wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright 2015 Kathleen Jennison Inc | Not for resale or distribution

How to Make Kitchen

Remodeling Choices

Yoursquoll Never Regret

2

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

C o p y r i g h t L e g a l N o t i c e a n d D i s c l a i m e rThis publication is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable

international federal state and local laws and all rights are reserved including resale

rights you are not allowed to give or sell this Guide to anyone else If you received this

publication from anyone other than kathleenjennisoncom youve received a pirated copy

Please contact me via e-mail at kathleenkathleenjennisoncom and notify me of the

situation

Please note that much of this publication is based on personal experience and anecdotal

evidence Although the author and publisher have made every reasonable attempt to

achieve complete accuracy of the content in this Guide they assume no responsibility

for errors or omissions Also you should use this information as you see fit and at your

own risk Your particular situation may not be exactly suited to the examples illustrated

here in fact its likely that they wont be the same and you should adjust your use of the

information and recommendations accordingly

Any trademarks service marks product names or named features are assumed to be the

property of their respective owners and are used only for reference There is no implied

endorsement if we use one of these terms

We recommend that you do your due diligence about each product as we have You are

welcome to go directly to the vendor too Any product or service liability questions or

issues should be directed to the vendor listed We assume no liability directly or indirectly

for the listed items

Finally use your head Nothing in this Guide is intended to replace common sense legal

medical or other professional advice and is meant to inform and entertain the reader

Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co All rights reserved worldwide

3

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

P a r t O n e

Does the current lay-out of your kitchen work just fine but the finishes are like a re-run of

ldquoThat 70rsquos Showrdquo

Or do you want to completely rejigger the whole dang kitchen

To make sure you will love your new kitchen design you need to ask yourself a few

important questions and then you need to figure out what style of kitchen you have or what

style of kitchen will work best for you

4

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

This is your starting point when you decide to remodel your kitchen If you want to keep the same

footprint it is important to determine which type of layout you have so you can cull out my tips for

getting the best retrofit But if you want to scrape the whole dang kitchen then knowing how you

use your kitchen is where you go next

We have a long design questionnaire new clients complete It helps us figure out how you use

your kitchen and it helps you take stock of what you have what works and what needs to change

Here are a few of the most important questions

1 How many cooks are in your kitchen at the same time If there is more than one cook then

it is important to have multiple work zones

2 How do you prepare meals If you use every single pot pan and utensil then you need

more robust appliances but if you simply tear open a box and plop it in the microwave then that

expensive commercial type range will be a waste

3 How do you shop If you buy in bulk then you need more storage

4 Do you entertain a lot Then your kitchen probably becomes the central gathering place

and you need lots of space for the ldquoobserversrdquo to sit watch and converse

A L i t t l e N o t e A b o u t ndash T h e D r e a d e d W o r k T r i a n g l e ( d u n d u n d u n )

