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Top 6 Reasons to Remodel Your Kitchen

Why Remodel Your Kitchen?

Thinking about kitchen remodeling in Fort Collins? A kitchen remodel comes with a lot of benefits for homeowners. Next to bathroom remodels, the kitchen is the most remodeled room in the home. Remodeling your kitchen adds function, comfort, safety, and value to your home. Let’s take a more in-depth look into the benefits of remodeling your home kitchen.

1) Improved Function

Your kitchen is one of the most used rooms in your home. Improving the functionality of a high-use room adds instant value to your life. If you’re short on storage space, you can extend existing cabinets up to the ceiling. If you need more counter space, you can add an island or even knock down a wall between an adjacent living space. Upgrading fixtures and appliances with the latest technology creates efficiency and makes using the kitchen fun.

2) More Energy Efficient

Upgrading older kitchen appliances and fixtures to more energy-efficient models reduces the amount of energy your kitchen uses. Refrigerators and dishwashers that have the Energy Star label signify that they meet or exceed energy efficiency standards set by the EPA. Replacing lighting with fixtures with LED models helps reduce your monthly utility bill as well.

3) Improved Safety

Outdated kitchen appliances can be dangerous. They may be stressing your home’s energy supply and may not be designed with today’s safety fail proofs. Installing something like a wall oven improves safety through ergonomic design and can help prevent strains and injuries.

4) Increased Home Value

Depending on how far you go with your kitchen renovation, you can expect a 50-65 % recoup on your renovation investment. If you’re looking to sell, a newly renovated kitchen can often be the clincher for a prospective buyer.

5) Make Your Kitchen Comfortable

A kitchen remodel can add an immense amount of comfort. Better ventilation can help reduce unwanted odors and heat from escaping into other rooms. Installing a kitchen island can provide additional seating space and an additional dining area. Installing a large window can bring in natural light. Having state of the art fixtures and appliances reduces the strains of cooking and cleaning and gets the whole family involved.

6) Update Your Kitchen’s Look

Is your kitchen trapped in the ’90s? It may benefit from a visual update. You can transform the entire appearance of your kitchen by re-painting the walls and cabinets and upgrading your cabinet hardware. If you want an entirely new look, you can install new cabinets, countertops, and flooring.

Ready for Your Fort Collins Kitchen Remodel?

Upgrading your kitchen can be a minor or major project, depending on your goals and budget. You can have a grand vision for a complete remodel, but choose to take it one step at a time. Upgrade your fixtures one year, then follow up the next year with countertops and cabinets. You don’t have to do it all at once. We can help you with design, sourcing the best materials, and installation.

Call today at 970-691-6995 or 970-402-2099 with any questions – we’d be happy to help.

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Does Your Kitchen Need an Update? Kitchen Design Trends in Fort Collins, CO

It’s an exciting time for kitchen designs in Fort Collins. As the area grows, developers building new homes are experimenting with new ways to organize one of the most-used rooms in the house. Kitchen remodeling is also picking up in the Fort Collins area, as established homeowners start rethinking the space they and their families spend so much time in. A few trends, in particular, stand out as popular kitchen design choices in northern Colorado:

kitchen remodel fort collins Smart kitchens. Everything is getting smarter, including your appliances. Smart refrigerators, which keep an eye on your dairy and produce for you and let you know when food is going bad, are especially popular for new construction and kitchen remodels in Fort Collins.

Streamlined surfaces. Sharp corners and blocky kitchen designs are out in Fort Collins, replaced mostly by streamlined surfaces and countertops with softly rounded corners. Wavy edges and seamless kitchen islands are also getting popular, especially with quartz surfaces, which are starting to overtake granite counters in Colorado kitchen remodels.

Dark tones. Kitchens of the past were generally done in bright colors. Whites, yellows, and shades of cream have been popular kitchen paint schemes for nearly a century. Some new kitchen designs in Fort Collins, however, are breaking that tradition with darker tones and even some jet-black surfaces. Some of this is to go better with darker toned appliances, while in some places it’s a conscious design choice to get away from tradition. Dark tiles are getting popular for floors, as are some darker hardwoods. Black paint may not be popular (not yet, at least), but tones of umber, mahogany, and ochre are finding their way into a lot more kitchen designs in Fort Collins than they used to.

Big backsplashes. Backsplashes have been changing a lot lately. From the 1×1 tiles that were popular decades ago, and the laminate that used to be the default kitchen design in Fort Collins homes for years, homeowners are gravitating toward something a little more showy and eye-catching. Backsplash tiles have been getting steadily bigger over the years, with 4×4 stone tiles currently all the rage, and some solid-slab stone installations gaining traction.

