Tuesday, September 25, 2012

A Replacement Kitchen Can Help To Sell Your Home Quickly


Are you think of selling your property, but worried that it needs a lot of work doing before putting it on the market? Maybe you’ve seen a number of TV programmes whereby potential buyers are shown immaculate homes which they can move into without having to do anything to them

Don’t despair. Many homebuyers and property developers are more than happy to purchase a property which they can add their own personal touch and features to. What we do know however, is that a property is likely to sell quickly and for the asking price if the kitchen/dining room has been remodelled to an acceptable standard. 
Obviously, you don’t want to spend a great deal of time and money on this project. This is certainly not the objective. Your aim however should be to make this area the main focus of the home, as the kitchen is now the most widely used room in many households today.

Opting for a replacement kitchen offers a hassle free way of remodelling this room. This modern method simply means that you won’t have to remove and replace your existing cabinet casings, if they are in good condition. This therefore helps to keeps the cost low and the workload and schedule time to the bare minimum. This type of remodelling also has potential to add substantial value to the property.

Saving time and money this does not mean settling for average products. Replacement Kitchen doors and drawer fronts are of exceptional high quality. You will have the same choices of all the latest designs, colours, style and material to choose from as you would have if you had opted for a fully fitted kitchen. Replacement kitchen doors can also be made to measure to ensure you have the exact fit.  

With so many variations, there is a design to suit any home and every kitchen theme. Select from high gloss contemporary designs to suit a modern home or apartment, or natural wood and tongue and grove panels often associated with country homes and farmhouse kitchens. Whichever style you choose your kitchen is guaranteed to taken on an appearance that is both stylish and chic. 

Carry on the look throughout the kitchen by updating the worktops using materials and colours that work well with the new cabinet doors and decor within the room. Replacing the lighting for more up to date ones will help to create the right mood and ambiance during cooking and entertaining. 

If you are working to a budget you may well choose to keep your existing appliances, especially if they have been well looked after and in good working order. Many homebuyers are usually happy to accept the kitchen as it is with all the necessary appliances already in place. 

With your new look kitchen offering a comfortable and relaxing setting, your property is likely to have a sold sign placed outside after the initial viewing. It really is that easy to remodel your kitchen at the fraction of the cost of a fully fitted kitchen and have it selling fast.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

5 Things to Look for in Kitchen Replacement Units


At some point, you will have the feeling of wanting to change maybe some and rarely everything in your kitchen. You may want to have a fresher feeling and let go of the negativity brought by old stuff, or maybe simply tired of working with broken appliances and kitchen cabinets.



When looking for kitchen replacement units, here are some things that you might want to consider:

New kitchens

1.   Fire-resistant

Did you know that through the advancement of technology you can now own a lot of kitchen units which are fire-resistant? Yes, you can find a lot, but it would cost you a lot of money.

Well, there is a better thing if you are on a tight budget. You can ask the manufacturer of your cabinets and kitchen doors about fire-resistance rating. The rating will help you know the maximum time your kitchen units will be able to resist fire.

2.   Scratch and abrasive resistant

When having new kitchen units, you can find scratch and abrasive resistant materials ranging from plastics, glass, to metal. You do not really have to see the “scratch and abrasive resistance” feature on the label to know whether what you are buying have that capability.

It is good to invest on these units since you can use them longer without compromising the aesthetic value.

3.   Oil-resistant

Working in the kitchen means seeing a lot of oil everywhere. Worse is it really feels and looks gross if you do not wipe it immediately. You will have a hard time wiping it away if it sat there for more than 24 hours.

Good thing, you can now enjoy oil resistant sinks and floorings which can reduce the amount of time you have to spend on cleaning.

4.   Non-breakable

You may have experienced your favorite plates and casseroles breaking into pieces. It was a shock of course, but you can now avoid those situations by settling on non-breakable kitchen appliances and accessories.

This way, you can work on your kitchen routine without worrying of things falling down.

5.   Classic design

For new kitchens, it doesn’t really need that you go for trendy designs in choosing your new units. If you do so, there is a big chance, that they will look old very soon as designs and themes change fast.

Having a classic design in the kitchen will help you settle for quality materials that can still be used even after 10 years.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

5 Common Repairs Done on Kitchen Cabinets and Doors


kitchen cabinets and doors


It has always been the dilemma of homeowners whether to replace or repair broken cabinets and kitchen doors. It may be reasonable to replace if they are already old enough and inefficient because hinges can’t work on them anymore.

Broken kitchen cabinets and doors should be attended to as soon as possible because in some ways they could be the cause of wasted energy and resources. The following are some of the common repairs that can be done on them:

1.   Hinges

Broken hinges are usual to cabinets and doors especially if you use them very often. The condition of the hinges also depends on how harshly someone closes the cabinet and kitchen doors. In some cases, hinges break off due to rust or chipped wood.

If the wood to which the hinges are attached, is still good, you can just replace them with new ones. If not, then you can move to another side of it, but if it can’t be helped anymore, you have to really get a new door.

2.   Banging doors

It could be that the bumpers of your cabinet and kitchen doors are not functioning well anymore or you did not have them installed in the first place that’s why you hear a banging sound every time you close them.

