Experts in Remodeling Kitchens to Perfection
Should I remodel my kitchen or repair it?
Riaan’s Top Tips on Making the Decision
Should I remodel my current kitchen or repair what I have? Kitchens are one of the most frequented zones in a home; families go into their kitchens five to six times a day.
That’s 2,190 times per year!
A practical guide on updating your kitchen is about every 10 to 15 years for the health and hygiene of your family, so if you’ve bought a fixer-upper or want to pep-up your current kitchen, there are a few pointers Riaan Garforth-Venter, owner and founder of Riaans Designs, suggests you keep in mind.
On average, a kitchen remodel costs about $150 per square foot. Many homeowners spend between $75 and $250 per square foot. Many of these costs are about choices on the quality of materials or choosing to change the layout of the space with new electrical plug and plumbing points.
Do not make the mistake of not planning for enough storage and shelving, plus sufficient countertop space to plate dishes or accommodate small appliances. Riaan says that “Kitchen lighting is also important to highlight what you are doing - consider task-lighting placed under wall-hung cabinets which makes for a fairly inexpensive enhancement. In the evenings, it looks incredible when the kitchen is beautifully lit.”
Riaan feels that “remodeling an existing kitchen is a good decision - there are so many things we can do to bring your kitchen into the new age! Painting your current cabinet doors, which are perhaps too dark, no worries, we can sand and repaint them a lighter color. Consider repainting instead of replacing cabinet doors.”
At Riaans Designs, we suggest removing some of the cabinet doors in the upper cabinetry to provide an airy feel and to place a few ‘showpieces,’ like that fabulous teapot set you bought in Japan or the colorful vase from the Artists Market.
Go for a top-quality faucet, the hardest-working aspect of the kitchen! A faucet that is a talking piece but also delivers state-of-the-art applications for water speeds and pulses.
Splash-backs are the ‘personality’ of the Kitchen - this is where you insert your inner soul into the room. The section between kitchen countertops and upper cabinetry is the place to play. Consider that the grouting between tile is critical, as water from the sink splashes over, steam and fats from cooking splash-back - so this zone must be as just as hardy and resistant as it is gorgeous and filled with life.
Riaan smiles and says that “I love working with the Lady of the House and figuring out the best path to their best kitchen. With 30 years of experience in kitchen cabinetry, I’ve seen trends ebb and flow, but quality installation and customer service remain our number one priority.”