There are three magic points in the kitchen ndash

The sink refrigerator and stoveoven To be

the most efficient you donrsquot want any point

from one to the next to be more than 9 feet

(and the total between all to be no more than

26 feet) There are lots of other rules of thumb

when it comes to the design of your kitchen

(but this is the big one) In fact there are so

many rules entire books (some of which are

in my library) are dedicated to the topic The

reason I say ldquodreaded work trianglerdquo is because

in large kitchens or open concept kitchens it is

sometimes difficult to obtain

5

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

T h e T o p T h r e e K i t c h e n L a y o u t s t h a t W o r k t h e B e s t

T h e G a l l e y K i t c h e n The Galley Kitchen has two straight runs

on each side The sink is on one side and

the cooktop or range is on the other side

The drawback to this space is that it is often

difficult with two or more cooks to work

because of the one way traffic pattern but

if you make sure there is 42- 48 inches

between the two runs two cooks can easily

maneuver past each other In fact it is an

extremely effective layout if you have one

prep cook at the sink wall and the chef on

the range wall working in tandem with

each other Alternatively you can have a

single wall or ldquostraight kitchenrdquo and an island

opposite it This opens up the kitchen to the

adjacent family room

6

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

L - S h a p e d K i t c h e n The L-Shaped Kitchen has a continuous long

wall of cabinets generally with the range

and refrigerator on one side and a shorter

wall of cabinets with the sink adjacent to it

(making an L) An L-Shaped kitchens offers

more privacy if say you are a cook who

doesnrsquot want too many people under your

feet because traffic flow is forced out of the

kitchen But you can add an island if you

want the kids or guest to sit and interact

with you And if you add another sink in the

island you will have another prepwork

counter

U - S h a p e d K i t c h e n The U-Shaped Kitchen is three walls of

continuous cabinets (making a U) It is the

most versatile layout and has the most

storage capacity Also it is great for more

than one cook because you can have

separate ldquozonesrdquo for multiple cooks to work

without stumbling over each other This

type of kitchen offers the greatest amount

of cabinets although you should have lazy

susans at each blind corner for easy access

Plunking an island in the middle adds even

more versatility and creates a nice ldquohubrdquo of

the home

7

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

P a r t T w o

Do you know your kitchen style Maybe Maybe not Letrsquos do this little exercise to capture

your design style You need to create an inspiration file Tear out images from magazines or

go to Pinterest and create a new board Pin every kitchen that sparks your interest Another

good way to get inspiration is on Houzzcom where you can begin a Kitchen Ideabook

At first just add anything and everything thing that makes you stop and look Then find

common elements in them and move those into separate folders or boards Go over the

8

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

new organized filesboards and cull out images you lost interest in and narrow it down to

five photos that really speak to you What is common in all of them That is your style

Give it a name (any name that describes the look to you) and make it your own style

Here are a few examples

Art Deco

Hollywood Glam

Urban Industrial

Asian Zen

Nostalgic Mid-Century

Seaside Retreat

French Villa

Rustic Mediterranean

Elegant Country

Boho Chic

Naturally Neutral

Simply Sophisticated

Vintage Chic

Tuscan Warmth

Cozy Modern

Make of list of the three top adjectives that describes for your style Pick three dominate

colors Then make a style guide that lists the elements you like (cabinets lighting

appliances flooring colors tile and layout) Use this list to keep you focused and on track

as you create your kitchen design

9

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

T h r e e K i t c h e n S t y l e s a n d W h y T h e y W o r k

Modern is all about white walls and clean

simple lines This white on white on white

kitchen with contemporary touches makes

it cozy and modern all at once Incorporate

industrial components with restaurantrsquoish

appliances like a large stainless steel range

and hood two 30rdquo glass door refrigerators

and a pot-scrubber type faucet Continue

the industrial feel with metal barstools

Tuck the drawer microwave into the island

to maximize those thick white quartz

countertops to continue the simple lines

Use floor to ceiling subway tiles for a classic

vibe Offset all the cool and sleek finishes

with warm hand scraped honey colored

luxurious floor planks And as always add

a funky chandelier that is sure to spark

conversation

K i t c h e n S t y l e C o z y M o d e r n

10

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

11

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

K i t c h e n S t y l e U r b a n I n d u s t r i a lIs it a kitchen or laboratory Essential

elements in this kitchen are oiled soapstone

counters atop white shaker style cabinets

Black and white nuances like tiny mosaic tiles

black handsome cabinet pulls and bulbous

glass pendants with school house charm

are reminiscent of high school science class

Ceramic wood-like plank tiles and wood

and metal stools bring a muscular utilitarian

vibe into an energetic space Leave some

of the upper cabinets with open shelving to

display your shiny glassware and continue the

industrial character Want to push your design

over the edge ndash Add a piece of artwork of a

frog (not dissected of course)

