CA License No. #1091259
This is an excerpt from the Book called “Do It Yourself Kitchens Stunning Spaces On a Shoestring Budget“ by John Wiley & Sons. Continue reading to learn more about DIY Kitchen Planning Guide, thanks to the author.
Upgrading your kitchen makes sense for many reasons. See how a few changes can benefit the environment, your family’s health, and your wallet.
Like a box of favorite recipes, a kitchen remodel is full of possibilities. The process can smooth an awkward layout, refresh dated décor, and replace inefficient appliances. And even if you move away, your efforts might produce a higher price or a quicker sale.
Let us speak your ideas and help you set your goals. Need more inspiration? Tour model homes and showrooms. Scan design books, blogs, and websites.
But start with the reality of your existing kitchen what you like and what you don’t. Ask others in your family, especially other cooks, what works and what doesn’t in the floor plan, traffic flow, storage, and equipment. Ask them how it feels when you certain or just hang out there.
Create a tentative budget and a wish list, knowing you probably can’t have it all. Even the smallest detail-a display shelf for honeymoon souvenirs, a sports drink dispenser in the refrigerator-can help lead your kitchen designer, architect, or contractor to your dream kitchen.
Everything starts with a thoughtful layout and well-chosen appliances, sinks, faucets, counter tops, and cabinetry. Within those options, think “green” whether you want to lower your utility bills, create a healthier home, or protect the environment, ecologically sound and energy-efficient products, materials, and strategies turn remodeling into renewal
As you consider how best to use your space, it helps to know the recommended measurements and clearances that make a kitchen safe, functional, and comfortable. With these in hand, visit showrooms to see the guidelines in action.
Height: 28-45 inches
Knee space: 12-18 inches
Base-Cabinet height: 34 inches
24 inches above (30 inches if surface above is unprotected)
Standard 36 inches
Maximum 45 inches
24 inches
36-inch-wide work surface for each cook (adjacent to water source)
If a kitchen has only one, locate close to or across from cooking surface or refrigerator
Primary sink: 24 inches on dishwasher side, 18 inches on the other side.
Secondary sink: 18 inches on one side.
15-inch space within 48 inches on handle side.
No more than 36 inches from sink.
Locate bottom 3 inches below user’s shoulder but no more than 54 inches above floor (place undercounted microwave bottom at least 15 inches above floor)
15-inch space above, below, or on handle side.
15-inch space above or adjacent or an island or peninsula no more than 48 inches away.
36 inches (work area on one side only)
One Cook: 42 inches
Two Cook: 48 inches
Inside at least one and ensure that no major traffic pattern runs through it.
Efficient and convenient, modern appliances save time and steps-and run so quietly that you can enjoy your kitchen as a living space. Energy-efficient models also save you money and help save the environment.
RANGES: Most traditional ranges-with four burners above and an oven below-are 30 inches wide, but 24-and 36-inch models are also available. Commercial-style models, 48 or 60 inches wide, accommodate six burners or a combination of burners and griddle or grill. Gas or electric ranges can be freestanding (with finished side panels) or made to slide between cabinets. Some models boast two ovens or a built-in warming drawer. Bakers often prefer the even heat of electricity, which has led to dual-fuel ranges that top an electric oven with gas burners.
OVENS: Built into a wall or under a counter, 30-or 36-inch-wide ovens offer thermal or convection (or combination) cooking in single or double cavities. Built-in-speed-cook ovens typically combine convection, microwave and sometimes steam functions.
MICROWAVES: These come in counter top, built-in, over-the-range, and drawer models.
COOK TOPS: Some cooks swear by the instant control of gas. Others prefer electric coils, or they select radiant, halogen, or induction elements under ceramic-glass surfaces. Electric cook tops now offer rapid-cycle elements that fine-tune the heat setting as precisely s gas. Modular cook tops let you assemble functions you like best from burners, grills, griddles, woks, steamers and more. Diner-style flat-top cookers sear, sauté, and stir-fry directly on a steel surface.
