When it comes to remodeling your home, the kitchen is usually the first thing most homeowners want to renovate. As home remodelers in the Twin Cities, we’ve seen how remodeling your kitchen can have a substantial impact on your home, outlook, and the way you live. There are many benefits of remodeling your kitchen – from an increase in your homes value to an increase in the way you feel about your home – all make a practical and positive impact.

We spend more time in the kitchen than just about any other room in the house. The kitchen is one of the few rooms in the house that is not passive. If you’re in the kitchen you’re probably doing something. From fixing a snack to preparing lunch for the kids at school, being in the kitchen is an exercise in space management and organization. If you’re kitchen isn’t optimized and up to date, you will find it difficult to do the most mundane of tasks.

We recently did a kitchen remodel on an older home in the Twin Cities. The old kitchen was not only dated with dark cabinetry, it was also a poor use of space with a space left between the tops of the cabinets and the ceiling. This was common in the 80s when people wanted to display or store pots and pans and other large items for show.

Today, most homes feature open floor plans with the living room, dining room and kitchen open as one large area. It has long been known that the kitchen is the heart of the home. Older homes put the kitchens in the back of the house, away from the living space. Now when we design a new home we put the kitchen, dining area and great room together. The large open area makes the home feel larger and it’s a better use of space – especially for smaller homes – there isn’t much wasted hallway or wall space because the area is open.

It’s difficult to see, but in this recent kitchen remodel we removed the wall that separated the kitchen from the living area. By removing the wall that separates the kitchen from the living room, we created a larger space that was more inviting to family and friends.

We moved the eating area and installed an island in the middle of the room. Not only does this serve as a place to eat an informal meal but it also provides additional storage for items that might normally take up room on the counter. Think things like single use appliances such as Crock Pots, electric grills, blenders and other items that we use, need easy access to but don’t want taking up space on the countertop. By removing them and storing them in an easy access area we declutter the kitchen. A decluttered kitchen is a wonderful place to prepare a meal.

By removing the wall, we opened up the space. The homeowners were interested in doing more entertaining but the size of the kitchen made it difficult to do so. Now that the kitchen is open you can participate in the gathering while still tending to the meal prep or beverages.

In addition to removing the walls, we updated the kitchen with newer lighting. Gone are the days of a single fixture centered on the ceiling. Now we utilize under cabinet lighting, sconces and chandeliers to bring warmth, charm and of course light to the room. The result is a bright kitchen that doesn’t feel stark or overpowering. You can use the under cabinet lights in the evening to navigate the room in the dark (or to leave on overnight for kids and adults to see). During the day the sunlight from the windows of the kitchen and living area is sufficient to navigate the room.

Benefits of Remodeling your Kitchen

Updated Look

When you remodel your kitchen, especially one that hasn’t been updated before, you get a brand new look. The dark colors that were popular are gone, replaced with bright, crisp and clean walls. The updated look can be a real motivator for many. It’s a challenge to work in a kitchen that looks drab and dull.

Better use of Space

If you’ve ever had to cook in a kitchen that was poorly designed, too small, or just way out of date, you know that it’s a lot easier to go out to eat or to order takeout. In today’s fast paced world where everyone works, putting a meal together in a poorly designed kitchen can be a nightmare. By using the space in the kitchen more efficiently you’re actually more likely to cook more meals in your kitchen. That’s a huge health benefit.

Increase the Value of your Home

You may not recoup all of the cost of the remodel – according to Remodeling Magazine homeowners can expect to recoup 68% to 75% of the cost of the kitchen remodel. Even if you don’t recoup the entire cost of the remodel, your home will show better and sell faster if you have an updated kitchen. In fact, the kitchen is the one room that can make or break the sale of the house. By remodeling your kitchen you have made the future sale of the home a less arduous task.

You get the Upgrades

In addition to increasing the value of your home, you get to enjoy the upgrades. Smart features, granite countertops, under cabinet lighting, dual ovens and even a butler’s pantry are all things you get to enjoy for as long as you live in your home.

As you can see, there are many benefits to remodeling your kitchen. If you’ve been thinking about remodeling your kitchen, but aren’t sure what you need to do, give us a call at Pratt Remodeling. Our professionals will help you through the entire kitchen remodeling process. From budget to design, we’ll help you build the kitchen of your dreams. Give us a call, you can reach Pratt Remodeling at 651-429-8032. Or click on the “contact” link in the menu and send us an email to schedule a meeting.