Kitchen Remodeling 101- The Process Behind The Project

By Author: Jason Delmar
Total Articles: 335
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The kitchen is easily the most heavily used room in any home, whether it is being used to feed a large family or to entertain friends. The kitchen is also one of the few rooms in your house where you can profit from a well planned kitchen renovation. For that reason alone, it is important that the design and layout be thoughtfully planned and the decor asthetically pleasing.

When considering a kitchen remodeling project, the various elements of the kitchen such as fixtures and appliances, countertops, cabinets, lighting, and flooring all enter into the plan to accomplish the desired outcome. Placement of plumbing, electrical, and HVAC service must be considered. As well as basic design standards, such as placement of the work triangle. The "work triangle" is simply the configuration of the three most important aspects of the kitchen; refrigerator, cooktop/oven, and the sink.

The object is to design a layout that minimizes the distance for the cook, while still allowing adequate traffic flow. And at the same time allows additional persons to work in the kitchen; without one getting in the other's way. The ...
... way traffic flows into and out of the room, and size and placement of the various elements are all part of the mix when establishing needs, purpose, and scope of the project.

The key to any well organized renovation project is to determine what features are needed and what features are wanted if time and budget permit. Decide what you want to accomplish, and why you want a kitchen remodel before making actual plans. By distinguishing between needs and wants ahead of time, it will prevent your project from running over budget.

Determining the scope of your project is important as well.. Is the plan to just update appliance and the decor? To reconfigure layout design, improve workspace lighting, or increase floor space? Add another feature - such as a food pantry, work island, or breakfast nook? Create an open floor plan? Or alter doorways to redirect traffic in order to work and move about more efficiently into surrounding rooms. It is important to keep in mind that your project doesn't have to be completed all at once. By breaking it up into stages, your can stretch your budget and make the overall project more manageable.

When making project plans, the following are all important things to consider:

Kitchen use; what its main function will be. Cooking, entertaining / family meetings / gatherings, doing schoolwork, eating, or other activities.
What things you like about the kitchen as it is now; what aspects are inconvenient. Specific elements you would like to enhance or rectify.
Whether or not kitchen size is adequate. What about the layout; does it make good use of available floor space?
Current traffic flow, including traffic flow into the kitchen through existing doorways; as well as traffic flow during mealtime preparations. What might work better?
If funds allow, consider what new elements you would like included in your floor plan.
Size, style, and type of existing elements. Do you need larger or smaller appliances, sinks, cabinets, or countertops?
What about the aesthetic appeal of the kitchen? Do you want to incorporate interior décor improvements into floors, walls, ceilings, cabinets and countertops?
Will current plumbing, electrical, and HVAC services be adequate. Or will modifications be necessary for the new design; including the addition of range hoods or ventilation of cooking areas?
What aspects of the project, if any, can be completed as a DIY project - to cut down on costs or provide extra funds for additional elements that will enhance kitchen design and convenience?
What the overall cost of the project be.
By implementing basic design standards into your layout, the kitchen becomes an easier place to work, more efficient, and a more comfortable room to spend time. Understanding and using these basic standards will determine whether your current layout is usable, or if a major change or expansion is required.

Space is another important aspect of the overall kitchen design. Besides lack of available storage space, one of the most common faults people find with their kitchen is the lack of adequate counter space. More than just having adequate counter space is the proximity of counter space to appliances and sinks. Some basic requirements for adequate space include:

At least 15-inches on latch side of refrigerators.
At least 18-inches on one side and 24-inches on the other side of a single or double sink.
At least 15-inches on either side of a microwave.
At least 15-inches on one side and 9-inches on the other side of a cook top or range.
At least 15-inches on either side of an oven.
In addition to these minimum allowances, a kitchen should have at least one additional food preparation counter with a minimum of 3-feet work space. While a 150 square foot kitchen should have a minimum of 11-linear feet of counter space, larger kitchens should have 16-lineal feet or more.

While the standard width for most appliances runs 30 to 32-inches, width can vary up to 48-inches or more. This is why it is important to purchase your appliances ahead of time, so that you can allow adequate additional space required for installation of each. For example, a 36-inch range requires an opening of at least 36 ½-inches.

Most people would also like to add extra cabinet space in the kitchen. But, for kitchens with 150-square feet or less of floor space, this might not be possible. When it comes to smaller kitchens, designate at least 13-linear feet for base cabinets, 12-linear feet for wall cabinets, and 10-linear feet for drawers or roll-out shelving. For larger kitchens, plan at least 16-feet for base cabinets, 15 ½-feet for wall cabinets, and 13 ½-feet for drawers and roll-out shelves.
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