T h r e e K i t c h e n S t y l e s a n d W h y T h e y W o r k

12

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

13

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

Mix up the metals in a vintage kitchen

making it feel refined yet oh so sumptuous

Matte black appliances with steel and

gold accents coordinate perfectly with oil

rubbed bronze plumbing fixtures Use basic

sophisticated hues in your color palette

and bits of warm wood to balance out all

the metals Painted raised panel cabinets

with a bronze glaze amps up the vintage

feel Backsplash tiles in glass and metallic

sporting a geometric pattern provides that

bit of an edgy modern moment your kitchen

style needs Keep the quartz countertop

and ceramic tile floor simple and let all the

metal from the appliances all the way to

the black and cooper pendant do the heavy

lifting in our Vintage Chic kitchen style

K i t c h e n S t y l e V i n t a g e C h i c

T h r e e K i t c h e n S t y l e s a n d W h y T h e y W o r k

14

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

15

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

P a r t T h r e e

Cabinets set the style of the kitchen and are undoubtedly your biggest investment when it

comes to a kitchen remodel But countertops while about fourth on the list in terms of cost

is the one area that you can make a kitchen your own in relation to style and functionality

First and foremost you need to pick a material that fits your life-style and your family

You may love butcher block but are you really prepared to commit to the time it takes to

16

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

maintain it And of course marble just screams luxury but do you want the patina (that

is the stains scratches pitting etc) look it will eventually have Stainless steel is another

option but it will scratch and dull Or maybe you love those looks in fact in Europe the

aged look of these materials is desired and considered beautiful so if you are going with

a French Villa Tuscan Warmth or Rustic Mediterranean style than maybe you want them

These are all considerations you need to weigh up when picking your best countertop

options

C l a s s i c C o u n t e r C h o i c e s f o r t h e B e s t K i t c h e n C o u n t e r t o p O p t i o n s

Butcher block One counter in my kitchen

is butcher block My house was built in 1952

and the counter is original to the house

When we bought our house the butcher

block had been covered with some weird

shellac I simply sanded all that off and

applied a layer of Tung Oil This counter

looks warm and inviting Sure it gets stained

but eventually the stains evaporate out and

I clean it each week with food grade mineral

oil and I adore this classic countertop

material Would I suggest having all your

tops butcher block ndash no But in one small

area or just on a small island it adds a nice

natural touch making your kitchen feel

nostalgic

A large slab seamless counter top together with a backsplash of exquisite tiles is now the

norm in kitchen design Letrsquos breakdown the pros and cons of each counter top material

