Kitchen Remodeling Lexington KY is an excellent way to upgrade the functionality of your home. Many homeowners work with designers and contractors who handle the design and construction phases to ensure a seamless project.

Visiting kitchen showrooms and remodeling stores to observe designs, layouts, and materials will help to find the perfect options for your taste, preferences, and budget.

Layout

Kitchen remodeling often includes reworking the layout of the room. This can include tearing down walls to create an open-concept space or reconfiguring cabinetry and countertops to fit a new floorplan. It can also be as simple as moving a refrigerator or sink to a different location. Whatever the size of the kitchen and the level of change, a layout will determine how well it functions for everyday tasks.

Standard kitchen layout ideas are dependable, but they may not work for your space or your cooking style. Consider taking a bold step from tradition and adding wraparound counters or a large central island that can serve as a dining area and focal point. Alternatively, opt for a U-shaped kitchen with a compact triangle that limits the distance between the oven, sink, and refrigerator.

When designing the layout, remember that a high-traffic area in the home typically starts at the doorway. Ensure the primary pathways into and out of the kitchen are free from tripping hazards like chairs, appliances, and furniture. In a smaller kitchen, this could mean creating a mudroom before entering the main kitchen area to control the flow of items coming in and out of the room.

A galley kitchen is a great solution for small spaces, as it makes full use of every inch of space. This efficient floorplan is ideal for one cook and can be augmented with a peninsula kitchen layout for added functionality. For a modern bright kitchen, the L-shaped configuration features tight corridors with no troublesome corner cabinets to configure. It’s also easy to add an eat-in island or multiple cook zones into this design. Download a sample floorplan.

Cabinets

Cabinets are the foundation of your kitchen. They offer storage, protect your surfaces and can help create a specific style or theme. Cabinets can be built-in or free-standing. Built-in cabinets are custom made to fit a space and can be fixed into position or framed in an opening like in modern kitchens. Free-standing cabinets are more commonly available off-the-shelf and can be moved around as desired.

Cabinet construction techniques are as varied as the styles of cabinetry. Some are solid wood, while others are particle board, MDF or plywood with melamine coating. Wood options range from oak and maple to cherry, hickory, and even exotic hardwoods like lyptus. Some of the most expensive cabinets use solid hardwoods with brass hardware.

The type of hinges and drawer pulls on a cabinet can dramatically impact the look and feel of the cabinetry as well as reduce wear on doors and drawer-fronts. New hardware can also make a great budget update to an older cabinetry.

Kitchen cabinet demand remains strong despite a slowing of new home construction. This is because larger homes rely on increased cabinet storage to enhance utility.

Moderately priced, semi-custom cabinets provide a wide range of organizational features like spice organizers and pull out pantries. They also allow you to run your cabinets all the way up to your ceiling and into nooks and crannies that would be impossible with stock cabinets. You can also add features to existing cabinets that can improve their function, such as a pie-corner base cabinet that pulls out and utilizes a blind corner; or an old fashioned lazy susan that rotates and brings stored items within reach. The cabinets you choose will affect your kitchen’s style and functionality for years to come.

Countertops

Countertops are one of the most visible elements of a kitchen, so they deserve careful consideration. Appearance is certainly important, but so are durability and ease of care. The right countertop can make cooking and entertaining a pleasure, and it can even affect your home’s value.

A popular choice is granite, which offers a natural look and is highly durable. It can resist impact and abrasion, is heat-resistant, and comes in a wide variety of colors and undertones. It’s also relatively inexpensive.

Other countertop materials are gaining popularity, too. Strong, impervious man-made materials like Corian are a good alternative to stone. And sintered stone, like Lapitec and Neolith, has a striking appearance with a wide range of color options. Some designers prefer wood counters for their warmth and character. Mr. Schafer has built kitchens with everything from mahogany with a glossy, marine-grade finish to maple butcher-block finished with mineral oil that’s intended to develop character over time.

In addition to color and texture, countertops are fabricated with a number of other details, including thickness and edge. For example, the New York firm Messana O’Rorke often designs counters with mitered edges, which create a more substantial look than the standard rounded bullnose edge. They can also be fabricated with decorative ogee edges that add flair.

Ultimately, you’ll want to select a material that fits in with your overall kitchen design. It should complement the style of your cabinets and meld with other features, such as the backsplash and appliances. It’s also worth considering how the countertop will be used and how it might change over time, so you can make a wise investment for your home.

Appliances

When remodeling a kitchen, appliances are an essential part of the process. Sometimes, a failing appliance is what spurs a renovation, but for many homeowners, a new set of kitchen appliances can add a fresh, updated look to the space that makes it a place they want to spend more time in. But it’s important to remember that brands and style should not be the first considerations when choosing kitchen appliances. The functionality of each appliance in your home should be the primary concern when making your purchase decisions.

Whether your remodel is full-scale or just a little touch up, there are several ways you can save money on your new appliances. Start by setting a budget for the project and stick to it. Avoid splurging on any one item that can easily rack up a big bill. Focus on a few key upgrades that will give your kitchen a fresh update.

You can also choose to upgrade to energy-efficient appliances. These can help you save on your utility bills while helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a major concern of today’s homebuyers.

Then, work with a Kowalske designer to see how you can make your dream kitchen a reality. Our designers can show you our most popular products, colors and designs to help you achieve the perfect combination of form and function for your kitchen.

The result will be a space that not only meets your needs but also increases the value of your home. And as a bonus, you’ll have an amazing go-to spot for cooking and spending quality time with friends and family.

Lighting

During a remodel, the design and sometimes structure of an area is altered. It may involve tearing down a wall to expand a room, turning a bedroom into a home office or converting an old pantry into a laundry room. Changing the lighting in your kitchen can also qualify as remodeling.

Creating an effective lighting plan is one of the most important steps in a kitchen remodel. The goal is to create a well-lit space that satisfies all your functional needs. We offer guidance on a variety of kitchen light fixtures to help you achieve your dream home.

The best place to start is with research. Visit kitchen showrooms and home renovation stores to observe various kitchen layouts, designs, cabinets, appliances, fixtures and building materials. Take notes, and then determine your must-haves and what fits into your budget.

Ambient lighting brightens the overall space and can come from a variety of sources, such as natural sunlight coming through glass doors or windows or recessed lighting installed around the perimeter in a cove. Pendant lights can provide ambient lighting as well and add visual interest to the space. These fixtures are available in a wide range of styles and finishes and can be positioned to shine upward or downward or as a combination of both.

Task lighting illuminates work areas, such as countertops where you are preparing food or inside cabinet drawers so you can easily find ingredients and spices. This type of lighting is essential for illuminating areas that you use for cooking, eating and socializing.

Accent lighting accentuates aesthetic features in the kitchen, such as a decorative backsplash or a unique ceiling treatment. These types of fixtures can make the room feel warmer and more inviting. They can also enhance the overall look of the kitchen and draw attention to architectural details such as exposed beams.