* Update - this contest from Bounty is over. However, we currently have a new contest offering a $200 Home Depot gift card - see details on how you can win!
Win a Kitchen Renovation
They say there's no such thing as a free lunch. But I did find a contest that would allow you to win a kitchen makeover. For free. The catch? You've got to write a 100 word story. So, I guess it's not really for free -- you've got to write something, but I think it's a pretty good tradeoff.
According to the Bounty website, all you have to do is put the Best Ever! Bounty One Sheet to the test. Use the paper towel sheet on your toughest mess and then talk about your cleanup story on their website. And that's it. You're entered for a chance to win a $30,000 kitchen renovation. That's the grand prize. There's also a chance at a first prize for a kitchen appliance makeover, valued at $8,000. You might even win a years supply of Bounty in the 2nd place prize.
I entered today. It was pretty easy to do. And I could really use a new kitchen. Or even just new appliances. The paper towels? I have plenty... If you win, you have to send me a toaster or a can opener or something!
Remodeling the kitchen can be so expensive these days, it's nice to have a little help. Between the cost of new cabinets, countertops, and flooring it can easily run from $30,000 to $60,0000 and that's not even for a high-end renovation project. But, as everyone is so fond of pointing out, you can usually get most if not all of your budget back on a kitchen remodel. If you're selling your home in the near future. And it's done right. And depending on the area of the country you live in. So, it's not guaranteed.
While we're on the subject of kitchen remodeling, you can review some previous renovation posts that are up on the ConstructionDeal.com blogs:
How to Save Money When Remodeling Your Kitchen
Small Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
Kitchen Remodeling: The Banquette
The Latest Kitchen Remodeling Trend
Also, if you need to find a local kitchen renovation company or a kitchen designer, you can use the ConstructionDeal.com website and we'll match you with either -- for free. It's a smart and fast way to find a contractor!
Good luck with the Bounty contest!
Showing posts with label Kitchen Remodeling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kitchen Remodeling. Show all posts
Wednesday
The Latest Kitchen Remodeling Trend
According to the Washington Post's article on 'The Hot and the Not' in home remodeling, the hot stainless steel appliance trend is on the way out.
The author of the book 1,001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home Mark Nash interviewed hundreds of real estate agents and the results were surprising.
The remarks about stainless steel appliances stuck out the most with me. Besides wanting a granite countertop, the next most requested item for any kitchen remodel is usually the gleaming silver, industrial look from those appliances. There is apparently a negative backlash to the stainless steel surface from many potential homeowners.
As much as people "love the look" of various additions to a remodeling project, it always seems to come back to function and maintenance. If it looks great but is hard to maintain, it can quickly fall out of favor. This may be what's happening with stainless steel. The surface is easily marred with fingerprints, especially in a heavily-used kitchen or a house with one or more children or even pets. Keeping something clean will eventually outweigh the value of the pure aesthetic appeal of almost any new product.
The author received a lot of feedback from real estate agents, "I'm hearing people say, 'I'm tired of it,' " Nash said. "They say: 'I don't have time to polish it. I have kids. I have dogs. It's too high maintenance.' "
While stainless steel appliances in the kitchen might still seem like a great idea for your kitchen renovation project, consider what the value of those items will mean to potential buyers in 5 to 10 years. Many of the those buyers may have already had steel appliances in their homes and are fed up with them. Think of some of the "hot" kitchen trends from as recently as the 90's -- many of those have fallen out of favor and are being replaced in today's modern kitchens.
Many of the agents, however, did say that stainless steel appliances are still a big item. They provide a "wow" factor and can still sell homes. Many love the neutral look they give to any style of kitchen - whether it's a sleek Contemporary kitchen or a French Country kitchen. One agent said, "'People here walk in and see that stainless steel, and it dazzles them,'"
I think it's important to weigh your options and your needs when it comes to deciding how best to renovate your kitchen. For you, having those gleaming steel appliance surfaces is worth a little extra elbow grease to keep them looking great.
RELATED POSTS:
2007 Kitchen Design Trends
Kitchen Design Ideas
Small Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
If you're interested in updating your kitchen and talking with a professional kitchen design company, post your request with ConstructionDeal.com. It's a fast, free and easy way to find a local kitchen company. Simply list your project details and kitchen experts will call you - no more looking up companies in the yellow pages and calling them at random! That saves you time.