choice so you can figure out your best countertop options

image courtesy J Aaron Wood Countertops

17

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

Stainless Steel This material is shiny sleek

and easy to clean If you are looking for an

Urban Industrial or Cozy Modern style this is

a good bet But if you want it to look brand

spanking new forevarsquo ndash forget lsquobout it It will

scratch and dull but that is what I like about

it This ldquopatinardquo gives it an authentic feel

because it should look well used Scrub it

down with a non-abrasive cleaner like Bar

Keeperrsquos Friend to keep it clean and looking

its best image courtesy Brooks Custom

Soapstone Considered the original this

truly authentic countertop material has

been used in kitchens since the dawn of

kitchens It is very soft so it is easy to work

with It will scratch easily but since it is so

soft scratches are can be buffed out with a

simple Brillo pad You can leave it natural

or apply mineral oil to darken it The neat

thing about soapstone is its temperature

conductivity So when you lsquore installing

your countertop take the remnants and

make some small cubes put them in the

freezer and use them to chill your cocktails

(hence the name Whiskey Stones) If you

determined your style is English Charm

then a nice Soapstone top would be ideal

image courtesy Premier Surfaces

18

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

Marble Not considered an ideal material

for the kitchen marble is often installed in

kitchens The acid properties of food does

not play well with marble (but the alkaline

products used in bathrooms are compatible

with marble) so you will have stains etching

pitting and the like But if you really MUST

have marble just be prepared to have lots

of maintenance or be willing to live with

the inevitable patina Or how about this

use marble on the backsplash to get that

Luxurious Classic style you dream of

Quartz Composite Becoming the work

horse for kitchen countertops quartz is non-

porous antimicrobial and will withstand

a lot of abuse I like the plain ole white

quartz tops with little detail They look

clean simple and will stand the test of

time This material is best suited for a more

modern look But quartz comes in many

colors and patterns and you could just

about find anything to go with any style If

you have a highly grained wood cabinet or

highly intricate mosaic tile backsplash a

plain quartz top is the perfect countertop

to balance all those other textures and

patterns

image courtesy New England Granite

image courtesy Dahl Homes

19

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

image courtesy California Granite amp Marble

Granite When most people want a solid-

surface top they say they want ldquoa granite

countertoprdquo as it has become generic for

solid surface tops Granite comes in many

many colors and patterns The thing I donrsquot

like about it is the busyness When the

crumbs blend in with the countertop it

bugs me Also the upkeep It is much more

porous than quartz and requires semi-

annually sealing You can read about how I

really feel about granite here

O n e M a t e r i a l o r T w o f o r B e s t K i t c h e n C o u n t e r t o p s O p t i o n sVery trendy and very nice looking is varying materials on different surfaces Maybe the

island is stainless steel and the rest of the tops are quartz Or what if one counter is darker

and the other lighter I especially like it when one small area is butcher block or marble

image courtesy Allied Stone

20

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

Have you been wanting to remodel your kitchen but it seems like there are too many

decisions to make

Do all these choices put you over the top (countertop that is) and have you throwing in the

towel

Let the designers at KTJ Design Co help you figure it out Ya know we are really good in

the kitchen Check out our Your Kitchen A Love Story package and get the kitchen of your

dreams without all the nightmares

21

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

P a r t F o u r

Sinks and faucets donrsquot seem too complicated I mean it is just a bowl that holds water that

comes from that spigot right Well not exactly If yoursquove ever tried to keep a sink stain free

or wash a big pot you know some kitchen sinks and faucets are more ideal than others

So what makes a kitchen sink and faucet ideal for you Whatever you pick it should be

comfortable and functional

Here are designer approved sink and faucet styles and why you should get them for your

