Budgeting
The cost of your kitchen renovation should be calculated as a ratio of the value of your house. Generally, between 6% and 10% of your house's declared value represents a reasonable cost for the purchase and installation of new kitchen cabinets. With this formula, you can recapture an amount varying from 94% to 100% of your investment at resale.

When planning your project, you should also consider the cost of buying appliances as well as plumbing and lighting fixtures.

What is the best time to plan renovations?
To avoid the busy period of May, June and July, the best period for maximum availability of contractors is during the fall or winter. By planning your renovations in the fall or winter, you’ll avoid scheduling problems, as contractors aren’t as busy, as well as kitchen designers, for whom planning deadlines will be shorter.

How much time should you take to shop and plan your kitchen project?
Preferably, you should begin 2 months before the starting date of the renovations, especially when you consider that manufacturers require from 3 to 6 weeks to manufacture the cabinets and that you’ll surely need to shop for items like appliances, floor coverings, lights.

Choose the style that you want in your kitchen
Read decoration magazines to learn about the trends and material types that you would like. Take time to write down your needs and special requirements, as well as the positive and negative sides of your present kitchen. All this will help the Nisby kitchen designer, who will have the basic information needed to guide you through your renovation project. 

More than any other room of the house, the kitchen is the most versatile. It is used to prepare meals, feed the family, store foods, and clean and stow service ware and other household items.

The kitchen is also the family gathering place, the centerpiece of the home. Therefore, it is important that every kitchen remodeling idea be taken into consideration. This is especially true when available space is limited, and kitchen remodeling cost is a concern.

Important Things to Consider When Planning Kitchen Design
The first kitchen remodeling tip is to consider the three basic kitchen functions: storage, food preparation, and clean-up. A well-thought out kitchen design will accommodate each of these three functions.

Ease of movement and convenient layout of kitchen design is important. The classic “work triangle” should be the basis of the floor plan. The kitchen sink, refrigerator, and stove, as the three kitchen features used most often, should be arranged in a triangular pattern.

The work triangle concept saves unnecessary steps when preparing foods, and proves the most convenient layout design.
 
Another kitchen remodeling idea is to incorporate more than one work center so that more than one person can work efficiently in the kitchen at one time. A self-standing chopping block, service island, or other similar kitchen feature will increase convenient work space.

Even when space is very limited, an extra work area can be created by separating the microwave oven and the stove. Provide free counter space at the other end of the kitchen where a cutting board could be placed for food preparation. Enabling a second person to help with mealtime preparation without the two people getting in each other’s way.

Other Considerations
Other considerations for small kitchen remodeling include space-saving built-in appliances whenever possible. Also consider appliances that not only save space, but increase convenience as well: a trash compactor, garbage disposal, and dishwasher, for instance.

Keep room functionality, convenience, and ease of movement in mind when making your selection.

Because the kitchen is one of the most utilized rooms in the house, nearly every homeowner will experience the exciting-though-daunting task of planning a kitchen renovation at one time or another.

Before you formulate a new kitchen design or acquire the services of a certified kitchen designer, you must ask yourself this question: “What is my main kitchen renovation objective?”

Kitchen remodeling usually falls into one of five categories; or a combination of two or more:

Cosmetic – a retro kitchen design to a more modern kitchen, or visa-versa
To change or enhance kitchen design layout
To redirect kitchen traffic
To increase kitchen space inward
To expand kitchen area outward
Cosmetic

The most frequent type of kitchen design makeover is to either update or alter the appearance of the kitchen for a fresh, new look. A cosmetic kitchen remodeling project does not change the layout of the kitchen. It involves renewing the walls, kitchen cabinetry, counters, floor; or changing the overall design. A contemporary kitchen design to a French country kitchen design, for instance.

Many homeowners cut down on kitchen remodeling costs by recycling some aspects of the kitchen, instead of purchasing everything new. Kitchen cabinet re-facing and new cabinet hardware can go a long way in giving old cabinets the face-lift needed to compliment new kitchen design. Saving hundreds, even thousands of dollars.

Changing the Layout

Changing kitchen design layout might include repositioning appliances, fixtures, and eating areas for a better organized layout. Incorporate the work triangle – sink, to stove, to refrigerator, to sink – for smoother, more efficient meal preparation.

 
Creating an L-shaped grouping of appliances and fixtures can provide more counter space. The addition of a bay window as a backdrop to a table and seating placed at one end of the kitchen can create a kitchen nook, and a warmer and more inviting atmosphere.

Of course, this type kitchen renovation may require carpentry, electrical, or plumbing work. And the services of a special trade contractor, such as a builder contractor, plumber, or electrician.

Redirecting Traffic

Kitchen design alterations that redirect traffic can mean extensive layout changes. This might involve adding a new doorway, moving an existing one, or taking down part of a wall to open up the kitchen, to make it feel more open and less isolated.

The basic kitchen design layout and footprint (traffic area) often requires redesign. But the result of redirecting traffic often makes the kitchen look and feel larger, and more efficient.

Increase Space

Increasing kitchen space by expanding within borrows space from adjacent rooms. Creating more dining area and available foot space in the kitchen; and enlarging available kitchen storage space, as well. Or the addition of a breakfast counter for quick snacks, or butcher block type kitchen cart for extra work space.

This type project often involves moving or removing interior walls, and rearranging appliances and fixtures. The result?  Significantly more space, increased storage, and open access to the adjoining room.

Expand Space

Expanding space outward by adding an addition onto the house is the most extensive and most expensive type of kitchen renovation. Making both interior and exterior changes to your home often requires the expertise and skills of several professionals – including a general contractor.

This type of project can completely change the function, flow, and design of your kitchen, as well as the exterior appearance of your home. It provides more options to design your own kitchen; using part or all of the addition as a kitchen nook area. Also, extra kitchen floor space or perhaps a walk-in pantry kitchen design area, with shelving for food items and small kitchen appliance storage.

Once you have identified the main objective for the kitchen remodeling, outline your plans on paper. Incorporate the design that best suits your needs, in the style of your choice; one that will compliment the rest of your home’s interior design and overall theme.

If lack of time is the main factor that emerges from your study, you’ll need to overhaul the kitchen to reduce steps and avoid looking for objects. Cooking utensils will be more available if they’re suspended by hooks on a rail or placed in a decorative pot. A spice rack, a bi-level lazy susan, a drawer or retractable spice organizer will allow you to quickly find that elusive spice bottle. A food cupboard, equipped with retractable shelves, quickly brings the cans and bottles within reach, as much for those placed entirely in the rear, as those located in the front. Do the kids help prepare the meals? Store the day-to-day tablecloths, napkins, dishes and cutlery in a separate corner cabinet. Thus, the kids will be able to easily set the table without getting in the way in the kitchen
 

Have you ever calculated the time you’d gain each day if you didn’t have to look for the cutlery, a spice, your shoes, keys, the youngest one’s mittens, etc? Installing a good storage system in the home offers numerous advantages: it frees up space, time and even money!

Knowing how to efficiently use small nooks, unused surfaces and higher areas while taking functionality, time and aesthetics into account can practically be considered an art! Here are a few ideas that will help you create storage space that’ll be adapted to your needs and your décor, and to help you get to know about various products that are on the market.