Your Kitchen and Bath

 Visualize Your New Kitchen

Is there anything quite like the feel of a newly remodeled kitchen? If you are like most people, your kitchen is the heart of your house. As such, it should reflect your personality, as well as be practical and safe. From the pragmatic to the ascetic, a properly remodeled kitchen can bring you rewards for many years to come. Having a good plan is vital in achieving success.

The first step in the planning process begins in your head. Visualization is the key initial ingredient in any plan, and, as such, should be very thorough. Before you can make your kitchen work for you, you need to decide what you want it to do. Close your eyes and picture your dream kitchen. Start with what you will use it for.

Picture yourself raiding the refrigerator at 3 a.m. How far do you want to bend over while emptying out the bottom drawer of the dishwasher? How accessible do you want your pots and pans to be? Would you rather have them hanging within easy reach? Do you want them in your bottom cabinets? If so, do you want the cabinets to be set up with rollers for easy access? Don't forget counter space and adequate lighting.

Now that you have a good idea of what you want it to do, imagine what you want your kitchen to feel like. Use your personality and imagination. Are your interests contemporary? Casual? Country? Do you like the warmth of deep, darker colors or do you prefer the inviting friendliness and space created by light colors? Don't forget that cabinets have a huge impact on the way a kitchen looks.

Next, take a look at the space you have to work with. Study the traffic patterns; determine what works for you and what doesn't.  How accessible are the features of your current kitchen?

At this point, it is a good idea to start looking through magazines and on the internet to get new ideas. Cut out pictures of kitchens that appeal to you. Start to collect swatches and samples of fabric, wall coverings and the like. Write your ideas down on paper.

By now you should have a pretty good idea of what you want your kitchen to do for you. That was the fun part. Now it's time to sink back to reality and plan your finances.

Visualize Your New Bathroom 

Your bathroom is probably the first room you visit in the morning and the last one you leave at night. Whether combing your hair, brushing your teeth, putting on makeup, shaving, showering, or performing any of a number of hygiene related duties; you spend a lot of time there. It shouldn't just be a place for fixtures. You want your bathroom to be comfortable, attractive and most of all functional.

When deciding how to remodel your bathroom, first determine who will be using it most frequently. If you have, or plan to have, small children, safety will likely be your first concern. On the other hand, if you have a large family sharing one bathroom, you may wish to consider separating certain elements of the bathroom. You may have a separate area for the vanity and the tub so that more than one person can use the room at the same time.

Privacy, relaxation and efficiency are key elements to a successful bathroom. Adequate cabinet space, shelves, hooks and racks all play an important role in organization. Don't forget about soundproofing and ventilation.

Some other features that are currently achieving popularity include heated toilet seats, heated towel racks and heated stone floors. Whirlpool baths, tables and hutches in the bathroom and attached laundry facilities are also in high demand.

How much space do you have? If you have a small space to work with, you may wish to use lighter colors in your design. This will give the illusion of a larger space without the expense of knocking out walls. You will want to maximize efficiency while still keeping your design pleasing to the eye.

Next, measure the space you have to work with. Make a sketch of the bathroom's current layout. Then measure the walls at counter height, and measure from corner to corner. These figures should match. This will enable you to map out the layout on graph paper.

Once this is complete, write down a list of wants and needs. Are there going to be extra features, such as compartmentalized areas? Will you be adding extra fixtures, like a new vanity or a bidet? What materials do you want to use for the countertops? Do you want a whirlpool bath? What coloring scheme will you likely be using? Do you wish to add additional storage space? How about flooring? Do you prefer natural or mechanical ventilation? What type of lighting do you want? Will you be making the new bathroom accessible to people with disabilities? Barrier free, or "universal" bathrooms are a growing trend and can add value to your home.

On a side note, guest bathrooms are great places to go crazy. The high visibility and low usage of these rooms enables you to really have fun with the layout and design. Here you can be less concerned with functionality than with visual appeal.

Now it is time to determine two of the most important factors in your remodeling efforts. What time frame do you want this project completed in? Last, but not least, what is your budget?

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) estimates the average cost of remodeling a bath between $6500 and $11,600 when replacing everything. This is, of course, a rough estimate. If you are merely replacing a sink and some wallpaper, you won't be spending anywhere near this amount. If, on the other hand, you are replacing everything, knocking out walls and adding laundry and exercise facilities, prepare to break out your wallet.

As with all remodeling projects, it never hurts to get the advice and assistance of a professional.