dream kitchen remodel

22

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

C h o o s i n g a K i t c h e n S i n k When does a bowl count

First and foremost think about functionality

when choosing a kitchen sink Do you

want a single basin or double basin (or

more) As most people donrsquot wash dishes

by hand anymore but still hand wash pots

and pans a single basin will work better

and look sleeker But what if you still want

some separation for dirty dishes and food

prep Then consider choosing a kitchen

sink with a divider that is half the height of

the bowl This will still give you the added

ease of washing those big pots but also the

separation for keeping cooties out of your

food

Do you prefer the top or bottom

Sinks can be dropped onto a countertop

(top-mount) or installed underneath the

counter (under-mount) At KTJ Design Co

we always try to under-mount sinks because

it is cleaner and makes your counter look

more seamless especially with solid surface

countertops But top-mounted sinks might

be your only option if you want an apron or

farm style sink

Cast Iron Stainless Steel or Sill Quartz

I like a stainless steel sink ndash there I said it

The common complaint about stainless

Kohler Langlade

Elkay e-Granite

23

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

steel is that it scratches and is noisy First

you need to be mindful of the gauge and

want at least a 16 to 18 gauge stainless steel

sink It will not sound hollow and be easy

to clean When it scratches just scrub it

up with Bar Keepers Friend non-abrasive

cleanser and you are good to go

My next favorite is a quartz kitchen sink

Quartz sinks are stain resistant scratch

resistant hygienic and extremely durable

Made of a composite of quartz and acrylic

the slip is molded so the color is all the way

through the sink

Porcelain enameled cast iron sinks are what

come to mind when we think of kitchen

sinks Porcelain sinks have an appealing

finish and less prone to water spots The

downside is that porcelain sinks can chip

rust and stain Donrsquot make the mistake of

getting a porcelain steel sink ndash there is a big

difference

No matter what sink you choose ndash donrsquot use

abrasive cleansers on them ever

Choosing a Kitchen Faucet Single lever pull-down hands free

A modern kitchen should have a modern

faucet A traditional sink can have a more

ornate faucet (you donrsquot have to go all

Victorian unless you live in a Victorian

Restoration) or a sleek faucet would look

just as nice in a traditional setting You

could go bonkers trying to pick just the right Delta Fuse

Moen 1800 Series

24

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

faucet but letrsquos break down the important

things when it comes to a kitchen faucet

You want to keep your counter as clean and

uncluttered as possible and the best way to

do this is with a single lever faucet

Pull-down spray faucets are best because

they generally have a long neck and

multiple spray options Heck you can even

get one that is hands-free (you still have

to wash the dishes but you just wave your

hand in front of the faucet and it comes on)

Do you want to be way cool Pick a wall-

mount faucet for an even more clutter-

free deck (thatrsquos the plumber lingo for the

countertop) and I think it looks way cool

Wall mount faucets are a little harder to find

and the choices are limited (and oh ya ndash

more expensive) This Dornbracht faucet is

super modern and sleek (I bet none of your

neighbors would have this)

Or if you want to have a really unique

faucet (and not be like all your friends) in a

traditional setting consider a bridge faucet

It is a fresh interpretation of a vintage faucet

and it has a really long spout ndash great for

filling and washing those big pots (It seems

like I have a thing for big pots) The Artesso

from Brizo looks great in a country kitchen

with an apron sink

Brizo Artesso

Dornbracht Meta02

25

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

John just bought his first house and it is a disaster He needs to remodel just about

everything but the kitchen is on the top of the list Since John just blew most of his savings

on buying this house his budget is tight He has about $25000 to remodel his kitchen

P a r t F i v e

26

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

What are the best kitchen appliances for John

Joan on the other hand has lived in her house for centuries the kids are moving out her

Mom is moving in and she wants to remodel the kitchen Since Joan just finished paying

for double college tuitions her budget has loosened up (high-five Joan) She has about

$75000 to remodel her kitchen

What are the best kitchen appliances for Joan

Judy is moving into her dream house but it needs to be updated The kitchen hasnrsquot been

touched since 1970 and she wants to remodel like yesterday She has about $150000 to

remodel her kitchen

What are the best kitchen appliances for Judy

Best Kitchen Appliances Budget

New appliances will use up about 20 of your total kitchen remodel budget

Johnrsquos appliance budget ndash $5000

Joanrsquos appliance budget ndash $15000

Judyrsquos appliance budget ndash $30000

Ok ndash thatrsquos it wersquore done NOT

Sure we identified the first step in picking out appliances (setting the budget) but there are

so many other choices

Best Kitchen Appliances Type

The next question you have to ask yourself is HOW you use the kitchen When it comes to

your kitchen appliances ask yourself ndash What type of cook are am I

bull Do you cook every day

bull Do you like to bake

bull Do you consider yourself the Next Top Chef

bull Is the microwave your best friend

It doesnrsquot make sense to buy a top of the line cooktop if you mostly eat out and mainly use

