Kitchen Island Before and After

kitchen island before and after

A well-appointed kitchen island adds functionality, style and flair to your home. It should be proportional within the room and provide clear pathways to key activities centered around the stove, sink and fridge.

Cosmetic updates lightened this builder-grade kitchen’s dark cabinetry and dated finishes. Airy white countertops and a backsplash that stretches to the ceiling energize the space.

Open up a small kitchen

A kitchen island can be a real focal point for the space. It can be a place to entertain guests, sit down to breakfast or even use as a homework station for children. They can make open-plan living more comfortable, and are often a better fit than traditional countertops against the wall.

If you’re looking to transform a simple kitchen island, try adding trim or plywood planks for a more finished look, as well as corbels and wooden brackets. This is a quick and affordable way to give your home’s interior design a refresh.

Another DIY option is to build a kitchen worktop from scratch using wood or laminate boards. The key is to prepare properly by plotting out a template, preparing materials and ensuring safety precautions are followed. Check out this video from Wickes for an easy-to-follow guide to creating your own custom kitchen island.

If you’re considering incorporating a sink or oven into your new island, it will be necessary to run electrical power. This can be costly and invasive depending on your home’s layout and foundation. If you’re considering an electric cooktop, consider appliances that vent out the back as these take up less room than those that vent out the front. Be sure to leave at least a metre of clearance for walkways around your kitchen island.

Kitchen reconfiguration

Many kitchen remodels require significant structural changes to create the desired look and function. This wood-centric space was no exception. However, it did boast ample cabinet storage and a stunning range hood. To improve the kitchen’s appearance and utility, the designer removed a wall and moved the refrigerator and sink to create a wide aisle and a straight run of cabinets. He built a four-foot-long baking station and beverage bar to add prep space. He also relocated the double wall ovens and shifted the sink and dishwasher locations; the island remained the focal point.

While natural stone may add a gorgeous design element to the kitchen, it can be expensive and difficult to maintain. Instead, consider a durable engineered stone like quartz, which can mimic the look of marble for an appealing aesthetic. Pair it with a solid-surface countertop in a coordinating color to create a cohesive look.

Kitchen islands are a popular place to relax and socialize, but they can also become a multifunctional workstation. To maximize the usefulness of your island, include outlets so you can plug in and charge your laptop or tablet. This makes it convenient to answer emails or work on a project. You can even add an extended bar top to allow friends or family members to sit and work.

Kitchen island

A kitchen island is a great way to add extra counter space to your home. It can also serve as a casual eating area, providing an alternative to a traditional dining table.

According to Houzz, many renovating homeowners use their kitchen islands for family and friend gatherings. This makes the choice of countertop material crucial. It must be durable and easy to clean, especially if it will be used for food preparation. The good news is that there are more than a few options to choose from, whether you are debating quartz vs granite or pondering butcher block.

Another important consideration is how a kitchen island will impact the flow of movement around and through your kitchen. To preserve a comfortable feel and avoid congestion, leave about a metre of walkway space on either side of your worktop.

This long, narrow kitchen island features a honed quartz countertop and rustic alder base that complement each other for an elegant and warm aesthetic. It was fitted with a recess for two stools to be tucked in when not in use, allowing the kitchen to remain open for working and socialising. Roos chose to paint the cabinetry Benjamin Moore’s Dark Pewter, which picked up on the subtle green hues in the quartzite slab. She also tucked electrical outlets into the working side of the island, making it a practical spot for prep work and in-kitchen eating.

To discuss your home renovation project, simply call or click to start a coversation with the friendly people at Baum Construction & Development.

Best, Michael Baum

Frequently Asked Questions

What adds most value to a property?

If you could add more space, would you choose an extension or a conservatory? A garage or a garden shed?

A basement or a loft conversion? Or maybe it’s a new kitchen extension or bathroom suite.

However, it is important to ensure that the option you choose fits within your property’s existing footprint.

The key is creating a space that complements its surroundings rather than adding another room.

Additionally, you’ll need to calculate how much additional living space is required.

Are you planning to convert your spare bedroom into a study/home office? Is there enough storage for your growing family’s needs?

Or do you plan to turn your attic into a playroom/craft studio?

No matter your vision, it’s important that you don’t break the bank.

It might seem obvious but you still have to meet practical requirements.

Consider these questions when creating any new space. Do you need to put furniture or appliances in the space? Will you need a separate entrance?

Are there enough outlets for electricity? Can you run cables without compromising the aesthetics or comfort of the house?

Do you require water supply? Is there a water supply?

And finally, what about heating and cooling? If you are installing central heating and air conditioning, you should know the location of all pipes.

Also, don’t forget the cost of moving any belongings you might keep.

When considering whether to extend or remodel, remember that the costs are not equal.

The excavation required for extending a property’s floor space requires extensive work.

This involves removing old beams and joists from the floor before installing new ones.

Depending upon the job size, this can take several hours or even weeks.

