5 Common Kitchen Planning Mistakes in Windsor & Barrie

You've finally saved enough money to complete your kitchen remodeling project, only to discover it's worth a fraction of what you've invested. What went wrong? Homeowners need to get smarter when it comes to renovations.

Kitchen remodeling is one of the best and wisest home investments you can make - if you do it the right way. Too often people don't put in enough research or let a general contractor make all the decisions for them. If you want to be sure to make the most out of your money, here are five common mistakes to avoid. 

1. Poor Planning
Kitchen remodeling isn't always about flashy center islands and granite countertops. Functionality should be the top priority when organizing the layout, but too often people get so caught up in the latest trends that they forget how they actually use the area. What's the point of having a dishwasher installed at the opposite side of the room from the sink? Are the drawers and cabinets easy enough to access and fill? Think in terms of practicality first before you start picking out tile patterns. 

2. Too Trendy
There's already starting to be a huge backlash against some of the more recent kitchen remodeling trends such as excessive use of granite slabs, stainless steel appliances, and maple cabinets. Why are these trends faltering? When a large segment of homes all contain these features, they suddenly become very dated as time goes on, essentially cementing the home within an era. Ever seen wall-to-wall dark carpeting and wooden paneled bedrooms and thought how 70's it all looked? Good luck trying to sell your home that reeks of early millennium. 

3. Overpriced 
You spent how much on that double door refrigerator with built-in television? Unless you're living in the lap of luxury and the rest of your home reflects that, don't overcompensate for an average Middle American home by investing all of your money into kitchen remodeling. You'd be better off spreading your budget around to ensure the entire home gets a small update rather than just concentrating on the biggest and the best for a single area. Just because you spent $10,000 on appliances, doesn't necessarily mean that your home's value will also shoot up to match the investment. 

4. Poor Quality
While some people spend too much money, other people are too cheap. You can't fake a quality remodel with cheap accessories and a modern façade. If your cabinets are rotted from the inside out, don't simply replace the door and call it a day. If the plumbing is shot, you aren't going to get away with adding a fancy new faucet rather than replacing the old pipes. If you can't afford everything you need, perform the job in stages or readjust the design to save money. Working appliances are much more valuable than a nice countertop. 

5. Mismatched
A home should have a cohesive design sense from the exterior into and throughout the interior. A decadent Italian style isn't going to fit in with a small craftsman bungalow. An ultra-modern and sleek design will not best compliment a ranch-style home. Your home should be considered in its entirety before committing to a specific design plan.

If you would like advice concerning your kitchen project or you would like a cost estimate for a project you are considering, please dont hesitate to contact us.

This article was published by:

Keith McGorlick,

Author, Blogger,

Home Improvement Expert &

President of, Lakeside Interiors

Windsor & Barrie Ontario

705-881-4456 in Barrie or,

lakesidebarrie@gmail.com

226-946-9651 in Windsor or,

lakesidewindsor@gmail.com

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If you would like advice concerning your summer project or you would like a cost estimate for a project you are considering, please dont hesitate to contact us.

Lakeside Interiors dedicates a portion of its profits to the community we work in by using our skills to assist the elderly or underpriviledged free of charge. If you know of someone in your area who could use our assistance, please let us know. 

The Benefits of Hiring a Professional for your Kitchen Remodel

Thinking of remodeling your kitchen? Hiring a kitchen remodeler carries several benefits, including saved time, saved money, and professional expertise.

When your eating and cooking space needs to be redone, you can either tackle the task yourself or hire a professional kitchen remodeler. While it may seem like doing it yourself is the most cost effective option, this may not be the case. Before you make the decision, take a closer look at what is at stake.

Save Your Time
When you hire a professional for this task, you do not have to spend every spare minute working on your space. The fact is, remodeling this part of your home takes a tremendous amount of time, if you are going to do it right. Unless you are currently not working, in which case you likely do not have money for this project anyway, you have little extra time. If you want to spend every night and weekend working in your home, then take on the project yourself. If you value your time, hire a professional.

