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Remodeling 101 Part 2 making your selections

Remodeling 101 Part 2 – Making Your Selections.

We continue our remodeling 101 series with part 2 –  making selections for a kitchen remodel project. A remodel is like a journey, so to speak. To make a journey successful and memorable, much planning must take place. The purpose for the journey must be established up front, of course.  Financially, plans must be made and adhered to. Small details must be addressed while at the same time, the big picture of the journey must not be lost in the details.   Otherwise, the journey may result in a miserable experience for everyone involved.  Avoid these types of problems when planning for a kitchen remodel.

Let’s get started

Now that you have determined your budget goals (Remodeling 101 Part 1:  Budgeting and Planning Remodel), it’s time to talk “ design.” A kitchen remodel must begin with focus on planning and designing for the space you have. Cabinetry will most likely consume the majority of your budget in the kitchen and will dictate the space and layout.  

A major kitchen remodel must be completed in the right order for maximum efficiency.  Working with an experienced kitchen designer is a key factor to obtaining the best layout for function, organization, aesthetics and overall flow of your kitchen remodel.

 

A kitchen designer can help you with all the elements involved and will suggest that you make your selections in this order. Consider the Selection Guide shown here:

  • Cabinetry design & space planning                         
  • Appliances
  • Flooring
  • Cabinet finishes
  • Countertop material & finishes
  • Backsplash
  • Sinks & fixtures
  • Lighting
  • Cabinet hardware

While the Selection Guide may seem daunting and overwhelming, the biggest factor is to understand all the possibilities up-front instead of as an afterthought. Please note that cabinets are mentioned 3 times in this process. After 15 plus years of remodeling kitchens, we know the process that works best for most of our clients. The only time the process doesn’t follow this order – is when the planning & design function is completely left up to the designer. (Omitting the client)

Keep in mind that this Selection Guide will provide the order in which your decisions should be made.   It’s okay to be thinking about all of these components at the same time. But, ideally this is the order that works best for most clients, even those that are well organized and know exactly what they want. Based on our past experiences with our clients, the more our designers use the Selection Guide with clients, the better satisfied the clients are with the final product.  Now, let’s break down each step.

cabinet design ideas, kitchen design ideas, remodeling

Cabinetry design & space planning in your kitchen layout.

Cabinetry design & space planning

During this stage of the process, you really should postpone thoughts of  everything else and focus on designing your space. When remodeling a kitchen, think function, efficiency, style and longevity. Choose cabinets you love and a layout that works for your family’s lifestyle. If you like to cook, organizing your kitchen for your cooking style may be your priority. Let’s say that you love to entertain in your kitchen.  If so, you need a layout that allows for people in your kitchen while maintaining your work zone. Maybe you want your kitchen to be the main command center in your home. A desk area where you would sort mail and work on your computer may be needed. Of course some people like  the “WOW factor,” and insist on the newest styles and trends.    Kitchens are used in different ways by couples and families. Allow your cabinet design & space planning to meet your specific goals.  Needless to say, the majority of our client time is used for design & space planning.

custom hood, wolf range, appliances

Appliances need to be selected early in the process. Location and sizes are important in design.

Appliances

If you thought about appliances during your budgeting phase, you probably have an idea of the features you would like. In order to finalize your cabinet design, you need to make your final appliance selections. Size matters and depending on your selections, you may gain or lose space for your cabinets. So plan carefully and discuss your decision with your design team.

Flooring

I am sure by now you have been thinking about what type of flooring to use. Many people already have hardwood floors in their kitchen and opt to have those refinished for a fresh new look. Changing out and replacing your floors can be an expensive part of the project compared to keeping and refinishing an existing floor. Before you make other finish selections, we recommend you give much consideration to the flooring selection.

Choose cabinet finishes

Over the years we have found that often people approach cabinet design with a picture. And while we can certainly replicate most finishes, we can’t make a picture of a kitchen fit into your space. Once you have decided on the cabinet design and your appliances, (the most expensive parts of the remodel), you can think about your finishes.  We provide sample finishes in our showroom from which our customers may make the selections.  If a custom sample is needed we usually start with a selection of crown molding in order to establish a color.  Once that decision is made, we provide a sample cabinet door. Sample cabinet doors will prove to be invaluable  when you are ready to select the countertops and backsplash that you prefer.  

white cabinets, quartz counter-tops, marble backsplash

Cabinet finishes, counter-tops and tile backsplash bring together all the elements for the final touches.

