There is an old adage when remodeling for resale, "Follow the water." This meant that if you wanted to get a high price for your renovation you went straight for the kitchen and bathrooms because they were not only the return for the buck but were instrumental in making the sale.

However, kitchen remodeling for the homeowner's pleasure means building a functional place for food preparation only with a designer's flare. Many of the items that would pique the interest of a homeowner, like a pot filler over the stove, would be overlooked by the home seller who just wants to add enough sparkle to seal the deal.

What to Remodel

When choosing the style of the kitchen it is important to decide what you want to see in the space. Because unless something comes up out of the blue, like a job transfer or winning the lottery, the chances are you will be staying in the home for a while. Therefore make sure that you have what you want in the kitchen without personalizing it too much. We all know what happened with olive greens in the late 1970's.

Cabinets

Not only are they storage spaces for all the condiments, dinnerware and utensils but cabinets are the fashion statement for the home. In other words they take up the largest amount of space in the kitchen and are the first thing a person sees when walking into the area. Look at it this way: If the countertops are a terrible color or are scratched they will not show up that badly. And if they do then a buyer will keep a note to say that they can be replaced. It may cost some money but in most cases countertops can switched out ion an afternoon. However, if the cabinets are hideous then the kitchen is hideous because cabinets are the essential building blocks for the kitchen and replacing them is a big chore.

The modern trends toward cabinets point to furniture-style cupboards with ornate trim but other parts, like the island, can be a different style and even a different color. This is the rural Mediterranean design. Whatever the style they have to be functional and set up in the "golden triangle" where the user can reach the fridge, stove and sink in an easy motion.

Countertops

If the cabinets are the design statement for the kitchen then the countertops are the icing on the cake. But unlike cake topping the countertops are actually the hardest working part of the kitchen. Whether it be cutting, slicing or kneading it will most likely be done on the countertops so these surfaces have to be able to take the wearing of everyday life as well as looking incredible.

Laminate: Most countertops are laminate, meaning that they are a photo of a design embossed onto a cardboard material and embossed with epoxy. These are amazingly hardy surfaces which can come in a myriad of colors and designs. The heavier versions are almost as tough as any surface out there and they require almost no maintenance except cleaning.

Composite Stone: These are incredible counters incorporating stone dust in an acrylic base for a stain-proof, waterproof and tough surface. They usually put a thin layer on the existing counter or will make a new base for it. But it is less than 1/2" thick.

Composite Plastic: This material is made from composite plastics with the same design all the way through. If it is damaged the area can be sanded. This product is also waterproof and stain-proof.

Natural Stone: Granite, marble, travertine and soapstone. Granite is the toughest but all have to be sealed against staining. This is very popular and expensive.

Concrete: A relative newcomer to the countertop arena this is a high-end product that is custom-made for each décor and can be made on site. This makes it very expensive.

Others: There is the commercial look of stainless-steel, the timeless look of copper and the beauty of walnut. These are but a few of the choices for a on-of-kind kitchen.

Sinks

One of the most overlooked fixtures is the kitchen sink. The new deep-dish sinks can accommodate pots and other large dishwares and the restaurant-style pot scrubber wand makes a great addition for pre-washing dishes. Most sinks are stainless-steel but composite sinks are popular and can come in many colors and designs. These are popular with the under-the-countertop styles. The old "farmer's sink," or apron sink, is also making a comeback and is available in many materials.

Flooring

Most kitchen floors are vinyl because they are easy to clean and cheap to put in but other materials are making inroads. One of these is tile because it can bring a kitchen to life with its many designs and sizes. The surface, however, is hard and older people tend to want a softer substance underfoot like cork. However, it is important to use a waterproof flooring as there are many spills to think about. In-floor heating, whether eletric or hydronic, is also a consideration and is very cost-effective to run.

Hardware

The hardware choices have almost doubled during the past few years and feature such improvements as self-closing drawers, new garbage and recycle bins, wine storage, pot fillers and a myriad of drawer organizers. As for pulls and knobs these choices are also huge but the brushed-metal variety are still leading the way. Lighting The under-the-cabinet lighting options are very popular and are not that expensive. As well, cupboard lights that go on when the door is opened – like a fridge – are also up-and-comers. As far as main lighting the ornate light fixtures are making a comeback as a wash for the more studious lights which zoom in on the workstations.

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