Kitchen Remodeling Santa Rosa
Expert Kitchen Design in Sonoma County
Whitney Homes Kitchen Renovation Solutions
As a central point in your home, your kitchen is not just a room for cooking, but a place to gather for entertaining and relaxing. It’s also an obvious choice for home improvement.
Are you tired of running out of cabinet space for your pots and pans? Or maybe you are running out of counter space while cooking a large meal and dream of adding an island. Whatever the issue, Whitney Homes will design and build the new kitchen of your dreams!
Many of the homes in Santa Rosa were built a few decades ago, and design trends are not what they used to be. You’ll find that some of these older homes have smaller, closed-off kitchen spaces that are somewhat separate from the rest of the home.
Newer design trends for kitchen remodels, particularly for those culinary enthusiasts or busy families, lean towards open kitchen spaces with deeper kitchen cabinets, creating a more welcoming space perfect for gatherings and being on the go.
As a leading kitchen remodeling services company and general contractor, Whitney Homes can transform your old kitchen into a culinary center made for a magazine cover. We will meet with you to design your dream kitchen based on your needs.
Why Remodel Your Kitchen?
A kitchen remodeling project can be daunting unless you have us on your side. There are many factors to consider when updating your kitchen. Here are some important considerations:
Functionality
Do you have cabinets that ‘hide’ things from you in dark, hard-to-reach areas? Whitney Homes’ cabinet installation experts can add features like built-in lazy suzan corner shelves, under-sink sliding drawers, cutting board storage or custom pantry solutions (to name a few) that make it easy to store and retrieve items. Minor upgrades like this will make your life in your dream kitchen so much easier.
Space
Do you throw parties where everyone gathers in the kitchen (as they do) and quickly run out of countertop space for people to sit or put their drinks down? We not only install countertops, but our expert designers can also plan a kitchen island to significantly increase the counter/seating space in your kitchen. In most cases, we can add power outlets, a functional sink or even a surface-mount grill to this area as well.
Energy Efficient Appliances
If you have a growing family, larger kitchen appliances with better features may be in order. We work with the major kitchen appliance manufacturers to bring you refrigerators, stoves/microwaves, trash compactors and dishwashers that will add capacity and features you’ll love. In most cases, upgrading your kitchen appliances will result in energy savings as well since newer kitchen appliances are typically more efficient.
Resale Value
The increase in home value from a kitchen remodel is compelling. Most homeowners can see an ROI for a renovation project of this nature. This could be as much as 60-90% depending on the location. Not only that, it tends to decrease time on the market as an updated kitchen helps immensely when selling.
What's Your Style?
This is where the fun is. You get to choose the elements that make your dream kitchen environment a focal point in your home.
What type of kitchen do you desire? There are many options here including contemporary, modern, farmhouse, craftsman, rustic and Mediterranean, to name just a few. Your Whitney Homes representative can lay out the details of each.
Backsplash
Upgrading your backsplash with ceramic tile or subway tile allows you to create visually appealing patterns.
Lighting
Are parts of your kitchen in the dark? Updating lights above common work areas not only looks appealing, it can drastically increase functionality and access.
Flooring
There are many choices for the new flooring in your new kitchen; Waterproof hardwoods, vinyl tiles or planks, or ceramic floor tiles all come with a myriad of style choices.
Color
Give your kitchen a brand new look with a coat of quality paint. This finishing touch allows your creative side to really shine. Consider using more than one color in the room to break up various elements.
Things to Consider Before a Kitchen Renovation
Plan Your Budget
Any remodeling project, be it a major kitchen remodel or a simple cabinetry refresh, comes with an associated cost. Are you going to sell in the next few years? If so, remodel for the market. Ask a local real estate agent or kitchen remodeling contractors for input and remodeling needs on this, as it can vary by location. If you plan on staying in the home for a while, have a kitchen renovation budget in mind.
Determine Your Style
So many choices! Open shelves or closed? New cabinets or reface? This is where a kitchen showroom comes in handy for ideas. Many homeowners visit a few to look at the choices of materials and colors available. Your remodeling contractor should also be able to help with this. You should weigh the options for your countertops, backsplash, flooring, faucets, kitchen cabinets/cabinet hardware, appliances and lighting for the room. This will also help you when choosing a complementary color for painting the room after everything is installed.
