5 Trade-Offs to
Consider When Remodeling Your Kitchen
Hello Friends,
1.
Daily
Use vs. Special Events This
area of consideration has to do with how many people your kitchen will serve.
From refrigerator storage to seats at the dining table, the number of people
you want to accommodate will affect your design choices. You’ll want to
consider not only how many people live in the home now, but — if this is your
forever home — how many will live in it 10 years from now.
2.
Cost
vs. Value As you may have discovered if you’re considering a remodel
(or in the midst of one), everything from cabinets to sinks to appliances comes
at a variety of price points. How do you decide when it’s worth it to splurge
for a high-quality item and when it’s best to save your dollars? Here are some
questions to ask yourself:
-
Will the investment improve your everyday life?
-
Will the product solve a pet peeve?
-
Will the addition of this element make your house feel like a
home?
-
Will the purchase increase the value of your home?
In each of these
cases, you may decide that the cost of a feature for your new kitchen is worth
because of the value it brings. For example, a better dishwasher might
eliminate the need to pre-rinse dishes. Perhaps you hate scrubbing dishes, can
afford an upgrade and would cherish any minute of spare time away from the
sink. Or if you feel the opposite, this investment wouldn’t be worth the
pennies spent. Framing your choices as cost vs. value, in terms of your
experience in your kitchen, and possibly the resale value of your home, can
help you get clarity on what’s worth the extra money.
3.
Function vs.
Aesthetics Ideally
a kitchen redesign brings both beauty and function, but when we are dealing
with limited funds, trade-offs between functionality and aesthetics may be
necessary. By function, I mean not only the kinds of bells and whistles you get
with high-end appliances, but also the kitchen’s layout and the choice of
whether to have one sink or two. This area of trade off is deeply personal and
has a lot to do with your lifestyle.
4.
Speed vs.
Patience
Any home improvement project takes time – that’s just part of the process. And
once the kitchen is demolished and construction is underway, any delay can be
difficult, particularly if you are living in the home dealing with the mess.
When you are in that situation, the risk is that you will be tempted to say yes
to anything just to get the project done and your home back to normal. When
making a financial investment that you’re going to live with a long time, a
guide when weighing the need for speed vs. the need to exercise your patience,
you could consider how long you plan to live in your home.
5.
The Ideal Me vs.
the Real Me
This one isn’t so much a trade-off as a reality check. It’s worth mentioning
that some clients have fantasies that a remodel can change their habits, or
even their personalities. Rather than plan a kitchen for the person you wish
you were, focus on solutions that take your true habits into account. For
example, a messy cook who is embarrassed when guests are around might want to
add a separate cleanup sink where the cook can hide dirty dishes while making a
meal.
ERA
Skyline Real Estate
3376
Harrison Blvd.
Ogden,
UT 84403
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