Part 2 of the Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Renovation: Sprucing Up the Windows

Part 2 of the Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Renovation: Sprucing Up the Windows

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Category : Home Renovation

Now that you’ve improved your kitchen, you may be looking at the end product and still not feel totally satisfied with it. This could probably be because your old windows do not match your new décor. And what’s the point of renovating your kitchen if your windows do not match the new style and architecture of your kitchen? Since it is one of the most used rooms in your house, you want to choose windows that not only look great but that also enhance the room by adding more natural light to it.

But there are a lot of things to take into consideration when looking for kitchen windows. These may include location, ventilation and amount of light. While it’s okay to have more than one style of window for your home, there is such a thing as having too many different styles. If you don’t take into account the overall design of your house when choosing windows for your kitchen, you may end up with an exterior design that looks disjointed.

Read on to find out more about window options that are available to you!

The 4 Best Styles for Kitchen Windows

There are generally 5 window types that go well with almost any kitchen. These include:

  1. Garden windows
  2. Sliding windows
  3. Casement windows
  4. Double-hung windows

Window type 1: Garden Windows

What are the garden windows?

Garden windows are windows that extend past the façade of your home and that look like a glass box. The sides of the glass ‘box’ connect at the rigid and straight front of the window.

Pros of having garden windows installed:

  1. Since it sticks out, it creates space for additional storage.
  2. As every side is made of glass, it can be used to grow herbs all year round.
  3. Its dimension gives the impression that the kitchen is bigger than it really is.
  4. It brings in the perfect amount of light in the kitchen.

Cons of having garden windows installed:

  1. Most windows need thick vinyl or wood frame to be really energy efficient. Garden windows do not come with these thick frames, meaning that cold and hot air is more likely to escape through the windows or pass into the kitchen.

Window type 2: Sliding Windows

What are sliding windows?

Sliding windows are made up of side-by-side windows that open on a sliding track. Mechanically simple, it can also be designed to have both windows or just one window slide horizontally.

Pros of having sliding windows installed:

  1. Sliding windows do not take up much space.
  2. They are easy to open.
  3. Sliding windows tend to be cheaper due to their simple designs.
  4. Since you get to crack the window open just a little bit or open it all the way, this type of window gives you better control over air circulation.
  5. They are very durable.

Cons of having sliding windows installed:

  1. The tracks are not that easy to clean.
  2. The design is not necessarily modern.

Window type 3: Double Hung Windows

What are double-hung windows?

Double-hung windows are quite possibly the most popular type of window. It is very similar to sliding windows, except that in that the two large sashes slide up and down within vertical tracks instead of horizontally.

Pros of having double hung windows installed:

  1. You have the freedom of opening them as wide as you want.
  2. You have a wider selection of styles and sizes when compared to sliding windows.
  3. The springs or weights used in the design make the windows easier to open and close.
  4. The vertical tracks do not accumulate dirt easily.

Cons of having double hung windows installed:

  1. Their design makes them dangerous for little children.
  2. This type of window needs maintenance to ensure that the springs or sash cords do not wear out.

Window type 4: Casement Windows

What are casement windows?

Casement windows are very popular windows that open outwards. They open outwards horizontally via cranks mounted on hinges. These hinges are located on one side of the window and are found both at the top and bottom of the windows. Essentially, when you open the window, it will open like a door with one side of the window staying stationary.

Pros of having casement windows installed:

  1. They probably offer the best over control airflow than any other type of windows.
  2. Since its seal is pretty tight, it is very energy efficient –  it can easily keep out drafts.
  3. Their design allows a lot of light in.

Cons of having casement windows installed:

  1. Casement windows are vulnerable to strong winds.
  2. Because of its cranking mechanism, it has greater chances of breaking when compared to the other window types mentioned in this list.

Part 1 of the Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Renovation: Can I Remodel My Kitchen on a Budget?

Tags :

Category : Home Renovation

Sprucing up a kitchen generally costs a lot. In fact, a kitchen renovation can cost significantly more than the renovation of a small bathroom, the living room and bedrooms. But if you plan properly, make wise decisions and stay hands-on, you can give your kitchen the remodelling it desperately needs without draining all your savings.

The good news is that we are here to help you look at all the options available to you. You do not have to follow every tip in this post- you can pick and choose to follow only a few of those and compromise on others. Regardless, these tips will help you cut costs when it comes to the renovation.

Ask yourself these following questions:

Question 1: Is the budget I prepared foolproof?

And by this, we mean have you accounted for “hidden” costs?

Hidden costs can quickly add up and cause you to go above budget or lead to you having to compromise on other things– things that would give your kitchen just the look you want – down the road.  These hidden costs include the cost of labour, materials, delivery as well as taxes.

Question 2: Is this a need or a want?

You may already have an idea of what you want to do for your kitchen. But before going shopping for furniture or thinking about hiring a contractor install that new flooring you really want, evaluate what your idea really is: Is it a want or a need? If it’s a want, will it cost a lot? Can it cause us to go over budget? Or can we afford it?

Not only will this line of questioning force you to stay realistic, it will also discourage you from buying unnecessary items.

Question 3: Can this be a Do It Yourself type of project?

Going the DIY route means you will be able to save on labour costs. Sure, you won’t be able to DIY the project, but there are a few parts that you can complete on your own! For those that are relatively easy, consider doing them yourself. These include changing outlets and lights, painting the walls and hanging drywall.

Question 4: Can I skimp on materials?

No. Absolutely not. You want to aim for quality. Even if the materials come at a cheaper price, the chances of it being faulty are way higher. Instead of saving you money, it will inevitably lead to you spending more.

Good quality materials are relatively expensive. The best solution when you are on a budget is to buy the best quality you can afford. Do not systematically choose the cheaper alternative.

Question 5: Cabinets – replace or refresh?

It’s true that new kitchen cabinets can cost way more than just painting over your old ones. Although a classic method, your existing cabinets may not be as modern or as efficient as newer ones.

If anything, unlike flooring, the benefits of getting new cabinets are two-fold: it not only completely changes the look of your kitchen, but it can also create better storage spaces and organization solutions for you.

Question 6: What about appliances? Refurbish or replace?

If replacing appliances means moving plumbing, gas, or electrical, it would be a better idea to refurbish. Replacing them will cost too much and will not really be worth all the troubles you will have to go through.

Question 7: Will a New Layout Make My Kitchen More Modern?

A new layout can definitely change the whole look of your kitchen. BUT, and that’s a huge but, changing the layout of the kitchen is the surest way of driving up your costs.

Bear in mind that there’s a lot you can change in your kitchen to modernize it. A change in layout is not compulsory.

Question 8: What kind of flooring should I get?

First thing first: Do you need new flooring? Also, remember that kitchens are high-traffic areas that need easy-to-clean, stain-resistant flooring. And these do not come cheap.

If your floors already look good, you may not have to replace them at all. In fact, the less you replace, the less you will have to spend.

Question 9: What kind of countertops do I need?

You don’t need to get that concrete or stone countertops. Really. Yes, we know, they look cool. But a stone countertop will be just as effective as a modest ceramic tile one. And you won’t have to break your budget!

What you may want to splurge on though is the size of the countertop. The more you can fit in your kitchen, the better. You do want enough space for food preparation and your sink.

Question 10: Am I using lighting smartly?

You don’t have to go overboard when designing your new kitchen. Simply hanging a well-designed pendant can change the look in your kitchen. You can also add accent lighting that can be plugged into wall outlets. This can be attached to the underside of your cabinets to update their looks.

Getting LED bulbs is also a good way to save on money in the long term –  these energy-saving bulbs will cause your utility bills to decrease.

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