• Is it Time to Remodel your Kitchen?
• Making the Most of a Small Kitchen Space
• Steps to a Safe Bathroom
• Steps to a Safe Kitchen
• Kitchen Remodel Project Management--You've Got Options

Is it Time to Remodel your Kitchen?

The National Kitchen & Bath Association offers advice on when and why to update.

Many homeowners think their kitchen is outdated from the looks of their worn cabinets, dated appliances and crackled countertop. What they may not realize is that there are many other reasons, more important than cosmetic, why a kitchen needs to be remodeled.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) offers the following tips to help homeowners evaluate the current condition of their kitchen and decide if the time is right for a remodel.

• Adequate space: Are you satisfied with the amount of counter space, cabinet space and floor space in your kitchen? The position of your refrigerator or shape of your counter may be taking away useful workspace. According to the NKBA Kitchen and Bath Planning Guidelines, when replacing a countertop or changing the shape of your kitchen, keep in mind that a total of 158" of countertop frontage, 24" deep with at least 15" of clearance above, is needed to accommodate all uses, including landing area, preparation/work area and storage.
• Traffic flow: If there's more than one cook in your household, you may want to consider making more room around the main workspace. If you enjoy entertaining, you may want an open plan kitchen that allows for more social interaction between the kitchen and other rooms. According to the NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines, the width of a walkway should be at least 36" and the width of a work aisle should be at least 42" for one cook and at least 48" for multiple cooks.
• Children: Depending on whether or not you have children, and their ages, your kitchen may need to be remodeled. Dated appliances and the design of your kitchen can be hazardous for young kids. If you are in the process of extending your family, you may want more room for cooking larger meals and lower cabinets for easier access to children's food. Based on the NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines, microwave ovens should be installed 3" below the principal user's shoulder but no more than 54" above the floor to avoid accidents. The NKBA also suggests avoiding sharp corners on countertops with kids around.
• Efficiency: If your appliances are dated, they may be costing you more money than you expect. New technological advances with dishwashers, disposals and refrigerators could save you a considerable amount of money and may be well worth the investment. For example, purchasing a dishwasher with low-energy consumption, delay timer and economy cycle or half-load button will result in saving water and money.
• Universal Design: Is your kitchen accessible to individuals with disabilities? Will you be able to use your kitchen safely as you get older? Considering these issues is vital in a kitchen remodel. Employing Universal Design techniques in the remodel will help assure that the space is as accessible to or useable by all people, regardless of age, size or physical ability without the need for adaptation or specialized design later on.
• Location: Thinking about adding a deck to the side or back of your house? Incorporating a door into the layout of your kitchen would be a great convenience for outdoor entertaining. You also may want to rearrange the position of windows to allow more or less sunlight or to watch your children play in the yard. When rearranging the layout of your kitchen, according to the NKBA guidelines, the clear opening of a doorway should be at least 32" wide, which would require a minimum of 2'10" door. Keep in mind that a cooking surface should never be located under an operable window.

Before you remodel your kitchen, make a checklist of major and minor problems and keep notes of the features you dislike and like the most. When it comes time to sit down with a qualified kitchen and bath designer, they'll know exactly how to suit your needs, taste and style. For more information about remodeling and the safety of your kitchen, the full list of the NKBA Kitchen and Bath Planning Guidelines or to request a free NKBA Kitchen and Bath Consumer Workbook, and to find a qualified NKBA Professional, visit www.nkba.org or call NKBA Customer Service at 800-THE-NKBA.

Return to Top

Making the Most of a Small Kitchen Space

The kitchen is becoming more than just a food preparation area in today's society. Yet, on average, the kitchen still remains one of the smaller rooms in the house. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) considers any kitchen 150 square feet or smaller to be a small kitchen, but that doesn't mean you can't make it look more spacious with some big ideas.

