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Home Prices Rise and Kitchen Remodeling Becomes a Smart Investment Again

June 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment

By Scott Dostal

There is no denying that when home prices rise, kitchen remodeling becomes a smart investment again. During the last week, you might have heard that demand for existing homes is up about 22 percent (on average) from a year ago. Inventory of available existing homes is up only 17 percent. What is more, home prices in U.S. markets are up about eight percent (on average).

kitchen cabinet value

customized cabinetry offers the beauty and practicality of custom cabinets and a fraction of the cost

In many markets, exiting homes that offer the most desirable features become the object of bidding wars, even bidding up the price of a home by as much as 10 percent over the listing price. Not only is it a good time to sell, it is also a good time to remodel in anticipation of selling in the future. According to HGTV, the top ten features homebuyers want in 2013 are:

  1.  Central air conditioning
  2.  New kitchen appliances
  3.  A Walk-in Closet in the Master Bedroom
  4.  Granite Countertops
  5.  Hardwood Floors
  6.  Ensuite master bathroom
  7.  Kitchen Island
  8.  Stainless Steel Appliances
  9.  Eat-in Kitchen
  10.  One or more fireplaces

Many homeowners were understandably reluctant to invest in home remodeling during the recent economic crisis. However, as the demand for existing homes rebounds and prices increase due to low inventory, the investment in home remodeling begins to make far more sense. In fact, remodeling increased by 12 percent in April alone. Of those remodeling in April, 54 percent said their reason for remodeling was to increase the value of their homes.

With half of the top features buyers want in homes related to kitchen amenities and features, the first room of the house to consider remodeling must be the kitchen. According to Forbes, the average cost of kitchen remodeling is:

                Low budget remodel                      $7,133

                Mid-range remodel                        $22,390

                High-end remodel                           $54,942

A more important question for many homeowners is how a kitchen remodel will affect the price of the home at resale. According to the remodeling industry, the cost vs. value assessment looks like this:

                Major kitchen remodel                 Cost: $53,931     Resale Value: $37,139    Recouping 69% of cost

                Minor kitchen remodel                 Cost: $18,527     Resale Value: $13,977    Recouping 75% of cost

HGTV estimates the impact on resale value of the home slightly higher at 80 – 105 percent of cost.

In terms of remodeling an existing space, the kitchen is typically the most expensive room of the house to upgrade. Enlarging the space adds further cost. What makes kitchen remodeling so expensive? In most cases, cabinetry and appliances account for more than half of the cost. Kitchen remodeling costs (on average) break down this way:

  •   35% Cabinets
  •   20% Labor
  •   20% Appliances
  •   10% Windows
  •    5% Fixtures
  •    3% Fittings
  •    7% Other

Cabinets, as the largest portion of the kitchen remodel cost, are significant:

                High-end Kitchen Remodel cost                                $54,942 (average)   x  35%  =  $19,229.70
                Mid-range kitchen remodel cost                               $22,390 (average)   x  35%  =  $  7,836.50
                Low budget kitchen remodel cost            $  7,133 (average)    x  35%  =  $ 2,396.55

There are, of course, several grades of materials and workmanship in kitchen cabinets. There are also several ways to buy kitchen cabinets, including the pre-manufactured modular units now offered by some companies. Your choices will be limited, and units will come in “standard” sizes.

There is another way to buy high quality cabinets, get exactly what you want, and get custom sizes and features. What is more, they can be installed in your kitchen, with granite countertops, for as much as 60 percent less than the cost of the custom cabinets you might want. The process, called customization, takes high quality cabinets in standard sizes and a cabinetmaker resizes them to specification. They can also be fitted with organizational inserts, customized for refrigerated drawers, and used to create unique units for special items.

Home prices are rising, making kitchen remodeling a very smart investment for those thinking about selling in a year or two. With cabinet customization, you can have kitchen cabinets of higher value for lower cost, thus increasing the percentage of your investment you can recoup when you sell your home. You can increase the value of your home and increase the amount of the remodeling cost you will recoup when you sell your home.

 

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10 Unique Storage Ideas You Can Use

April 4, 2013 by 1 Comment

Many homeowners say their biggest kitchen challenge is finding adequate space for everything. The first step in increasing storage in any kitchen is to maximize the space you have, often by using dividers, caddies, lazy Susans, etc. Many organizational items are available from your local hardware or home improvement store. Another alternative, especially in a country kitchen, is to get creative with the way you store things. Here are some examples of 10 unique storage ideas you can use.