Even if you have a lot of extra time or do not mind spending your weekends working on projects, remember that doing the job yourself in your spare time is going to drag out the project for an extensive period of time. Hiring a professional kitchen remodeler often makes the project finish faster. If you need your space to be ready at a specific time for an event, hire a professional.

Save Your Money
Yes, hiring a kitchen remodeler adds cost to the project, but these professionals are likely going to do the job with minimal mistakes, and will eat the cost if they do make a mistake. If you lack the skill necessary to do the job right, it may end up costing you more in the long run to do it yourself because of your mistakes.

Similarly, if you do not have all of the tools you will need for the project, you will want to compare the cost of these expensive tools over the cost of hiring someone else to tackle the task for you. You may find that hiring a professional is more cost effective if you will need to buy a lot of equipment. Also, professionals can purchase supplies at wholesale prices, so your costs for the wood, paint, and other supplies may be lower when you hire someone.

Use His Expertise
Have you tackled one of these remodeling projects before? You may not have the same level of expertise as a professional. By hiring a professional, you benefit from that expertise. Your kitchen remodeler will know what types of wood work best for different needs, which countertops will handle your family’s normal wear and tear, and what flooring works best for kitchens. This expertise is often worth the slight additional cost of using a professional, because it will take you many hours to do the research on information you receive in just a few minutes of talking to your professional. With all these benefits, it soon becomes obvious what the better choice is for sprucing up your kitchen.

Lakeside Interiors specializes in renovating existing kitchens as well as bathrooms and basements so, if you aren't looking for a "full contact" DIY experience, get together with us and we'll make your dream kitchen a reality for you!

We are now available on facebook as well as on linkedin. Like us on facebook and follow us on linkedin!

While you're on the site, feel free to download the FREE E-book there to help you with your bathroom renovation plan, more books are in the planning stages, but I started with bathrooms.

Get all the latest tips and articles delivered right to your inbox by signing up for our free newsletter. 

If you have any questions you'd like answered or you would like to see an article on a particular subject, feel free to ask in a comment window or contact us directly.

If you would like advice concerning your summer project or you would like a cost estimate for a project you are considering, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Lakeside Interiors dedicates a portion of its profits to the community we work in by using our skills to assist the elderly or disabled free of charge. If you know of someone in your area who could use our assistance, please let us know. 

This article was published by:

Keith McGorlick,

Author, Blogger,

Home Improvement Expert &

President of, Lakeside Interiors

Windsor & Barrie Ontario

705-881-4456 in Barrie or,

lakesidebarrie@gmail.com

226-946-9651 in Windsor or,

lakesidewindsor@gmail.com

To receive this blog in your inbox,

Insert your email address at the

top of this page.

To receive our FREE weekly,

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newsletter click here.

Maximizing a Small Kitchen Layout in Windsor & Barrie

Do you think your kitchen is too small to do anything with? Do you often find yourself wondering how you can make your small kitchen layout work better? Is bringing in a contractor to redmodel your kitchen not an option? There are some things you can do to help yourself out. 

Identify and Plan Accordingly

First, take a good look at your kitchen. What is the layout? Most small kitchen layouts are galley, two-way galley, L-shaped, and U-shaped. You need to identify the type you have.  A galley layout is one where your kitchen is positioned along one wall. The two-way galley has appliance, cabinets and countertops on two sides of the room, with an aisle running through the middle. The L-shaped and U-shaped layouts are pretty self explanatory. 

While each of these layouts has its pros and cons, each can be used very efficiently. Keep in mind the natural flow of traffic in each room. Do not put extra furniture or utensils in the way of this natural movement. For example, if you have a galley layout place dishes in the cabinet closest to the table, so short quick steps with get you there. This will allow you to move about the small kitchen nook without blocking the aisle where others may be entering. Remember to take the "work triangle" into consideration during your planning. See (Designing Your Kitchen to Fit Your Needs).

