that are made for the kitchen attach under the cabinets and are of the small variety. These kitchen TV's flip up and down so you can hide it when it is not in use. If you want a regular bigger TV, you will most likely have to mount it on the wall somewhere in the kitchen.

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