27

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

the microwave

But if you like to bake (a lot) then maybe having a double oven makes sense to you Or

what if your house is party central every Saturday night (That is Johnrsquos hope anyway) then

maybe an ice maker is top priority

When we design kitchens we always ask you to fill out an extensive questionnaire that pin

points how you use your kitchen and that way we pick the best kitchen appliances just for

you

Here is what we would pick for John Joan and Judy

B e s t K i t c h e n A p p l i a n c e s f o r H o w Y o u U s e Y o u r K i t c h e nJohnrsquos Appliance Package is from Frigidaire and is the best kitchen appliances for his

budget John will most likely only cook on the weekends so when working on a budget

a slide in range is your best bet but we were able to get him a gas range which will make

him be way cool with the ladies Also this mircovent combination is another feature to

stretch your budget John couldnrsquot afford an ice machine in his budget but we could add an

in-door ice dispenser on the frig

28

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

Joanrsquos Appliance Package is from Viking Joan wants something different from all her

neighbors so we picked this great graphic gray finish for her It is smudge resistant and

will look great as a contrast against her new white quartz countertops An under-counter

microwave will tuck into the end of the island which will be easier for Mom to access

Joan bakes when she is stressed out so she needs lots of robust ovens She remembers

her Grandmother had a freezer on the bottom of her refrigerator Joan loved to sneak out

popsicles when she was a kid and this refrigerator makes Joan fell happy

B e s t K i t c h e n A p p l i a n c e s f o r H o w Y o u U s e Y o u r K i t c h e nB e s t K i t c h e n A p p l i a n c e s f o r H o w Y o u U s e Y o u r K i t c h e n

29

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

Judyrsquos Appliance Package is from Thermador Judy wants a thoroughly modern and robust

kitchen She cooks every day so the 48Prime gas range with a griddle and grill is right up her

ally Her youngest daughter loves to bake and has even won some local contests with her

special cupcakes so lots of ovens are a must Then of course there are all the holidays that

Judy always hosts for all her family and this workhorse of a kitchen will be perfect

B e s t K i t c h e n A p p l i a n c e s f o r H o w Y o u U s e Y o u r K i t c h e n

30

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

During a normal consultation that we do everyday we met up with Cindy who wanted to

remodel her kitchen The first thing we do for any remodel consultation is tour the entire

house to get a feel for the surroundings I notice right away in the entry is 12Prime x 12Prime field tiles

living room is carpet the kitchen is sheet vinyl the hall and office is wood laminate hall

bath is 6Prime x 6Prime ceramic tiles the spare bedroom is a different carpet master bedroom is yet

again another carpet and master bathroom is a different tile Now Cindy darling that is just

P a r t S i x

31

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

way too many different flooring materials I felt like I was walking on a flooring quilt with the

eight different floor finishes And well now that I think about it it was a flooring quilt

A FLOORING QUILT ndash You donrsquot want a flooring quilt

I guess my point here is when wersquore talking about kitchen flooring consider the whole

house when thinking about kitchen flooring ideas Realistically you shouldnrsquot have more

than three different flooring materials in your whole house In fact in my designer mind one

or two floor materials is ideal You need a plan my friend ndash like a master plan