Place the Fridge at the End

If you have a family with children or teenagers the most commonly used appliance in the kitchen is probably the refrigerator. You can make the best of your small kitchen layout by placing the refrigerator next to the entrance of the kitchen. This will allow anyone to come into the kitchen and get a drink or snack from the refrigerator, without disturbing the person who is preparing the meal. Also, and easy way to not take up space, is to make sure the refrigerator door swings out towards the entrance it is next to instead of the into the kitchen.

Add a Workstation

If you find that your small kitchen layout works fine to feed your family of four but is not big enough to prepare a meal for a larger group, add a portable workstation to the area for the evening. There are many different types of workstations available, including those that have cabinet space underneath or those that will fold up and go into a closet at the end of the night. 

Find one that works for your specific situation. If your small kitchen nook just needs some extra space to chop or put ingredients, get a workstation that has wheels and can be moved throughout the kitchen as you work. Another option is to get one with hooks or a drawer to hold utensils so you can keep the station out of the way, but still use the available space.

Efficiency is most important in a small kitchen layout. If you are able to identify the type of kitchen you have you can make it work for you. Just keep your utensils close to where you will use them and allow traffic to move naturally, and you will minimize your problems.

Lakeside Interiors specializes in renovating existing kitchens as well as bathrooms and basements so, if you aren't looking for a "full contact" DIY experience, get together with us and we'll make your dream kitchen a reality for you!

If you would like to learn, we will be happy to have you work with us and acquire a few new skills as well as reduce the labour costs for your new kitchen.

We are now available on facebook as well as on linkedin. Like us on facebook and follow us on linkedin!

While you're on the site, feel free to download the FREE E-book there to help you with your bathroom renovation plan, more books are in the planning stages, but I started with bathrooms.

Get all the latest tips and articles delivered right to your inbox by signing up for our free newsletter. 

If you have any questions you'd like answered or you would like to see an article on a particular subject, feel free to ask in a comment window or contact us directly.

If you would like advice concerning your summer project or you would like a cost estimate for a project you are considering, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Lakeside Interiors dedicates a portion of its profits to the community we work in by using our skills to assist the elderly or disabled free of charge. If you know of someone in your area who could use our assistance, please let us know. 

This article was published by:

Keith McGorlick,

Author, Blogger,

Home Improvement Expert &

President of, Lakeside Interiors

Windsor & Barrie Ontario

705-881-4456 in Barrie or,

lakesidebarrie@gmail.com

226-946-9651 in Windsor or,

lakesidewindsor@gmail.com

To receive this blog in your inbox,

Insert your email address at the

top of this page.

To receive our FREE weekly,

"Home Maintenance Tips" 

newsletter click here.

Designing Your Kitchen to Reflect Your Needs

In order to design your new kitchen, you first need to sit down and decide two things........ 

1. You will need to know how much room you have to put your kitchen in.  
2. You'll also need to know what you want to be able to do in your kitchen!

If you're looking for a lot of food preparation area, for example, you'll want a different kitchen design than somebody who is trying to find space to fit lots of food and cooking utensil storage.


Once you've decided on the basic layout for your kitchen, then you'll need to think of what appliances you're going to put in there.  You'll need to make sure that there is enough room in your kitchen for the refrigerator and oven – and probably a dishwasher as well.  Therefore, once you have a general idea of where you want to put your appliances, you should decide exactly which models will be put in and get the exact measurements from the distributor.

Remember to take into consideration the "work Triangle", using a triangle to plot the best location for your appliances in the room. You don't want to be taking lots of extra steps to the fridge, every time you need something for the dish you're preparing.

Then, once you have the measurements for those appliances, you'll be able to decide how to finalize the rest of your kitchen design, adding cabinets etc. to fill the spaces between appliances.  

Some things that you should consider regarding the design of your new kitchen are how difficult it will be to install or repair the appliances that you have in your kitchen.  If you make it difficult to reach the back of your refrigerator, you'll have a hard time getting back there if it ever needs to be repaired.

