Kenneth Lewis Blog

If you are deciding on whether or not to remodel your kitchen, remember you get the best bang your your buck if you choose to move forward. But you don’t need to spend a lot. That’s right, remodel your kitchen for less. How?

New countertops are often the best option when you want to change or remodel your kitchen. Replace your existing countertops with granite, corian, cambria quartz or other quality material and make big difference in your kitchen. If what your really need is a new look and feel, an update, new counters are the solution.

Kenneth C. Lewis Cabinetry can guide you in your selection of countertops. Contact us about replacing your existing countertop.

When it comes to giving your kitchen a facelift, nothing has as dramatic effect as new countertops. Using granite, corian, cambria quartz and other quality materials to replace existing countertops changes the entire look and feel of your kitchen.

Don’t forget about the bathroom though. If you are looking for a bathroom makeover, the countertops have a dramatic effect there too.
 
Countertops are usually the best option when totally changing or remodeling your kitchen or bath.

If you are not remodeling your kitchen, consider countertop refinishing which is a more affordable and attractive alternative. Refinishing your existing countertop could be your best option if you want a new look for less money.

Contact Kenneth C. Lewis for information on replacing your countertop.

We all know that a kitchen make-over is money well spent. If you need a kitchen face lift, think about replacing your countertops. New counters can help revitalize an older kitchen, or give a kitchen a new look and feel.

Many homeowners just are not interested in a whole kitchen remodel because of the disruption to daily life. The solution is granite countertops. Kenneth Lewis spends an average of 3-4 days in your home.

Kenneth C. Lewis can offer alternative solutions to your kitchen remodeling project. Your entire kitchen can get a new look just by replacing the counters. If it is storage space or surface area that you need, add a kitchen island.

Countertop replacement is usually the best option when you want to totally change or remodel your kitchen. We can guide you in your selection of countertop including granite, corian, cambria quartz and other quality materials for replacing your existing countertops.
 
If you are interested in updating the look and feel of your kitchen with new countertops, contact Kenneth C. Lewis.

Your kitchen needs updating, but you do not want the expense of replacing the cabinets. Choose a less costly option. Replace the doors.

If the old cabinets are in good shape and are high-quality solid wood, it may only be the doors that really needed to be replaced.

Replacing the doors and covering the remaining exposed parts of the cabinets with a matching veneer can be done for about half the cost. This is the process of refacing.

In cabinet refacing, the cabinet doors are removed, and the sides and exterior face of the cabinet are covered with veneer. After the covering is installed, the new doors are added. New drawer fronts are also created and installed to match.

One of the greatest advantages of refacing cabinets is the minimal disruption to your home. Refacing is easier and faster. The cabinets should be well built and worth saving.

In order to increase storage, it is possible to add cabinets that match the refaced ones. If you replace the counters at the same time, you will feel as though you have had a full-blown kitchen remodel.

New cabinet doors can be made of a variety of woods, such as cherry, oak or maple, or with a wood laminate.

Contact Kenneth Lewis if refacing seems like the right option for you. 

There are many homeowners that are hesitant to put their homes on the market today because they don’t feel as though they would get the asking price for it. Combine this with the lowest personal savings account interest rates in history and you have more people investing in their homes than ever. If you are going to keep your house, you may as well make it more comfortable while you’re there, and when you do sell it, the return you will get will most likely be higher than any interest rate.

One of the home improvement projects that do pay - Remodel the kitchen:

An average kitchen remodeling project takes nine months to plan and three months to build, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association. You can improve the overall look and feel of a kitchen with a lot less work and money simply by refurbishing what you have. Some refurbishing options include refaced cabinets instead of new, resurfaced countertops or an added backsplash, updated flooring and under-cabinet task lighting.

Regardless of the project you plan to undertake, there are a few things you can do to ensure you get the most for your money.

• Establish a budget:
• Hire a qualified remodeler who is familiar with local building codes.
• Compare products and prices before you begin.
• Work with a contract.  

Countertop replacement is usually the best option when totally changing or remodeling your kitchen.

A beautiful countertop can really stand out in a kitchen. Consumer Reports tested 14 different countertop materials like granite and quartz, recycled glass, bamboo and soapstone. They applied things like tomato sauce and grape juice and let them sit overnight.

The bamboo surfaces stained badly.

They also tested the counters for heat, by placing a 400 degree pot on them: the bamboo counters scorched, and 2 recycled glass countertops cracked within 12 minutes.

When all the tests were done, quartz and granite countertops came out on top!

