Intown Living

Well-planned improvements to the design and function of the kitchen add to the resale value of the home. New cabinets and countertops provide an extreme makeover for the kitchen while updated appliances make cooking easier.

Replacing kitchen cabinets is a complete reinvestment in the house and can easily add up. If you think of the accumulation of spilled food, grease, wear and tear, replacement is a viable option.

Less expensive is painting the cabinets is much cheaper while re-facing cabinets by re-sanding the surfaces and repainting/re-staining the doors and drawers is still economically sound.

For countertops, the material has to match the owners’ lifestyle but be aware of champagne tastes and beer budgets. The cost of countertops correlates to country of origin, color and finish.

Granite reigns as the top choice, with its shine and dramatic texture setting the tone for most of the kitchen. A properly finished and maintained granite countertop should last forever.

Marble, limestone and soapstone are also viable choices for natural stone but are softer and more meticulous to maintain. These all need to be sealed periodically to maintain the sizable investment.

Delivered in a larger array of colors, engineered stone is seemingly indestructible and easier to take care of, compared with natural stone. Engineered stone and natural stone share one thing: about the same costs. Just like anything else, the homeowner must weigh the costs and benefits.

Replacing outmoded appliances can quickly update a kitchen but make sure the surroundings match up with a top-of-the-line refrigerator or sleek stove. Nothing is incongruous as seeing a stainless steel stove top surrounded by patterned countertops from the 1960s.

If entertaining is important to you, remodeling may be the best time to add extras that will make things easy and fabulous for your guests – a warming tray and an icemaker.

Sometimes hitting the “extra ice” button is not enough; so why not get a dedicated icemaker ready for a crowd that needs to cool down. Save yourself the inconvenience of having to send someone out for ice by being prepared for company – and anything else.

Remodeling the kitchen comes down to what you want and what your budget is. Cabinets, countertops and appliances should be the first consideration when remodeling the kitchen.

For a kitchen remodeling contractor that services Houston's Memorial, Tanglewood, Bunker Hill, Hedwig Village, Spring Valley, Piney Point areas be sure to check our Memorial Telephone Directory.