CONSIDERATIONS continued CONSIDERATIONS continued
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CONSIDERATIONS con't. next column
CONSIDERATIONS con't. next column
begin, a few questions must be answered:
•What are your likes and dislikes of the space?
•Are you interested in minor updating or major
remodeling?
•What elements are you keeping?
•What is your budget?
Depending on your answers, we will begin to
make recommendations for you to consider. As
with any design project, getting the actual floor
plan determined is truly the best place to start.
The Space Plan. Even if you don’t
anticipate a major tear-out, an in-home design
consultation provides professional insight that
can save money and time.
Getting the best visual of your renovated
space should be a priority. Our designers
utilize amazing technology to recreate your
finished design in 3-D renderings and virtual
walkthroughs! Having a detailed visual
representation of the final product gives you
peace of mind and becomes incredibly helpful
to the subcontractors. Everyone responds better
to a visual room rendering than just a blueprint.
Updating Your Kitchen. Let’s say that
you’ve decided to forego the major renovating;
this doesn’t mean that you won’t see a remarkable
improvement. It just means that we are going
to find materials and labor components to
fit a smaller budget. Suggestions for kitchen
updating include:
•Replace cabinet hardware
•Refinish or paint existing cabinets
•Add molding to enhance existing cabinets
•Replace older appliances
•Replace countertops and tile
•Add functionality to existing cabinets
•Paint walls, change or remove wallpaper
•Improve lighting
Hardware. The simplest and easiest update
option is to change out the hardware, jewelry
for your kitchen, on your existing cabinetry. As
a rule, we prefer to use pulls on drawers and
knobs on doors. Be sure to check the feel of the
hardware before your purchase. Make sure the
backs of pulls are solid, comfortable in your
hand, and easy to grab. Consider your cabinetry
as furniture pieces and have fun mixing and
matching knobs and pulls in the same collection.
Be sure to consider newer hinges that provide
soft-close features.
Updating Existing Cabinets. There are
numerous ways to modernize the look of your
existing cabinets. Be sure to consider the quality
of the cabinets you own. Are they in good shape,
made of quality wood, and do you like the style?
If not, then there are affordable options available
in stock cabinetry.
To freshen up cabinets, remember the following:
Stained Cabinetry. For stained cabinets,
plan to remove all of the hardware, hinges, doors,
and drawers. A light sanding or buffing with
steel wool removes dirt, grease and grime from
the surfaces. Favorite stain products include
gel stains that can be wiped or brushed-on for
easy application. Select a color that is darker
than the current color and apply to all surfaces.
Be sure to coat the inside of the doors. Some
Gel stains include a finish coat in a single step.
Otherwise, look for a durable top-coat product
in a low-sheen finish to provide durability and a
professional finish.
Painting cabinets. Some choose to paint
over stained cabinets. Golden oak or light maple
cabinets can be transformed when painted any
color. White or light-color kitchens are still the
most popular, but decide what works for you.
Select a paint color for cabinets that is not the
“trim color” in your home. We like to consider
cabinets more of a furniture piece; they aren’t
required to match your trim. Soft whites, cream,
yellows and muted grays and blues are beautiful
colors for painted cabinets.
If the cabinets have been painted, then strip
them down before applying the next coat of
paint. One product we like to use is made by
Zinsser: Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer. It is an amazing
product to apply to stained or painted surfaces
before applying the finish coat. It is found at
most home improvement stores and really
improves the look of painted cabinetry. Be sure
to use quality brushes and foam rollers; however
spraying the doors and drawers is truly the best
option. Apply a low-sheen top-coat to add
durability. Painting or staining cabinets is not
always an easy DIY project. The paint supply
store can recommend a good professional.
Doors, Trim and Molding. If you want to
update the cabinet door style, then cabinet door
companies provide a relatively inexpensive
options. Instead of a raised panel style, you may
want to install a shaker door style.
We have all seen the simple kitchen layouts
that appear to be cabinet boxes mounted to the
walls. No frills, no excitement and certainly not
very interesting. Adding crown molding and a
light rail (trim on the bottom of wall cabinets
to hide under cabinet lighting) to existing
cabinets can really dress things up. There are
many molding profiles and materials available.