Wall-mount, under cabinet, ceiling-mount, and downdraft models come in widths and exhaust capabilities to match any range or cook top’s output of heat, steam and grease. Compare ratings-to find the power you need at the sound level you prefer.
Standard refrigerators measure 27-32 inches deep. So they stand out from standard 24-inch-deep base cabinets. More expensive 24-inch-deep built-ins fit flush with cabinets (and with trim panels, almost disappear). Pro-style models sport stainless–steel frames with glass doors. Retro or European styling adds curvy doors and colourful finishes. Full-size all-freezer and all-refrigerator units are another built-in variation for a custom kitchen.
Units with top-mount and bottom-mount freezers are 24-36 inches wide, with a capacity of 10 to almost 28 cubic feet. Bottom-mount units cost more for the same capacity but are more energy-efficient, and most homeowners find having fresh food on top more user-friendly. Side-by-side units are split vertically, with frozen food on the left and fresh on the right. Most are 30-36 inches wide, with capacities of 10-29 cubic feet: Pro-style models measure up to 72 inches wide and 48 cubic feet. Narrower sections make bulky items difficult to store. When open, the slender doors occupy less floor space but can block counter top access on both sides.
These armoire-style models store fresh food behind twin doors at eye level and frozen food behind a door or in a drawer below. They’re 30-42 inches wide and 218-20 cubic feet. Freestanding and built-in styles also offer counter-depth versions for a built-in look.
Ideal for small kitchens, these refrigerators are 15-24 inches wide (most at counter depth) with up to 3.9-cubic-foot capacity. Use one for produce at the prep sink or for snacks and beverages near the family room.
A new solution for tricky layouts, refrigerators or freezer drawers install under a counter, in a wall, or in an island. Models range from 15 to 36 inches wide and 3.9-6.7 cubic feet.
Old appliances are energy hogs especially refrigerators. According to the Department of Energy, new models consume about half the electricity of 1993 refrigerators. Energy Star labeling (energy star gov) highlights which dishwashers and refrigerators are most efficient.
REFRIGERATORS: Side-by-side models use 10 percent more electricity than top freezer models. Through-the-door ice-and-and-water dispensers and automatic icemakers increase electricity use up to 20 percent. Mostly full refrigerators and freezers run less often.
DISHWASHERS: Run them only when full drawer models are ideal for small loads. Today’s dishwashers use less than half the water and one-fourth the power of 10 year-old models. No-heat drying draws less energy but takes longer to finish the job. Delayed start washing takes advantage of low overnight utility rates.
From a restaurant-style steel basin and spray head to a rustic farm sink with nostalgic copper tap, there’s sink-and-faucet team for any décor or cooking style. Two sinks are better than one if your household has several cooks or if you entertain often. New faucets offer convenient operation, flashy finishes, and water-saving mechanisms.
Practical counter tops must meet your needs and fit your décor. It’s OK to mix materials-for instance, stone for an island where guests gather and laminate at the kids’ snack-and-homework zone. When comparing prices, consider longevity and maintenance. Also note whether each material is priced by the linear or square foot.
BAMBOO This renewable grass can be assembled using food-safe adhesives.
BUTCHER BLOCK Made from laminated wood, this is best for baking areas and island tops. Seal with oil to boost moisture resistance; let knife marks create a patina, or sand the surface smooth.
CONCRETE Cast in place or installed as preformed slabs, sealed concrete resists burns, stains, and scratches but is labor-intensive to install. Customize it with tints, texture, or inset shells, glass, or other items.
GLASS Sleek and dramatic, tempered glass comes in clear or translucent forms with a smooth or textured surface. Recycled composite glass is also an option. Glass is waterproof and heat-tolerant; use a cutting board to avoid scratches.
GRANITE Today’s most popular choice offers a variety of colors and patterns. Shopping at a stone yard costs more than ordering from a sample but lets you buy the exact piece you want. Reduce cost by using granite tiles or remnants instead of a single slab. Granite is durable and impervious to heat but requires professional installation and periodic sealing to repel stains.
