Think like a pro. If it's in the budget, spend the money on a six- to eight-burner professional- style range, dedicated spice storage, and a fridge spacious enough to accommodate platters. You may also want to consider glass-front cabinets or open shelves to display dishes and glassware. Make sure you have good task lighting and stick to a flooring material like wood or old-fashioned linoleum, which are easy on the feet and easy to clean.
Today, kitchens are one of the main focal points of any upscale home or apartment. More than all other rooms, the kitchen tends to be where we spend a lot of time while at home. A well-designed and functional kitchen and eating area can inspire you to spend more of your time cooking great meals and can motivate you to entertain family and friends on a more regular basis so you can show off your cooking talents.
Being that you found our site, maybe you have been thinking of remodeling or renovating your kitchen. Maybe you would like to entertain more often, but your kitchen needs an extreme make over. Maybe you would like to turn your existing kitchen into a chef’s paradise, add more counter space, more cabinet storage, new appliances, new flooring, etc. or improve the functionality & layout. All of these goals can be accomplished through a renovation by OZ Construction Services Inc.
Whether you want to update or upgrade your kitchen or rip it out and remodel the entire space, the first step is to speak or meet with a professional kitchen specialist. A good plan and design is a must when renovating your existing kitchen. OZ Construction Services Inc. knows all the in's and out's of kitchen remodeling.
We will design and install everything involved in your new kitchen. Whether its new stone floor tile, cabinets, granite or marble counter tops, appliances, lighting and electric, sinks, faucets, and all plumbing, vent hoods, backsplashes, etc. we guarantee that your kitchen remodeling project flows smoothly and all work is completed in the highest professional and courteous manner from start to finish. Our final inspection will guaranty and ensure your complete satisfaction. Our main goal is to provide your new kitchen with a great design that allows you to live and work in your kitchen exactly as you would like to.
We start by finding out what you want in your new kitchen. Is it more storage space? Bigger countertops? An island work area? Or, a place where you can visit with your family and friends as you prepare a meal? Our experienced kitchen remodeling experts will help by showing you samples of some of the work we've done in Miami. We'll also ask about your budget and take that into consideration as we plan the renovation. In South Florida, a typical kitchen remodeling project will range in costs from $15,000.00 - $18,000.00, with larger and very high end kitchens exceeding these costs. There are many factors involved in determining the bottom line cost of your kitchen renovation.
Five Questions to Ask Yourself: A Kitchen Personality Quiz
1. How many chefs usually work in the kitchen?
a. Two, maybe more (including guests and kids).
b. Only one person cooks at a time.
c. None.
2. What's your cooking style?
a. Serious: Cooking and entertaining at home is how we unwind.
b. Laid-back: Dinner most nights is a casual affair; holidays are when we cook for a crowd.
c. Nonexistent.
3. Who else hangs out in the kitchen, and what do they do there?
a. On weekends the place is party central.
b. The whole family seems to do everything but sleep and play soccer there. It's a game room, TV room, office, and kitchen all rolled into one.
c. If it weren't for the beer and microwave dinners, the kitchen would get no use at all.
4. How important is easy cleanup?
a. Not as important as the high-Btu burst I get from unsealed stove burners.
b. The room sees too much activity for surfaces to need coddling. It has to clean up fast.
c. What I really need is a recycling system for paper, plastic, and glass.
5. If you could splurge on one luxury, what would it be?
a. A six-burner Viking range with electric ovens.
b. A built-in computer desk where the kids can go on-line and I can pay bills.
c. Ever hear of a self-cleaning microwave?
a. Two, maybe more (including guests and kids).
b. Only one person cooks at a time.
c. None.
2. What's your cooking style?
a. Serious: Cooking and entertaining at home is how we unwind.
b. Laid-back: Dinner most nights is a casual affair; holidays are when we cook for a crowd.
c. Nonexistent.
3. Who else hangs out in the kitchen, and what do they do there?
a. On weekends the place is party central.
b. The whole family seems to do everything but sleep and play soccer there. It's a game room, TV room, office, and kitchen all rolled into one.
c. If it weren't for the beer and microwave dinners, the kitchen would get no use at all.
