An old friend of mine moved into a beautiful late 19th century Victorian house a little over 12 months ago. At a recent party he hosted at the house, many of the guests commented on the quaint, old-fashioned style of the kitchen and how cozy and friendly it seemed. At this point, my friend stated that she and her four children absolutely hated the kitchen area and would love to renovate and modernize it, but were completely intimidated by the task and therefore had not tried it.
His main fear was the perceived high cost of renovating an older home, as he had heard many home improvement horror stories: people spending tens of thousands of dollars on what started out as fairly modest renovations, only to find a of unbudgeted repairs. and maintenance were also required, therefore significantly exceeding the estimated costs. My friend did not like the idea of being in a similar situation, so the idea of undertaking restoration and renovation work had been shelved. One of the party guests was a builder and the other a professional interior decorator and both explained that while the restoration work (restoring the building to a ‘like new’ condition similar to when it was originally built) was quite extensive and took For a long time, however, a renovation (modernization) project was relatively cheap.
Kitchen Renovation Ideas – Without the Fear Factor
Most homeowners, including my friend, have the perception that older homes are especially difficult to renovate simply because of their age, but this is not entirely correct. In reality, whether the house is old or quite new, a kitchen renovation almost always turns out to be very profitable and the inhabitants will see a noticeable improvement in the area. Renovation ideas for older homes can be planned so that new items and appliances can blend in alongside older kitchen features, for example, your new stainless steel fridge wouldn’t look out of place if it were in the same room. cooks than an old wood-burning refrigerator. kitchen.
The real key to affordable and effective ideas is in the planning stage and this goes for any type of home, new or old.
First on the list of all solid kitchen renovation ideas is to properly calculate the cost of your planned renovations. This is the most critical aspect, as you should not attempt any substantial renovation projects unless you have sufficient funds available or can enlist the help of your bank or mortgage provider. Despite the fact that you need substantial financing, take heart knowing that you can cut costs in some areas without sacrificing the overall quality of the renovation. It is important that you allocate adequate funds for the key aspects of the renovation, namely the design component, labor costs, and appliances and fixtures.
If you are proposing extensive remodeling or structural changes, be aware that this type of work is extremely expensive. When structural changes are part of your remodeling project, it’s essential that you hire a builder who can work within your budget. Before beginning work, always make sure that any structural changes, such as the addition or removal of a room divider or the installation of a window seat or skylight, have been properly budgeted for in the overall project.
When you’re reviewing your ideas, always keep unexpected contingencies in mind, such as necessary repairs to plumbing, heating, and electrical equipment. There’s nothing worse than having an aesthetically pleasing kitchen that’s great to look at, but is actually a fire hazard or energy monster due to old, ineffective equipment. In old houses, it is very likely that you will have to spend money to update this type of equipment.
Once you’ve addressed the structural and utility aspects (heating, lighting, plumbing, etc.) of your kitchen renovation, you can turn your attention to other aspects, such as choosing countertops, cabinets, and floor coverings. This is a great area to control costs, as it is possible to use many alternative materials, which are just as durable and impressive as, say, marble or granite, yet cost a fraction of the price of the real thing. It is also recommended that you consider purchasing standard cabinets instead of custom fit ones as this will also save you a great deal of money.
If you are like my friend and own an older style home and are not sure if you can afford to implement your kitchen renovation ideas, why not consult with a friendly builder and get an idea of what job to do. Restoration is required, as well as the cost? of appliances and fixtures… you may be pleasantly surprised.