The added height of walls and roofs makes the structure more heavy, increasing the likelihood of structural damage.

A conservatory, however, is simply a small container with doors or glass windows.

There is no need to excavate the foundations and lay new joints.

The conservatory can also be constructed on the side by using prefabricated frames with glazing.

This means you will only need to dig around the building’s perimeter.

However, you’ll lose some privacy and won’t have access to your backyard.

Plans are essential if you plan to remodel or extend your house.

It’s crucial to clearly define your goals before beginning any project.

Do I prefer to finish floors or walls first?

The flooring is the heart of any room. This is because it’s where you walk. It also sets the tone in the whole interior design process. You want the best quality carpet.

Choose the best hardwood product for your project. This will give you a home with a sophisticated appearance.

Ceramic or porcelain are better choices for tile. These tiles are strong and durable, and they won’t stain easily. Choose a color that compliments the rest of your house.

The walls are where you display art and photos, so they need to complement the other elements of the space as well. You should choose neutral colors for the walls.

Some areas may need to be repainted after the work is completed. Make sure to not leave too much wood exposed.

If you don’t use too much paint, there shouldn’t be any staining.

Renovations that increase the home’s value

It is important to make your home look beautiful.

If you don’t plan on selling your house soon, then you don’t need to spend a lot on costly renovations.

If you want to sell your house quickly, you should think carefully about what kind of renovation will give your property the best chance of getting top dollar when it comes to a sale.

A great way to boost the value of your home is by making small improvements such as painting walls and ceilings, replacing carpeting, polishing floors, installing new lighting, and fitting new kitchen appliances.

Although these projects might seem like a waste, they can add value to your home.

As well as giving your home an instant facelift, these little changes can help to improve its resale value.

If you are looking to buy a larger home, it is worth considering buying a smaller one first.

It’ll save you money in the long term because you’ll pay less rent.

You’ll be able to spend more on renovating your dream house.

Renovations are not always necessary. There are plenty of other ways to make your home look better without spending a fortune.

For example, you can paint your home’s exterior or replace old carpets.

But if you’re serious about improving the appearance of your home, then you might need to go ahead and get started.

Statistics

  • One Virginia-based contractor offers discounts of between 4.5 and 5.5 percent (depending on the overall budget) on projects during his downtime, right after the new year. (thisoldhouse.com)
  • Look into eco-friendly paints, and purchase floor mats from 100% recycled plastics. (bhg.com)
  • The average cost to finish a basement is between $2,800 to $34,000, with a return on investment of around 70%. (extraspace.com)
  • About 85 percent of a house is reusable,” says B.J. Perkins, Habitat’s ReUse program manager in Austin, Texas. (thisoldhouse.com)
  • Like kitchen addition, bathroom projects have a return on investment of up to 62%. (extraspace.com)

External Links

familyhandyman.com

thespruce.com

hgtv.com

homedepot.com

How To

Here are 15 top kitchen remodeling ideas

The design of a kitchen is the most important aspect. This is because it sets the tone for the entire project. The design elements are everything that set the tone for the rest of your project.

This means that the design should be part of the overall budget. If you have too much money allocated for design, it is possible to not afford the rest.

There will also be many opportunities to save money. For example, the contractor may suggest replacing the existing cabinet doors with modern-looking glass doors. However, these are often very expensive. Instead, you could replace them with inexpensive wooden doors.

A second-hand purchase of materials can help you cut down on costs. You can find used products in many stores, including granite countertops, sinks and faucets, as well as tile and appliances. These goods can also be purchased wholesale on websites.

A designer might be worth hiring, rather than having someone do it for you. A designer can help create a plan that reflects your preferences and fits within your budget.

Ask your family and friends for help when designing your home. These people can give valuable advice on which features are best for your home.

There are several things that you should consider before you begin kitchen renovations. The first step is to determine what type of kitchen you want. Are you looking for a classic style? You may prefer a modern or traditional look. There are many styles available: minimalist, country and rustic as well as industrial.

Once you know what kitchen you want, you’ll need to decide how big you want it to be. It’s also important to decide if you want a completely new layout or some minor updates.

Next, you will need to choose whether to install new appliances or update existing ones. There is no need to replace any appliances you already have, including a refrigerator, stove or microwave oven. It’s possible to upgrade them if they’re worn out, damaged, or otherwise no longer useful.

Finally, you’ll want to decide on the color scheme. What colors do you like? Are you partial to black, white, red, blue, green, yellow, orange, purple, pink, brown, gray, or some other hue? Once you have chosen your preferred color palette, you can begin shopping for tiles, cabinets, hardware, and other products.

Kitchen remodels come as many different sizes. Some people remodel their kitchens just once per decade. Others complete one major overhaul every five years or so. No matter what your situation may be, kitchen renovations are expensive. A complete kitchen renovation costs about $25,000.

However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to save money wherever possible. These tips will help you save thousands of money without sacrificing on quality.

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