Additionally, you should avoid having gaps between counters in areas where you will be cooking or washing dishes often.  The reason for this is that gaps allow food or water to get down into hard to reach places – which means that when you finally do get to that part of the floor, it will be even messier than you would have expected and may even be an invitation to unwanted pests.

You will next want to consider what activities you will need included in your design, will you be having dinner for a family of four, or will a breakfast bar for two suffice for your family? Will you need office space for a computer or space for a T.V. included in the design? Now is the time to consider these things, not the day after the cabinets are installed.
There are two main things that you should think about using while you're designing your kitchen.  The first is always a good step – that's just using a pencil and paper to draw out what you want to put in there.  However, if you don't trust your artistic skills, you can also find online programs that will help you make a great kitchen design.

If you'd rather have help in designing your kitchen and implementing your plan, feel free to contact us here at Lakeside Interiors and we'll be happy to assist you and even give you a computer rendering of what your kitchen will look like when it's completed.

Lakeside Interiors specializes in renovating existing kitchens as well as bathrooms and basements so, if you aren't looking for a "full contact" DIY experience, get together with us and we'll make your dream kitchen a reality for you!

We are now available on facebook as well as on linkedin. Like us on facebook and follow us on linkedin!

While you're on the site, feel free to download the FREE E-book there to help you with your bathroom renovation plan, more books are in the planning stages, but I started with bathrooms.

Get all the latest Home Maintenance tips and articles delivered right to your inbox by signing up for our free newsletter. 

If you have any questions you'd like answered or you would like to see an article on a particular subject, feel free to ask in a comment window or contact us directly.

If you would like advice concerning your summer project or you would like a cost estimate for a project you are considering, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Lakeside Interiors dedicates a portion of its profits to the community we work in by using our skills to assist the elderly or disabled free of charge. If you know of someone in your area who could use our assistance, please let us know. 

This article was published by:

Keith McGorlick,

Author, Blogger,

Home Improvement Expert &

President of, Lakeside Interiors

Windsor & Barrie Ontario

705-881-4456 in Barrie or,

lakesidebarrie@gmail.com

226-946-9651 in Windsor or,

lakesidewindsor@gmail.com

To receive this blog in your inbox,

Insert your email address at the

top of this page.

To receive our FREE weekly,

"Home Maintenance Tips" 

newsletter click here.

Kitchen Renovations That Add Value to Your Home

The average Canadian moves several times in his or life. If you are renovating a home that you know you will not live in for the rest of your life, every decision you make regarding the renovation can make or lose you money. The room that sells a home more than any other room in the house is the kitchen, so this is the place to renovate if you‘re going to renovate anything. In this article you’ll learn how to choose the materials to renovate your home with the most profit in mind.

You can’t go wrong by improving an outdated or nonfunctional set of appliances, but you can go wrong by over improving your home compared to others in your neighborhood. You lose money improving your home when you add expensive features that may make you happy, but are not what the average homeowner in your neighbourhood is looking for. For example, if you live in an average home in an average neighborhood with homes priced around $200,000, and you choose to add a $60,000 gourmet cook's addition, you will certainly lose money on the renovation. On the other hand, if you choose to spend just $5,000 improving what you have, you will almost certainly make money on the renovation.

When renovating your home choose materials that are typical of homes in your price range. For example, when you bought your home, did most of the homes have expensive custom built cabinets and granite countertops? Or did they have standard cabinets and Formica countertops? If you are not sure, visit your neighbors or neighborhood open houses to see what most kitchens in the area look like. By using materials that are too expensive for your neighbourhood, thinking it will “add value”, you lose money because the added value does not make up for price of the renovation or improvement. On the flip side, by adding in materials that are too cheap for an area, you hurt yourself twice again. You end up not adding value, and you can even end up detracting value because the new homeowner feels like that have to pull out a renovated kitchen to make it of the same quality as others in the neighborhood. The bottom line is, if you are planning on moving in the next few years, do your homework before you renovate to make sure you’re not over or under spending.

