Kenneth Lewis Blog

As you know, when contemplating a kitchen remodel, new cabinets are the majority of the cost, and the stress. Why don’t you think about cabinet refinishing?

Newly refinished cabinets give you the feel of a brand new kitchen. Best of all, you can much better manage the cost of your kitchen makeover.  Spend the money or something else, or put it in the bank! No matter your décor, refinish your cabinets with a contemporary finish or old world charm.

If your original cabinets are in good shape other than being a bit dated or worn, refinishing your cabinets are a great solution to getting you a new kitchen with half the cost and in far less time.

It is possible that remodeling your kitchen has been cost prohibitive. Not with cabinet refinishing. Cabinet Refinishing is a great way to save money and achieve the look you are after.  

Contact Cabinet Refinishing by Kenneth Lewis for an appointment.

For some, the idea of remodeling the kitchen is overshadowed by thoughts of cost overruns, delays, and decisions. Certainly the process seems daunting, but in the end it is very rewarding. A nice and easy kitchen makes life…nice and easy.

1: How will you use your kitchen

To have a successful kitchen remodel, it is important to think about how you’ll actually be using your kitchen. A kitchen island will often help make kitchen living easier. A kitchen island provides extra seating and serving space for a family and can include great storage options to help keep the kitchen organized.

2: Storage

A kitchen can never have enough storage. Existing cabinets can be refinished rather than replaced to save money while updating the look of the kitchen. Additional cabinet options can be added to existing cabinets such as roll out shelving, peg boards, and cup hangers. Near the garage, as you enter the kitchen, consider a utility cabinet with roll-out trays and cubbies to minimize clutter from purses, hats, and  keys.

3: Make the kitchen functional for all

Understand who is using the kitchen and for what. Do you like entertaining in your kitchen; reface some of the cabinet doors with glass fronted doors. Perhaps you are at home chefs, have all your cooking supplies organized. Is it a homework spot for kids? Have a drawer designated for school supplies.

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

A recession-wrought change in consumer spending is having a dramatic impact on kitchen and bath remodeling, according to a major new study conducted by sink, faucet and shower products supplier Moen.

“Given the current recession, it’s no surprise that consumers are saving rather than spending – and when they do spend, they’re doing so from cash on hand, rather than credit,” says Jack Suvak, senior director of OH-based Moen. “This change in spending behavior has had a dramatic impact on remodeling projects.”

According to Suvak, most homeowners are choosing to perform “room lifts” – small upgrades to personalize a room – rather than undertake the kind of major remodels that were commonplace prior to the recession. An example is choosing to refinish or reface existing cabinets to update a kitchen rather than remodel an entire kitchen. In addition, Suvak said, homeowners “are choosing to personalize renovations to fit their needs, rather than update a room for the next family that will be living in the house.

“For years, we’ve heard that if you want to sell your home, start by remodeling your kitchen because it has the highest return on investment,” he said.

Moen’s research found that families with children living in the home are more engaged in their kitchens than their counterparts without children – and are more likely to view the kitchen as a place where activities or conversations happen. With regard specifically to kitchen remodeling, respondents with children are significantly more likely than those without children to remodel or make improvements to their kitchen or spent more on kitchen improvements, Moen said.

Original article on Kitchen and Bath Design News

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.

Kitchen renovations are among the most expensive home-improvement projects. However, it's possible to refresh a tired kitchen without feeling financial pain. For the most inexpensive yet still dramatic make over, walls can be painted, cabinets can be refinished and the cabinet hardware can be changed to freshen the look. An entirely new kitchen is possible with Cabinet Refinishing by Kenneth C Lewis. Kitchen cabinets can be dressed up, revitalizing an older kitchen, or giving a newer kitchen the look and feel you dreamed of.

The next level, still less expensive than a total remodel, but effective and dramatic, you can upgrade your appliances within the same footprint, which saves the expense and hassle of moving plumbing and electrical lines. Even investing in one great feature such as a granite countertop, a deep freeze refrigerator, or a pro grade range can have a big impact. A nice and well done cosmetic upgrade will more than pay for itself at resale time. So if changing styles or wear and tear has you in need of a kitchen face lift, consider a less expensive kitchen makeover through cabinet refinishing.

We all have that family heirloom, or antique table that needs to be enhanced, refinished or repaired. A beautiful dresser that needs the laminate replaced or a gorgeous end table with a damaged pedestal leg; but who can you trust to care for and restore your prized furniture? These pieces of furniture are special to you because they are either sentimental, sturdy, or in some way irreplaceable. They need to be returned to you in as new condition, with no sign of where the repair was made.

Our furniture repair and restoration services have established a reputation amongst our customers for excellence that is unmatched in the Massachusetts and Rhode Island areas. We specialize in furniture and wood repair and furniture structural repair, precision repair of wood and laminate surfaces, refinishing and polishing, and color matching for antiques, specialty items, offices, libraries and entertainment centers.

The craftsmen at Kenneth C. Lewis can restore and enhance wood’s natural beauty and strength virtually erasing scuffs, gouges, water rings, and dents. Trust Cabinet Refinishing by Kenneth C Lewis to care for your family’s heirlooms, your costly office furnishings, or the furniture you love.  Our expertise is unsurpassed and our workmanship is guaranteed.  Contact us today.

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. 

It is important to prepare a budget for your kitchen remodeling plan before you start implementing it. Without a complete and detailed budget prepared before the kitchen renovation begins, you may get swept into a spending spiral of un-budgeted extras.

Limit spending on the kitchen remodeling to about 15-percent of your home's value.

The cost of appliances, countertops, cabinets, flooring, and so on, will add up to one-half to two-thirds of the total cost of remodeling. Find out the prices for these items and plug those figures into the budget. Similarly, make provisions for the cost of labor, design, contracting services, and permit fees.

Consider cabinet refinishing or refacing rather than purchasing brand new cabinets. This will dramatically cut down on the expense, but even better, it will dramatically cut down on the mess, stress, and length of time of the project. Cabinet refinishing is perfect if your cabinets are in good shape but they have an out of date look. Cabinet refacing is a great option when you have custom built cabinets that were well made, but perhaps have damaged or out of date fronts. The door and drawer fronts will be remade and replaced, entirely changing the look of your kitchen in much less time, for much less money and much less stress.

There are many reasons to consider a kitchen make-over. But there are many reasons that you can talk yourself out of one too.  But with Cabinet Refinishing from Kenneth Lewis, the decision is easier than you think.
 
Kenneth Lewis can help you with a face lift for your kitchen in less time for less money. Cabinet refinishing and refacing are options that many home owners forget to consider, or perhaps do not know about at all. Often times it is the cabinets in a kitchen that really are the game changer. With new kitchen cabinets, your kitchen would have all the attributes you are really looking for in a kitchen remodel. Many people do not need to take on the extra expense of new cabinets, and all the demolition and time that cabinet replacement entails.

Consider cabinet refacing or refinishing with Cabinet Refinishing by Kenneth Lewis. By refinishing your kitchen cabinets you will significantly increase the value of your home. And even better, Kenneth Lewis will spend only about 3-4 days in your home, which is a minimal interruption to your normal life. The doors and drawer fronts work is done at his facility, not in your home, using the most durable commercial grade lacquer on the market. He can also replace or repair damages to existing cabinets.
 
Consider getting your cabinet make-over by Cabinet Refinishing and reduce the time cost and stress of a traditional kitchen remodeling project.