Ask any owner or tenant and they will definitely say that the kitchen needs a renovation. Whether the kitchen sink is overflowing or the old cupboards are not working properly anymore or the curtains have become yellow, surely there is something to be replaced. But the renovation of the kitchen can be difficult, especially if you have a busy home. If this is the case, you will have to make a plan to survive not using the kitchen for a week long renovation process. Moreover, kitchen renovations can give anyone headaches, especially when the estimated costs seem to multiply indefinitely. But you should know that there are ways to renovate your old kitchen and in the same time reduce the kitchen renovation cost.Follow the tips below and you will immediately notice a difference both in your home and in your wallet.

Advice no. 1: Draw up your budget wisely

Of course, everyone would like to renovate their kitchen without spending money. In fact, the reality is different, namely that according to what parts of the kitchen we want to renovate or how we want to replace certain items. However, some renovation projects are more expensive, some cheaper and therefore it’s advised to draw up a budget from the beginning. For example, if you want to replace kitchen countertops, flooring and appliances, that will surely remove significant amounts of money from your pocket. But if you can not afford a complete renovation of the kitchen, you have to keep in mind alterations and refurbishment and reconditioning of home appliances and cabinets. Reconditioning costs nothing compared to the complete renovation. Moreover, you will definitely notice a miraculous transformation of the kitchen.

Advice no. 2: Plan your mission

You should always have in mind exactly how the budget will allow you to change your kitchen. To make it easier for you,  it would be even better to create a model or draw a sketch. This is useful because often what you imagine can become impractical or impossible when you put it on paper. If you plan everything from the start, you remove the ability to buy something extra for renovation. It is good to keep in mind what appliances and furniture you can keep and also you must be careful to take measurements if you want to rearrange the furniture.

Advice no. 3: Buy from unusual places

There are probably many valuable furniture shops, but they are often hidden and owners simply do not take them into account when they want to renovate. Check with the local newspaper or on the internet to find auctions, antique or second-hand furniture stores. These stores have many beautiful things and because these stores have suppliers from various sources, their inventory is very eclectic. If you want an unique painting, accessories and unique cabinets, it is possible to find them here.

Happy renovation!

Renovating the kitchen can significantly increase the value of a house and, therefore, is the first on the list of improvements that people plan to do. In this article, you will find out which are the most important steps you need to follow to create a modern and functional space. So, if you want to see this kitchen renovation checklist, keep reading.

1. Consider the way you currently use the space and how the kitchen reflects your lifestyle. Do you want an intimate place to enjoy coffee and read the newspaper or a perfect space for family activities, children’s homework and cooking projects?

2. Look for sources of inspiration. Start planning the kitchen renovation with a visit to the modern furniture showrooms and kitchen accessories. Here you will find the latest trends in kitchen design, in terms of floors, walls and countertops. Browse magazines about interior design and renovations for tips and techniques.

3. Draw up a plan. Consolidate your ideas and set the budget. As a rule, add 20% for unexpected costs.

4. Insert modern elements to obtain a contemporary look, with high functionality. Among the most popular design elements are: double sink, customized cabinets and islands, stone and decorative glass tiles, modern lighting.

5. Respect the “work triangle” of the kitchen. Many of the complaints about kitchens are about the lack of organization in the kitchen. This triangle consists of imaginary lines connecting the fridge, cooker and sink. For overall efficiency, the distance between these lines should not exceed 7-8 meters.

6. Rely on elegance. Focus on using materials and accessories that give the impression of quality, warmth and classic design. To create an elegant and spacious kitchen, use granite or marble materials and stainless steel appliances. Furthermore, combining different textures, colors, sizes and types of tile (natural stone, ceramic, porcelain, glass), embrace neutral colors and use more white. If you have a balcony or a pantry near the kitchen, give up partitions to open space and get a brighter space.

The kitchen is the heart of a home, the center of the family and its renovation is also one of the smartest investments you can make. Follow trends in design and never ignore the practical element.

If you plan to renovate your home, you may already know that the best investment and the most important element when it comes to selling a house is the kitchen. A beautiful kitchen can greatly enhance the charm and value of your house. When the kitchen does not look too great, marketability and value of the house can turn into a heavy burden to bear. In this article, we are giving you some advice on how to renovate a kitchen.

Make a budget and only after that start shopping. Before you start to order kitchen countertops or make color tests, you have to work out a budget. It is quite stressful and unpleasant to run out of funds halfway through the renovation, so it is best to protect yourself financially before becoming overwhelmed.

Rather than to adding all the costs, keep separate costs for materials and labor. This way, you will know exactly how much you spend and where your money is going. Also, it is wise to have a small money reserve to be prepared in case you have to spend a little extra time and money.

Choose your builder carefully! Everybody knows those stories about builders who stole the materials, equipment, and were paid without any work. Well, some of them are true! There are also many builders who violate promises, offer sloppy work and will waste your time. Ensure that the builder you have chosen is authorized, licensed, trustworthy and especially the one that can show you some of his previous work.

