ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 31, 1996 TAG: 9604050008
SECTION: BETTER HOMES PAGE: BH-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JOANNE ANDERSON
Remodeling a kitchen can reap big dividends for homeowners. In fact, Remodeling magazine reports that a major kitchen renovation offers a 94 percent return on investment; a minor kitchen remodel nets a 104 percent return.
With respect to kitchens, everything has changed and nothing has changed. Appliances, materials, styles and the level of technical sophistication in today's kitchens were not even imagined by men and women, cooks and bakers of yesteryear. Yet, as the nucleus of the home, the place where people most often gather, the kitchen remains thankfully unchanged.
Practical needs and personal styles can be easily incorporated into kitchen remodeling. The key to success is simply:
PLANNING
The three elements of budget, function and style will determine how you can best meet your food storage and preparation needs, as well as accommodate your personal taste and the uses of the kitchen area by your family.
Blacksburg architect Thomas Koontz, co-author with Carol Vaughan Dagwell of the Residential Kitchen Design book, states that the kitchen is the most expensive room in the house in terms of cost per square foot.
``The kitchen designs the house'' is his theory since it is the most intensely used space in the life of a house. Thus, any changes or renovation should be given careful thought.
When you are ready to begin serious planning, make a list of all the things you would like if you could create your ideal kitchen. Go back over the list and eliminate the impractical and the unaffordable.
Almost everyone works within budget and space constraints, and much can be done by the do-it-yourself homeowner with modest funds regardless of space. Neither money nor space factors should hinder efficiency.
When your budget has been determined, allocate money to items. If your budget limits the scope of the project, make adjustments in your plan. Trade-offs can be based on priorities. For example, fancy lighting may be eliminated in favor of an appliance upgrade; cabinet quality may be more important than an expensive floor.
To turn a dream kitchen into a working reality, address each of the following categories with realistic expectations and specific plans. Space allocation and layout. Studies have shown that the triangle formed by the sink, stove and refrigerator bears more movement than anywhere else in the kitchen area.
Traffic patterns in and through the kitchen must be given careful consideration and should not cut through this triangle unnecessarily. Additionally, the sink, stove and refrigerator should be located with minimal obstructions between them.
Island and peninsula counters are an important feature in space allocation, particularly since they can also function as countertops and cupboards. Many homeowners like their cooktop burners or a sink in an island. An extended top on one side facilitates sitting up to the counter for eating, food preparation or socializing.
STORAGE
Storage is really one of the two major functions of a kitchen - food preparation being the other - so it deserves some serious attention. Cabinets may consume as much as 50% of the remodeling budget, and they serve equally as utilitarian necessities and major style statement.
The two important quality factors in selecting cabinets are materials and construction. The most popular materials are particle board or wood with a veneer surface and solid wood with moldings and details. Metal or plastic laminated wood cabinets provide an easy-care surface.
Examine cabinets with a careful eye and touch. Read specification sheets detailing production materials, and look at hinges, corners, insides and backings. Feel the finish. Open and close the doors and drawers.
Quality construction includes dovetail joints, ball bearing drawer glides, solidly mortised hinges, magnetic catches, heavy-duty pulls and well-finished interiors with adjustable shelves.
If you don't feel you can go with new cabinets, contact Sherry Melton at Kitchen Tune-Up in Wytheville. She offers complete kitchen cabinet treatment with cleaning, oiling hinges and drawer slides, repairing nicks and scratches, waxing and buffing and restoring luster and grain to wood.
Other storage options are pantries, permanent or movable center islands and drawers and cupboards with spice racks on doors and custom sliders and compartments.
APPLIANCES
Choosing appliances can be exciting, but a few initial decisions must be made. What type of energy is preferred? What types of foods are prepared the most? Who uses which appliances? Combination appliances, such as an oven which provides conventional radiant heat and a microwave option in one unit, are helpful for small spaces.