• Use unique storage solutions. Install high pantry cabinets to eliminate extra small cabinets. Add pullout shelves, rotating inserts and tilt-out bins to increase accessibility and storage within the cabinets. Light colored cabinets, open shelves, wire organizers and glass-front doors will help to lighten the space. Also, by adding more open display shelves/cabinets, the room will look greatly expanded. Too many cabinets, especially made of dark materials, will give the illusion that the room is much smaller.
• Choose appliances wisely. There are numerous high efficiency, sleek appliances that will allow individuals with small kitchens to have the same luxuries as those with large kitchens. Try to keep your cooktop and oven in the same area. This saves valuable counter space. Have microwaves built into the cabinetry to increase counter space. Keep all small appliances stored in either an appliance garage or pantry to maintain a clutter-free workspace.
• Maintain a mix of natural and ambient lighting. A skylight will open the ceiling to more light and raise a portion of the ceiling, visually expanding the space. Bay or greenhouse windows create an open feel. Natural light should be complemented by ambient and task lighting to provide the same feeling during the night.
• Add personalized touch. Display small, simple items that add a personal touch without creating a feel of clutter. Too many displays will cause the kitchen to look much smaller, but the right amount can add to the warmth and provide an illusion of a larger space.

All of these ideas can give your small kitchen that large kitchen feel. NKBA Members are the finest professionals in the kitchen and bath industry and can help to make your dream kitchen a reality. To find a member near you or to receive your free NKBA Consumer Kitchen and Bath Workbook, call (800) THE-NKBA or visit www.nkba.org.

Return to Top

Steps to a Safe Bathroom

Nearly 200,000 people are injured annually in their bathroom, according to statistics from the National Safety Council. The most common accidents are slips, falls and scalding from hot water. Although not all accidents will ever be eliminated, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) feels that a well-designed bathroom can also be a safe one.

The NKBA has developed a few simple guidelines for homeowners to follow to keep their bathroom safe.

• Ensure that slip resistant flooring is used in all areas of the bathroom. While most materials are slippery when wet; slip-resistant flooring materials help to eliminate many falls and reduce the risk. Any water on the floor should be wiped up as soon as possible to maintain safety.
  Eliminate steps leading into tub or shower areas. Try to surround a tub with a platform where you can sit down prior to entering or exiting the tub.
• Select shower doors carefully. Always use shatterproof glass in shower enclosures. Also, if the door is hinged, have it open into the room instead of into the shower. In the case of an emergency, this allows easy access into and out of the shower.
• Install proper faucets. The NKBA recommends pressure-balanced and temperature-controlled valves in the bath and shower to prevent scalding. Also, install faucets in areas that are easily accessible from outside the tub or shower. Avoid having to stretch or reach for the water control.
• Add benches and grab bars. Installing them within shower enclosures and near the entrance of tub greatly decreases the chance of accidental falls.
• Put in emergency shut-offs for whirlpool tubs. Make sure that the shut-off can be reached from both inside and outside the tub area to ensure maximum safety.
• Maintain safe distances between water sources and electrical switches. Use ground-fault circuit interrupters on electrical receptacles. They shut off when a hazard, such as moisture, is sensed.
• Use cabinet locks. The bathroom holds many poisonous household products and prescriptions. Always place locks on cabinets where these substances are stored.
  

To ensure your bathroom meets and exceeds all safety standards, look to a professional to design your bathroom. NKBA Members are the finest professionals in the kitchen and bath industry, and their top priority it to make your bathroom fashionable, functional and, above all else, safe. To find a member near you or to receive your free NKBA Consumer Kitchen and Bath Workbook, call (800) THE-NKBA or visit www.nkba.org.

Return to Top

Steps to a Safe Kitchen

The kitchen is the busiest room in the home. From a food preparation area and dining room to balancing the family checkbook, the kitchen is the center of activity for today's family. Unfortunately, the kitchen can also be the most dangerous room in the house.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) has developed a few simple guidelines to keep your kitchen safe.

