30
April
2006
DoItYourself has a great article on adding an island to your existing kitchen.
One of the most important considerations when adding an island is the space between where the island will be, and the existing counters and cabinets in the kitchen. You don’t want to have too little space.
Most importantly, there should be sufficient space between the island and other work surfaces to allow for opening cabinet and appliance doors, and for two people to work without jostling one another.
Another common mistake is to not provide an additional light above the island. This is crucial to the functionality of the island. Without adequate lighting, you will not want to
use your island.
Also keep in mind what purpose the island will serve. Will a cooktop stove be on it? Microwave oven? Just space for slicing and dicing? Each design will need it’s own considerations like power outlets, cutting boards and gas for a gas burning stove.
Map out a plan for how you want your island before you begin the project and you’ll be happy with the results!
Posted: Building, Design, Interior, Kitchen, Remodel
18
April
2006
The bathroom is no longer just for showering and using the facilities. Modern bathrooms have become works of art and are often the centerpiece of a new home.
If your home is in need of a bathroom remodel, keep these simple tips in mind before you break the first tile.
1. Have a plan.
For most people, a written set of instructions would be perfect. For others, you might want to sketch it out on a few pieces of paper. For the artists among us, you may prefer to paint or draw a large size (8″ x 10″) scale drawing so you can visualize the colors and places you will put that huge corner jacuzzi.
2. Identify the necessities.
If the main reason you are upgrading your bathroom is because you want a larger shower, pick that out first. Go down to Lowe’s Home Improvement store and find the exact shower you want. Then plan the rest of the bathroom around that shower. Many people want to upgrade the shower or tub. If you are looking for a jacuzzi (spa, hot tub, whatever), the find the model you want, get the dimensions, and figure out how you can get it to fit.
3. Identify the non-essentials.
These are the things like double sinks, a nicer toilet, more cabinet storage space, a larger window, etc. After you know what the focus of the bathroom will be, see what your budget and physical space constraints will allow for the non-essentials that you would like, but aren’t mandatory.
4. Identify your budget and can it be modified?
For many people a budget is a great idea. You know how much money you have to spend and what you want to spend it on. Others really don’t have a budget, you just want your bathroom the way you want it, regardless of price. For both people, looking at the total cost is a good idea. Factor in the essentials and non-essentials and come up with an approximate price that you think the entire project will cost. Is it worth spending that money?
5. Can you do all of the work?
If you are like me, you can do most of the work yourself. The work you can’t do you can learn out of a book or manual. However, I usually don’t like to mess with electrical. When installing the corner jacuzzi in my bathroom, I had an electrical contractor finish the new electrical in the bathroom. This is a definite cost that needs to be considered. If you don’t know how much this should cost, get a few estimates from different companies and you should be in the ballpark.
If you follow these 5 steps before you start your bathroom remodel, you’ll be on your way to a bathroom that you will never want to leave!
Here are a few links to bathroom remodels you might want to check out:
FoldedSpace.org has some great pictures of a bathroom remodel with before and after pics.
BusinessWeek.com has an article about when and how to update an old bathroom.
TheRealEstateBloggers also discuss when to remodel a bathroom.
Posted: Bathroom, Design, Remodel, Spa's & Hot Tubs