Countertop material & finishes

Now that you have your cabinet finishes selected, it’s time to shop around for the perfect countertop. The options are only limited by your budget as price is usually based upon the type of material used and the quantity available. Of course the most common material used today is granite, but marble and man-made stones are in very close second place.

Backsplash

Often you can select your backsplash at the same time you select your countertops. It’s highly recommended to make an appointment when you decide to shop around for tile and granite, the most popular choices for a backsplash. When you enter a showroom with an appointment, you are more likely to be served quickly. Be sure to bring an elevation view of your design drawings so the vendor will be able to provide a quick estimate of materials that you will need for the backsplash.   For the visit to your first vendor, we recommend that you allow yourself at least 1 hour for your tile presentation /discussion and 1 hour for your granite presentation/discussion.  By the time you visit your next vendor, you will be much more informed about what you are looking for and can narrow your selections down much faster. We would advise that you to visit only two vendors per day.  Too much information and too many choices can be overwhelming.

For a bathroom remodel

If you are working on a bathroom project and plan to have floor and wall tile with several patterns and pieces, you will need to schedule two hours at each showroom.

white cabinets, antique brass fixtures & hardware

This homeowner chose to use antique brass for her lighting, fixtures and hardware finishes.

Sinks & fixtures

Selecting your sink and fixtures will likely be the easiest decisions to make. However, keep in mind that specs for farm sinks, apron front sinks, and oversized sinks need to be provided to your cabinet designer early in the planning stage.  Nothing can be more disappointing than having a sink too big for your countertop  due to lack of communication. Clients tend to worry about fixture finishes. There is no right or wrong selections when it comes to mixing metals. For example, a stainless steel sink and faucet will complement just about any type of hardware or light fixtures.   

Lighting

Lighting can be a great selection to add a touch of your own personality. Many people consider lights to be a complement to the kitchen design. Selecting the perfect pendants or chandelier can be time consuming with so many options available online. We recommend selecting lighting components that will provide you with plenty of light, that are easy to clean, and will add charm to your kitchen.

Cabinet hardware

Cabinet hardware has improved greatly in the last 15 years. With so many options, narrowing down your favorites can prove difficult.  As much as we would love for hardware to be selected when the cabinet finishes are selected, it is rarely the reality. Clients tend to let hardware be one of the final decisions they make. Selecting the perfect hardware for your kitchen is, of course, another big decision.  We understand that you want the hardware to coordinate with all of your other selections. It can be difficult to visualize which hardware will look best.  For example, some pieces are minimal while others are bulky.  Don’t hesitate to seek the advice of your kitchen and bath designer. Having seen many styles and finishes over the years, we have a good idea about which pieces look really great and those that only look OK.

ONE STEP AT A TIME

Taking things one-step-at-a-time and having the guidance of a kitchen and bath designer will make your kitchen remodel a more enjoyable experience. Following our recommended order in the Selection Guide will allow you to soar through the process with all decisions made at the appropriate times. Kitchen and bath designers can help with as little or as much of the process as you need. Some of our clients prefer to take an active role in making the decisions while others leave all the options to us.

The scope of your project will determine how long this process takes. The process of simply removing old cabinets and installing new ones is definitely less complicated than removing walls and/or changing plumbing and electrical locations. Whatever the scope of your project may be, please maintain patience and focus so that you will be pleased with the end result.

The next part in our Remodeling 101 Series is Tearing it out and Replacing it with beautiful Walker Woodworking Cabinetry. Click this link to view post. 

Thanks for reading, tell us what you think, was this article helpful? We would love to have your comments.

Did you miss the intro to this remodeling series? Click this link to see it now.

Did you miss Part 1 Budgeting and Planning Remodel Budget Analysis? Click here to see it now. 

Remodeling 101 Part 1 Budgeting and Planning Remodel Budget Analysis

Project PlanningRemodeling 101 Part 1  Budgeting & Planning

Setting a realistic budget

Does remodeling your kitchen and bath seem so intimidating that you are not sure where you should begin?

Do you want to remodel but can’t get started because you know you must stay within a certain budget?

Whether you are planning a kitchen or bath remodeling project, or some portion of that, the questions stated above are the common obstacles that keep many people from taking on what may seem like the daunting task of getting the process started.

It has been our experience over the years that most people want to know what the overall project will cost before they start.  If the project is out of your total budget then you may have to re-evaluate what you can realistically afford or make decisions on how you want to spend the funds you have.

