Whether you are looking for a new home, or considering updating your kitchen, or simply thinking of ways to improve your current setup, read our suggestions below for design and planning ideas.

1. Eliminate Wasted Steps – Having all your essential items in one place with ease of access is the key here. Think about how and where you use your items. Are your dishes and flatware located near the sink for ease of access when unloading the dishwasher? Are your mugs near the coffeemaker? Simple reorganizations go a long way in overall kitchen functionality and user experience. 

•  Design Wide Walkways – Typically, paths throughout a kitchen should be at least 36 inches wide. Roads within the cooking zone should be 42 inches wide for a one-cook kitchen and 48 inches wide for a two-cook setup. If your current kitchen space has less than this because of islands or chairs, try to adjust your surroundings to gain a larger working space in essential areas.

• Direct Traffic – When considering layouts and appliance setup, think about how and where your traffic comes and goes. Try to keep the cooktop out of high traffic areas, so children do not catch handles and cause spills when running through. Position the refrigerator accessible to both the passerby and people working in cooking areas.

• Stay Clear of Corners – Planning for a cabinet or drawer’s clearance and swing will make them more functional and allow for more breathing room. Try to keep appliances away from corners, and make sure doors will not bang into each other if open at the same time.

• Optimizing Your Microwave Height – Typically, 15 inches above the countertop is the proper microwave height, although this varies depending on the chef or if you’re trying to be kid-friendly. If children are a factor, a below countertop layout may be safer and more appropriate.

• Determine the Island’s Function – In the case of kitchen islands, form follows function, and less is more. Ideally, just having one centerpiece (such as a vase or decorative bowl), is more than enough for décor. Keeping this space clear and open allows for an inviting atmosphere that your guests will feel comfortable in. On the contrary, when you have clutter on an island, it can make the entire kitchen seem cramped.

• Appropriate Landing Space – You should allow 14 inches of countertop on each side of a cooktop, microwave, and refrigerator. Having a landing space near the oven and other kitchen must-haves provides a temporary rest stop for items during prep.

• Double Up – A second microwave oven, a mini-refrigerator, or a refrigerator drawer placed at the edge of a kitchen work center helps to keep snackers out of the cook’s way. Add a countertop bar with stools for an after-school spot for the kids to snack and do homework.

• Arrange the Range – Placing a shelf beside or behind the cooktop range keeps cooking oils, utensils, and spices handy. Place S-hooks on the side of the range hood to hang regularly used items like pots and pans.

1. Fill it Up – Installing a swing-out tap, also known as a pot-filler, can solve the issue of lugging pots around. Or, you can install an extra-long hose attachment on your main faucet to fill pots.

These are just a few ways to make your kitchen more functional and comfortable to spend your time in. If you’re considering remodeling your kitchen, keep these tips in mind; you’ll be glad you did. For more ideas about remodeling your kitchen, click here. 

These days, most of us are finding that we have a lot more time on our hands as we stay at home due to COVID-19. The pandemic has locked most of us down, leaving people with not many choices to go out except to get groceries or to stop outside our favorite restaurant for curbside pickup.

For a lot of us, our home renovation plans have been put on hold as many businesses that we rely on have temporarily closed. However, there are many simple projects you can do around the house that can help you feel more productive and prepare you for larger renovation projects you have waiting this year.

This article lists out 7 simple home projects you can do during the COVID-19 lockdown, and we have broken them down for you below:

1) Painting

Painting is one of the simplest activities we can do to spruce up an area in our home. If you have enough paint cans lying around from the last project, it might be worth painting a fresh coat in that room you have been putting off. If you don’t have enough for a big paint project, you could always touch up certain areas that are wearing thin or have scuff issues.

2) Restoring Your Deck or Fence 

If you have a wooden deck or fence, you will know that these structures require regular maintenance to keep them in good shape every year. As the weather gets warmer, it’s always a good idea to spray or pressure wash your deck or fencing to remove the debris that gets embedded into the wood throughout the year. After your deck or fence is thoroughly cleaned and dried, you can add a fresh coat of paint or stain to make them pop for the summer.

3) Paint Your Front Door 

During these times, your front door probably isn’t getting the amount of traffic compared to the pre-pandemic world we are all used too. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t make it stand out. Giving your front door a fresh coat of red, white, or blue paint can make the front of your home stand out and turn heads in your neighborhood.

4) Pressure Wash Your Siding

Every spring, quarantined or not, you should pressure wash the siding of your home. Vinyl siding accumulates a lot of debris, including mildew, bird droppings, pollen, and dirt. If you don’t own a pressure washer, you can always rent one at a local power equipment rental company near you. This can do wonders to the outside appearance of your home and, in some cases, make your siding look brand new.

5) Put Up a New Kitchen Backsplash

Surprisingly enough, a lot of people already have new backsplash pieces in their homes, ready-to-be-installed, but have never started on the project. If you have your backsplash lying around in your home and haven’t had the time to install it yet, this could be a perfect time!

6) Reorganize Your Garage 

We all have put off reorganizing and cleaning the garage at some point. We shouldn’t have an excuse this time around! It’s time to clear out the clutter, put up shelving, and sweep the floors! You will be thrilled you finally did!

7) Update Your Bathroom and Kitchen Hardware

One of the benefits of being stuck safely at home is that we can now tackle projects that we’ve procrastinated on because of their tedious or time-consuming demands. Such can be the case with simple bathroom and kitchen hardware upgrades like replacing old knobs and handles on cabinets and drawers.

Some states consider home improvement stores an essential business, so walking in to get these simple items shouldn’t be a problem. However, if these businesses are closed, you can still order products online. Ordering online may help you to make better purchasing decisions as you can price compare, expand your options, and readily see customer reviews more easily.

Summary:

As a lot of us commute to work from the bed to the couch, we may find that we can’t wait to leave the house when this pandemic is finally over. However, before that time comes, let’s embrace our home fully and get going with those simple projects that can make being in our homes a little more exciting!

Homeowners looking to renovate their kitchens must consider not flow and function of the space over style to increase the value of their home.  Yes, style is important but a beautiful space that you can’t cook or entertain is basically storage.  Not all popular trends will translate into classics, so it is important to thoroughly research before any construction starts.  Don’t be in a hurry when renovating a space as important as your home’s kitchen or bath.  Take the time to meet with several contractors who specialize in kitchen design and renovation, (even though we know we will be your final pick).  This will give you a number of ideas to choose from as well as a feel for industry professionals.  For more on function over style check out this article by Realty Biz News, “Why It’s Important to Stress Functionality Over Style In Home Remodeling Projects”.  To schedule a consultation with a professional kitchen design contractor, contact the experts at JFC Remodeling today!  You can easily reach us at 810.923.1123 or via are website at https://www.jfcremodeling.com/