Refrigerators and freezers, ovens, cooktops, ranges, dishwashers, microwave ovens, garbage disposals and trash compactors are the most common kitchen appliances. Refrigerators may be freestanding, built-in or undercounter models. For freezers, think about what you need for shelves, humidity drawers, temperature controls, defroster method, ice-maker, water dispenser, energy-saving devices and size.
Ovens and cooktops, gas or electric, can be purchased in the popular one- piece range, although separate elements are also popular. For the one-piece range, evaluate cost and heat method along with options, such as grills, self-cleaning, timing devices, rotisseries, built-in warmer shelves and variable-speed broilers.
The classic oven is conventional radiant heat. Microwave ovens cook foods quickly with high-frequency microwaves, but seldom brown. Gas or electric convection ovens circulate heat inside the oven and are excellent for baking and roasting as oven temperature is constant. Single and double oven units are available.
Today's cooktops permit great flexibility in placement and use. They may be installed in a center island, away from the oven, or on any counter surface. Standard finishes are stainless steel, enameled cast iron or steel and black or white glass. The ceramic glass smooth tops are much more efficient than they used to be, present an exquisite contemporary appearance and are easy to clean.
The ages and user-friendliness of your family members may determine how complicated a microwave oven you need. They do not need to be intimidating or complicated to heat your food well. Dishwashers usually have energy-saving options. Check to make sure the final rinse cycle reaches 180-195 degrees, the recommended temperature to kill disease-bearing bacteria.
It is often recommended that a home with its own septic system not have a garbage disposal, but that remains personal choice. Trash compactors are considered a luxury item in terms of space and cost, but they are useful in reducing trash volume.
LIGHTING
Good lighting is mandatory to create a safe and pleasant environment. General lighting in ceilings and walls provides illumination to see around the kitchen, while task lighting includes recessed or track lighting that directs light to a designated work area.
Task lights are often fluorescent bulbs mounted under cabinets directly above counter space. Accent lighting can be installed to highlight something special.
When determining light locations, look at how shadows are cast. For example, anyone working at a counter casts his own shadow from a ceiling light in the center of the room. Also keep in mind that artificial lighting should complement natural light from windows, doors, skylights and adjacent rooms.
WINDOWS, SKYLIGHTS
Windows can bestow as much character and charm on a kitchen as any architectural feature. Bay and bow windows extend out to capture light and visually increase width of space. Greenhouse windows provide a great place for growing herbs and flowering plants year round.
Skylights seem to be the windows the decade. Roanoke architect Jack Weatherby, advises that ``it doesn't pay to install a cheap skylight.'' He adds, ``skylight glass comes in clear and tinted; tinted being more common because it softens direct sunlight. Also, skylights should be insulated and double-glazed with a channel to collect condensation and transfer it outside.''
VENTILATION
Proper air circulation will maintain a fresh and appealing kitchen atmosphere. Windows, ceiling fans, exhaust fans and doors are all part of your ventilation system.
Unless a range is downvented, a hood is necessary over the stove to channel air outside. All cooktops come with downventing options. Be sure you know how your hood or vent system will be installed and ducted before committing to something that is not compatible with what you have.
WORK SURFACES
Wood, stainless steel, marble, formica, stone and ceramic tile are some of the materials that provide excellent countertops. Naturally, each one has strengths and weaknesses, and what you choose will be determined by your budget, usage and personal preference.
Wood is handsome and natural, but harder to keep clean than nonporous materials, and it scratches and burns easily. Stainless steel is waterproof, heat- resistant and easy to clean, but somewhat sterile in appearance and not conducive to cutting on it.
Tile comes in many colors and styles and is particularly nice-looking; however, it can be difficult to keep the grout clean and in tact. Formica and plastic laminates come in a wide range of styles and colors and are durable, easy to clean and affordable. They chip or get scorched and are difficult to repair. Marble is expensive and scratches and stains easily, but a small section for rolling pie dough and kneading bread is elegant and useful.