Another tip when planning on renovating your home to sell is to work with what you have. For instance, if you have nice solid wood cabinets, finished with an outdated color and hardware, consider refinishing the cabinets, changing the hardware and improving the countertops. You will end up saving thousands of dollars that stay in your pocket, plus if the cabinets are in good shape, you might even make the same amount as if you completely replaced them. If you have a neutral color ceramic tile that isn’t your favorite color but looks good with your new refinished cabinets, consider keeping it. You’ll never recoup the expense of pulling up the tile and laying a new floor. Its always better to improve what you have in a kitchen to make it up to par for the neighborhood than to completely replace something.

Its good practice to consider resale value when improving your home, especially in the kitchen where the stakes are higher because renovations cost more and can add a ton of value or very little value. With a little research and proper planning, your newly renovated room can add value to your life while you live in it, and value to your home when you move.

This article was published by:

Keith McGorlick,

Author, Blogger,

Home Improvement Expert &

President of, Lakeside Interiors

Windsor & Barrie Ontario

705-881-4456 in Barrie or,

lakesidebarrie@gmail.com

226-946-9651 in Windsor or,

lakesidewindsor@gmail.com

To receive this blog in your inbox,

Insert your email address at the

top of this page.

To receive our FREE newsletter click here.

How Much Will My Kitchen Renovation Cost Here in Windsor?

When setting a budget for any improvement project around the home, it can be difficult to know where to start. When setting out to renovate, there are often hidden costs that can creep in and sink your budget, especially in an older home.  When renovating a kitchen, a good place to start is at at 15% of your home value. Adding a 20% cushion to your kitchen renovation cost estimate will cover you if anything unforeseen arises. 

It can be difficult to stick to your budget and keep it under your target, but research, planning and a solid estimate can help you to keep costs down.  A good place to start is with a middle of the road estimate at about $45,000 for a $250,000 home.  Things like kitchen cabinets, appliances and countertops are the highest priced items in a kitchen renovation along with flooring, lighting, fixtures and hardware.  Electrical, plumbing and gas add to the costs, making a kitchen renovation a much pricier change than any other room in the house.  

Your kitchen renovation estimate should be your guide.  Everything else should be documented and added as things come up.  Begin with your absolute necessities and things you cannot live without.  Then move to your most desired items such as increasing workspace in your kitchen for preparing meals or the type of materials used for your countertops, cabinets and flooring.  After that you can add in your “wish list” such as a television, computer, kitchen nook, bay window, etc.  A kitchen renovation cost estimate can and should include everything, including your cushion. Keep a separate spreadsheet of items you would like to add and add them later if you can.

If you choose to and have the ability to do the actual work yourself, this will be where the estimating process will end, however if you choose to have a contractor such as Lakeside do the work for you, you will need to estimate the labour cost as well. Over the years, I’ve noticed a pattern in all the projects that Lakeside has done for our clients. By the time you add in labour, permitting, overhead, profit and taxes, when all is said and done, the original material estimate accounts for approximately 40% of the finished project. This being the case, if you take your original estimate and multiply by 2.5, you will be very close to the cost of having a contractor handle the project for you.  

A few things to take into consideration when planning your kitchen renovation is your family size, your entertainment style, your frequent guests and how much counter space you will require.  If you have a large family you will want to have enough seating in the kitchen.  If you entertain a lot, a big table and lots of counter space is nice.  If you love to cook and cook a lot, design your kitchen with appliances that are strategically placed for optimum production.  

A refrigerator all the way across the room from the sink or counter top makes for repeated trips and unnecessary steps. Moving appliances can drive up costs for plumbing , gas and electrical, but it can be well worth it to you if you end up with the kitchen of your dreams. 

This article was published by:

Keith McGorlick,

Author, Blogger,

Home Improvement Expert &

President of, Lakeside Interiors

Windsor & Barrie Ontario

226-946-9651 in Windsor or,

lakesidebarrie@gmail.com

lakesidewindsor@gmail.com