Not so fast…  

Cabinets are probably the first thing most people think about when remodeling a kitchen. Cabinets can be a major portion of the expense of a kitchen remodel but not necessarily the most expensive. Most people don’t realize what cabinets, countertops and appliances really cost. Discussing these topics with a professional will help you make the most of your budget by explaining the different options and the cost of each.

How we integrate this into our process.

Getting a ‘budget analysis’ is the first step we like to start with to help our clients narrow down expenses for each part of the remodel task. We determine the products that are needed and the amount willing to be spent on them.

-calculator-webWhat is a “Budget Analysis”?

A budget analysis will give you an idea of what the scope of your project will cost. We have found that this method is very beneficial for all of our clients. We simply take some preset formulas, add them with measurements in your home and then discuss each element of the project with your preferences to determine an estimated cost.

So how exactly does the Budget Analysis work?

For starters we will need to know some simple things, we ask A LOT of questions. Are you keeping your same cabinet layout or starting with a fresh plan? Do you want to remove walls to open up your space? Are any of the walls that you want to move load bearing? Are you wanting to add a new addition to your home?

Determine how to spend your budget.

Another area of important topics that we will ask; What is the purpose of remodeling? Are you remodeling to sell? Is this your forever home? Are you updating to get newer appliances? What is the value of your home? This will help determine what your budget levels should be.

As an example, Walker Woodworking offers 3 types of cabinetry; basic-standard cabinets, semi-custom cabinets and custom cabinets. The price difference can vary from 30% to 50%. If you are updating your kitchen in order to sell in a couple of years, you may not want to spend your budget on custom cabinets. 

Other options; you can mix and match cabinets. Let’s say you have a fairly large kitchen or you want to splurge on appliances. You can spend less money by purchasing semi-custom cabinets and have a custom hood built. There are solutions for most situations. We help our clients get the most out of what they want to spend while making their space functional and unique to their lifestyle.

Are you overwhelmed yet?

Don’t be overwhelmed by all of the questions. People remodel for many different reasons. By determining what your goals are will ultimately help you determine where you should invest your budget. As professionals of our industry, we are here to help guide you along the way.

At our very first meeting with our clients we discuss budget. By asking questions and taking some simple measurements, we will leave you with a budget we feel is a close estimate of your project. Is it exact science? Of course not, but we are usually within 8% of the actual cost. This process can take up to 2 hours or more depending on the scope of the project.

Don’t be discouraged by the numbers, there are always ways to save. Once you make your final selections you still have plenty of ways to decide what you want to spend your money on.

Once you have settled on a budget that you feel comfortable with, it’s time to make selections.

NEXT ~ Making selections is our next phase of the remodeling process.  Let’s see what that entails.

Tell us what you think, was this article helpful? We would love to have your comments.

Goodbye Summer ~ Welcome Fall 2015 Walker Woodworking

Goodbye Summer ~ Welcome Fall 2015 News & Event update for Walker Woodworking

Wow, I can’t believe the summer is almost over. August was such a busy month for us here at Walker Woodworking but as usual, never a dull moment.

At the beginning of August we wrapped up Homearama at Cheval. It was a great turnout and very exciting to see so many people walking through the beautiful homes.I it’s such a great opportunity to get design ideas and see what’s trending. We appreciate everyone that came out to support us. New Old Luxury Custom Homes did a great job with the entire house and as always we took lots of pictures. We were not able to get in with our professional camera for many photos but my iPhone was able to capture some of the neat features of the home. Be sure to check them out.

Walker Woodworking Homearoma Pictures & Information 

Walker Woodworking & New Old Homearoma at Cheval

By mid-August we were celebrating the American Legion World Series, a big event going on right here in Shelby. Walker Woodworking was proud to be able to sponsor and support such a great sport. Players came in from as far away as Hawaii, and South Carolina took home the championship trophy. This was an event that took a huge effort from our community to pull-off. Shelby is a small town, so this was a BIG deal for us.

American Legion World Series 2015

Remember our post about Newgrass? They also opened in August and I have updated the post and added a few pictures. Be sure check out the post to see how things turned out, or better yet come see it in person. The beer is awesome and the food is delicious..

New Grass Post

New Grass

And last but not least school started back and for us that can only mean one thing, it’s time for the Southern Ideal Home and Garden Show. If you are thinking about doing any type of home renovation project, then this is a great show for you to visit. There are all types of home professionals there, you can see the various products and ask lots of questions. It’s 3 days only and as a change to their schedule it’s after Labor Day this year.