If you have questions about kitchen remodeling in Fort Collins, give us a call for advice and a free consultation. We have years of experience in kitchen design in the Northern Colorado area and can help you understand the kitchen remodeling options available to you.

Call today at 970-691-6995 or 970-402-2099 with any questions – we’d be happy to help.

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Tips for Perfect Kitchen Remodeling In Fort Collins

If you are like many of us, your kitchen very likely is in need of updating.  Maybe your culinary skills have outgrown your current kitchen and you are looking for something more cook friendly.  Or perhaps your family has grown in numbers and the cabinet and storage space simply is no longer adequate.  Or, maybe  your kitchen is fine, functionally speaking, but the appliances and overall look have become outdated and just are not what you were thinking while imagining your dream kitchen–after all, it’s not easy to visualize your perfect kitchen when it centers around an avocado green oven from the early 80’s!

No matter your reasons for considering kitchen remodeling in Fort Collins–from ugly appliances to the need for more space–there are several tips any homeowner should consider when having their kitchen remodeled. Keeping some of these tips in mind while making remodeling plans with Artisan Remodeling and Design can help you achieve a kitchen that not only looks great, but has been designed to function in perfect harmony with how you and your family uses the kitchen.

Layout Matters

When planning your kitchen, you should always think about how you cook, or use each section of the space.  Ask yourself things like, “Where is the most convenient place to keep pots, pans, or dishes?”  “Is food storage easily accessible, and easy to get to when preparing food?”  “Are the separate areas of the kitchen conducive to moving from one task to another without wasting time and energy moving items, or pacing back and forth to get everything needed?”  A well planned layout that maximizes your kitchen’s functionality can save on future frustration.

Give Yourself Space

Unless your goal is to expand the vocabulary of  little ears (or big ears alike), making sure you have room to move around without banging your shins, elbows, or head on cabinets, drawers or shelving is probably advisable.  Kitchens with too narrow walkways, or tight work spaces can often lead to bumps and bruises which make your cooking experience more of a chore and less of a joy.  If you don’t plan work spaces and walkways that are too small for the sake of an overcrowded kitchen, you can easily maximize the shin friendliness and overall functionality of your new kitchen.

Decide Your Kitchen’s “Guest List”

If you are the only person in your home who uses the kitchen, then planning the perfect kitchen for you should be a breeze.  However, if your kitchen often has more than one person “invited” to the party, you should consider making the entire kitchen, or at least certain areas more adaptable to multiple users.  For example, if you have children who like to help mom or dad cook, making sure at least one counter top is an accessible height is a great idea.

Determining who, and how much each person in your family will be using all the areas of your kitchen will help in deciding important factors like counter height, appliance height, and how much space necessary between appliances and work spaces.  The forethought on who will be using what can make group cook sessions, or family time making cookies a much more pleasant experience later.

So, when the time has come to remodel your kitchen, no matter the reasons why, making the right plans with the right home improvement contractor is key.  Let Artisan Remodeling and Design help you realize your family’s dream kitchen with our superior craftsmanship, trustworthy products and affordable pricing.  Contact us today for your free estimate.

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Don’t Forget the Kitchen Sink!

When remodeling your kitchen, the choices are endless. Choosing new cabinets, countertops, flooring, and lighting can be fun, but overwhelming.  Another small decision that needs to be made is the kitchen sink.  Should you go with a stainless steel sink, or cast iron?  When making decisions about your Fort Collins kitchen renovation don’t forget the sink!

Cast Iron Sinks

At one time, most sinks were made of an enamel-coated cast iron, and many people still prefer them today. Those who decide on cast iron choose it for its pretty appearance, as the enamel can be colored.  Today, many cast iron sinks are are made with recycled iron, so the environmentally conscious consumer might prefer them too.  However, the enamel can scratch and chip over time, especially if a person tends to not be careful about throwing things in the sink, and eventually those small imperfections can start to rust.

Stainless Steel Sinks

Stainless steel is popular in sink choices right now because it is one of the only sinks that can be under-mounted.  These sinks are easy to clean, take a beating, and rust or stains can usually be scrubbed out.  Some people find them noisy when washing dishes, but if that’s a concern talk to the contractor about a model that offers sound absorption.  At one time people didn’t enjoy the commercial look of a stainless steel sink, but with stainless steel appliances in style, many people no longer mind its appearance.

Whether you’re doing a whole Fort Collins kitchen renovation, or simply updating a few things to give the room a face-lift, we can help you make decisions that work for your family and lifestyle.  Contact us to replace your kitchen sink, as well as counters, cabinets, and other kitchen features.

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