CERAMIC TILE

Have you ever dropped a cup or dish on

a tiled kitchen floor Yeah- it was a big

disaster right First of all the cup shatters

into a million shards and then the damn

ceramic tile chips or cracks Oh and what

follows next ndash yup the cursing oh butt loads

of cursing (and screaming) Ceramic tile has

been the standard for kitchen flooring ideas

and a new trend is plank tile that mimics

wood It looks real nice and we like this one

from Emser Tile Just make sure you have

a tile installer that knows how to install tile

with the proper coupling membrane so you

donrsquot have problems in the future And if

you are more comfortable in the box then

this is a good choice for you But hello and

hay that trend is already wearing me down

Guess what

There is good news ndash there are SOOOO

many other choices

32

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

POLISHED CONCRETE

This is the way of future folks My partner

in crime Jenco Companies is polishing

concrete floors faster than Wylie Coyote can

rig a bomb for the Road Runner This kitchen

has a white concrete overlayment with stone

aggregate Then it is polished to a shine so

glossy you can see your reflection And talk

about durable and easy to maintain oh ya

LINOLEUM

Remember that hallway floor at your high

school That was linoleum What is so fun

about this kitchen flooring idea is that it is

totally natural durable nontoxic and low-

maintenance And this kitchen flooring

idea comes in so many fun colors and

possibilities We like marmoleum from

Forbo If you have any type of chemical

sensitivities this is for you

33

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

WOOD

When it comes to kitchen flooring ideas

hardwood or engineered hardwood is

definitely an option especially in a great

room situation where the living room and

kitchen are essentially one room We

finished the entire first floor of this house

with a hand scraped engineered hardwood

floor The unique thing about engineered

hardwood is it is actually stronger and more

durable the solid hardwood And if you pick

a hand scraped look its distinct appearance

is similar to the old worn look of farmhouse

floors or European rustic estates No need

to worry about the kids or pets this mishap

is already baked into the floor Just make

sure you donrsquot get fooled and get a wood

laminate (notice it isnrsquot even on my list This

stuff is bad news)

LUXURY VINYL TILES

A better alternative to get the wood look

without the headache of wood floors

getting damaged or ceramic wood-look

planks cracking or chipping is Luxury Vinyl

Tiles (LVT) This kitchen floor idea will

give you the look you want but with the

durability you need at a fraction of the cost

Our favorite brand right now is COREtec

It is made with virgin vinyl (You can be all

snobby with your friends ndash ldquoyes my floor

is virginrdquo) which means the PVC layer is

chemically stable LVT is waterproof so it

can be used in wet areas and will never

swell (like wood laminate) and can easily

extend in other living areas resisting

scratches (perfect for pets) It is softer and

quieter with a bamboo composite substrate

and cork underlayment

34

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

Kitchen cabinets are a big deal It defines your kitchens style and whatever you select is

gonna cost ya so you better like it When you need kitchen cabinet ideas you should start

with understanding the basics and get those down pat If you want more detail check out

this blog post

P a r t S e v e n

35

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

Wall Cabinets These are the upper

cabinets above the counter Doors can

be solid or with have glass inserts Here

is a trending kitchen cabinet idea ndash open

shelves for upper cabinets This makes the

room feel airy and light and it is a great way

to show off your gorgeous dishes

Base Cabinets You got it these are

the lower cabinets Most people select a

stained wood or painted cabinet But you

might consider stainless steel or laminate

Laminates are fun coming in many colors

Another great kitchen cabinet idea trend is

glossy white laminate cabinets This kitchen

cabinet idea is ultra-modern and sleek and

KTJ Design Co designer approve

Sizes Cabinets come in standard widths

and increase in increments of 3 inches Base

cabinets are generally 34 frac14 inches tall and

wall cabinets range anywhere from 28 ndash 42

inches (or more) I suggest getting your wall

cabinets tall enough to go all the way to the

ceiling if you can

Stock vs Custom In reality there arenrsquot

too many cabinet shops that make truly

custom cabinets They may make the base

but get the doors pre-made Stock (or off

the shelf) cabinets are limited in quality and

36

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

sizes but they will be less costly and be

readily available Custom or semi-custom

will cost more and have a long lead time (8

to 12 weeks) Semi-custom cabinets have

more variety and come in more sizes Many

think that you are limited to standard sizes

but they can be made to fit And if you have

a good designer (like me for instance) you

can get pretty much whatever you want in

terms of style color and size

Which kitchen cabinets ideas and design styles do you like best

37

wwwkathleenjennisoncom | Copyright copy 2015 KTJ Design Co | Not for resale or distributionHow To Make Kitchen Remodeling Choices Yoursquoll Never Regret

And remember if you are stumped on how to get your dream kitchen in your head into

reality then you the need the help of KTJ Design Co Designers

We get it you can see exactly how your dream kitchen is supposed to look in your head

but when you talk to contractors or visit big box stores you feel indecision come crashing

down on you Dont get stuck you can stop procrastinating and let us guide you through all

those decisions step by step and piece by piece

Find out more about Your Kitchen A Love Story and learn how KTJ Design Co has a design

package just for you Donrsquot wait to get started