Think About a Logical Layout
Have you heard of a “Kitchen Triangle”?. Also referred to as a “Chef’s Triangle” or “Golden Triangle”, this refers to the layout of the stove, fridge and sink in relation to each other. These are the top 3 areas of your kitchen and should all be within fairly close working distance to be able to work efficiently.
Consider the location of your other appliances (trash compactor, microwave, small appliances, etc.) with this same thought process. Will it be within reach? Will it be in the way? Will it block another appliance? Keep in mind, even minor upgrades can change the layout of your kitchen remodel.
Also think about locations for seating, small appliance storage, ventilation, lighting and any walls needing removal or construction.
Work With a Professional Contractor Like Whitney Homes
Successful kitchen remodel projects typically begin with the contractor of your choosing. Whitney Homes has the experience and great customer service to help you transform your outdated kitchen. We can design and build your culinary oasis or work with you on projects involving your whole home.
HOW TO PLAN A KITCHEN REMODEL BUDGET?
Decide how much you want to spend on your renovation, and stick to it. Create a spreadsheet with all of the estimated costs so you can track your spending on the job. Refer to this often to help keep you on track financially.
Know how the costs break down. The following list from the NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) shows the costs associated with a typical kitchen remodel project (highly dependent on geographic location):
- Cabinetry and Hardware: 29%
- Installation: 17%
- Appliances and Ventilation: 14%
- Countertops: 10%
- Flooring: 7%
- Lighting: 5%
- Walls and Ceilings: 5%
- Design Fees: 4%
- Doors and Windows: 4%
- Faucets and Plumbing: 4%
- Other: 1%
Set aside a portion of your budget to handle the unexpected. Depending on the age of your house, this could be as much as 20 percent of the budget. Unexpected issues could include finding mold, slow water leaks in the plumbing behind walls or outdated electrical house wiring. These are issues that can only be discovered after demolition has begun on your kitchen, so planning ahead saves you stress later.
Make a list of your renovation priorities. It’s easy to get sidetracked by ‘nice-to-haves’ as your project progresses but this can eat away at a planned budget.
Factor in the cost of eating out. You won’t have access to your kitchen for a while, so plan on spending more on your meals during the construction.
Keep your current layout to save money. One of the most expensive options in a whole kitchen remodel is moving an appliance, sink or stove to a new location. Each of these has plumbing and/or electrical connections that must be moved as well, which means tearing up floors or walls.
Is Kitchen Renovation a Reasonable Investment?
Kitchen remodel and bathroom remodeling jobs are among the top home improvements you can do to increase the value and enjoyment of your home. Many buyers consider kitchen remodel or bathroom remodels as desirable when shopping for a home.
Ask yourself how long you plan on staying in the home. Are you selling soon? Many buyers look at the kitchen as a decision point when shopping for a home. Depending on your location and the scope of the project, you could see a roughly 60-90% return on the money spent on a kitchen refurbishment when selling the home. This of course depends on how long after the construction you decide to sell, the current housing market and your location.
If you plan on staying in the house, you will be able to design to your specifications instead of ‘for the market’. This allows you to customize the space to suit your aesthetic and logistical needs.
Ultimately, the immediate considerations involved in remodeling a kitchen come down to being able to handle the mess, the inconvenience and of course, the cost. However, the payoffs may outweigh these with a kitchen you will take pride in and enjoy for years to come.
Working With Your Contractor in Santa Rosa, CA
Attempting a DIY kitchen remodel yourself is admirable and can sometimes save money. However, home remodeling projects can be daunting for the average homeowner. A licensed kitchen remodeling services company will be able to guide you through the process of re-doing your kitchen. They will typically do quality work and finish the job faster. Here are some tips to help you with the process:
Review Their Previous Work
Most home or kitchen remodel companies have portfolios of completed jobs. You can use their previous work as inspiration for your kitchen remodeling ideas.
Work Out a Schedule With Your Contractor of Choice
Nail down job start and end dates as well as what time they start and end work daily. Also, check if they work weekends or nights.
Discuss the Details of the Job
Make sure you are clear with your expectations for the project. It will be difficult to hit all of the details at the start, but the more you can define up front, the easier (and sometimes cheaper) it will be for everyone.