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Shaker cognac kitchen cabinets


1. Cookie cutters are difficult to store – awkward shapes, inability to stack neatly – unless you get creative. One great idea is to stack them over the vertical rod of a paper towel holder. Then find a corner for it, or place it on a shelf in the pantry or in a kitchen cabinet near the baking area.
2. Add your own vertical rods (curtain rods, towel rods, a baking rack) in a base cabinet to organize and make trays and cutting boards accessible. The same can be done with chargers and platters.
3. Add a small armoire or a Shaker pie chest in your kitchen. It is a great place to store linens, odd-shaped bowls and platters, spices, baking needs (flour, sugar, etc), or even dishes. If you choose one with glass panels in the doors, you have a great place to display attractive or antique dishes.
4. Reaching the back of base cabinets can be difficult for many people. One way to make items accessible is to remove the doors and put items in large baskets or trays you can pull out for easy access to the contents. Add something decorative over the front of each tray or basket (a napkin or towel) to make the area attractive and appealing.
5. Make fruits and vegetables accessible while placing them out of the way by replacing the center of the drawer front with a wire mesh or tooled tin or copper insert. This provides air circulation for the fruits (especially apples) or vegetables inside. Similarly, remove cabinet doors and use large baskets or wood trays for fruits and vegetables. There is plenty of air circulation, and they are easy to pull out.
6. Finding a good place to store cookbooks can be challenging in many kitchens. One solution is to place a small bookcase on the counter or at the end of a counter. Cover the top with the same material used for your countertop and matching wood to create a seamless appearance. If you are concerned about dust, germs or moisture harming them, add glass-paneled doors.
7. If you need a place to store wine, consider adding a wine rack or a wine cooling refrigerator in an island. Another alternative is to add a cluster of box shelves on a wall.
8. If your kitchen includes an area for casual dining, consider adding a banquette or a bench against a window or in a bay window. Include storage under the seats for seasonal or seldom-used items.
9. Now that the trend in kitchen design has cabinets extending to the ceiling again, you can raise the cabinets and add an open shelf beneath them for glassware, bottles or cooking oils, or any number of smaller items.
10. Use countertop “garages” (some are made by SieMatic) for your small appliances. They provide easy access and the appliances are hidden from view when not in use. Some “garages” have flip-down doors. Others have motorized doors that lower at the push of a button.
We are happy to share 10 unique storage ideas you can use. We hope something in this list will help you with your kitchen storage challenges. Remember, you do not have to settle for standard cabinetry. Any kitchen cabinet can be customized – probably in just the way you want.

Do you have unique storage solutions? Share them in a comment!

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How to Estimate Kitchen Storage Needs

March 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Many homeowners believe there never can be too much storage space in a kitchen. Others might say extra storage space is simply an incentive to fill the space with unnecessary items. The decision to install new kitchen cabinets or to remodel a kitchen should begin with an honest assessment of how the kitchen space will be used by your family.

kitchen cabinet storage, kitchen cabinet value

One of many kitchen storage solutions

The challenge for many people is how to estimate kitchen storage needs.

The first step in the estimation of storage needs is to determine how you will use the space. For many families, the kitchen is no longer a discrete room or space. Today, in many homes, the kitchen is combined with a family room, a breakfast room, or a work area. In other homes, the kitchen is the place where guests and extended family are entertained. For the most part, the kitchen has become the center of a family’s activities (whatever they enjoy).

The second step in estimating kitchen storage needs is to determine what kind of storage space in needed or desired. If the family will eat most meals in the extended kitchen, it might make sense to store dishes and flatware, near the table. It might also make sense to put a dishwasher in that area. If there will be a work area (perhaps a place for children to do homework or for bill paying, etc.), there might be a need for a desk or bookshelves or computer connections.

The third step is to determine the types of storage required in the kitchen. Do you want glass door cabinets to display china, glassware, or food containers? Where will you keep small appliances when not in use? Do you want to organize your kitchen around the type of cooking or other food preparation most commonly used? For example, if you have children, you might want a snack area that is readily accessible to them with storage for cold water or other drinks, storage for microwaveable snack items (popcorn, for example).

Fourth, determine how much cabinet and surface area you have now. There is a simple formula for this. Measure the width and depth of your existing cabinets or other storage areas and counters, as well as the number of shelves in each cabinet: cabinet/shelf/drawer width x number of shelves/drawers x cabinet/shelf/drawer depth = storage space.

Fifth, estimate the additional space needed and the amount of space you would prefer to use differently. For example, if you plan to create a snack area or zone, you might want a refrigerated drawer for drinks or a small under-counter refrigerator. If you do a lot of baking and you want to create a baking area separate from the usual cooking zone, you might want a second oven, and dedicated storage spaces for ingredients, bake ware, etc. Decide where it is most convenient to store each type of item you use frequently.

