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3 Must-Have Features for Your Kitchen Remodel

Luxe-transitional two-tone kitchen remodel in Pittsburgh, PA

Everybody wants a fabulous kitchen, and rightfully so. The kitchen is the epicenter of your home, the place where you spend the most quality time with family and friends. It is also the room that creates the most value if or when you sell your home. Especially in Pittsburgh, homeowners can expect to recoup up to 64% of their investment for a major kitchen remodel according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2019 Cost vs. Value Report.

However, home improvement and design television have created completely unrealistic expectations among consumers remodeling their kitchen. These shows rarely include the cost of labor in their price estimates, and they often feature timetables that are even more unrealistic than the budgets.

If you’re planning a kitchen remodel, it’s important to have a realistic budget and know which features can help transform your current kitchen into one you will love for years to come.

Planning for Your Kitchen Remodel

If you want to create a realistic budget for your new kitchen, a good rule of thumb is to allocate 10 to 20% of the value of your home, with the spread being determined based on the size of the space, scope of the renovation, and quality of materials selected.

It’s also important to know that not all parts of your kitchen are created equally when it comes to the impact they can have on function and aesthetic. The three features that make the biggest impact are:

Cabinets
Countertops
Appliances

These items set the tone for the remainder of the space and help to provide direction for other materials such as backsplash, lighting, paint, flooring, and wall coverings.

Cabinet Considerations

We recommend starting product selection with cabinets, because cabinets set the tone for the remainder of the remodel and have the greatest impact on the look and feel of the space. Cabinets are also key to the longevity of your kitchen. It’s relatively easy to replace an appliance. It’s more difficult to change out cabinetry.

If you plan to live in your home for more than five years, invest in custom cabinets. Custom cabinets provide the ultimate flexibility to meet your needs, and they also can withstand the test of time.

Statement-Making Countertops

Countertops are where almost every kitchen activity begins and ends. Because countertops are one of the first things you see when you enter a kitchen, they naturally serve as a focal point. Countertop color, shape, and material options are virtually unlimited, enabling you not only to make countertops the functional workhorse of your new kitchen, but also the ultimate expression of your design and personality.

Investing in high-quality, high-performing, statement-making countertops makes a lot of sense. Not only are countertops relied upon for meal preparation, but they are also used for cooking, eating, entertaining, doing homework, charging electronics, and more. Countertops serve practical and aesthetic functions that can make or break a new kitchen.

High-Tech & Smart Kitchen Appliances

Kitchen remodel with smart refrigerator and dark wood cabinets

Technology has not bypassed kitchen appliances. High-tech, smart appliances can make cooking easier, healthier, and more enjoyable. On our dream list are:

Combination convection–steam ovens
Commercial-style gas range
Dual dishwashers
Smart refrigerator

Today’s combination convection steam ovens take convection cooking up to the next level. Using steam to prepare meals retains more moisture and vitamins in your food, making your meal healthier for you and your family.

If you love to cook, you will appreciate a commercial style gas range. If you love to entertain, two dishwashers will become your best friend. Consider combining a traditional dishwasher with a drawer model that can be used daily. Some models can limit cycles to one drawer only, enabling you to save water and avoid the temptation of having dirty dishes sit for days until the appliance is full.

Smart refrigerators can help monitor and order groceries, offer customizable temperature settings that can turn an area of the fridge into a freezer zone, and more. Many smart refrigerators include touch screens, cameras that allow you to view contents without opening a door, and multiple apps to help you stay organized in the kitchen.