And you'll get four quotes - usually in minutes. This gives you multiple bids. Many bids can mean you'll get the best pricing options. That saves you money.
The author of the book 1,001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home Mark Nash interviewed hundreds of real estate agents and the results were surprising.
The remarks about stainless steel appliances stuck out the most with me. Besides wanting a granite countertop, the next most requested item for any kitchen remodel is usually the gleaming silver, industrial look from those appliances. There is apparently a negative backlash to the stainless steel surface from many potential homeowners.
As much as people "love the look" of various additions to a remodeling project, it always seems to come back to function and maintenance. If it looks great but is hard to maintain, it can quickly fall out of favor. This may be what's happening with stainless steel. The surface is easily marred with fingerprints, especially in a heavily-used kitchen or a house with one or more children or even pets. Keeping something clean will eventually outweigh the value of the pure aesthetic appeal of almost any new product.
The author received a lot of feedback from real estate agents, "I'm hearing people say, 'I'm tired of it,' " Nash said. "They say: 'I don't have time to polish it. I have kids. I have dogs. It's too high maintenance.' "
While stainless steel appliances in the kitchen might still seem like a great idea for your kitchen renovation project, consider what the value of those items will mean to potential buyers in 5 to 10 years. Many of the those buyers may have already had steel appliances in their homes and are fed up with them. Think of some of the "hot" kitchen trends from as recently as the 90's -- many of those have fallen out of favor and are being replaced in today's modern kitchens.Many of the agents, however, did say that stainless steel appliances are still a big item. They provide a "wow" factor and can still sell homes. Many love the neutral look they give to any style of kitchen - whether it's a sleek Contemporary kitchen or a French Country kitchen. One agent said, "'People here walk in and see that stainless steel, and it dazzles them,'"
I think it's important to weigh your options and your needs when it comes to deciding how best to renovate your kitchen. For you, having those gleaming steel appliance surfaces is worth a little extra elbow grease to keep them looking great.
RELATED POSTS:
2007 Kitchen Design Trends
Kitchen Design Ideas
Small Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
If you're interested in updating your kitchen and talking with a professional kitchen design company, post your request with ConstructionDeal.com. It's a fast, free and easy way to find a local kitchen company. Simply list your project details and kitchen experts will call you - no more looking up companies in the yellow pages and calling them at random! That saves you time.
And you'll get four quotes - usually in minutes. This gives you multiple bids. Many bids can mean you'll get the best pricing options. That saves you money.
Home Remodeling Cost Estimator
I found this handy little tool that can help you try to figure out how much your remodeling project is going to cost.No estimator is perfect because there are so many variables - the location of the project, the current cost of materials, and the quality of products used. But this tool could help give you an idea of how much you'll need to spend:
Home Remodeling Cost Estimator
It can take a while to answer all the questions, but it could be the tool you need to help estimate your remodeling job.
The estimator is powered by HomeTech and keep in mind that it is for informational purposes only, as an educational product. It does not provide exact figures for your home renovation job. Also, if this estimator link has expired, you can register with HomeTech for a 30-day free trial.
What Can Affect Your True Cost?
- The Homes Location: a remodeling job in one city, state or region of the country can cost more or less than in another part of the country. A roofing job in Charlotte is usually considerably less than a roofing job in San Francisco. Costs of materials and labor can be much higher in larger cities.
- The Cost of Supplies: lumber, concrete, steel, and other materials can change from one quarter or year to the next. And prices of supplies can vary by region as it may cost more to ship to one state or the other.
- The Projects Quality Level: for the sake of simplicity, there are usually 3 levels of quality (basic, mid-range, and upscale) which affect your projects price. Laminate flooring, pre-made cabinets, and tile countertops will usually cost less than hardwood floors, customized cabinets, and granite counters.
It's free to be matched to at least 4 local remodeling companies in your area. You'll get multiple bids from contractors which can save you money by helping you choose the best bid!
You're under no obligation to hire the companies that contact you -- and it will save you time. Renovation contractors call you!
Friday
Remodeling Ideas: Italian Kitchen Designs
I'm a big fan of the Italian style of kitchen design. I wanted to provide you with a "photo blog" post of several Italian kitchen pictures. Hopefully, it can give you some ideas for any future kitchen remodeling project you may have planned.
