Design & Planning Guide

Kitchen Planning Guide

Plan Kitchen Appliances

When planning your kitchen remodel, selecting your appliances should be the priority.  If appliances aren’t decided on first, you risk exhausting your budget and facing unexpected costs for changes which can lead to having to settle for lower quality products. So make sure you consider the appliances, plan for them in your budget, and make sure they fit into your kitchen plan. Not in terms of style alone, but also in terms of size. This is especially important if you want built-in appliances. In addition, while selecting appliances, it is important to verify lead-time to avoid delays in your remodel.”

5 Ways you can Update your Kitchen to Add Value to your Home

  1. Replace old appliances with new, more efficient models.
  2. Upgrade countertops to granite or marble.
  3. Install a new backsplash.
  4. Paint cabinets a new color.
  5. Add built-in features such as ovens or microwaves

Aside from planning out your appliances, it is a good idea to start planning the location and types of cabinets you want in your kitchen. The best way to go about deciding on the types of your cabinets, is to consider what you will be putting in them. After that, you want to determine where in your kitchen is the most convenient spot to access those items. An example of this would be putting a larger wall cabinet near your refrigerator for plates, bowls and glassware. Another example would be putting a tray base cabinet near your oven/stove and a waste bin cabinet near the sink. Once you have a better idea of the size and types of cabinets you want, then all you have to do is organize it in a layout that will work best for you and your family.

Nobody likes a narrow kitchen. One where it feels like there can only ever be one person in it at a time, and even then it feels like you are bouncing off the cabinets to get around. This is why it is important to think about clearance for foot traffic, walking space and food prepping space. It is recommended to have a minimum of 3 feet between countertop surfaces to allow for foot traffic and room to transition from one countertop surface to the next.

Ventilation Hood

Appliance questions to consider before ordering a ventilation hood.

What type of cooking equipment will the hood exhaust?
What type of hood do you need?
What size Blower do you need? For every 10,000 BTU’s you need 100 CFM. Example: If you add up all the BTU’s of each burner, grill and/or griddle on the top of the cooking surface--- Let’s say you have 90,000 BTU’s of power; then a hood with a 900 CFM blower may be appropriate.

Note: Of course, this is a simplified system to determine the required CFM (Blower power). There are other factors to consider when choosing your blower - the length of the duct run, the amount of turns in the duct run, etc.

What height hood do you need?
What width hood do you need?
What depth hood do you need?

Note: A 27” wall mount hood extends beyond standard base cabinetry but matches the depth of many Pro-Style Ranges. The deeper the hood the more chance you have of hitting your head on the lip of the hood.

Note: With the information above, you should be able to work with any CWC Remodeling professional to obtain the best hood for your needs. This is not a guarantee for complete success. Installation and other problems on the job may occur outside the control of the professional with whom you are working.

Gas Cooktop

Appliance questions to consider before ordering a gas cooktop.

Measure your existing gas cooktop. The standard cooktop lengths are 30” and 36”, plus others. Height and depth vary depending on the model, but generally around 19” to 21” for depth and about 4” to 6” in height.

How many burners do you want?
Do you want a gas cooktop with a custom Wok burner?
Do you want a gas cooktop with a barbecue grill?
What type of fuel do you have for the gas cooktop?

Gas cooktops come in many designs, finishes, and colors. Consult your CWC Remodeling salesperson for your available choices.

Note: Many cooktops can be vented with a downdraft system or have it built-in as part of the cooktop. This will be addressed in the section about Downdraft Systems.

Dishwasher

Appliance questions to consider before ordering a dishwasher.

Measure the space where the dishwasher will go.

Choose a dishwasher with Energy Star Rating. The less energy the dishwasher will use will save you money on your utility bill each month. The utilities, BGE & PEPCO will offer a rebate for energy star models. Plus, many states are offering rebates too. (Most started around the first quarter of 2010, until funds run out).

Check the features you want on your dishwasher:

* DB rating - anything less than 50 DB is considered a quiet dishwasher. The closer to 40 the quieter it is. ** ADA - wheelchair accessibility. This requires a dishwasher to be only so tall. Usually requires a wood filler piece at the top of the dishwasher under the countertop. Dishwasher that refers to “tall” tubs would not fit into this category.

The only other consideration is installation and if you have a garbage disposer. Usually at this time if you replace the dishwasher, you should consider replacing the garbage disposer. As far as installation, it should not be different than the last one. However, many of the manufacturers are beginning to put a plug at the end of the electrical cord. In the past the dishwasher was hard wired. This would mean you would need to put an electrical box under the sink area.

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