Expanding Your Kitchen Design
Renovators Place Columnist
Oct 08, 2009
If your kitchen design is too small for your lifestyle and cooking habits, consider expanding the space. There are several ways to make the space appear larger, with or without adding an entirely new room. Here are some options:
There are many ways to remodel and expand a kitchen. The first step is to assess your goals and the structural nature of your kitchen. Then talk with contractors about the best way to turn your cramped space into a more livable kitchen design.
About the Author
Allison E. Beatty is a syndicated real estate writer who has been writing home improvement columns for 15 years.
Kitchen Room Addition
If your house has plenty of yard space, consider adding onto the back or side. A 12-foot by 14-foot room addition would add plenty of space for a reconfigured kitchen design, plus a breakfast room. Before starting a room addition, however, find out:- Whether your local zoning allows for an addition.
- Whether you will need a zoning variation, which can take weeks or months.
- Which location works best.
- How you would reconfigure your yard.
- The estimated cost of the room addition.
Add Light, Bright Kitchen Cabinets
If you have old, dark kitchen cabinets, consider replacing them with white cabinets or cabinets made from a light wood. This approach will help give the kitchen design a light, crisp look and open up the space. Also try:- Adding a few glass doors in the cabinets to bring in more light.
- Varying the heights of the cabinets to add interest and avoid the visual weight of a long row of cabinets.
- Adding lighting above the wall cabinets to draw eyes upward.
Expand Kitchen Design Into Adjacent Room
Look around your kitchen for ways to "steal space" from an adjacent room. Consider:- Taking space from a pantry or closet.
- Removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and making one large kitchen design.
- Cutting a wall opening between the kitchen and dining room or family room. The opening becomes a visual "pass through", so you can see into the other room. It opens up the whole space, plus the opening can become a breakfast bar with seating.
There are many ways to remodel and expand a kitchen. The first step is to assess your goals and the structural nature of your kitchen. Then talk with contractors about the best way to turn your cramped space into a more livable kitchen design.
About the Author
Allison E. Beatty is a syndicated real estate writer who has been writing home improvement columns for 15 years.
Top 3 Articles
Start Your Renovation Here!
Get your free kitchen cabinet replacement quote when you fill in the fields below.
- Do you own or rent your home?
Deals for Thursday, Sep. 2, 2010
-
This is an advertisement.
Dramatically improve the look of your kitchen with help from Sears—find out how to save $500 on select custom cabinet refacing or kitchen remodeling. -
Home Depot offers custom-built cabinet doors delivered and installed by a team of licensed professionals in just two to three days. Request a free, in-home consultation.
