- Poor Kitchen Layout. Analyze the overall space and identify your daily struggles and challenges – then devise a plan that accommodates your lifestyle. Are you constantly running back and forth while preparing meals? Are you single, a couple, a family of five, or are you the next Iron Chef? If you’re that gourmet chef then you’ll need to ensure that you have plenty of surface area, storage and power in your appliances. If your kitchen needs to be multi-functional for your busy family and overall layout is no longer working for you – then it is time to upgrade your kitchen!
- Antiquated Appliances.
If your oven needs twice as much time to cook that brisket than the recipe recommends, your old leaky dishwasher with the rusted base is cooking the food onto your dishes rather than cleaning them, or the ultra deep refrigerator is leaking Freon and very outdated in color and style, then it’s time to replace them!
The best solution is to update all of your appliances at the same time to give it a cohesive look. Consider incorporating stainless steel into your updated kitchen, as that is now the new standard in kitchen appliances.
- Cabinetry That’s Falling Apart. Do the doors on your cabinets refuse to stay closed and are they completely wonky and uneven when they are? Is the paint chipping or the finish rubbing off? Or maybe the drawers are sticking and unable to open or close anymore. If you’re constantly frustrated with the condition of your cabinetry and your constant frustration then do yourself a favor and commit to a new cabinet design and style. Do your research and find the cabinet style that speaks to you.
- Cracked Countertops And Flooring. Take a good look around your kitchen. If you have any type of chipped countertop tiles, cracks in your porcelain sink, worn finishes, and burns on your countertop surfaces, then it is time to re-think the overall design and finishes of your kitchen. Don’t forget your flooring as well. Is it hardwood that can be re-finished or another material that is definitely showing its years of wear and tear? Are there gashes in the flooring or any broken tiles or splitting seams? These are signs of materials needing to be replaced and updated.
- Increasing The Value Of Your Home. In the US we spend $15 billion on kitchen renovations alone. This space tends to be the one room in the house that speaks to buyers on an emotional level. You could typically recoup 80%-90% of your investment when you go to sell your home with a remodeled kitchen. But beware: If you have done some minor kitchen updating and the space still has an inefficient floor plan and layout, simple quick fixes will not camouflage the problem. Always update before selling.
5 Signs It’s Time To Upgrade Your Kitchen
I met with a wonderful couple last week to discuss their home renovation plans. Their home, which is nestled in the hills of a lush canyon, has a view that is nothing short of spectacular. The house itself – is quite the opposite – as they inherited all kinds of issues from the previous owners. This project will require a tremendous amount of re-planning, renovation work and TLC to create the indoor/outdoor living environment the homeowners want to achieve. One of the areas in dire need of help is their kitchen. I first had to convince them that existing space needed much more than simply a new countertop and backsplash.
So when is the best time to upgrade your kitchen?