Kitchen Renovations. Two simple words that can achieve the same result as hearing fingernails on a chalkboard. And with good reason. The busiest room of the house certainly demands a lot of forethought and planning. Without which, many costly mistakes and regrets can be made. But with all of the new appliance choices on the market, plus finish and colour selections that can include flooring, cabinets, backsplash, countertops and lighting, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Throw in the fact that there may be more than one person living in the house with different opinions of what the end product should be and it’s enough to send us running for the hills. So where should you begin? How do you sensibly start weeding through all the decisions to get to an end result that everyone in the family is happy with? Break it out into manageable chunks. Start with broad ideas and slowly start working your way down to the finer details.

First of all, sit down with your partner and discuss budget and scale. Will this be a full-scale renovation that will involve moving walls, electrical and plumbing? Or will this involve updating the look but keeping the same footprint of the existing cabinets? Once established, always keep your budget and proposed project scale in the back of your mind. It won’t do you any good if you come up with the perfect plan but find that you can only complete one quarter of it on your proposed budget. When in doubt about reasonable budget expectations, consult a professional.

Next, begin making a list of things that you want to change about your existing kitchen (ie. I wish that the DW was on the left side of the sink not the right). Also think about things in your existing kitchen that you may want to keep (ie keep the sink centered below the window). Think about the way that your family functions in the kitchen. Do two people need to be able to work simultaneously? Do the kids need a space to do their homework? Do you need to incorporate space for a computer to quickly look up a recipe or to check your email? When you entertain, is it normally a dinner party for four or a cocktail party for thirty? Lastly, begin looking in books and magazines for inspiration of a dream list. Pull out images of anything that catches your attention, be it colour, style, the overall feeling of the room, or a unique storage solution. This is a wish list. You probably won’t end up getting all of these items, so group them into negotiable and non-negotiable categories so that you know what can come out if budget or space constraints dictate it so.

Before beginning to think about cabinet layout consider what appliances you are planning to install. A cook-top and wall oven demand a very different layout than a standard range. New fridges can vary from 30” to 48” wide. Microwave ovens can be built into a cabinet above or below countertop or can be placed above the range when purchased as a space-saver unit (a unit that combines microwave and hoodfan).

After you’ve analyzed your budget, discussed your space constraints, determined what you value about your existing kitchen and what you don’t, your ready to start meeting with kitchen designers and cabinet suppliers. Compile your lists, your magazine tearouts, and your appliance specifications into a file folder or binder to keep with you when you are embarking on your journey. This design file will allow you to constantly look back to ensure that you are staying on track with your ideas. It will also provide you much help in explaining ideas or looks that you want to achieve to your designer or chosen cabinet supplier.

Creating a kitchen that is both beautiful and functional doesn’t have to be difficult. The biggest process is the breaking down of information to determine what the individual needs of your family are. Once you’ve got things broken down into smaller chunks the process isn’t nearly as daunting. Good luck and happy renovating

There is an art to hanging art. How high should the picture be hung off the floor, where should it be hung and what colour should the matting be are all questions that baffle many do-it-yourselfers. Art is continuously hung too high in homes which can cause the picture to lose much of it’s drama and presence in the room.

In general, artwork should be hung so that the center of the picture is at eye level. This is usually about 65-68 inches from the floor. While this measurement will work for a person of average height, it may need to be adjusted accordingly for the individuals that are living in the space. The mounting height should also be adjusted for the use of a room. In a living room, where people are normally seated, the artwork should be lowered so that it can be viewed and appreciated without craning the neck.

When it comes to scale, the size of the artwork should relate to the size of the wall on which it will be hung or to the size of the piece of furniture that it will hang above. A small picture will look lost hanging on a large, otherwise blank wall. A large piece of art on that same wall will create a bold statement and will create a focal point in the room. Artwork that is wider than the piece of furniture below it will look visually heavier than the furniture and will cause the whole arrangement to look out of balance.

Small photos or pieces of art can be grouped to act as a single large unit. The pieces do not have to be of the same subject or colour. They can be unified as a whole by using the same width and colour of frames on all pieces. For visual interest, frames can be hung both vertically and horizontally. When deciding on a composition, lay the pieces out on the floor first to determine spacing and layout. This gives you the chance to arrange and re-arrange without making extra holes in the wall. Ensure that there is equal spacing on all sides of the pieces. Step back and look at the balance of the composition. Have the heavier pieces been spread throughout the lighter pieces? Once you have a composition that you are satisfied with write down the dimensions and begin by hanging the center piece.

Lighting that is focused on a single piece (or on a grouping) makes the piece look more important and more dramatic. Consider installing track lighting or a focused pot light onto the piece.

Ensure that pieces of artwork are chosen for the emotional feeling that they provoke, not because they match an existing piece of furniture. Artwork is meant to stand on it’s own and be a focal point. When choosing matte colours to be placed around a piece of art, ensure that the colour will not distract from the artwork itself. Classic whites and off-whites are usually the safest choices.

The construction industry is filled with terms, codes and restrictions that can be incredibly confusing to the average homeowner. If you are considering tackling a renovation or a new building project it’s important to hire someone that can help you through the process. But how do you know who to call when the titles of the professionals that you are trying to hire are just as confusing as the codes that you are hoping they can unravel? In an effort to help you hire the correct individual for the job, below are the titles of some of the professionals that you may be looking to seek advice from and a brief description of what they can help you do. Please note that in BC there are no regulations as to designation, therefore anyone, trained or untrained, can call themselves a designer or decorator. If it is important to you, ensure that you ask for credentials.

