Renovation Solutions: Things to consider when remodeling the kitchen

BEFORE: A new tile backsplash and a fresh coat of paint on the walls and ceiling was all it took to get this kitchen sparkling like the other parts of the house that this client was remodeling.

Kevin Bunnell, Renovation Design Group

In our columns the past few weeks, we have talked about replacing front doors, finishing attic spaces, adding wooden decks and selecting new garage doors.

As the last column in the series of the top five remodeling projects that yield the highest return on investment, lets talk about minor kitchen remodels.

The Remodeling Magazines Cost vs. Value report says the difference between a major and a minor kitchen remodel is about $35,000.

In the mid-range category, the average price for a minor kitchen remodel across the U.S. is $18,856, which yields an average 82.7 percent return on investment. A major kitchen remodel on average costs $54,909 with a 74 percent return on investment.

One main difference between a major and a minor remodel relates to the cabinets. For a minor remodel, the kitchen cabinet boxes remain in place and panels, doors and drawers or drawer fronts are refinished or replaced. A minor kitchen remodel also usually involves new hardware, a new energy-efficient wall oven and cooktop, a new countertop, a mid-priced sink and faucet, and new paint, trim and/or flooring. Basically, a minor kitchen remodel just gives the existing kitchen a facelift.

A major kitchen remodel gets into reconfiguring the layout and possibly structural elements of the kitchen, and considers the circulation to and from the kitchen and its relationship to the rest of the house.

Kitchens may be the last in the column series, but they are definitely not the least when it comes to the impact on a home and family. It is still true that the kitchen is the heart of the home the ultimate gathering place, the nucleus, the hub. It is more than where you prepare the meals. Today, it is where we eat, entertain, organize the family, pay the bills, do homework and build the science projects.

Therefore, this type of remodel needs to help you better use your kitchen to support your family goals and activities. When planning a kitchen remodel, major or minor, first consider your lifestyle. Who does the cooking? Are multiple people usually working in the kitchen at a time? What about traffic? How many people are coming and going? Do you use your kitchen for any other purposes like organizing the calendar, paying bills or schoolwork? Are you an entertainer?

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Renovation Solutions: Things to consider when remodeling the kitchen