LAMINATE Affordable laminate comes off-the-rack as a one-piece counter and back splash in limited color choices. Or if you custom-order from a home center or kitchen dealer, you‘ll find hundreds of colors and patterns, some that mimic stone, metal, or wood. Customize your project with a shaped edge or textured finish. The material is easy to install but has visible seams. Use a cutting board for slicing and trivets for hot pans.
MARBLE AND LIMESTONE These stones are classic and luxurious, but they’re softer and more porous than granite, so they are more likely to scratch or stain.
QUARTZ-SURFACING Also called engineered stone; this blend of ground quartz, resins, and pigments produces consistent stone like patterns. It is nonporous and heat and scratch resistant.
SOAPSTONE Soft and silky, soapstone chips more easily than granite. Like other stones, it resists heat. Treat it with mineral oil to repel moisture.
SOLID-SURFACING Look for panels and veneers made of plastic resins in many colors and patterns. The nonporous material resists stains; scratches can be sanded out. Solid-surfacing sinks create a seamless installation.
STAINLESS STEEL Sanitary and stain proof, this surface complements a stainless-steel sink and perfects a pro-style kitchen. Steel is heatproof and waterproof, but a shiny finish can show scratches and fingerprints. Ready-made sections fit standard counter sizes; custom installations fit others.
TILE Glazed ceramic or porcelain tiles in many shapes, colors, and sizes are water-and heat-resistant. If they chip, they’re easy to replace. You might need to regrout every few years.
Taking up about 40 percent of most kitchen renovation budgets, cabinetry represents a long-term investment. But cabinets also anchor a room’s style and store items from couscous to cookie sheets. Shop cabinet materials and construction wisely.
FACE FRAME In this traditional look construction, a solid wood frame attaches to the front of the cabinet box. Hinges, hidden or visible, attach the door to the frame. Because the frame overlaps the door opening, drawers must be slightly narrower than the cabinet box.
FRAMELESS This more contemporary-look construction creates slightly more capacity. When the door is open, you see the ends of the box panels. Door hinges mount inside the cabinet, so they’re hidden when doors are closed.
DOOR DESIGNS Slab doors are flat and sleek. Paneled doors range from mitered squares to gentle arches or fancier cathedral tops. Inserts are raised or recessed; some are accented with beaded board or decorative molding. Use glass, bamboo, wire, or paper instead of wood to add more personality.
EMBELLISHMENTS Millwork and architectural detail give cabinet’s custom character. Use decorative brackets called corbels under a shelf or a wooden range hood. But feet and turned legs also enhance cabinets’ furniture styling. Crown, dentil, or rope molding looks rich and covers blemishes and joints.
SIGNS OF QUALITY Solid wood is beautiful for cabinet fronts, but most back, side, and bottom panels are now made from plywood, particleboard, or medium-density fiberboard. Don’t worry. These engineered woods are more stable than solid wood in changing humidity-especially useful for a sink base unit. For additional durability, metal-frame cabinetry is another option.
When comparing cabinets, look for these quality indicators: Drawers should have solid-wood or plywood sides with rabbeted, doweled, or dovetailed joints. Self-closing drawers and tray glides should support 75-100 pounds when extended. In wall cabinets, adjustable shelves add flexibility.
A blue-and-white “Certified cabinet” seal from the kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association shows that a cabinet has met industry guidelines for durable construction.
STORAGE ACCESSORIES To make the most of every inch of storage, shop accessory options. Store cookware on pullout shelves or wire organizers. Angles corner drawers put potentially wasted space to work. Pullout pantry and spice storage makes canned and dry goods more accessible.
WOODS AND FINISHES Natural wood offers a selection of colors and grains. Oak, pine and hickory have prominent grain patterns and suit traditional or country styles. Maple, cherry, and mahogany look classic or contemporary depending on the finish.
Stain affects wood color but shows its grain, while paint creates a solid finish that hides grain. In general, pick a richer or darker finish for a traditional look and a light, natural finish for a modern mood.
