Remodeling your kitchen can be overwhelming, and often, it’s hard to know where to begin. These four steps can put you on the right path to a successful remodel and a beautiful kitchen.

#1: Plan Your Finances

First, start thinking about how you would fund renovations. Do you have the cash to fund your kitchen remodel? Or, will you have to finance your project? Multiple financing options are available to eligible homeowners, including: cash-out refinancing, construction loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, and even contractor financing. Call your bank to see if you qualify for any of these options.

#2: Assess Your Wants and Needs

Try to differentiate your wants from your needs. Consider keeping a journal to chronicle how you use your kitchen. Who typically cooks? Where do you do most of your prep work? How is the flow of traffic? Are you making up for a lack of storage? Do you desperately need more space, or does your kitchen just need to be reconfigured? Create a “wants” and “needs” list, and rank each item by importance. Identifying these early on will help you stay on budget and not get carried away.

#3: Get Inspired

It’s probably been a long time since you’ve remodeled or even decorated your home, so now could be the time to re-invent your style! Get inspiration from magazines, Houzz.com, and Pintrest.  Create folders of products and styles you like. This will help you and your designer when it comes time to designing your kitchen and making selections.

#4: Interview Designers and Contractors

Once you’ve decided to renovate, the most important decision you’ll make is selecting your designer and contractor. Ask friends, family, and colleagues if they know any reputable firms in the area. More often than not, a referral is the golden ticket to your satisfaction. Secondly, start looking for jobsite signs. If you see several of the same signs throughout your neighborhood, the company probably has a good reputation. Lastly, kitchen renovations can be complicated, so make sure you hire a professional company with plenty of experience designing (and building) kitchens. Look at company portfolios, call past clients, and read online reviews.

Other Things to Consider:

If you plan on living in your home for the long-term, consider incorporating aging-in-place elements into your kitchen. A certified remodeler can discretely adapt your kitchen for the future, and, you’ll save time and money in the long run.

It’s wise to consider resale value with any renovation, but if you plan on living in your home for more than five years, it’s probably more important that the space fits the needs and wants of you and your family.

This historic 1890s farmhouse recently won a 2012 Decatur Design Award for Historic Preservation. The awards are sponsored by the City of Decatur’s Historic Preservation Commission.

This home had a myriad of exterior problems, from cracked and pitted stairs to walkways with broken and uneven pavers. We freshened up the outside by preserving as much of it as possible. We restored the concrete stairs and salvaged most of the pavers. The walkways were even created in a way to preserve the surrounding trees, so that if the roots shift in the future, the pavers can be reset. See more photos here.

before

after

As Baby Boomers age, incorporating universal design into renovations is becoming more common. At the same, many homeowners have misconceptions about these kinds of features. Not just wheelchair ramps and grab bars, universal design can discretely adapt beautiful kitchens and baths for the future.

For example, unable to access her appliances, upper cabinetry, or step down pantry, this wheelchair bound homeowner could not safely or easily use her current kitchen.  Entry into the space was also tight and inconvenient. To give her the modern, accessible kitchen she needed, Renewal removed a partition wall and widened an existing doorway. Extra storage was gained by raising the pantry floor. Other features include: a pull-under sink, desk height countertops, pull-down shelving in the upper cabinets, suspended floating shelves, and safer, easier-to-use appliances.

before

after: the new kitchen is easily accessible with a modern design

click photo to view slideshow of existing home

Follow us as we document the extreme transformation of this 1920s craftsman bungalow in historic Decatur. The homeowners purchased the property with the intention of restoring the exterior to historic standards and renovating the entire interior to create a modern, clean home with open floor plan, modern conveniences, and aesthetic details. The home will also incorporate “green” and energy efficient features, and with guidance from Southface, should become EarthCraft certified.

Renewal designed the project and will start construction in just a few weeks! To learn more about the home, view before photos, and see what the future holds, view our renovation diary, AtlantaRemodels.com. Enter your email address, and new posts can be sent straight your inbox!

Tired of your old, outdated kitchen? It may be time to renovate! Below are some helpful insights to aide you on your quest to a beautiful and functional kitchen.

There Are Plenty of Reasons to Renovate

If your kitchen is the hub of your home, it can take a lot of abuse and look dingy and dated quickly. Freshening up this space can: increase your home’s value, give you more space, create a more organized and functional layout, be visually pleasing, and create a more open, casual floor plan.

Beware of Fads

Consider incorporating long-lasting trends into your kitchen, such as: functional cabinetry, sleek and modern styles, universal design, glazes versus paints and stains, warm and dark colors, and natural woods and finishes. When researching materials, be sure to evaluate: cost, efficiency, and design. Keep in mind the level of maintenance and durability of the products you choose.

Some materials of note: Quartz is inching ahead of granite as the must-have countertop for durability, beauty, and cleaning ease. Popular flooring includes: hardwoods, natural stones, linoleum, porcelain, and vinyl tiles.

