The kitchen is the heart of every home. It where you prepare food and where kids can sit to complete their homework. The kitchen is the room where the best parties end up. However, there comes a time when a kitchen needs a facelift. Kitchen renovations in Toronto may be required to add functionality to the kitchen space or to remedy a décor that is showing its age. The kitchen is, without doubt, the most popular room in a remodel. Remodels not only give homeowners a chance to recreate their dream kitchen but also a chance to add more function and aesthetics. Needless to say, a good renovation can increase the value of your home by up to 30%.
Pick a design style
Renovating your kitchen requires that you plan well ahead of time. To start with, you have to pick a design. Do you need a kitchen with a large island with granite countertops, copper range hood or breakfast bar? Regardless of what your vision is, practically all kitchens fall under one of these three design styles.
- Traditional kitchen: This is a style that uses warm tones and natural materials such as granite countertops and stained wood cabinets.
- Modern kitchen: In this style, the designs have a cooler tone and use minimalism as well as sleek lines to give a striking impression. These designs may include quartz countertops, stainless steel accents, and white cabinetry.
- Transitional kitchen: This is the style that leverages on some aspects of traditional and modern designs. You will notice a perfect blend of styles found in traditional and modern styles. The blend is done in a manner that ensures there is a cohesive flow.
Regardless of your preferences in kitchen décor, your ideal kitchen will fall in one of the aforementioned design styles. The most important thing to do is to pick the design style with care and hire the right remodelling team to help.
Plan for the switches and outlets
After selecting a design style, the next step is planning for the switches and outlets in your kitchen. It is easy to overlook the placement of outlets and light switches in a kitchen remodel. The last thing you want is to have to tear down your new walls to create room for the switches and GFCI receptacles.
When designing your kitchen space, you must think about where to put the outlets and light switches. Laying out these items in the design phase will make a huge difference in the finish and function of your kitchen. Here are the important points you need to consider.
- Outlet specifications and placement
Each municipality has its own codes and requirements for the placement of the GFCI receptacles in a kitchen. The first thing you need to do, therefore, is to contact an electrician Newmarket and ask about the exact distances in your region. In the most general sense, you will need the outlets in the following location in your kitchen:
- Within about 2 feet of the outer edge of a sink located along the wall
- On the peninsula: You will need a receptacle at the end of the peninsula
- On the island: A receptacle will be needed on each end of the island
- On kitchen walls: You need a receptacle after every 2 feet
The use of a plug mould will come in handy if you don’t want the GFCI receptacles to be seen in the backsplash of your kitchen. The plug moulds are more expensive than the conventional outlets and require more planning. The best thing is that they are convenient and hide the outlets remarkably under wall cabinets.
The outlets are unavoidable eye-sores in any room and more so in a kitchen. When planning for the outlets, you need to think carefully about where you will place them. To do this, you have to consider where you will be placing your kitchen appliances that will need to be plugged in. You must also think about where you will charge your tablet, phone, and any other device. When space allows, set up a charging station in your kitchen.
- Switch placement
To determine the best location for the switches, you have to think about the traffic patterns in your kitchen. Switches for the main ceiling lighting should be located at the entrance for easy access. The under-cabinet light should be switched in your kitchen backsplash. Make sure you label all the switches to know what they do. For the accent light, you can place the switch virtually anywhere. Ensure you decide on the location of the accent light before the electrician makes the decision for you.
Whenever you are planning for the outlets and switches, you need to follow these guidelines:
- Make sure GFCI requirements and codes are met
- Know the receptacles that you want to see. Are you okay with old style or modern outlets?
- Identify all the major entrances and exits. Switches for main ceiling lighting should be placed at the entrance.
- Think of the kitchen appliances and mobile devices you want in the kitchen and where you will place them.
Kitchen insulation
Last but not least, you have to think of how to make your kitchen warmer. The worst mistake you can make in a kitchen remodel is to forget about insulation. It would be a shame for the kitchen to be the main cause of heating problems in your home. You will be amazed by the wide variety of insulation supplies in Toronto that you can use to make your kitchen warmer.
If yours is an older kitchen, prior to a remodel, you need to check under the kitchen units and invest in rolls of Rockwool. You can also use recycled plastic or even sheep’s wool insulation. If your kitchen is fitted with suspended timber flooring, consider the option explained on this website, by laying plywood over your floorboards. Make sure you lay them all the way to the kitchen wall edges and seal all the gaps to prevent drafts.
Picking a design style, planning for an outlet and switch placement and planning for insulation are the three things you must do when planning a kitchen remodel. Never be in a hurry to implement your design. Take time to plan everything. You must also hire an experienced contractor to help with the work.