4. How important is easy cleanup?
a. Not as important as the high-Btu burst I get from unsealed stove burners.
b. The room sees too much activity for surfaces to need coddling. It has to clean up fast.
c. What I really need is a recycling system for paper, plastic, and glass.
5. If you could splurge on one luxury, what would it be?
a. A six-burner Viking range with electric ovens.
b. A built-in computer desk where the kids can go on-line and I can pay bills.
c. Ever hear of a self-cleaning microwave?
The Answers
Keep it functional, not fussy. Design in features that will simplify your daily routine—a self-cleaning oven, a microwave where the kids can reach it, lots of counter and storage space. Since you rarely cook labor-intensive meals, spend your appliance dollars on an energy-efficient side-by-side refrigerator, an easy-to-clean cooktop, and sturdy cabinetry with ample space for household staples. Think in advance about ways to control the inevitable clutter from all that family activity, such as an adjustable shelving system or cubbies fitted with bins.
Remember resale. Spend your makeover dollars on practical, clean-lined cabinets; good-quality basic appliances; and conveniences like a built-in recycling center. Be careful not to spend too little on the kitchen: Quality counts with homebuyers, and a shoddy new kitchen is no better than a dingy old one. It will be money well spent. In the current real estate market, you should be able to recoup between 87 and 125 percent of your investment.
Avoiding the Most Common Mistakes
In a perfect world, demolition starts on time, deliveries arrive on schedule, installation takes place without a hitch, and cleanup is quick and easy. If you have hired a good contractor this is quite possible. If your contractor is not so good then the chances of all that happening are slim; don't shrink the odds by falling prey to these common pitfalls.
1. Trying to be your own GC. Trust us: This is one job you don't want to undertake. A kitchen renovation or remodeling project is one of the most costly, complicated, and time-consuming projects imaginable.
2. Hiring the wrong GC. Never hire a contractor who makes you uncomfortable, no matter how highly recommended or how low the estimate. If you feel like the contractor is someone you can't trust, keep looking.
3. Putting the job out for bid without clear enough specs. Unless you account for every detail of the project up front, you won't be comparing apples to apples when you solicit bids. That means specifying the type of flooring, countertop material, lighting, even cabinet hardware. If you don't, one contractor might assume higher-end choices while the other assumes items on the lower end which will leave you with a very large range in pricing.
4. Paying in advance. It's shocking how often normally intelligent people turn over a sledgehammer and their life savings to someone they just met. Never pay more than 40 percent of the total job cost up front (typically to cover startup materials). Then the contractor should work out a schedule of progress payments in your contract based on the completion of predetermined phases of the job.
5. Getting distracted from your ultimate goal. Have you ever made a run to the hardwarestore to pick up a plunger and some window screening and come back with $200 worth of tools and gadgets you didn't really need? The same goes for kitchen remodels. "There are many toys out there. That's why it's essential to make a wish list—and to stick to it.
6. Trying to keep up with the Joneses. If frozen pizza is all you ever pop in the oven, a conventional stove will serve you just as well as that newfangled induction range — and save you thousands of dollars besides. You can always upgrade appliances later.
7. Settling for a cookie-cutter kitchen. Let's face it: The next owners of your house will start dreaming of ripping out your fantasy kitchen as soon as they move in. Unless you're planning to move within the next couple of years, go ahead and build the kitchen that works for you and your budget. But be careful not to over customize. What's perfect for you today (built-in seating for the kids—who will soon be too tall to use it) may prove limiting tomorrow.
8. Ignoring what you can't see. Everyone worries about the cabinet faces, but if the sides and hardware aren't made of sturdy enough stuff, the doors will be crooked in no time. And those gorgeous concrete or tile countertops are sure to crack if they're not installed on a strong, level base. Don't be seduced by surfaces: It's what's behind the walls and under the floors that really counts.
9. Changing your mind—again. “Time is money”. That's what Benjamin Franklin advised tradesmen way back in 1748 and indecisive homeowners would do well to heed his warning. Regretting, reordering, reconfiguring—it all leads to delays, changed work orders and tapped-out budgets. It also tests the patience of your contractor, who's got another job lined up after this one.
10. Living with a dysfunctional space because remodeling is a hassle. Life's about thriving, not just surviving. Just think, with a little time and effort, you could have the kitchen you've always wanted. Not to mention a few (happy) remodeling stories of your own.