Kitchen Remodeling ROI – Best “Bang” for Your Buck

If a kitchen remodel has always been on your to-do list, or if you’ve just outgrown the décor and design of your kitchen, the simplest solution isn’t to sell the house and move. You will be much happier if you put in the effort to make your house feel like home again with an affordable kitchen remodel. Remodeling the kitchen or the bathroom is the fastest and often the most economical way to add value to your home. However, kitchen remodeling price tags can often be upwards of $10,000. Of course, it doesn’t have to be that much.

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In an era when more and more homeowners are looking for ways to save and keep money in the bank, smart, affordable remodeling is within your reach. Ready to embark on your own affordable remodel? Hire a kitchen contractor and use him as a reference for choosing the best, most cost efficient products and materials on the market. You can also keep these tips in mind as well.

Smart Remodelers Make Smart Choices

With any remodel, the name of the game is creating a new look and feel. Feeling like you’re walking into a brand new room doesn’t necessarily have to involve stripping the room and starting from scratch. If you love the layout of the kitchen, but hate the look, refinishing your cabinets might be a smart choice for you. By taking what you already have and refinishing it, you create something brand new out of something you already had. This saves you money, but you’ll still have great results.

When you’re trying to keep a manageable kitchen remodeling budget, you’re going to have to make tough choices about materials. It’s completely understandable if you have your heart set on having a new granite countertop installed. They are durable and, of course, absolutely gorgeous. However, in your kitchen remodeling project, it might be more cost efficient and just as attractive to use slate or granite tile instead. With the money you save on granite, you will be able to either save more, or add to your budget for another part of your remodel. Talk to your contractor about the elements of the kitchen remodel you really don’t want to live without and see if he or she can help you make your décor dreams come true without breaking the bank.

An affordable kitchen remodeling doesn’t mean a cheap and unattractive one. You can have some of the materials you want in your home and still save money. It’s simply a matter of making compromises and really understanding the pros and cons of your choices.

So if we are seeking to embark on an affordable kitchen remodeling project we might surely ask ourselves about the ROI (return on investment) of various updates.

As mentioned in our last post, ROI really depends on what sort of “return” you are seeking.  For real estate investors, “return” is the sale price of the house or the rental fee they can get.  Thus, ROI is essentially asking “how much more can I sell or rent this house for” divided by “how much did this project cost”.

For many homeowners, its not just about resale but also about your appreciation of where you live.  Thus, gauging “return” can be a bit more vague.  But you can rather easily measure the latter part of the ROI formula – the investment.

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Here are some ideas for low-cost kitchen remodeling projects:

Paint – this one is easy, a new coat of paint goes a long way in any room.  The kitchen is no exception.  Unless you just recently painted, its hard to beat a new coat of paint in a kitchen remodeling project.

Cabinet Refacing – “reface cheaper than replace” is the slogan here.  The idea is that your cabinets frames (plus the installation of them) is a big part of the cost of new cabinets.  In most cases though, cabinet frames are in great condition.  Most people replace cabinets because they want a new look or style.  For that, you can either a) paint the cabinets, or b) reface them by replacing the doors and hardware .  As such, kitchen cabinet refacing is a great ROI project. You can also refinish them but this is a bit more of a project!

New Countertops – Everyone wants granite counters, and they certainly add to a home’s value.  But they aren’t cheap.  Consider granite tile as a more affordable alternative, or lower-cost Corian or Ceramic.  If you are replacing laminate countertops than any of these new kitchen countertops is a great option.  You might even check into Butcher-block.

New Flooring – Again not the cheapest, but consider a product like Pergo or QuickStep in place of real hardwoods.  Depending on where you are starting, this can really upscale your kitchen quickly and easily.

Appliance Refacing – this is a pretty new concept, but basically for $10-30 you can reface your appliances by covering them with a coating or film.  This can make a regular dishwasher look like it has a stainless steel finish, without the price tag.  Be careful though, you want to do a good job here so it doesn’t look tacky.  Also don’t go too cheap on the materials.

 

*Get free kitchen remodeling estimates from local contractors by filling out the form on the upper right hand side of this page*

Bathroom Remodeling and Design Ideas and Pictures

As we love to do here at HomeOwnerIdeas.com we created this post for the homeowners who love to visualize design and remodeling ideas. Below you will find a wide variety of modern, contemporary, luxury, vintage etc. bathroom pictures that you can feel free to share with your remodeling contractor to get ideas for your new bathroom redesign. Enjoy!

The traditional modern bathroom these days often looks like the picture below. To best utilize space a glass shower is attached to a sunken bath tub. This bathroom also utilizes natural light. Tile, granite and wood cabinets tie the luxury feel together here.

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In this next modern bathroom design the homeowners wanted to incorporate more color in to the actual design, which is often most easy to do through the use of small glass or ceramic tiles.

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The luxury bathroom below uses every ounce of available natural light but also incorporates uniquely designed stainless steel raised plumbing features, custom window coverings, granite countertops, wood cabinetry and medium tile flooring.

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The next bathroom picture shows a design to make a smaller space look much larger. Carefully placed recessed lighting echoes off of the full tile walls in this bathroom while mixing in the natural light giving the bathroom an illusion of being much larger than it actually is.

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The following bathroom has a classic “natural look”. Large and small stone faced tile, natural wood cabinets and earthy colors complete the look for this bathroom.

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Sometimes in cases like city condos or row houses, a homeowner only has a small space to work with. In this very small bathroom below you see a small bathroom still transformed into a luxury setting. Large tile can give the appearance of a larger space and a pedestal sink is always the best bet. The modern, narrow toilet also allows for greater floor space.