Not all of the designs are modern or ultra-contemporary (although I've included some stunning modern kitchen design pics) in style, they also have some classical examples:
And when it comes to a more modern and sleek look -- the Italian designers have some wonderfully exotic creations:
Don't be afraid to use color in a kitchen. If you like contemporary styling, you can choose bright reds, blues, greens. They make a great contract to brighter and whiter flooring or wall paint colors. It's better to have darker colors than lighter ones if you have a lot of natural light in the room.
In modern kitchen design, it's important to make sure the room is still inviting and comfortable. Many didn't like the harsh or industrial look and it turned many off because it seemed too cold. By adding the rounded surfaces, accent lighting, and the colors to the stainless steel, the modern kitchen can have a softer look. If you'd like to check out some Italian Kitchen design websites, I've picked out a few that you can visit for even more inspirational design ideas!
Italian Kitchen Design Companies:
Ged Cucine
Fiamberti
Aster Cucine
When you're ready to renovate your kitchen, you can always post your project with ConstructionDeal.com. It's a fast, free way to find a local kitchen remodeling company in your area.
RELATED KITCHEN POSTS:
Small Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
Kitchen Remodeling Budgets
Remodel Your Kitchen: Save Your Sanity
Kitchen Remodeling: Form AND Function
Not all of the designs are modern or ultra-contemporary (although I've included some stunning modern kitchen design pics) in style, they also have some classical examples:
And when it comes to a more modern and sleek look -- the Italian designers have some wonderfully exotic creations:
Don't be afraid to use color in a kitchen. If you like contemporary styling, you can choose bright reds, blues, greens. They make a great contract to brighter and whiter flooring or wall paint colors. It's better to have darker colors than lighter ones if you have a lot of natural light in the room.
In modern kitchen design, it's important to make sure the room is still inviting and comfortable. Many didn't like the harsh or industrial look and it turned many off because it seemed too cold. By adding the rounded surfaces, accent lighting, and the colors to the stainless steel, the modern kitchen can have a softer look. If you'd like to check out some Italian Kitchen design websites, I've picked out a few that you can visit for even more inspirational design ideas!Italian Kitchen Design Companies:
Ged Cucine
Fiamberti
Aster Cucine
When you're ready to renovate your kitchen, you can always post your project with ConstructionDeal.com. It's a fast, free way to find a local kitchen remodeling company in your area.
RELATED KITCHEN POSTS:
Small Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
Kitchen Remodeling Budgets
Remodel Your Kitchen: Save Your Sanity
Kitchen Remodeling: Form AND Function
Thursday
Remodel Your Kitchen - Save Your Sanity
Two friends of mine, one an editor over at the Kitchen & Bath Design News, wrote a really informative and very entertaining (re: funny) book on how to keep your cool while going through a kitchen remodel.It's called "Everything and the Kitchen Sink: Remodel Your Kitchen Without Losing Your Mind."
If you get a chance, check it out. Here's a sample:
"If you're still looking for a way to justify your new kitchen, here is our list of the top ten reasons to remodel:
You Are What You Eat.
Are you beginning to worry that the guy Burger King knows your kids by name? When you try out a new hair color, does the Chinese food delivery guy notice before your spouse does? A new kitchen might just inspire you to spend less time driving through or eating out. Even better, the latest appliances speed up cooking times, while offering all kinds of extras to help you make better-tasting, healthier foods.
You Support Energy Conservation.
Many older appliances consume enough energy to power a small third world country. Your parents taught you to clean your plate because kids are starving in Africa. Shouldn't you be equally conscientious about saving energy?
College is Over.
Just because you made it through four years of higher education with only a hot plate and a toaster oven doesn't mean you should cook that way for the rest of your life. You've got a grown-up job and a mortgage now. It's time to live like an adult.
Remodelers Need your Money more than Doctors do.
Cracked surfaces are havens for dirt and bacteria that can be dangerous to you and your family. Wouldn't you prefer the short-term inconvenience of a renovation (where you at least end up with a brand new kitchen) to a long hospital stay for food poisoning (where your doctor ends up with a BMW, and all you get is green Jell-O)?"
If you'd like to order the book, here's a link to the Amazon.com page: Everything and the Kitchen Sink
To find a quality kitchen renovation contractor, submit your request to ConstructionDeal.com. It's fast and easy - you'll get 4 quotes in the same day - usually within minutes.
Simply tell us your request and we'll match you with kitchen contractors. There's no cost and no obligation to hire any one.
RELATED POSTS:
Small Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
The Jumbled Kitchen
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