One of the biggest questions we get asked is if a given kitchen needs a full renovation, or just to be updated with improvements here or there. Obviously, every situation is different and the best way to figure out what your kitchen needs is to contact the experts here at Parada Kitchens. That being said, there are some useful rules of thumb you can use to evaluate your kitchen and help design your plan going forward – start from scratch, or fix what’s there?
Renovations
If you’re renovating your kitchen, you’re essentially ripping everything out and starting over. That’s a major commitment, and it’s understandable that people would want to make sure it was necessary before embarking on that sort of project. Obviously, if your kitchen is actively falling apart – cabinets breaking, surfaces cracking and things of that nature – stripping it down and starting over is the best course of action.
Renovations are also recommended if your kitchen layout is difficult to work in – no amount of fresh paint and new surfaces can affect the actual physical positioning of objects in your kitchen. If the style doesn’t match the rest of your home’s décor, it’s also best to renovate from scratch – you’ll be replacing so much anyway that it just makes more sense, in terms of time, money and design space, to start from the ground up.
Updates
If you have one particular problem area – say, old countertops – but the rest of your kitchen is working just fine, that’s a prime case for updating. There’s no need to replace parts of your kitchen that are still in good condition and work well with your workflow. The scope of the problem is the biggest factor in deciding whether to renovate or update.
There are, however, times when you can settle for an update, even though a full renovation might be better. The first is cost. Renovations take time and money, and those are both difficult commodities to come by at times. A fresh coat of paint or similar small updates can help make things better while you save up for the big dream kitchen you’ve always wanted. There’s no reason to go into a renovation already compromising what you want – if you’re going to tackle a big project like that, you may as well get it right. The second big reason to settle for an update is if you’re sprucing up your kitchen in order to sell your home. You’ll want to save your resources to help make sure your new home is perfect for you, while keeping your current upkeep focused on the goal of selling your home.