Some clients know exactly what they want when it comes time to remodel the kitchen in their Chicago home. Others simply know there's work to be done but have no idea where to start. If you're in the latter category, the following guidelines will help you figure out what you want in your new kitchen.
Sometimes our Chicago area clients are so caught up in the big decisions for their modern kitchen remodeling project - like countertops, cabinets and paint colors - they forget about the little details that make the design complete. Cabinet hardware is one of these details and it's important to select hardware that adds to your kitchens style, whether it be contemporary, transitional or traditional.
Deciding you want to move forward with a kitchen renovation is the easy part; doing it requires more energy and time than most of our clients realize. That's because the actual build-out is the most straightforward part of the remodeling process.
If you have the space and the budget, kosher kitchen design is a cinch. Some families opt to have two separate kitchens, others have two kitchens in one. But what happens when you don't have the space and need to keep a kosher kitchen? Don't despair. There are plenty of tips and tricks for keeping small condo and townhouse kitchens kosher, all it requires is a little more planning and the right professional kitchen designer.
We spend quite a bit of time talking about the finishes that will make your Chicago kitchen model really stand out. Usually, these finishes are the ones above ground, like the cabinetry, countertops, appliances and lighting fixtures. However, your flooring is also an integral part of your design, and with so many options available, we thought we'd talk a bit about flooring choices trending for kitchen remodeling.
We see the word Organic splashed around every which way these days. It makes sense for food products, but what does it mean in the world of design? For example, what does the term "Organic Kitchen Design" really mean? Certainly the products aren't Certified Organic, so where do organic design principles start and stop?
When you need one of your lesser-used pots and pans, do you bend over and stretch yourself into the recesses of a corner cabinet, calling it Yoga for the day? Or, what about that spice you only use for your grandma's secret marinade; do you unload all the spices onto the counter and then reload them again in a huff?
Residential kitchens have always been designed and built around the premise of cooking, but in an era where food and wine has taken center stage, gourmet kitchens are more popular than ever before. And, contrary to what it looks like on TV, a true gourmet kitchen design requires more than shiny, fancy things. It requires the implementation of high-quality appliances, quality cabinetry, ventilation systems and design features that are geared as much towards function, efficiency and flow as they are about aesthetics.
The modern kitchen renovator may be surprised when one of the first questions a Chicago kitchen remodeler asks is, "So, how do you use your kitchen?". What? Don't we want to see your carefully organized kitchen stylebooks first? We're talking about designing your dream kitchen here!
Shopping for cabinet door styles may not be as straightforward as you'd think. If you've done a remodel in the past, this is par for the course. If this is your first time around the kitchen remodeling block, prepare yourself for the "easy decisions" that could end up taking more time than you anticipated.