On the other hand, if you do not do much cooking, you might want to save the trouble of calculating the storage needs of a kitchen, you can follow the guidelines available from the National Kitchen and Bath Association.  http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/kitchen/planning/kitchen-planning-guidelines/?page=1

A final note: When you estimate kitchen storage needs it is wise to tailor your remodel less to personal tastes and more to recommendations if you are planning to sell your home in the next few years. You might do only minimal cooking and need minimal storage, but the next owner might have different needs.

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What is the Smartest Way to Buy Kitchen Cabinets?

March 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Nobody wants to spend more than necessary when building or remodeling. The kitchen is typically the most expensive room of the house (or one of the most expensive). Cabinetry is one of the largest costs in most kitchens. Whether you want to save time, save money or find a way to add specialized cabinets and organizational devices without going over budget, it is important to explore your options. This is why so many homeowners ask, “What is the smartest way to buy kitchen cabinets?”

There are five ways to buy kitchen cabinets. Your decision about buying cabinets for your home will factor in installation and assembly time and cost, prices, availability of what you want, your ability to work with standard cabinet sizes only, and the number of specialty cabinets or cabinets with organizational devices you need.

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1. Knock-down cabinets –You can usually take these least expensive cabinets home from the store on the day you purchase them. You will probably need to assemble them. They are available only in standard sizes and will have little, if any, customization and typically do not include organizers.

2. Stock cabinets – The next step in price, stock cabinets are mass-produced in a factory. Choices will be limited to a few styles and finishes (usually the most popular at the time). They are also available in standard sizes only.

3. Semi-custom cabinets – Semi-custom cabinetry is also available only in standard sizes. However, you will find more varieties in styles and finishes. This is a good option if you want a specific style in a particular finish.

4. Custom cabinets – Custom cabinets have been the traditional way to get exactly what you want in your kitchen cabinetry. As the name implies, you can have anything you want in your cabinets – any wood or material, any finish, any style, any accessories, and any sizes. This is the most expensive way to purchase cabinets, but the result will be unique.

5. Customized cabinets – By choosing the semi-custom or stock cabinets you want and engaging a good cabinetmaker to customize them, you can create the kitchen you want without paying the price of custom cabinets. In this case, you buy the cabinets in the style and finish you want. The cabinetmaker then modifies the cabinets (invisibly) to the custom sizes you need and adds the accessories, organizers, and specialty cabinets and drawers you want. This option gives you the best of both worlds – a custom kitchen at a much lower price.

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Special Offer

January 8, 2012 by

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  • Plywood cabinet boxes – NO particle board
  • Solid wood, dovetail drawers front and back
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What do you have to lose? Already have a quote from a competitor? Come and check out our displays. Bring your plan and design and save big!

Below photos are examples of what the cabinets look like. The price includes 8 feet of upper and lower cabinets for $1750; these retail for over $4,000.

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www.kitchencabinetvalue.com
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Kitchen Renovations

May 17, 2011 by 1 Comment

Kitchen renovations of older or historic houses typically include new cabinetry. Historic homes often have no built-in cabinets and older homes commonly have inadequate or outdated cabinets. Historic homes generally used furniture instead of installed cabinets.

Older homes sometimes still have enamel coated metal cabinets or plywood cabinets. Kitchen renovations usually replace these dated styles and inferior materials. Some kitchen cabinets in older homes show the aftermath of a chip in the thin coating of “finish” on composition board or fiberboard cabinets.

Kitchen renovations in historic homes

Historic homes often require kitchen renovations.

Homeowners planning kitchen renovations today, often start planning and designing their new kitchen by choosing cabinets. There are many factors to consider in selecting cabinets. It is important to think about these issues early in the planning process.

Price
Price is an important consideration when choosing cabinets. Experts say kitchen cabinets account for half of the total cost of kitchen renovations. If your budget is $50,000, you have far more options than if your budget is $15,000.

Wood
The first decision will be the kind of wood used to make your cabinets. Do you want natural finishes on the wood, or will you be happy with a less expensive wood stained in the finish of a more expensive wood. For example, do you want natural cherry or will you be happy with another wood stained to look like cherry? The cost difference will affect your budget for kitchen renovations.

Finish
What kind of finish do you want on your kitchen cabinets? Do you want a color, such as white or black? Do you want a wood finish – natural, maple, walnut, oak, cherry, or another wood? Do you want a shiny finish or a dull/matte finish? Will your choice affect your kitchen renovations plans?

Style
In which particular style do you plan to design your new kitchen? Will your kitchen be traditional, country or contemporary? Will it have a distinctly American, Southern, French, English, Old World or rustic flavor? Or, will you be happier with a more eclectic style for your kitchen renovations?

