It's 2014, and a lot of
Twin Cities residents are thinking about the upcoming year. Are home
improvements on your New Year's resolutions list? If so, perhaps you've been
thinking about your kitchen and how you'd like to remodel it into your dream
kitchen. As the design manager for Titus Contracting, I have a few suggestions
for you. I wrote a three-part blog series about Twin Cities Dream Kitchens, and
here is a rundown of the information I covered.
Part One covers your dream
kitchen's space and its limitations. You don't want too many items in your
kitchen that will make the space feel cramped any time there is more than one
person in there. You want to make sure you can get to your oven, fridge, etc.
easily and without much hassle.
If you're thinking about
having a kitchen island installed, consider it a focal point of the kitchen.
You also want it to have more than one use: as a place to prepare food and also
as a place to eat and gather around. You will want to think about the
aesthetics of the island. Should it look the same as the other counters and
cabinets, or do you want to select different colors for the countertops and
cabinets so it stands out?
Then you want to think
about the rest of your cabinets. How much space do you need ideally? What
colors are you thinking about for both the cabinetry and the countertops? What
other accessories do you want or need?
Part Two talks about your
dream kitchen's lighting. I highly recommend looking into recessed lighting.
You can control the lighting with a dimmer switch. Titus Contracting recommends
LED-recessed lighting because the bulbs last longer and use less energy. And
you also want to think about your microwave and exhaust system and the
possibility of combining the two to save space. I like over-the-range
microwaves because you get two appliances in one.
Have you thought about
your backsplash or the type of tile you want in your Twin Cities dream kitchen?
Tile makes for a really nice-looking backsplash and it's very easy to clean and
maintain. In the Twin Cities area, tile floors in kitchens aren't the most
practical because they can get very cold during the winter months, plus they
are prone to breaking if anything falls on them. But there are many other flooring
options for your Twin Cities kitchen, and we have plenty of ideas for you!
Finally, Part Three
discusses the benefits of granite countertops for your Twin Cities dream
kitchen. Granite is durable and natural, and it's a beautiful stone. No two
pieces are exactly alike, so you will always get a very unique and distinct
look in your dream kitchen. Keep an eye on cost though – the edge style you
choose can drive it up a bit, but I personally still feel like granite is the
best bang for your countertop buck.
And you also want to
consider what sort of dispensers you want for your soap and hot water.
Depending on your needs and style, these can range from just $100 to several
hundred dollars.
When you are ready to
start designing your Twin Cities dream kitchen, give us a call at Titus
Contracting at (952) 746-7817 or contact us online.
