Colin and Justin: Kitchen confidential

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How to cook up a renovation in the tastiest room of your home

The kitchen, as we see it, is the heartbeat of the home, a sharing space imbued with capable storage, quality appliances and au courant finishes.

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The reality, however, is that many food prep’ zones are trapped in stasis, their owners concerned, nay strangled, by the prospect of refurb’ budgets.

But those costs needn’t be astronomical: here’s how to cook up a storm in your tastiest room ahead of its reversion…

Kitchen menu 101

Note the position of existing services, windows and doors. Establish where you hope to position new appliances, counter tops and cupboards.

Consider any changes to services that may be required (electricity, water, drains), mindful that swapping like for like (as far as positioning is concerned) costs less than rejigging layout.

Remember form and function: it’s all very well creating the kitchen of your dreams, but unless there’s adequate space to stash food, crockery and other paraphernalia, plans will stumble.

Avoid grouping appliances – it’s better to arrange stoves, fridges and freezers with cabinetry between. Alternatively, opt for concealed appliances, particularly in smaller kitchens.

For efficiency, and to manage ‘time in motion’, consider your work triangle: a clear and easy relationship between sink, fridge and stove.

Opt for hard-wearing flooring, such as tile, stone or wood. Investing in the best you can afford will save money in the long run.

Don’t try and save cash by tackling electrics, unless you’re trained and able. Similarly, leave plumbing to the experts.

Stores like IKEA carry top-range cabinetry (and appliances) with affordable price points. We recently fitted a small condo kitchen, using Ikea product, for an astonishing $5,000.

New breed online supplier Swede (www.myswedehome.com) have revolutioned kitchen design with a ground breaking collaborative approach.

An initial call (by Skype, for example) sets the wheels in motion.  This is followed by a review of concepts in conjunction with a Swede designer.

Thereafter, detailed plans are discussed, door styles appraised and budgets prepared.  Then, via a network of approved (local to your area) millworkers, your kitchen is carefully built, and delivered (fully assembled) for insertion into your space.

Kitchen styles

Kitchens, typically, fall into one of four standard configurations.

Galley: Long narrow rooms with doors at each end, arranged with two rows of cupboards and a sink below the window.

L-shaped: Defined by a long and a shorter wall of cupboards set on a right angle and most commonly associated with open-concept living.

U-shaped: This configuration works well being that all elevations remain within easy reach. Great for small spaces or for positioning at the end of a larger room.

Island layout: These work best in larger homes. Be mindful that affordable islands are those designed for counter surface and storage, rather than those built to accommodate plumbing, gas or electrics. As soon as you install utilities, cost escalate.

Limiting expenditure

If budget dictates reworking that which you already have, here’s how to achieve maximum visual return for minimum financial outlay:

Change old cupboard doors, but retain existing cabinetry.

Limit old school wood surfeit by repainting doors in a cool tone, and consider replacing dated work tops with butchers block counters.

Switch up the hardware – veritable jewelry for doors, new pulls will revive even the dullest cabinetry.

Lighting

If cooking below a single dangling light, it’s time to change.  Tracks – or pot lights – make a huge difference.

And don’t forget under-cabinetry illumination: if you can see what you’re doing as you chop and dice, you’ll stand a better chance of retaining your fingers.

As we see it, every dollar spent has a twofold benefit: you get to enjoy results in the short term, and your efforts reap dividends should you decide to sell.

Most buyers, after all, love nothing better than property that requires minimal work. Who, after all, wants a kitchen sink drama?

Watch for Colin and Justin on Citytv’s Breakfast Television. Find the Colin
and Justin Collection in stores across Canada. Visit www.colinandjustin.tv