Shared Reading: Saving Money When Remodeling Your Kitchen

I still rent so I've never really thought about remodeling, but it can easily be expensive if you're not smart about it. The Consumerist has come up with an interesting article, How To Remodel A Kitchen That's Not Supposed To Fund Your Retirement, which gives you tips and ideas to save you time and money.

In addition to being expensive, huge kitchens can be exhausting to work in. There should be only about 4 to 9 feet of space between the sink and the refrigerator or between the sink and the stove, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association. Islands should be only 3 to 4 feet deep and 3 to 10 feet wide and have a 42-inch-wide aisle between the island and surrounding cabinets. Anything bigger can be hard to use and clean.

I would have never thought about the cleaning aspect. I also like the recommended distances from appliances. When you have to carry stuff across a large space there is more risk of spills.

But don't settle for a cheap option, promising yourself that someday you'll replace it with what you really want.

Spend the money once and get what you really want. Promising to upgrade later just makes it cost more. You'll not only have to pay for new materials but also the labor to reinstall. If you really want a more expensive option, talk with the contractors and look into promotions at your local stores.

Changing their minds after the work got started typically added about $1,500 to the cost of a kitchen project, according to almost 3,000 readers we surveyed about the hidden costs of remodeling.

This is my favorite tip from the article because that's a lot of money to throw away because you rushed into a project.


Check out the full article at The Consumerist