10 Tips for a better kitchen remodeling project = Best Value up to 102% ROI in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Corrales, NM

Kitchens are one of those rooms in the house that we either love or hate. If you love your kitchen then you have probably had it recently renovated and those of us who hate ours need a serious face-lift. The 10 Tips below are sure to help you complete your dream kitchen in less time and with fewer headaches.

Tip # 1. Standard Rule of Thumb - (Get this Right and you will likely love your New Kitchen)

The National Kitchen and Bath Association defines the kitchen work triangle as an imaginary straight line drawn from the center of the sink, to the center of the cooktop, to the center of the refrigerator and finally back to the sink The triangle formed by these imaginary lines should total 26 feet or less for maximum comfort efficiency. To go a step further toward ultimate efficiancy it is important that no entry, appliance or cabinet doors block each other when you open them. If you have an island in your kitchen, an appliance or door on it shouldn’t hit any other appliance or cabinet door across from it.

Todays current kitchen remodeling trends see the area as adjacent to the dining area or a dining room; this allows those doing the cooking to keep contact with family and friends despite the defined borders.

To set the kitchen apart from the surrounding rooms it is desirable to have its ceilings higher than the dinning area’s where the setting is more intimate.

Tip # 2. Confined Kitchen Spaces

Finding enough storage space to in a small kitchen can be challenging. Cutting back on your cabinets and opting instead for a walk-in pantry as well as removing those items that you hardly ever use are easy ways to make space for the items and appliances you do need in your kitchen. So move your china out of the kitchen and into the dining area; use this new found space for your pots and pans.

Differing counter top hightes allows for visual variety and also helps to increase productivity if there if there is more than one cook in the area. Vary cabinet door styles to make your space more visually interesting; after all your kitchen doesn't have to be uniform throughout: use one style of door for the island and another for your wall cabinets . You can also choose different cabinet paint colour or decorative finish; burnt orange for the island and gentle yellow for the surrounding cabinets; apply wood stains that are lighter for the island and darker for the rest of the area.

Tip # 3. Spaces for Hiding

For some, being able to see your refrigerator or oven is not really that bothersome. Luckily, for those who do find appliances to be rather unsightly, there are panels that you can install to disguise these machines. Just make sure the panels match your cabinets.

Hiding a stove top can be challenging, installing a raised ledge or breakfast bar on your island or kitchen peninsula can help that stove top disappear. And what about double ovens? If they are installed in the wall, well then there isn't much you can do. However, installing one or both ovens into your island will help make sure that oven is out of view.

Buying stainless steel is an easy way to help your appliances blend in with their surroundings. Because stainless steel appliances reflect the color of their surroundings, and since the material is pretty neutral to begin with, these appliances are often much less noticeable. Plus, they add a rich touch to any kitchen.

Tip #4: Do it all at once!

You may think you'll be saving money by re-doing your kitchen in pieces, taking on the cabinets one year and then the counter-tops another year. But experts say a kitchen should never be done in pieces. "If you start by doing just the floors and then later on remove the cabinets, then the floor may not be big enough to replace the dimensions of the cabinets," says Dana Snyder, a designer.

Tip # 5: Control the URGE!

Don't get too wacky with the design, even if you think bright Blue appliances seem like a really great idea. "I try to steer people to classic and elegant," says Cindy Green. "Consider this unlikely senerio . . . One day you may want to sell the house."

Tip # 6: Wood stands the test of time

If your family lives, sleeps and eats in the kitchen, strongly consider getting hardwood or tile floors, adds Snyder. But keep in mind that tile can be hard on your back and legs if you do a lot of standing in the kitchen. Also, wood has the potential to get nicked up if you have pets. But... "if something really bad happens to the wood, you can sand it down and stain it again," Golden points out.

Tip # 7: Drawers (not boxers or whitey-tighties) are a necessity!

Get as many drawers as possible. You never know if one day you'll be selling your house to a baby boomer. Word on the street is that they want easy-to-reach storage. Drawers tend to be easier to get to rather than overhead cabinets or cabinets positioned at knee level, Golden says.

Tip # 9: Don't Move! (Unless you have lot's of extra dough)

Tempting as it might be to try moving your fridge to another side of the kitchen but consider leaving appliances and sinks where they currently are. Moving pipes and adding gas lines can be a major expense to a kitchen remodeling project.

Tip # 10: Tempted to Hire your neighbors cousin?

Hiring your own installer? Make sure that person is licensed and can offer references. "We're in a slow market and there's a lot of people who've been laid off from construction jobs," said Roy Wolf. "You don't want to hire someone who all of a sudden then gets hired back at their old job." Certified designers and installers can be found online. Do your own due diligence it will be well worth the effort.

Bonus Tip: Consider Going Green with Eco-Friendly Natural Skylight tubes! An excellent alternative to traditional skylights. (See link Below)

For Dream Kitchen remodel/design help in New Mexico give Jack Horner a call on his Cell at : 505-818-7773 (Jack is a kitchen remodeling expert with over 30 years experience) or visit LJ HORNER KITCHEN & BATH at: http://ljhorner.com

"Jack,
I just wanted to thank you for the excellent work
you and your (LJ Horner) work crew did on my kitchen last week.
Besides your very helpful and friendly attitude,
You did what you said you would do,
left my home and work area clean, and completed all
work in a timely manor. I would recommend
LJHorner to anyone looking for quality work at a fair price.
And one last thng . . . I will be giving your company
another Home remodeling project soon. Its so nice to find
people you can trust."

Sheryl Rio Rancho, New Mexico