Construction Type
The decisions that will affect your kitchen renovations budget and design are:

  • Are corners dove-tailed, glued, stapled or nailed?
  • How much weight will the drawers support?
  • Will the case be made of the same wood as the doors or of plywood?
  • Will shelves be made of the same wood or of plywood?

Door Styles
Your cabinets and drawers will have doors and fronts styled to be consistent with the kitchen style you have chosen for your kitchen renovations. These might have an overlay panel, a flat panel or a raised panel. Different shapes are also available in some of these styles.

Manufacturing Style
The manufacturing style you choose for cabinets used in your kitchen renovations might have the greatest impact on your budget.

  1. Knock-down (abbreviated KD) – These are the least expensive kitchen cabinets. You can usually take these cabinets home from the store the same day and you can assemble and install them yourself. If your project is on a tight budget, this is the best choice.
  2. Stock – Stock cabinets are mass-produced and are the most popular choice. They will be available in a limited number of woods, finishes styles and prices. They also will be available only in standard sizes.
  3. Semi-Custom – These cabinets are also only available in standard sizes. There is more variety of styles, finishes, woods, accessories and accessibility and organizational options for your kitchen renovations.
  4. Custom – Custom cabinets are the most expensive of all manufacturing styles. This type of cabinet can be purchased from some manufacturers, but they are typically available only from cabinetmakers. They are built to exact specifications in any size and with any modifications of style, inserts, size, etc.
Victorian house kitchen renovations

Victorian homes often do not have built-in cabinets and will need kitchen renovations.

If you are thinking about kitchen renovations, you might want to start your planning by looking at your kitchen cabinet options. Although custom cabinets are often the most beautiful and unique, you can have beautiful cabinets for your new kitchen at a much lower price.

Kitchen Cabinet Value can help you choose an appropriate kitchen cabinet design consistent with your historic home. Our shop can modify any stock cabinet to meet your custom needs.

If you are restoring a historic home, let us help you retain the history while providing modern conveniences for your kitchen remodel.

 

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Kitchen Cabinet Styles

March 14, 2011 by Leave a Comment

 

Many homeowners are surprised to discover so many kitchen cabinet styles when they visit a home improvement store or a cabinet shop. The great variety and the number of available cabinet options can be overwhelming. This variety, however, also ensures that every homeowner can find kitchen cabinet styles to meet his or her personal taste.

We define kitchen cabinet styles by several components. The first is the wood used in construction. Homeowners choose the wood for their cabinets based on primarily color and grain. Some styles are also painted. The options include:

  • Oak
  • Maple
  • Cherry
  • Walnut
  • White
  • Espresso (black)

Most wood can be finished either natural or glazed. White cabinets can also be painted and glazed in an antique finish. The grain of the wood differs from one to the next. Oak, for example, has a very prominent grain. Cherry and walnut kitchen cabinet styles are recognized by both grain and color of the wood. The wood used for most cabinets built in the U.S. is maple.

The most visible part of a cabinet is the door. However, the side of the “box” is visible on the end of a group of cabinets. Doors are made either with raised panels or with recessed panels. Some contemporary style cabinets are made of flat door surfaces. The difference between these kitchen cabinet styles is whether the center of the door is raised above the level of the frame or is recessed below the frame.

The next consideration in choosing kitchen cabinet styles is to choose the wood, the finish and the door type that is the best fit for the architecture and décor of the home. For example, a Southern colonial with traditional décor is the perfect match for the antique glazed white finish with raised panel doors. A mountain cabin would be ideal for oak or walnut with recessed panel doors.

Most new homes built today are a “traditional” style of architecture, modeled on the two-story Georgian home or the ranch style one-level home popularized in the early subdivisions of the 1950s. These homes are well suited for kitchen cabinet styles in oak, maple, walnut and cherry cabinetry. Either of the door styles is appropriate.

White and black kitchen cabinet styles are a good choice in most homes. The styling of the doors and the choices in handles and knobs can make them blend well with almost any style home and any décor. In fact, many homeowners install all kitchen cabinet styles without handles and knobs.

There are two ways of thinking about handles and knobs (pulls). On the one hand, the handles and knobs protect the wood of the cabinets. Wet or dirty hands do not stain or damage the wood. On the other hand, some believe the knobs and handles detract from the beauty of the wood and serve no important function. Handles and knobs are available in a range of materials and styles to fit any taste.

Whatever your opinion about handles and pulls, kitchen cabinetry has become a work of art. Kitchen cabinet styles are available to suit any personal taste, any architectural style of the house and any interior décor. White and black contrast beautifully with stainless steel or colored kitchen appliances.
There is something very warm and beautiful about natural wood in any home. The choices available in the various wood colors and grains, makes it possible for everyone to find what they like among the many kitchen cabinet styles.

 

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