Think about your answers to the questions, if you find yourself feeling disappointed - it's time to act! A great step in the right direction to remodeling your kitchen would be to come visit the Specialty Kitchen showroom. The showroom will allow you to see a wide variety of cabinet and counter top color and texture selections. It is easy to be swept up by photos in glossy home kitchen design magazines, but you may find that seeing the kitchen displays in-person make it easier to envision what kitchen design will truly fit your home and family living style.

After developing a taste for what kitchen design you want to achieve, the next step involves determining a budget and time frame. Both of these decisions can be very tricky and they often go hand-in-hand. A kitchen remodel budget is primarily determined by materials and labor. This is where the time decision factors in, you may find that you want your kitchen remodel done as quickly as possible, which means more labor and using materials that are readily available. Or you may find that you are able to budget your time and remodel your kitchen in steps.

No matter what you decide is the best budget and time frame work best for your project, you can easily spend a few thousand dollars to well-over $50,000 to remodel your kitchen. Getting in touch with a reputable (and patient!) kitchen remodel expert that can help guide you to make the right choices and keep your remodel on track.

After considering your budget and materials, comes the final decision. What value would this new kitchen add to your home and also family-life? The cost of renovation should be well worth the time and money spent. A kitchen remodel can often improve your home's value and more importantly, improve family-life by being more functional and a fun and interactive space to spend time together.

Your newly renovated kitchen space can become a place where your family can cook and eat meals and you can entertain guests and relatives during the holidays. Good luck and happy kitchen remodeling!

You may have heard the term "pits and fissures" when researching information about granite counter tops. Pits and fissures are a natural part of the granite stone's makeup. The pits are actually minuscule spaces between the small particles that make up the slab. Fissures are hairline cracks that are typically caused by the heating and cooling process during the formation of the stone. But no need to worry! A fissure is very common and is different from a structural crack that goes all the way through the granite slab, which is something you want to avoid.

Okay, enough of the science! Deciding if granite is the right counter top for your kitchen means you are going to need to take cost and maintenance into consideration.

The cost of a granite counter top can vary greatly based on the type of stone, the edging detail of the counter top, the back-splash size and radius of the slab required. Shipping and availability may also play into the variety you have to chose from and the cost. There are certain coloration and stone patterns that are rarer than others (it is a natural material after all!) so expect to pay more if you are looking for a unique slab.

Many potential kitchen re-modelers do not realize that there is a certain amount of maintenance that goes into caring for a granite counter top. A granite counter top should absolutely be sealed before use. Also re-sealing your counter top of an annual basis will keep the sealant working properly to protect your counters and make cleaning easier.

How do you know when exactly your granite counter top needs to be resealed? When splashed with water if the droplets no longer bead up, it's time to re-seal! Other day-to-day maintenance should include wiping up spills as they happen and cleaning the surface with a microfiber cloth and water and use a neutral cleaner for more stubborn stains. Be careful to avoid cleaners with harsh chemicals or abrasives, they can easily mark or damage your counter top!

Just remember, granite is not your only counter top choice when remodeling your kitchen, there are many other beautiful choices such as quartz, Formica, butcher block, tile and many more.

 

With so many options, there are three key steps in determining what is the best sink for your kitchen remodel project including: installation type, sink size, and the material of the kitchen sink.

Before you pick out what material, you will need to decide what type of mounting you want for the sink. There are essentially two different types of installation, self-rimming and undermount or undercounter sinks.

Drop in sinks are the most commonly used sinks because of their ease of installation and cost effectiveness. As the name implies, drop in sinks are dropped into your kitchen counter and the lip of the sink overlaps onto the surface of the counter.

Undermount or undercounter sinks are mounted underneath the kitchen counter meaning there is no lip hanging over the edge of the sink. Many people find that it is easier to wipe things into a sink a sink due to the seamless surface. Using a professional installer will make the slightly more complicated process of installing an undermount sink much easier when new counters are being placed.

The next step to consider is choosing the actual size and configuration of the sink. There are a ton of choices ranging from single or double bowl to square or circle basins. Really consider how you will be using your sink! Do you wash a lot of dishes? If you do, you may want a double bowl so you can wash the dishes in one bowl, and let them dry in the other. If you use a lot of larger pans when cooking, a deep, single bowl will give you the depth and space needed to clean the pans properly.

The last step to consider is often the most exciting, what material do you want? Kitchen sinks come in a wide variety of materials, including stainless steel, cast iron, ceramic, marble, concrete, copper, other stone and many more. Choosing what material you want depends on the following three things: budget, your personal kitchen needs, and visual preferences. With such a wide range of choices available, one is sure to meet your budget, needs, and aesthetic preferences of any family!g>