You can just purchase some bumpers for cabinet doors which will just be stuck like an ordinary sticker. For kitchen doors, a big bumper which has two parts, and needed to be attached with screws at the back of the door and on the wall can solve the problem.

3.   Loose cabinet knobs

Check if your cabinet’s knobs are still good to go and just need some glue, or broken to get new ones. You use these knobs often and having them fixed right away will give you a lot of convenience.

4.   Swollen doors

Once wood swells, it means two things; either it didn’t undergo a good drying process or your atmosphere is really harsh to make it happen.

If you have hand planer, you can make the swollen side thinner to make the door fit to the jamb. If not then you might need replacement kitchen doors.

5.   Scratched, chipped, cracked

The edges of your cabinet and kitchen doors gets scratched, chipped, or cracked depending on their material. Most of the time, the constant closing and opening would lead to such condition.

You do not really need to have new doors for this. Instead, you need refinishing which can be done by professionals.

5 Tips to Afford a Kitchen Upgrade


Many of us want to upgrade our old kitchens and get new ones. Our kitchens may be outdated thus we cannot work as effectively with them. We need new kitchens. But changing your entire kitchen area will cost you a limb if you don’t have enough money allotted just for your kitchen upgrade. So what is your best choice? 


Here are tips that will help you afford a kitchen upgrade.

1.   Prioritize what needs an upgrade the most.

In order to do this you have to evaluate your whole kitchen area. Make a list of things that need an immediate upgrade. Leave those which can still function even though they might not be in their tip top shape.
If you see a small crack in your tile floor, leave that behind for now and prioritize your leaking taps. In repairing your taps, you can save more money which you can use for other upgrades later on.

2.   You can consider buying second-hand items for your kitchen.

You do not need everything to be new to upgrade your kitchen. You can choose second-hand items which you can buy from e-bay or craigslist. Kitchen furniture are fine even when they are slightly used.

3.   Do not underestimate the power of repainting.

Once inside your kitchen, imagine how it would look like if you just change your wall paint. Sometimes your kitchen will just look old because the paint has faded or peeled off. Often, it’s the dust and soot that tops your wall paint making it look dull and old.

If you think you need to change your lighting when nothing is really wrong with it just to make your kitchen look warm and bright, why not just change your wall paint into a brighter hue? Choose light colors for your wall paint to create the effect you want.

4.   Just clean your kitchen area
Maybe your desire to get a new kitchen is not necessary when all you need to do is a little cleaning. You don’t need to overhaul your whole kitchen to get an upgrade. You can just replace your non-working appliances. As for the rest, they just need cleaning. Brush your kitchen walls and scrub its floor. You’ll be surprised how cleaning can bring back the good-as-new look of your kitchen.

5.   Do some repairs if you can.

Cupboards, kitchen cabinets and doors are the most common areas in your kitchen that need some repairs once in a while. You have to constantly check on them to avoid major repairs or replacements. To make them look new, you can apply varnish. If they cannot be repaired, you can opt for kitchen replacement units which will only need replacements for things you specify, in this case your kitchen door, cabinets or storage areas only. 

Monday, September 10, 2012

4 Reasons Why Fitted Kitchens Are Gaining Popularity


Your kitchen should be the cleanest part of the house since it is where you prepare the food that you are going to eat. This is the reason why mothers have to extensively clean it with anti-microbial cleaners and diligently scrub off unwanted stains. Non-functional cabinets which are more space consuming than useful must also be taken into account.

Fitted Kitchen
Source: RMS Property Doctor via flickr.com

Replacement kitchens have been the last resort for most households to make things more organised. They even consider getting fitted kitchens instead of doing it the traditional way.

Here are some reasons why fitted kitchens are become more popular:

     1.   Aesthetic value

Having a fitted kitchen will transform your place into a more comfortable and creative way. You can make your kitchen fit to what you want and need and not you trying hard to adapt to it.

If you are planning to do-it-yourself, you can choose some color scheme that you like the best. If you are working with professionals, you can ask for their suggestions. Once your kitchen has been fitted, it becomes more attractive and desirable. It can also increase the aesthetic value of your house.

     2.   Maximize working space

Making your kitchen more comfortable means you can have more working space for preparing your dishes. Having a very small space in the kitchen will give you a hard time especially if you are in a rush. This is also a problem when hosting big events.

By organising your cabinets, furniture, and appliances, you can maximize the working space that your kitchen can offer. You can also have an additional food preparation table if needed.


     3.   Improved kitchen environment

Your kitchen should be a bright place and not a gloomy and untidy one. With fitted kitchen designs, you can improve the ambiance of your kitchen by making everything organised.

If you have kids, you will also feel relieved that they will not run into hazards. Your kitchen will become safer for them. It will also help you find the appliances and kitchen items that you need easily during your food preparation.

     4.   Less maintenance

When planning for kitchen replacement units, it is always better to go for those which will require little to no maintenance. Unlike our old kitchen furniture and units, nowadays you can find those which are stain and abrasion-resistant.

Employing new technology on your kitchen units will not only make things easier for you during the cleaning but it will also enable you to experience better performance. Because they are new, you will not have to spend much money in repairs and the likes.