Whether you consider yourself to be a take-out fundi or gourmet chef, the kitchen is at the heart of it all. No doubt, it is supposed to be one of the most expensive places in your home and an area that general contractors love to turn into a functional and aesthetically pleasing space.

Estate agents almost always advise prospective sellers to address any flaws before attempting to sell their homes. So it is considered an important space not just from an investment point of view, but also in terms of creating a functional cooking area.

How Best to Approach Renovating Your Kitchen

In most cases, it is not always necessary to opt for a complete overhaul. There are ways and means to modernize your kitchen without breaking the bank in the process, such as:

  • Window Treatments - These are often ignored as privacy is not such a biggie in this area of your home. Having said that, a well-placed Venetian blind or roller would bring in a whole new look. You can place it just above your sink or in an area that is prone to greasy stains. Should you opt for a roller blind, then you must choose a fabric that would allow in some natural light for the mere reason that a kitchen should be well lit. Venetian blind will let you control the amount of light coming through.
  • Paint - Applying a good coat of paint would change the look of your cooking area completely. Walling would often be one of the first things people would notice upon entering a given area. Nowadays, you get paints that can cover just about any surface. You would do well to consider this option. However, be sure to make use of the right paint by consulting with your local construction company. Take note that paint for kitchens needs to be easy to clean and waterproof.
  • Cupboard doors - Rather than pulling out all your cupboards, you should consider re-surfacing the front sections of your cabinet. There are all sorts of options available such as high gloss painted surfaces or timber veneers. One may even clad the doors using stainless steel. How about changing the door front using glass as it will alter the look entirely.
  • Work Tops - Natural and solid worktops are in demand right now. This would include materials like natural stone, solid wood, and concrete. If you do not have the budget to replace your worktops, you may want to think about using a timber veneer and cover the edges so it will appear like it is a solid piece of timber.
  • Lighting - One way to update the look of your kitchen is to replace the lighting fixtures. Many of the older homes would still feature fluorescent lights, which may be functional, but not aesthetically pleasing. Have you thought about installing clip-on lighting underneath your cupboards? These would light up work surfaces properly. Dimmer switches are feasible to reflect softer shadows on your walling area.
  • Splashbacks - These are generally positioned behind the stove to avoid any splashes when cooking. This is an excellent way to incorporate color into your kitchen. Both stainless steel and mosaic tiles are popular. Any material you want to use has to be non-porous and non-flammable. Even hardened glass can be used that has a picture or pattern printed on it.
  • Islands and Butcher Blocks - In some instances, homeowners do not have enough space to accommodate a kitchen island. They can opt for a butcher block that is made available in a range of sizes.
  • Crown Molding - Using a rim around the kitchen cabinets may also liven up the tired look. All kinds of designs are made available for installation. Add a bit of zest to an older kitchen by painting the different molding colors.

Older homes tend to have the kitchen in a closed off area. One of the first steps a building contractor would embark on is to open up the walling of the old-style kitchen to encourage an open living space.

Zone planning outlines five primary areas as a basis for consideration. These would entail storage of consumables, non-consumables, cleaning items, the cooking space, and the prep area.

Positioning these zones requires some careful planning. Right-handed people need to plan their zone outlines in a clockwise direction.

Before you go ahead and plan your kitchen design, give some thought to what you do most and the first thing you do when entering your kitchen. This way you will know in which order your different zones should be.