Primed pieces in pine or MDF are best if you
plan to paint the cabinets. Obtain oak, maple,
ash or cherry to match stained cabinets. If
you aren’t handy, then enlist the help of a trim
carpenter.
Beyond cabinet trim, you may want to
consider adding crown molding around the
ceiling to add height and another level of
architectural detail.
Appliances. You may have the perfect
kitchen floorplan with the best ‘work triangle’
and still hate your kitchen due to inefficient,
outdated appliances. While a new appliance
package can be expensive, it may be the best
investment. Updating a cooktop, range or
refrigerator is a good start. There are so many
amazing new features in the appliance world:
super-quiet dishwashers, convection ovens,
smart ovens, microwave drawers and even Wi-
Fi options. Be consistent in choosing exterior
finish colors; all of the appliances don’t have to
be from the same manufacturer.
Countertops and Tile. There is no question
that new countertops can transform the look of
your kitchen.
Granite has long been the go-to material
for kitchens; granite is natural stone that is
mined from the earth in slabs and then cut and
polished. The availability of the different colors
or types of granite depends on the pricing of
the material. Usually “graded” as Level 1, Level
2, Level 3, etc., the price points are lowest with
Level 1. Common names include Uba Tuba,
Tropic Brown, Giallo Ornamental, etc.
Quartz is another material that is gaining
a lot of interest for countertop selections. The
patterns are typically more uniform and less
busy than granite. Consistency between the
colors is also very good.
When making any countertop selection,
always bring a cabinet door or the paint swatches
and look at everything under good lighting. For a
small kitchen ask about remnants and consider
mixing materials between the kitchen perimeter
and the island.
Choosing a countertop invariably leads to
selecting the sink and faucet. Undermount
sinks are typically preferred. With many sizes
and shapes of kitchen sinks, sinks may be
purchased through the countertop fabricator or
the plumbing supply store. Faucets also come
in many styles—pull-down sprayer, commercial
styles, single or dual lever with a dozen finishes.
The faucet and sink must be selected before
moving forward with your countertops.
If you have chosen a tile for a backsplash,
then bring a sample along while hunting
for countertops. If you have selected the
countertop, then ask for a small sample to use
while shopping for tile. ALWAYS look at all your
selections together: tile, flooring, cabinets, wall
color, countertops, etc.
Functionality. Special features in new
cabinetry can be added to your existing cabinets
to improve the efficiency of your kitchen. Pullout
spice trays, cutlery inserts, roll-out shelves,
trash bins, acrylic trays, rail storage systems,
appliance lifts for mixers, stemware racks, pots
and pan racks and more.
Dressing the Walls. Painting can be one
of the least expensive options to updating
your kitchen. Our design team are experts
with paint colors and can always make good
recommendations. Removing or replacing
wallpaper should also be considered. Wallpaper
is still a great option for both kitchens and
bathrooms. New styles are more textural and
made of durable materials that are hypoallergenic,
sanitary and easy to clean. We
have numerous vinyl wallpapers that resemble
grasscloth, brick walls, wood planks, and fabric.
Lighting & Electrical. No kitchen update
is complete without addressing lighting. Many
kitchens in older homes have inadequate
lighting. It’s time to remove the recessed or
ceiling mount fluorescent bulbs! Here’s a few
options to consider: 1) Install recessed cans
within the primarily aisles of the kitchen;
typically a 6-inch can works best. 2) Install
pendant lighting or 4-inch recessed cans over
sink areas. 3) Add under cabinet lighting. 4)
Consider uplights above cabinets or toekick
lighting underneath. 5) Add strip lights or puck
lights behind glass wall cabinets.
LED light fixtures are great for kitchens
as they provide good light intensity and low
maintenance as you will probably never have to
replace a bulb.
The Finishing Touches. With the big pieces
in place, don’t forget to add the personal touches.
Add details to windows with blinds, textured
shades or fabric valances. Add decorative stools
& artwork. Let your personality show through!
Village Design Group is a team of 10 interior
design professionals who have operated in
the Sandhills area for over 35 years. The
Design Center features everything you need
for your home. Design services are available
for consultations, staging, decorating,
home furnishings, construction oversight
and complete home remodeling. Located
on South US 15-501 next to Zaxby’s.
• 910-692-1000 • See ad. p. 30.
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p.34 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. No. 130