September 11th – 13th.

Walker Woodworking & Southern Shows Booth 218

Visit southern shows for more information. 

The Walker’s are ready for Football Season and all of the things that come with fall, thanks for taking the time to check in. ~ Stacey Walker

By the way, we may just have something NEW for this years show, Follow our Facebook Page, Follow us on Instagram or Pinterest to keep updated. Our display won’t be ready until it’s SHOWTIME! 

Custom laundry room

CLOSETS …CLOSETS …  CLOSETS 

Turn your clutter and chaos into a clean closet!

Before starting this blog I thought I would see how Webster defines a closet.  A closet is usually small room that is used for storing things (such as clothing, towels, or dishes). 

clos·et noun \ˈklä-zət, ˈklȯ-\:

A closet can be small room, enclosed recess, or cabinet for storing clothing, food, utensils, etc. is how Dictionary.com describes it. Either way, a closet is a place of storage with the number one goal to keep organized and have everything easily accessible. Unfortunately, clutter and chaos can easily take over your home whether it be in the kitchen, master bathroom, home-office, or your garage. Who knew there were so many different types of closets!  

 

shoe storage,full length mirror,dressing room,custom closets,classic white

Photo by Walker Woodworking -All Rights Reserved

Photo by Walker Woodworking staff – All Rights Reserved.

Everyone wishes they had more storage space especially at Christmas time, and it would be nice to reduce the clutter year round!

Children today are involved in numerous sports, or dance with so many items needing to be stored. A college student never comes home empty handed, and even after 4 years they may have to return home to live, or perhaps one day we realize it is best for the parents if they now live with us. Whatever your household is like, the need for storage just became a necessity. Having the perfect storage unit for everyone’s belongings will miraculously make chaos disappear in your home. And we could all use a little magic when it comes to keeping the home organized!  

Walker Woodworking can help you design a unique storage space for many areas of your home.  

  • Broom closet: A narrow floor-to-ceiling space for the storage of lengthy items such as brooms, mops, & dustpans.  You can easily add an 8 inch broom closet to the pantry, opening with side by side doors.  This small space can save steps making kitchen cleanup a breeze.

  • Coat closet: A coat closet is a closet of a house where people store their hoods, jackets and coats. A coat closet is typically located in the entryway, so that it is close to the front door. It is becoming more and more popular to have your entryway flanked with a custom built mudroom or closet to be seen as you enter the home.  Making it so accessible for the children to place their book-bags and coats, because we all know they hit the floor as the children walk through the door!

  • Linen closet: A tall, narrow closet, typically located in or near bathrooms and/or bedrooms. Such a closet contains shelves used to hold towels, washcloths, sheets, and toiletries. Even if your space is limited in the bathroom, you would be surprised at the storage you can get in a vertical space.  Over the toilet, beside the door or shower, if you are building new or remodeling be sure to allow room for a linen closet.  After all, we have all forgotten our towel once or twice only to realize it AFTER our bath! Problem solved with a linen closet in the bathroom! No more naked running in the house!

  • Utility closet: A closet used for permanently housing appliances, most commonly the heating/cooling unit and water heater, especially in apartments where they cannot be put in a garage, attic, or basement. Today more than ever we have appliances of all sizes and shapes. Appliances are no longer just the water heater or the washer and dryer. Ladies have hair appliances, men have tools, those of you with culinary skills have many appliances in the kitchen such as, mixers, blenders, and panini grills.  Coffee makers are also an appliance many homeowners wish to have hidden until time to use.   Custom built closets can be any size!

  • Walk-in closet (often shortened to “walk-in”): A closet large enough to walk inside to store clothes or other objects, on two or three sides. They may have lighting, mirrors, and flooring distinct from adjacent rooms.  A walk in closet is a dream for every new homeowner!  A walk-in closet can also be custom built into the room, it can be a walk-in pantry, a walk-in craft room, a walk in wine cellar, whatever you choose to walk into, Walker woodworking can customize your space efficiently and maximize functionally.
custom, closets, mirrored cabinet door, island

Photo by Walker Woodworking -All Rights Reserved

Walker Woodworking can help you organize any closet you have in mind!  Take a look at some of these custom built organizational storage units built by Walker Woodworking.

View more closets by Walker Woodworking.

 
Turn your clutter and chaos into a clean closet today!
www.walker-woodworking.com – or call 704-434-0823 to set up a consultation.

By Jan Blanton – Walker Woodworking