Do not be afraid to spend money. Cabinets, kitchen countertops and appliances will be expensive if you want something durable and of high quality. However, there are ways to save money. For example, you can avoid buying new cabinets and just repaint or refurbish the old ones.

Renovating the kitchen can bring any home to life. Whether you install a new kitchen countertop and customized cabinets or if you refurbish the old ones, you can completely transform the look and value of your house.

Happy renovation!

When you’ve decided to renovate your kitchen you can stumble over obstacles, whether they are physical, logistical or financial. If you have an idea and you want to put it into practice, but you do not know exactly where and how to start? In this article, we are talking about a few ideas and kitchen renovation designs. The first thing you should do is to build a plan.

In time, the kitchen has evolved from a common place where food is prepared and served in a dynamic and open space that can become the heart of the home, with the right design. Regardless of size, the kitchen is a very important part of a modern house.

When you want to renovate a kitchen, you have to keep in mind its functionality, efficiency, style and longevity. A kitchen should “hold up” for at least 20 years. So choose furniture that you really like and elements to be consistent with the style of your family. Also keep in mind using quality materials. The new kitchen should reflect your lifestyle, be large enough to fit both cabinets and a dining area. Besides, you must have enough space when cooking.

The first step in arranging  your new kitchen is a simple question: “Why do you want to renovate the kitchen?”. A kitchen renovation is not an easy task so you have to ask yourself why are you doing it. Depending on the answer you will know exactly what changes need to be made and those changes will easily be reflected in your budget, especially if you choose cheaper alternatives. For example, if you want to change the color of the cabinets, choose to dye them, which will cost much less than replacing them. Of course, this method doesn’t work if the cabinets are no longer functional.

Factors that need to be considered when thinking about renovating the kitchen:

– The space you have

– The orientation of light

– The contact that the kitchen has with adjacent rooms

– Your lifestyle

– Budget

– The condition of the building where you live.

If you have become a homeowner recently, you probably haven’t found a home repair contractor yet. If you are lucky enough, you haven’t had any problems that required fixing, but sooner or later, something will break, and then you will need the phone number of a trustworthy home repair contractor at hand. In this article, we are giving you some advice about what to do when trying to find a reliable contractor.

One thing you should keep in mind when doing this is that the price is not the most important factor. When hiring a contractor that you haven’t met before for the first time, it is best to do some research, to avoid having an unpleasant experience.

The first thing we are going to talk about is how to make a research and make a list with possible contractors. After that, we are going to teach you how to screen that list in order to choose the perfect contractor.

You can make a list with possible contractors either by asking for advice from neighbors, friend and family or by searching online or going to sources like the Yellow Pages or newspapers. However, we recommend the first option, because it increases your odds to get genuine information. If your friends or neighbors have had great experiences with their home repair contractors, chances are you will too.

After creating the list with possible contractors, there are a few things that you can do too choose the ideal contractor for your repair work. One thing you could do is verify their background by going on sites like Yelp or the Better Business Bureau site, where you can find their feedback score, complaints and opinions from former customers. Also, if a certain contractor does not have insurance coverage, you can consider that a major deal breaker, because if they damage a part of your property, you will have to pay for that damage.

Other things you can do are: verifying if they have all the licences and permits they need, checking if their employees have past criminal records, checking for bankruptcy, getting in touch with their former clients and asking for opinions, checking their past projects and asking and comparing their bids.

If you are planning to take on a home remodelling project, the first thing you should do is figure out what are the changes you want to do, make a budget and choose a contractor. Choosing a contractor is a very important and delicate issue, especially if you are planning to invest a large sum of money in the project. Many people had unpleasant experiences with certain contractors. They have fallen for contractors with the smallest bids and ended up making upfront payments without receiving any work in return or receiving poor quality work. In order to prevent such an experience, we are providing, in the following article, the ten steps you should take when looking for a home remodelling contractor.

1. Get references! In order to choose, from the sea of home remodelling contractors, the one that will best suit your needs, you have to get as many references as you can. The best source to get your info is from friends, neighbours and family. If they have done similar remodelling work in their homes and they were satisfied with the contractors they hired, you should ask them for contact information.

2. Before calling them, you should make a short background check. You can do this on social media sites or on the Better Business Bureau site. Look carefully and check the feedback score of the contractors, whether they have complaints and, even more important, if those complaints are unresolved.

3. Call the contractors you have shortlisted and get bids and other useful information. Also ask about past projects and for contact information of previous customers.

4. Carefully examine the information you collected and compare the fees. Look carefully at the quality of materials that certain contractors use, because the smallest bid is not necessarily the best one for you.

5. Before hiring the contractor you chose, see if they have all the licences and permits they need.

6. Call previous clients and check if they were 100% satisfied with the end result.

7. Meet with the contractor and carefully inspect the contract. Check if the work is covered by insurance and if the employees have workman’s compensation. Ask questions about everything you don’t understand.

8. Make sure to get a liability of insurance certificate. It’s common to get such a document and a trustworthy contractor will not deny you this right.

9. Discuss with the contractors all the building permits you will need and make sure that they can obtain them.

10. Once you have covered all these steps, you can feel free to sign the contract!