subject: Kitchen Remodeling with Appliances in Mind [print this page] Kitchen Remodeling with Appliances in Mind
Kitchen remodeling is a very involved home improvement project. Not only do you have to figure out what to do for a kitchen while yours is disassembled but you have to juggle wall color, tiling, flooing, countertops, cabinets, etc. Is that it? Not at all - you're also stuck with trying to decide the best appliances to compliment your final design. This decision often has to be made before the design is even finished. Avoid using the same tired old appliances and consider these potential features to prep for your new kitchen.
Appliance Basics
Just about every kitchen needs to have staple appliances - at the minimum you can expect a refrigerator, a dishwasher a stovetop and an oven. The dishwasher isn't a necessity of course and you can get by without it but for the sake of convenience it's nice to have a staple. You can't get by without the others though.
Most refrigerators can be purchased in one of three configurations, which boils down to mainly preference. The most traditional and commonly purchased style is the top-mount fridge with the ice-box up top. Bottom-mounted refrigerators are another option with the freezer near the floor that rolls out like a drawer. Lastly, the split configuration where the fridge and freezer are parallel to one another with vertical doors.
Most dishwashers have similar options but some give additional "luxury" options both for convenience and energy savings such as the delay timer or the ability to do a partial load that uses less resources. If you don't need the traditional under-counter large dishwasher, or you have limited space in your kitchen, you can invest in a drawer model that fits easily into your cabinets.
The choices for ovens and stovetops today are anything but basic and come in a large variety - again a matter of preference in how things are cooked and how the kitchen is laid out. Models can be separate or together (stove and oven) with some homeowners opting to sink a stovetop into a counter. You'll have to consider whether you want to cook with electricity, gas or induction which heats only the cookware and not the stovetop.
Kitchen Extras
With the basic aside you can start planning on additional appliance use within your kitchen. This is a great opportunity to splurge and add some real flavor to your kitchen. A warming drawer is a great option that uses very little energy. You could also install an under-cabinet wine refrigerator, a built-in coffee making system or a trash compactor.
Appliance Appearance
While stainless steel is extremely popular for its durability and easy of cleaning, it doesn't fit every kitchen design. You'll need to consider how the appliance will look against the new d?cor and redesign. You have a lot of options from vibrant colors to a deep gloss black, stainless steel, wood finish. Likewise, if you're not one to have appliances sticking out, you can go for a more clean and polished look to your kitchen by concealing appliances in cabinets or building them into the wall/cabinet area.
Whatever appliance you settle on, always make sure that you're buying an energy efficient model. As the economy continues to rock about, saving money wherever you can is a smart choice. With appliances that shave your utilities you're buying a product that will eventually pay for itself. They're hard to miss - just look for the bright yellow stickers that signify an appliance is Energy-start compliant.