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This ultra-modern, super-contemporary bathroom has really been designed to “wow”. The large oval bathtub is a rare but stunning focal point while just past the tub is a walk-in shower with a single glass wall. To complete the contemporary look, the remodel included extra-large, over-sized tile on the floors and walls.

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Becoming more common these days is the tranquility of adding a fireplace to your bathroom. Nothing accentuates the peacefulness of a jacuzzi tub like a gas fireplace.

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Lately, many bathrooms include flat screen televisions. This country style bathroom seems to truly be a place to spend time.

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The bathroom picture below is quite a unique and artistic idea indeed. Natural but bright coloring and a wide open design with cabin shower mixed together with large tiles, small tiles, stone tiles and glass tiles.

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This bathroom features a sink that stems from the wall, small tile design and a large walk-in shower.

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This next picture gives the homeowners looking for contemporary children’s bathroom ideas plenty to think about. A citrus color designed is tied together by the orange tile.

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Finally we finish with an ultra-luxurious white toned bathroom. This space features custom cabinets, lots of marble and large jacuzzi tub. Mix in the large window and the small window and this bathroom will truly wake you up in the morning.

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We hope you enjoyed our collection of bathroom design and remodeling pictures and ideas. If you are looking for a contractor for your renovation project, use the form on the upper right hand corner of this page. Best of luck with your new bathroom!

Kitchen Remodeling Ideas and Pictures

If you are coming up on a kitchen remodel or renovation and you are looking for some great designs and ideas to incorporate into your plans, have a look below. We have put together a collection of kitchen pictures that you can then use to share with your builder. Use the form on the right to get in touch with a local top rated kitchen remodeling company if you have yet to take that step. We hope you enjoy these great kitchen ideas!!

Here is a modern traditional kitchen. Notice the island which mixes white into a otherwise wood look.

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The long and narrow kitchen below uses a great deal of white colors to accentuate the natural light. The mix of stainless steel appliances and antique finished cabinets is more common in kitchen remodeling plans lately.

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The kitchen below also incorporates a great deal of white that blends with the stainless steel appliances. However, this kitchen is contemporary / modern because of the cabinets and lighting.

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This luxury kitchen below is designed to accentuate the vaulted ceiling. The built in wine space on the right includes a wine rack above and wine cooler below. Glass cabinetry and classic lighting and chairs give this kitchen a unique, sophisticated look.

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Below is a bright, modern country style kitchen that features contrasting colors and a stand out kitchen island.

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To contrast the kitchen above, this pic below shows a modern city style kitchen. This type of kitchen is great for a condo in city highrise. True stainless steel with dark cabinets and white oversized tile flooring, this kitchen is perfect for city-slickers.

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Many people these days are building their stovetops into their island. This usually comes with an exhaust fan directly above the cooking unit which can often be a centerpiece of the kitchen.

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Some kitchens feature a backsplash that is worth building around. In this case, the backsplash sets the look of the kitchen and gives is a country and comfortable feel.

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This kitchen is designed to accentuate the eccentric vaulted ceiling.

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This kitchen exudes a look and feel of a rustic cabin in the woods.

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Here is a modern version of the 1950’s kitchen. The use of light wood and the general color scheme give it the 1950’s style look while the modern sleek appliances and contemporary exhaust fan bring it in to the future.

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We hope you enjoyed our collection of kitchen pictures and ideas!

Kitchen Countertop Material Choices, Alternatives to Granite

The kitchen is the heart of your home and its appearance impacts the atmosphere of the other rooms around it. A kitchen that’s old and looks out-of-date can benefit from simple maintenance and renovation. One way in which to improve your kitchen’s look and functionality is with new kitchen countertop installation or replacement. With a variety of countertop materials to choose from other than granite, you can select one that complements the rest of your kitchen or changes its look altogether. Here are a few popular kitchen countertop ideas that might work for you.

Butcher Block
If you enjoy cooking, a butcher block counter can add to the convenience in your kitchen. A food prep area will always be ready for you with this style of countertop. Butcher block or wood countertops add a rustic touch to your kitchen. They’re easy to clean and care for, requiring period resealing to prevent water damage and stain penetration.

Natural Stone
Natural stone such as granite or soapstone creates classic appeal when used as your kitchen countertop surface. Soapstone is dark gray in color and found in both modern and historic homes. Naturally stain resistant, soapstone is often used for sinks too. The natural color variations found in granite make it a material that complements most any kitchen color scheme. Rated as the second hardest surface after diamonds, granite is a durable countertop surface that’s highly valued by home buyers.

Corian
Corian is a type of solid surface countertop. It’s made to the specifications of your kitchen and typically installed in one large piece. This seamless countertop material resists stains, which makes for easier cleaning. You can have a solid surface countertop made in most any color or pattern you desire. Scratches can easily be sanded out of the surface of Corian to keep it looking like-new.

Laminate
Laminate countertops are plastic-coated and cut to fit the measurements of your kitchen. This durable countertop can be made with a variety of colors and textures to complement your existing kitchen decor. Laminates are less expensive than many other types of countertops, making them an affordable option for home renovators on a budget. With laminates it’s important to be careful since it can be difficult to fix chips or cracks.

Ceramic Tile
Another inexpensive countertop choice is ceramic tile. This easily cleaned and maintained surface comes in a variety of textures, designs and colors. The ceramic tile you choose can become the focal point of your renovated kitchen or you can use it as a subtle complement to the current decor. Ceramic tile holds up well to use and when cared for properly can last for many years. This type of countertop surface goes well with most every decor.

The countertop you choose for your kitchen will be with you for many years to come. Consider your needs to help you choose the type of counter material that bests suits you in both appearance and function. Any of these popular kitchen countertop styles are certain to add to the beauty and value of your home.