It’s All in the Details

A full kitchen renovation requires careful consideration during design.  Don’t rush into construction without considering the layout of appliances, required storage, and usable counter space. Kitchen remodels can be complex; hire a professional kitchen designer, architect, or design-build firm for your project. And, remember, you’ll be without a kitchen during construction, so setting up a refrigerator and microwave in another room is a must.

Costs

In order to save time and money, know – and stick to – your budget. If your kitchen isn’t too outdated, consider refacing cabinet doors instead of installing all new cabinetry. Energy efficient appliances can contribute to long-term decreases in energy costs. And always choose long-lasting, quality materials. Kitchen remodels are a significant investment and should last 15-25 years.

Is your home’s exterior seriously lacking in inspiration? When thinking about curb appeal, you may find that you can maximize on your home’s strengths with little work, or that your home may need a major facelift. Ask yourself:

1. What’s your first impression of the home?

2. Is the house clean? Well groomed? Welcoming?

3. What are the best exterior features of the house? Of the lot? How can you enhance them?

4. What are the worst features? What can you do to minimize them or improve them?

Bigger Projects
If you decide your home needs a more comprehensive make over, consider:

• A new driveway or walkway – stamped concrete
• Covered entry
• Adding a front porch
• Repairing or replacing siding
• Stone veneer
• Upgrade or add railings, columns
• Painting the house or changing the color scheme

Smaller Projects
These small changes can make a big difference to your home’s curb appeal:

• Flower boxes
• Shutters
• New mailbox
• Paint or install a new front door
• Hardware (house numbers, door knobs)
• Light fixtures (think lantern sconces)
• Planters

Does your kitchen need a makeover? Join us at the new Living Kitchen showroom at Sewell Appliance, and we’ll show you how to transform your kitchen into one that fits your lifestyle and fulfills your every need. You’ll learn about:

-Layout options
-Style choices
-Cabinets and countertops
-Flooring and backsplash ideas
-The latest in plumbing and appliances

Kitchens are the heart of the home, and Renewal has designed and built hundreds of them. We’re happy to share our expertise and ideas, so you can start planning your dream kitchen!

Seminar will be held at Sewell Appliance showroom, 7455 Trowbridge Rd. Sandy Springs 30328

RSVP online or call 404-378-6962.

Renewal is proud to be featured on the March cover of Professional Remodeler magazine, one of the industry’s top publications.

Renewal Design-Build’s Peter Michelson, CEO, and David Michelson, president, are featured alongside Joe Thomas, general manager of Renewal System Solutions.

The article discusses the symbiotic relationship between the full-service design-build firm and its sister home performance company. Renewal System Solutions performs home performance assessments and makes energy efficiency improvements as part of the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program.

In the market for a remodeler? The top ten questions you should be asking anyone who works on your home:

1. How long have you been in business? A long history often indicates stability – and more than likely – expertise and a strong reputation.
2. May I speak to someone at your bank? Before you start writing checks, contact the contractor’s bank to make sure the firm is financially stable.
3. May I visit two sites you’re currently working on? You want to make sure the contractor is taking care of clients’ homes as if they were his or her own. Look out for: dust control, safety precautions, and the protection of the homeowners’ belongings.
4. What is the geographic area that you serve? Consider the contractor’s work area. With too much ground to cover, will he or she be able to meet your needs? If something unexpected occurs, will your team be able to respond in a reasonable amount of time?
5. What is your company’s area(s) of specialization? Be specific when talking about your wants and needs. Are you looking for a turnkey design-build solution? Do you have a historic home that would benefit from a contractor with historical approval experience?  Are you interested in environmentally-friendly options?
6. How early will work start, and what time will workers leave each day? This is especially important if you work at home or have small children. Make sure the contractor can work within your schedule.
7. Will you guarantee the completion date in writing? To prevent your project from dragging on, your contract should clearly indicate your project’s completion date.
8. Can I be listed as a “certificate holder” on your insurance policy? As a certificate holder, you’ll be issued a copy of the contractor’s certificate of insurance and should be notified of any policy cancellations.
9. Will you provide me with lien releases ? Lien releases should be signed by all trade partners working on your project (once the job is completed), preventing them from putting a lien on your home. Your contractor should give these to you at the end of your project.
10. Can I see a copy of one of your contracts? The construction contract should be as detailed as possible, outlining the project’s scope and finishes, along with a fixed price and guaranteed completion date.

Aging-in-Place Seminar – “Renovation Solutions for a Lifetime”
Tuesday, February 28, 7:00 pm, Renewal office
Learn how to make your home accessible for life.

Will you or a family member be living in your home long-term or throughout retirement? Adapt your home to meet the immediate and long-term needs of your active lifestyle and maintain your independence comfortably, without sacrificing modern style and design. Learn more about universal design and aging-in-place.

Seminar will be held at 124 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur.

RSVP online, or call 404.378.6962.