Household Tips

I am all in favor of remodeling kitchens and bathroom. My current kitchen project involves refinishing my cabinets. I looked into replacing them all, but I figure I can be happy with refinished cabinets for another 7-10 years (and save myself about $12K!) My kitchen cabinet (in my 80 year old house) were handmade by the man who owned this house before us. The cabinets aren’t bad at all. They just look beat up. Amazing what a good cleaning with Murphy’s Oil Soap will do for that. Even more amazing what some sanding and staining can accomplish! But then, I’m an avowed do-it-yourselfer. (And did I mention that I’m TERRIBLE about actually finishing those projects?) I suppose I SHOULD just follow the advice!

For those of you who are looking into Kitchen remodeling, SEN Design Group has some recommendations.

Educational Approach
— Interview several potential candidates, especially firms that focus exclusively on kitchens and baths
— Confer with friends and neighbors on their past remodeling experiences
— Request to see a copy of the contractor’s certificate of insurance
— Ask for a list of recent references and make follow-up phone calls

Planning
— Envision what you want - begin by collecting images from magazines and newspapers
— Write down your ideas, thoughts and concerns; prioritize your needs
— Create a general plan and budget for the entire project
— If available, visit a designer’s showroom
— Ask to see design layouts and several case studies
In lieu of the month, now is a great time to start thinking about
making home improvements. With the immense amount of resources available,
homeowners can be prepared prior to the start of the process.

For more information on remodeling, visit the archive here.