A Few Renovation How Tos

You want to renovate and upgrade your property or just enjoy your kitchen more...Following are a few shortcuts, which will not break your budget.

Stainless appliances

Just give in already...There is no better upscale finish and hasn't been for almost a decade. Sure, Viking produces lemonade yellow. Other companies have their graphites, etc...but nobody buys it. Stainless is still an upgrade from black, white and almond.

Shallow Depth Refrigerator

More expensive, but aesthetically much better than looking at sides protruding in your kitchen. Shallow depth is almost a requirement in a kitchen with an island

Slide-in stove

This is a similar argument as the shallow depth. A slide in stove has no backguard and thus allows a much cleaner look throughout your kitchen.

Undermount sink

An undermount keeps the sink out of sight, and is much easier to clean without the edges of a regular sink.

Pull-Out Faucet

So much easier than a faucet with a separate spray and so much better looking.

Pendants

Budget $200-400 on decorative lighting. It will personalize your kitchen and is a relatively small part of your budget.

Recessed Lighting

If you have a normal ceiling height buy 4 inch, 5 inch or low voltage housings. Do NOT buy a large diameter recessed light. It looks dated and unattractive.

Meet The New Boss (Tomorrow)

Had a great blog set for today...I was posting the new introductions on appliances from an industry show held at Foxwoods yesterday, but I forgot the pictures. So now the post is about: How to buy appliances now:


Some of this is a review

1. Look for rebates: Its still number one. Sears, Lowes, Home Depot and every appliance store has some kind of rebate offer. Example: Viking and Thermador pro ranges have similar specs, but Thermador is also adding a dishwasher for free with purchase...advantage Thermador.

2. Have a Bottom Line Mentality: 30% off $1,000 is still more expensive than $650. As consumers, we pay with dollars not discounts. The price at the bottom of the invoice is the only relevant item

3. Free is...?: Free Delivery is a great idea, unless there is a charge of $30 for removal, another $60 to walk up two flights of stairs and $25 for a range cord(which costs $3). Ask these questions before you buy

4. Buy what you use, will use and more importantly understand: The over the range GE Advantium is a great piece cooking at 4-8 faster than a regular range. If you use just the microwave only feature, you have overspent by $400-500...same with convection or any other step up feature.

5. Be Social: Angies List is worth the subscription, some free resources like Yelp and Citysearch will have reviews. Quick Note: There are issues with every store...Look at the responses from the stores to the problems as an indicator of your future experience...Also, ask friends, neighbors and tradespeople where they shop

6. Selection is good: Meaning you want to see it. Do not be pushed into store brands without a reason as salespeople typically are paid a higher commission for selling a store brand

7: Service: Establish who will fix it BEFORE you buy. Appliances are not cars. Every major car dealership has service, not every appliance store does the same. You will need service on a new product 15-18% of the time, so prepare beforehand

8. Walk: There are plenty of stores who want your business if someone is being unreasonable or unaccommodating(or both)

Inexpensive, Not Cheap

According to most blog experts, I have to connect to readers with short bursts of compelling info. In the last 2 months, I have shorten the narratives to be more hard hitting. The old stuff, in my opinion, is better for people who are looking for the nuts and bolts on renovating, etc, especially the very first blogs up to early 2007.

Shifting gears, there seems to be more housing inventory on the market lately. Unlike years previously, there are, however, tons of ways to distinguish your home inexpensively....


Let's spend less than 2600:

Complete Frigidaire Gallery kitchen with 2 colored Tech Pendants.



GE Profile Range and wine cooler.



For about $2800, how about an induction cooktop, 5 LED replacement trims and 2 low voltage french optic pendants.