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STEPS
and QUESTIONS to CONSIDER WHEN BUILDING or WALLS Have you considered moving or removing a wall that could make the kitchen a bigger better work area? Many homes have a small kitchen and a small formal dining area and neither one is really big enough. By eliminating the formal dining room (an area the usually gets used two or three times per year) a much more practical and open type of space is created. You end up with a much more efficient kitchen that opens up to an everyday dining area. Most walls in this area can be easily removed without any structural requirements. Others may require a beam in place of the wall. Ask your carpenter or the experts from Camrose Custom Cabinets when they are in your home for a cabinet estimate. WINDOWS This would be the opportune time to change that window in the kitchen area. Consider a kitchen bay that adds light and extra ventilation. Costs vary depending on preference but many kitchen bays start at around $700. With a bay window, it does make the room feel bigger than it really is. The window shelf is a great place for plants and ornaments. PLUMBING AND HEATING AND ELECTRICAL Before you consider changing location of appliances, sinks and other fixtures, make sure that things like plumbing and electrical wiring are accessible from below. Most times, changes can be made providing the basement area below the kitchen is not developed or there is a suspended ceiling in the area below the kitchen. Again if you are not sure, ask the appropriate tradesperson. APPLIANCES What kind of appliances would you like to have? If you are thinking of putting in a wall oven and a cooktop, consider the cost to do it. Remember that a wall oven will cost between $800 - $1600, and the cooktop will range in cost from $350- $1500. In addition, you need to have cabinets for both the wall oven and the cooktop. On the other hand, a regular stove can be purchased from $750 and up depending model and features, and there are no cabinets required with this option. Many people forget to consider these differences before starting their renovations and then are disappointed when they receive quotations, which say it will cost them $1500 or more to go this route. The electrical wiring must also be considered at this time. BASIC LAYOUT
There are many configurations that can be achieved in some kitchens and others are limited due to their sizes, door and window locations. Would you like to have a corner pantry built in? This requires between 48 to 54" each direction from the corner. This is usually a 2 X 4 framed and drywalled wall. The door is usually a 2' wood passage or etched glass door. Storage space is abundant and cost reasonable for this type of storage. If you are short of space, a pantry cabinet with roll-out shelves may be more appropriate. Would you like an Island? If considering this option, measure the room size and take off 2' for counter depth space or 2'6" for an appliance depth and 3' for walkway space all around the Island. This will give you the size of the Island. If the amount you have left over is less than 2' for the Island depth, or if the length has to be less than 2'6", it is really not a good idea. If this will not work a peninsula may be a better choice. Always leave at least 8' or more for the dining area when designing any kitchen space. There are so many designs and configurations possible. Call Camrose Custom Cabinets and they can tell you in a few minutes some of the possible layouts. You can then pick the one that suites you best. FLOORING and CERAMICS What type of flooring do you want to have? Choices that are used most are lino, hardwood, and tile. Lino is usually the most economical choice but hardwood floors are becoming very popular again. Finishes on hardwoods have improved dramatically over the last few years and are easy to maintain. Cost is reasonable and the warmth that is created with the wood can be very inviting. Tile is another choice, and is now even available with heating to take the cold feeling away. One of the disadvantages of tiles though is that it is like walking on cement. If plates or glasses drop, they are sure to break. Ceramic tile is another item to be considered when building a kitchen. Many kitchens have ceramics between the counter and the upper cabinets to give an easy to clean surface. Now with all the colours and patterns available it can add to the decor of any kitchen. Ceramics are usually available through your floor covering dealer. CABINETS & COUNTERS
Cabinet types - What kind of look do I want? Choices are endless. There are all different wood types available with oak, maple and cherry being the most popular choices. They are all available in several different designs as well as in a raised panel door or the flat panel door. Another popular choice now is white cabinets. They can be either a paint finish or a thermowrap product that is like a thick vinyl shrink-wrapped onto a melamine backed MDF panel. This has been the most popular choice in the past few years. Also available are the slab type doors that can be melamine of any colour or maybe a white or almond door with a continuous oak or wood handle to accent it. Cabinet options - There are many options available. Some you will want to consider are:
These are just to name a few. Counters - The most popular counter is plastic laminate. Plastic laminate is available in hundreds of colours and is now also available in different textures and finishes. You can add to your decor with bevel edge accent colours and add backsplashes with the same accent colours. Plastic laminate is by far the preferred choice mostly because of cost, but solid surface counters like corian are also available. Granite is even used in some homes for the working counters. The cost of granite is about 5-10 times as much as plastic laminate, so its use is fairly limited. Lighting - Consider adding a light box over the Island or maybe undercabinet lighting in the work areas. Track lighting is popular in open ceiling areas and dome lighting is being used in many new kitchens. Camrose Custom Cabinets Ltd. have built 1000's of different kitchens since 1975. As kitchen have evolved, so has our production methods to keep up with the times. Camrose Custom Cabinets has both the experience and the equipment to design and build that dream kitchen you have always wanted. Give them a call today and see about getting a free estimate on your new kitchen. Call today at (780) 672-7875 or toll free in Alberta and Saskatchewan at 1-800-251-9705 or visit their showroom in Camrose, Alberta at 3623-47 Avenue. |