• Use proper lighting. Good general lighting, supplemented with proper task lighting that's clearly focused on a work surface, can greatly decrease your chance of injury while preparing a meal. Also, the lighting should not produce any glare or shadows on the surface.
• Use slip-resistant flooring. Falling with a hot casserole or a sharp knife in your hand can have serious consequences. A slip-resistant material on your floor, such as matte-finished wood or laminate, textured vinyl or a soft-glazed ceramic tile, will do the trick. If you select tile, try using a throw rug with a non-skid backing as an added precaution, especially around areas that get wet.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy. The NKBA recommends that a fire extinguisher be visibly located near a room exit, away from cooking equipment. Never store an extinguisher near or under a cooktop or range. If a fire is to occur, those areas will likely be the cause and make an extinguisher stored in that area unreachable.
• Regulate water temperatures and devices. Install faucets with anti-scald devices that prevent water temperature from rising to dangerous levels, or buy pressure-balanced valves that equalize hot and cold water. Faucets are also available that can be preprogrammed to your desired temperature setting.
• Find a safe cooktop. Avoid being scalded by steam from a boiling pot by staggering burners on your cooktop or have one straight row of burners. Choose a unit with controls along the side or in the front.
• Keep electrical switches, plugs and lighting fixtures away from water sources and wet hands. Building codes require that every electrical receptacle be grounded and protected with ground-fault circuit interrupters, which shut off the room's electric current if there is a power surge or moisture is present. In addition, the NKBA recommends all wall-mounted room controls be 15 inches to 48 inches above the finished floor.
• Use the space safely. Think about how traffic will flow through the kitchen and make sure no one will interfere with your space when cooking. Locate microwaves conveniently above the floor to avoid reaching to retrieve food. Slide-out trays and bins in base cabinets make storage items more accessible and eliminate bending. Avoid putting a range near an entrance or exit. And lastly, avoid sharp corners on the ends of countertops, especially islands and peninsulas, by having them rounded.
  

To ensure your kitchen meets and exceeds all safety standards, look to a professional to design your kitchen. NKBA Members are the finest professionals in the kitchen and bath industry, and their top priority it to make your kitchen fashionable, functional and, above all else, safe. To find a member near you or to receive your free NKBA Consumer Kitchen and Bath Workbook, call (800) THE-NKBA or visit www.nkba.org.

Return to Top

Kitchen Remodel Project Management--You've Got Options

By Wendy Croix

If you're planning a kitchen renovation, how you manage your remodeling project from the start will determine your satisfaction with the project at its completion. Consider this tip from the American Institute of Architects: good project management encourages an on-budget and on-time kitchen renovation.

What role does project management play in your home project kitchen remodeling?
Taking your kitchen remodeling idea from the design stage to planning and execution while overseeing each step along the way is your project manager's job. Turning your kitchen remodeling cost estimate into a budget and, as much as possible, sticking to it, takes skill and experience. Your project manager will make sure your kitchen design plans conform to code, get the necessary permits, hire a contractor and/or sub-contractors and actively manage your remodeling project from start to finish.

Who should turn your kitchen remodeling idea into a reality?
You have three choices as to who will manage your kitchen remodeling project. Making the right choice ensures that your kitchen remodeling cost estimate won't balloon out of control and your kitchen design will be fully realized.

The Kitchen Designer as Remodel Project Manager
If your kitchen remodeling project involves significant redesign, you're probably planning to hire a designer. But did you know that some designers can also manage your renovation project? Kitchen designers have a vested interest in the quality control and design execution of your project--and in seeing their plans executed on budget as well.

The General Contractor as Kitchen Remodeling Project Manager
If you're planning a kitchen renovation that involves three building trades (tile, plumbing and carpentry, for example), then you're required to hire a general contractor. According to Residential General Contractor, a general contractor who acts as project manager might charge up to 25% of the cost of your kitchen renovation for the service. Relieved of project management duties, the fee drops by around 10%. This isn't a cost-cutting tip, though, since someone will have to manage the project if your general contractor doesn't.

Managing your Kitchen Remodeling Project Yourself
Planning a kitchen renovation is one thing, seeing it through to completion is quite another. If you act as your own project manager, you'll handle every aspect of your kitchen remodel: contracts, permits, sub-contractor hiring and supervision, ordering supplies and day to day oversight of the project. Project management is a full time job and if you don't have the experience for it, hiring a project manager may be the best kitchen remodeling idea you've ever had.
Remember, anyone you hire to manage your kitchen remodel must be licensed, bonded and insured.

Sources:
American Institute of Architects
Department of Housing
FreddieMac
Residential General Contractor