Category: Blog

Of all the rooms in your home, you probably use your kitchen the most. Not only does it store and produce many of the meals your family enjoys, but it oftentimes serves as the central gathering place for after-school family chats and evening cocktail parties. So why not keep your kitchen as up-to-date and functional as possible? While a kitchen remodel can add a great boost to your home’s value and your quality of life, there are a few important things to keep in mind before you take this step.

There Will Be Surprises: While “expect the unexpected” has become a bit of a cliché, it’s an important mindset to have. The discovery of a necessary repair may affect your budget, termites or other pests might reveal themselves, there could be material delays, or you could change your mind about what you need. Flexibility and an open mind are the keys to success.

You’ll (Really) Pay for It: According to Remodeling magazine, the national average cost for a full, mid-range kitchen remodel hovers around $66,000, and the highest contributors to the cost tend to be cabinetry and hardware, installation, appliances, and ventilation. Depending on when you plan to sell your home and how quickly design trends evolve, recouping the cost through an increase in your home’s value isn’t always guaranteed. However, a glamorous and functional kitchen can be a huge sentimental value-add.

It’s All About the Details: You’ll probably burst into your consultation meeting with your remodeler filled to the brim with grand plans about your ideas for your kitchen. However, the smaller aspects of building out a kitchen, like ensuring proper ventilation and where to put electrical outlets, can make or break your actual experience using the room. So try not to tune-out your remodeler when going over those seemingly-small but super important details.

If you’re like most homeowners, your kitchen is probably the epicenter of your family life. Maybe your kids enjoy an afternoon snack as they spread notebooks across the island for their daily homework routine. You may gather around the table for dinner and share stories. And when friends and family visit, everyone always migrates to the kitchen. Don’t you want the most used area in your house to also be the nicest?

This was the case for Kim and Mary, who thought their kitchen needed a major upgrade. While their kitchen was functional, the design could use a major refresh—dated oak cabinets lined the wall, and dissimilar cabinetry, countertop, flooring & wall finishes gave the room a disjointed feel. Inadequate lighting made the room dark and uninviting, and the appliance layout made meal preparation challenging.

In December 2019, the couple visited the Thomas Kitchen and Bath design center to see what could be done. After a productive discussion of their dream kitchen, our team visited their home to collect photos and measurements. Afterwards, Kim and Mary reviewed 3D renderings of the proposed kitchen design, made revisions, and approved the contract.

Prior to the project start date, Kim and Mary received a proposed construction schedule that detailed the work expected to be completed each day. They appreciated our crew’s regular communications and frequent updates, which allowed them to keep living in their house throughout the project’s duration.

 

Eight weeks after we swung the first hammer, Kim and Mary were able to start using their beautiful new kitchen. We started by minimizing waste — everything that could be salvaged during the demo (cabinets, sink, appliances…) was donated to Habitat for Humanity. Gas, water, and electrical utilities were relocated. Tile flooring was replaced, textured ceiling removed, and recessed LED lighting and island pendants installed. Semi-custom cabinets with soft-close drawers and doors, and features like a double-bin trash pull-out, corner cabinet lazy-susan, pantry roll-outs, and spice drawer organizers were constructed. A custom LED cabinet lighting system including countertop, above cabinet, and even in-cabinet lighting was configured. Finally, a ceramic tile backsplash and customized Vent-A-Hood range hood were installed.

Looking to get your dream kitchen built by the pros? Schedule a consultation with us today!

Many things can go wrong when undertaking a dramatic remodeling of your home. Beyond finding structural issues, mold, or pests, many remodeling delays and snafus can occur when the owner isn’t initially happy with the results—they can’t shake the feeling that something is missing, or not quite right.

 

At Thomas Kitchen and Bath, we pride ourselves on avoiding this scenario by paying close attention during the planning process to your needs and wants. The design services we offer are intended to help you actually SEE your project before we start. Here’s how our process works:

 

We always begin with a consultation at our design center to listen to your vision and get an idea of the investment you want to make. We’ll evaluate photos and sketches of your current floor plan as well as inspirational images you have collected. In turn, we’ll share examples of past projects we’ve done and offer our own ideas to complement your vision. If both sides agree that we’re a good fit, we’ll then move on to the planning process.

 

At this point, we’ll take detailed measurements and photos, and ask you detailed questions about what does and doesn’t work about your current arrangement and see how we can fix any problems. Once both of us are on the same page, we’ll assemble a detailed design for you, which includes a full-color 3D rendering of your finished project. We’ll show you exactly what your dream room will look like and what your investment will be.

 

If you have any concerns or questions about our proposed design for you, we’ll work to clear everything up and solidify your ideal design. Now comes the fun part—our expert team will begin assembling your new project. You’ll be deeply involved in this process as an observer, and before your project is complete, we’ll review it together to ensure that we’ve delivered on our commitments.

 

Ready for a no-stress remodeling experience? Give us a call today!

So, you’ve decided to make some major changes to your home. Maybe you’re looking to improve your home’s value, or maybe you want to freshen up your 10-year old kitchen or bathroom. You can’t wait to show your friends and neighbors your remodeled home—was it renovated? While these two terms seem synonymous, they actually have quite different meanings. 

 

Remodeling:

Remodeling means overhauling the functionality of a room or structure. For instance, say you’ve decided you don’t need all of the space your three-car garage affords you and that you’d like to instead use the unnecessary space for a home office to better aid you in remote work. Building a new addition onto your home also falls under this category. More often than not, remodeling requires a drastic change to your home’s structure, including the possibility of reworking plumbing, gas or electricity lines. This is why remodeling is much more expensive, labor-intensive and time-consuming than renovating. 

 

Renovating: 

On the other hand, a renovation involves modernizing and improving an existing structure without changing its intended purpose. It can be as simple as having new kitchen cabinets installed or refreshing the tiles on your bathroom floor. Since renovation project usually involve superficial changes, they are a lot easier on the wallet. Studies have shown that renovating, due to the process’s relative cheapness and quicker ability to adopt trends buyers want, offers a better ROI than remodeling. 

 

Looking for an experienced professional to take the stress out of a renovation or remodel? Give us a call today!