Everything You Need to Know About Our Kitchen Refresh Service
Considering a kitchen refresh or full remodel and not sure which is right for you?
We consult with many clients who are facing the same dilemma: do I remodel my kitchen or refresh it without remodeling…
First, let’s clarify the difference between a kitchen refresh and remodel. A kitchen remodel will typically start by removing everything existing in the kitchen. A remodel might include reconfiguring the layout, removing walls, relocating plumbing, gas lines or electrical. Everything we install will be new with few exceptions.
In contrast, a kitchen refresh is primarily cosmetic and can be much less invasive. Your cabinetry and the location of your plumbing and major appliances will most often remain. A refresh can be very basic or we can modify nearly every element in the kitchen for a complete transformation.
The choices you make when updating your kitchen are critical, especially when budget and home value are both a top priority. I was faced with this decision for my own home. Ultimately I decided on a kitchen refresh, and here’s why:
Budget - When we purchased our home it was in a new development, so we had the opportunity to choose the lot and floorplan we wanted. I was in love with the home's open-concept layout and the neighborhood. But the finish options were limited. The kitchen finishes were an upgrade from where we lived previously, but far from what I envisioned for my dream kitchen. Because this was a new home it was hard to digest the cost of a full remodel.
Layout - The layout of my kitchen is very functional. We have a large island that's open to our family room. The appliances needed to be upgraded but their location and sizes worked well for us.
Cabinetry - The interior of our cabinets were in good condition, but after just the first year of living in our home, durability became an issue. The cabinet doors were cheaply made, so they became worn and chipped. The face of our island was finished with drywall, which was not at all practical. We had to paint it constantly, and it always looked dirty. The granite countertops were so busy they camouflaged any dirt or crumbs, making cleaning very difficult.
Time - Sometimes even more daunting than cost is the time it can take to renovate a kitchen. I know it's hard to imagine your busy family functioning without a place to cook and prepare meals for multiple months. It definitely was for me!
A kitchen refresh was able to solve all of these issues for us. In addition to new plumbing fixtures and a new backsplash, we added paneling to the face of our existing island, installed new quartz countertops with a waterfall edge, for a more clean, modern look - and added durability. We removed a section of our upper cabinets and replaced them with solid oak floating shelves and added installed pendant lights above our island. We were able to make significant changes, by utilizing our existing footprint and cabinetry.
How Our Kitchen Refresh Service Started
When I first ventured out on my own to start my business, I had many requests for kitchen updates. And like mine, many of these kitchens just needed a refresh, not a full remodel. Some cabinets just needed professional painting, while others required new doors or complete re-facing. And usually, the basic “off the shelf” kitchen island needed a lot of love.
I was excited to take these projects on, but I needed to find a skilled carpenter to help execute my designs. Not just any carpenter would do; I needed to find one that paid particular attention to detail and had an eye for design. This turned out to be more difficult than I ever expected. Then a mutual friend introduced me to Casey Pray. Casey is a very experienced carpenter with a background in building custom homes and high-end remodels. So, of course I convinced him to work on a kitchen refresh project with me.
Casey and I were able to collaborate on design ideas and come up with creative solutions. Our clients were blown away at how smoothly the process went from start to finish, and they couldn't believe how much of an impact we made by utilizing their existing cabinetry. And it took only 3 weeks to complete construction!
We ended up doing three more kitchens in that same neighborhood.
Investing in Quality Craftsmanship
The choice to remodel or refresh your kitchen is often a decision based on time and budget. Our baseline for a kitchen refresh can start at $25k, and a typical kitchen remodel can start at $75k and go up in cost from there. A kitchen refresh may only take two or three weeks, while a full remodel can take months. (A refresh can be an excellent option if you are planning to list your home and want to add resale value quickly).
Quality should also be a top priority when investing in your kitchen. When choosing to customize your existing cabinetry instead of replacing it, you will need to hire a skilled finish carpenter. A good finish carpenter can make your builder-grade cabinets appear as if they were custom built. By contrast, if your refresh looks like a DIY project it can actually impair the value of your home. A good finish carpenter will use durable materials to add custom details such as a refrigerator niche or extending your existing cabinet to the ceiling. A skilled carpenter will know how to transition materials from old to new without anyone knowing the difference.
At Design to Elevate, we make quality a priority by partnering with skilled tradespeople to execute our kitchen refresh projects.
Our Kitchen Refresh Service
For our full-service kitchen refresh projects, we work with our clients to develop a custom design concept, specific to your needs, style and budget. We then present design options for your review and approval. We love helping homeowners visualize their space and presenting them with creative design solutions. Once the design is approved, we work closely with our team to ensure the design intent is carried through from start to finish.
With our combined expertise we can offer our clients quality design and quality craftsmanship wrapped up in one service package. We handle everything for you, and it doesn't have to cost a fortune.
How It Works
We begin every kitchen project with a Kitchen Design Consultation.
During the consultation, we will…
Assess the layout and function of your kitchen
Brainstorm design ideas and discuss possible solutions
Discuss your style preferences and make material/finish recommendations
Review budgetary cost comparisons and potential construction timelines
After a detailed assessment of your needs, style, and budget, we recommend a refresh or a full remodel. If your kitchen lacks function and proper flow, and your budget allows, a full remodel may be in order. Either way, we follow our step-by-step process, so you will always know what to expect next.
Get our complimentary Kitchen Refresh Guide to learn more about our design process and important budget considerations for your kitchen project.
Kitchen Refresh in Action
Check out these before and after photos of a kitchen refresh project we recently completed.
For this project, we utilized the existing cabinet boxes and replaced the builder-grade cabinet doors, creating a completely custom look. We added unique features like enclosing the refrigerator, extending the upper cabinets to the ceiling, new crown molding, and a durable hardwood end panels.
We also modified the existing kitchen island by expanding the countertop, making it more functional and creating custom end supports and paneling for a classic, modern aesthetic. We completed the space with custom paint colors in a durable cabinet-grade finish, making the cabinetry easier to clean and able to sustain the wear and tear of daily routines.
I love this transformation because we made a massive impact quickly, for a very reasonable budget! And the homeowner couldn't be happier with the entire experience. This is why we love what we do!
Dreaming of transforming your dated kitchen without the time and expense of a major remodel?
If your kitchen has a functional layout, we can utilize your existing cabinetry and give your kitchen a complete refresh without the time and expense involved in a significant renovation. By modifying your existing cabinetry and updating the finishes and fixtures in your kitchen with durable quality materials, we can transform your outdated kitchen into the kitchen of your dreams.
Whether you have a large budget or a modest budget, we make it a priority to help you invest wisely. We love helping homeowners transform their kitchens into beautiful and functional spaces that will be enjoyed for years to come. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing the look on our client's faces when they walk into their beautiful new kitchen for the first time!
Looking for more kitchen refresh ideas, get our complimentary Kitchen Refresh Guide.
Have a question about this service? Ready to begin? Contact us, and let's get the party started!
See you soon,
Reanna