Interior Decorator – Generally focused more on the fit and finish of room, an interior decorator is able to choose the colours and finishes that will pull a room together. Selections made by an interior decorator can include wallpaper, paint, window coverings, furnishings and accessories. An interior decorator does not necessarily have any post-secondary training although there are a number of certificate programs available in the industry.

Interior Designer – The interior designers’ realm is integrated with the architecture of the room and building. In addition to providing the same colour and finish selection services as is listed above, an interior designer will also be involved in cabinet making, room layout, traffic patterns, space restrictions, window placement, flooring selections, plumbing selections, and lighting selections. Interior Designers are trained professionals that have attended a post-secondary institution for three or four years and have received either a diploma or degree in interior design. The professional interior designer is qualified to enhance the function and quality of interior spaces.

Kitchen Designer – Designing a kitchen or bath to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing takes highly specialized skills and knowledge. A kitchen/bath designer is skilled at assessing a client’s individual wants and needs and creating designs that meet and exceed those requirements. The kitchen/bath designer is specifically trained to review work/prep stations, storage needs, space limitations, and aesthetics. A professional kitchen/bath designer remains current on local building codes as well as new products and equipment on the market.

Architect – Involved in the planning, design and oversight of a building’s construction, an architect thoroughly understands local building and operational codes under which their design must conform. Architects understand the various methods available to the builder for building the client’s structure and are responsible for ensuring that the client’s cost and time budgets are met. Architects must frequently make building design and planning decisions that affect the safety and well being of the general public.

Draftsperson – Responsible for the preparation of accurate and detailed construction drawings, a draftsperson will work closely with an architect and interior designer. Although most drafters now use computer-aided drafting (CAD) systems, they still have all of the knowledge of traditional draftspersons and are sometimes hired to design the initial space layout.

Always start by choosing the style of the fixture. Look for a fixture that will suit the design style that you have chosen for the room and ensure that it complements any other surrounding fixtures. A consultant in a lighting showroom can be a valuable resource in helping to determine if a particular light will work within a particular style category. Many lighting stores offer the opportunity for you to purchase the light and try it out at home to see if it works well. Lights can be exchanged if it doesn’t look as good as you had thought it would. Check with your lighting store to see if they offer this option. Also, ask your lighting consultant to look in catalogues if you are not seeing anything on the floor, this will dramatically increase your options and your chances of finding something. When you find a fixture in a catalogue, make sure that you find out what the store’s policy is on special orders. Is it something that can be returned or exchanged if it doesn’t look as good in real life as it did in the picture?

To choose the correct size of chandelier in a dining room follow these guidelines:
The diameter of the chandelier should be 12 inches less than the width of the table, assuming that the table is the correct size for the room. For example, if you have a 48 inch wide table the diameter of the chandelier should be 36 inches. This formula works for all shapes of tables.
The bottom of the chandelier should be 30 inches from the top of the table, this ensures no bumped heads and good illumination. If your ceilings are nine feet high or higher, than consider installing a two-tier chandelier to fill some of the space from the top of the fixture to the ceiling.
The total wattage of all bulbs should be between 200 and 400 watts to provide sufficient light. When in doubt about the size of your room, go with higher wattage and install a dimmer switch for ultimate control.
Before beginning installation, check the ceiling electrical box to ensure that it will be able to support the new light securely. If the new light is about the same weight as the old light than there shouldn’t be any problems. However, if it is a heavier light, consult a contractor to have the box properly supported to accommodate the increased weight.

Here is your guide to the most common types of flooring on the market today.

Hardwood – Seen as a luxury item, hardwood floors give a space a sense of grandeur and can raise resale value. Styles can range from formal to rustic depending on the finish and width of boards. As a natural product, wood varies in degrees of durability depending on the type of wood. All types are prone to scratches and dents and none are water resistant. Check with your flooring supplier on the durability of your particular type of wood.

Cork – Environmentally sound option. The cork is harvested from the bark of the tree without cutting the tree down. The cork bark will also regenerate in about 10 years time. Very soft and warm to walk on. Very forgiving to dishes that have been dropped in the kitchen. Cork also absorbs a lot of sound so acts as a very good option in open floor plans or in areas that need sound damper.

Bamboo – Bamboo is actually a grass, not a wood product and it can be harvested every 5 years. As a result, no forests are destroyed to make bamboo floors making it a renewable resource. Bamboo is as durable as the most durable hardwoods and costs about the same as premium wood floors.

Engineered Hardwood – Has a layer (approx 1/8”) of real hardwood on the surface of a more inexpensive softwood or laminate. Uses less wood than traditional hardwood floors making it more environmentally friendly and is slightly more resilient than hardwood at a lower cost.

Laminate – Dent and scratch resistant. Higher priced laminates can look like real hardwood while lower priced options often have the unmistakable synthetic look. A good option in high traffic areas.

Tile – Broken up in two categories – Ceramic and Porcelain. Ceramic is generally less expensive but is more vulnerable to cracks and chips. Porcelain has a very high durability rating and the colour runs all the way through the tile so if it does chip or crack it will be difficult to see. Tiles are well known for being cold on the feet, consider under-floor heating.

Carpet – Various styles and colours. Everything from plush to berber to the new shag. Creates a warm and cosy atmosphere. Great as a sound absorber. Not a good choice for anybody with allergies.

Vinyl – Good quality vinyl is scratch and dent resistant. Comes in various styles but more limited colours. Known environmental hazards during manufacturing and disposal make it a low “green” option.

Knowing what factors are important to you and your family will help to narrow down the options in flooring. Talk to your designer or flooring representative to learn more about potential options.