Kenneth C Lewis uses granite, corian, cambria quartz and other quality materials for replacing existing countertops.

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it's also the most popular room to renovate. The average kitchen redo costs about $15,000.

When it comes to remodeling a kitchen almost everyone has something they might have done differently.

When you're cooking up a kitchen renovation there are so many places where it's easy to goof. Storage space is one of them. Consumer reports says, don't skimp!

"Carefully plan how much storage you'll need and where to put it," said Bob Markovich with Consumer Reports.

For instance, dishes and glasses need four to six linear feet of cabinet space above or near the sink and dishwasher. Pots and pans need the same, and store them close to your cooktop. If you have kitchen cabinets that already provide enough storage space, consider refinishing them instead of replacing them.

Center islands can be tricky too. Make sure they are the right size, too big is a common mistake.

The countertop should be three feet wide to no more than ten feet. As for depth, you want one that measures at least 26 inches, and up to 48 inches.

As for countertops, choosing one that stains easily is another mistake people make. Skip oil-rubbed butcher block for kitchen counters - it's one of the surfaces that stains easily. Corian and Granite work nicely.

With careful planning and attention to detail you can sidestep these mistakes and get the kitchen you've always wanted.

Original article on ABC local

There is nothing stating that a kitchen remodeling project needs to be more than you can afford and let's face it; remodeling a kitchen can be an expensive endeavor. Appliances and paint to floors, cabinets and countertops, completely transforming a kitchen requires quite a bit of money and time. Often, doing the entire project at once is cost-prohibitive. But there are ways to transform your kitchen without spenging too much. How? Creative solutions to kitchen renovation, like countertop resurfacing. You can save a lot of money and hassle with countertop resurfacing as opposed to replacing them. Countertops are heavy and cling to everything, including the kitchen sink. By just resurfacing, you can avoid the labor and cost of completely removing them, let alone replacing them.

In resurfacing your countertop, one option is to remove the old laminate and replace it with new laminate. But, there are other options for countertop resurfacing as well. You can install ceramic tiles over the old countertops. You can also polish existing old stone or other solid material countertops to give them a brighter and fresher look. The countertops are a focal point for the eye when you enter a kitchen and they dramatically change the style of an area. Changing the countertop will allow you to carry through with the design you want while visually impacting the space with just one renovation. Countertop resurfacing can transform your kitchen into something cozier and more stylish without killing your home remodeling budget.

When it comes to renovating your home for re-sale there are a few major renovations that top the list but Kitchen remodels top them all. For the largest return on your investment when reselling your home, consider a kitchen remodel.

Buyers want to envision themselves in a gorgeous newly renovated kitchen where they can see themselves entertaining friends and family, where the kids do their homework, and guests can gather around a gorgeous kitchen island. This is what buyers look for.

Kitchen Remodels give you a ROI of 75-85%. The function of the kitchen has evolved over the years, and now more than ever the kitchen must meet those needs.

• A major kitchen remodel may need to include a new floor plan to improve on a poorly designed work triangle.
• If the kitchen is completely dated, refinishing or resurfacing the cabinets will update the look and save you money to spend on replacing the appliances and countertops.
• If at all possible add a kitchen island into the plans. Everyone loves them!
• Replacing appliances, lighting, flooring, finishes and fixtures and adding new doors and windows will grab the buyers' attention. Refinishing or resurfacing the cabinetry is easier and more efficient than replacing it. 

When deciding on home remodeling projects, you get the most bang for your buck out of a kitchen remodel. You will get the most return on your investment in the way of home value and resale value if you have a new and updated kitchen. But what if the kitchen remodeling project is too costly? Or perhaps you are concerned with the disruption to your everyday life. There is a solution. Kenneth C. Lewis can help you with your kitchen remodeling project without breaking the bank, by offering alternative solutions. Did you know that your entire kitchen can get a new look just by replacing the counters? Perhaps you could add a kitchen island, to increase work space and home value. The average actual time we will spend in your home on a kitchen remodel is only 3-4 days with minimal interruption to your normal life.

Countertop replacement is usually the best option when you want to totally change or remodel your kitchen. We can guide you in your selection of countertop finishes. We use granite, corian, cambria quartz and other quality materials for replacing your existing countertops. If it is not a kitchen remodel you are after, but you are interested in updating the look and feel of your kitchen. Speak with us about refinishing your existing countertop. Let us help you revitalize an older kitchen, or give a newer kitchen the look and feel you dreamed of.