ELECTRICAL
Older kitchens have inadequate electrical outlets and poor outlet locations. The electrical system should be carefully planned to supply all your needs. Consider the location of small appliances - waffle irons, blenders, food processors - as well as computer and printer requirements, radio and television and the major standing appliances. Consider surge protection if you plan to have high tech equipment in the kitchen area.
HEATING AND COOLING
Kitchens are usually heated and cooled in the same manner as the rest of the house. Windows, fans, skylights, woodstoves, fireplaces and air conditioning ducts should be planned in conjunction with the layout and use of all kitchen space. Walls and ceilings. A fresh coat of paint or new wallpaper can refresh an entire kitchen. Raising or lowering a ceiling or installing a ceiling fan can create a new look and contribute to energy efficiency.
If you want to install pegboards, a pot rack or shelving, plan to do it when walls and ceilings are exposed so everything can be anchored and installed securely.
FLOORS
There are several factors to consider in choosing a floor in addition to budget: Time in the kitchen, family members, ease of cleaning, stain resistance, durability, sound absorption, decor and your future family configuration.
Resilient flooring is an exceptionally good buy because it is durable, affordable, easy to maintain and comes in hundreds of colors, styles and textures in 12-foot widths. It also provides comfort for walking and standing. Tile is exceptionally attractive, but more expensive and very hard for the feet and anything that falls on it.
Wood is handsome and can be refinished nicely, but is not especially practical for the kitchen because it tends to wear unevenly and its major enemy is moisture. Short, indoor-outdoor style carpeting is an affordable option. Stone and brick are easy to maintain and virtually indestructible, but also expensive and very hard; careful sealing is imperative.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
The kitchen area is an easy place to have a recycling center, install energy efficient appliances, establish minimal waste policies and even start a natural compost bin. Special pull out cabinets are available with sections for recyclable materials. Compost materials can be temporarily stored in an airtight container until being moved outside.
EATING AREA
Tables that fold into the wall, counters for high stools, bay window nooks that accommodate a small table or booth and antique or reproduction harvest tables that seat up to 12 are some of the alternatives for eat-in accommodations. Space, family style and future demands will determine what type of an eating area should be incorporated into your new kitchen.
SPECIAL NEEDS
Considerations for the elderly, handicapped and disabled are important if they are family members or frequent guests. Your family's future should be evaluated, i.e., will your kitchen be an empty nest soon or are babies who may be creeping and toddling in the kitchen on your family agenda?
Is there an elderly parent, friend or relative who may live with you? Have you considered making your home a little bed and breakfast enterprise in the future? Many older folks are planning wheelchair space, special sink handles, low counter sections and other facilities for spending their twilight years comfortably in their own home. Work, entertainment and hobby areas. Whether hobbies are kitchen oriented, such as canning, baking or freezing; or technical interests such as computer work; or embrace the arts or music; or include frequent entertaining, they need to be considered. Food is a great attraction, even if we're not hungry, and a great deal of socializing takes place in the kitchen.
Natural extensions from the kitchen may be a laundry center, greenhouse room or wine storage and wet bar. Traffic patterns, equipment location, where people are likely to stand, lean, sit or relax, television viewing accessibility, glares on computer screens or music stands, light for plants and ease of moving things that are movable must all be taken into consideration.
APPEARANCE AND STYLE
There is a staggering array of options to create expression of your taste and lifestyle in your kitchen area. A balance can be achieved which meets the food storage, preparation and serving needs while incorporating distinctly original details that reflect your personality.
Kitchen remodeling is interesting and challenging, and it surely makes good sense to put money into the home you have rather than buy a new one. In fact, renovating the kitchen can be one of the most satisfying, cost-effective ways to get what you want while adding value to your property investment.
LENGTH: Long : 259 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: JOANNE ANDERSON. 1. June Gorman's kitchen was renovatedby CNBjust before she and husband Len Ferrari purchased their Blacksburg
home. Glass-front cabinets with lights inside, upscale white
appliances and green-toned countertops make it an inviting place to
work or relax. 2. An eat-in kitchen includes functional storage
space in the kitchen of June Gorman and Len Ferrari's Blacksburg
home.