Category: Home Improvement

TIPS FOR SMALL KITCHEN DESIGN

One of our absolute favorite spaces to design is the kitchen. It is one place in the home where everyone tends to gather. So much of our lives happen in the kitchen! We all dream of having a brand new custom space, with a large island and more cabinetry than we know what to do with, right? The reality is that a lot of us have small kitchens. Sometimes it can be hard to figure out how to make our such small spaces function for our needs, while still looking really beautiful. We’ve designed our fair share of kitchens, and we’ve seen all shapes and sizes. You don’t have to sacrifice style for function, promise!

START WITH A FUNCTIONAL SPACE PLAN

A functioning floor plan is important in any size of space, but it is doubly important in a small one! A beautiful kitchen with a strange layout will never work. Make sure your sink, refrigerator, and stovetop are all easily accessible and that there is adequate countertop space by each one for easy use. Pay attention to the cabinetry layout to make sure there is ample storage for the items you use daily.

Walk through the space (either literally or just in your mind!) to decide what layout will work best for you. Every aspect of the layout, from floor plan to cabinetry, will make the difference between a small kitchen that you love and a small kitchen that drives you crazy

PICK A COLOR PALETTE AND STICK WITH IT

From the very beginning, choose the colors you want to work with and stick to them. Introducing too many colors in a small space will feel overwhelming. In kitchen, we selected natural wood tones with white and gray elements. Then we added in the black appliances and brass hardware. Sticking to this scheme all over makes the space feel larger than it is and more inviting. Regardless of the colors you choose, keeping it consistent throughout is a good way to go in a small kitchen.

BREAK UP THE CABINETRY

In a small space, storage is a big deal. However, too much cabinetry can feel heavy and closed off, so we like to add one or two elements that break it up a bit. Usually, this is achieved by opting for a range hood instead of a microwave vent with additional cabinetry, as well as installing some open shelves. If open shelves aren’t your thing, a good compromise is glass doors on some of your cabinets. These small changes will make a big impact in how open your kitchen feels!

Start your DIY kitchen now

Get the designer look, without the designer price tag

Kitchen renovations and remodels often get a bad rap, boasting high price tags, unexpected costs and ridiculous timelines home deserves a perfect kitchen, which is why we’ve developed a DIY friendly range focused on design, quality, style and functionality. You can design your kitchen with our 3D kitchen planner and save heaps in the process by doing it all yourself!

wide range of cabinetry, benchtops, kitchen handles and hardware as well as functional storage accessories are based on the latest trends from around the globe, giving you a huge choice for your kitchen renovation. You can create your dream kitchen design by mixing and matching our modular and cut to measure products to achieve that perfect fit in your kitchen space.

From expert advice and inspiration for your kitchen or laundry design, through to detailed information on assembly and installation, has everything you need to turn your kitchen ideas into reality.

lifetime advantage means that we will extend this warranty for the entire time you own and live in your home. We’ve also been enhancing the sustainability of our activities including new recycling labelling on packaging and the use of natural materials for some products.

Get started with a new kitchen design

can help to make your dream kitchen ideas a reality. products are designed to be easy to assemble and provide stunning results. Start planning with our mykaboodle project checklist, design your kitchen in our 3D kitchen planner or get help with your kitchen designs from a Bunnings kitchen expert.

Professionally Designed, Precision Crafted Kitchen & Bathroom Cabinetry

START PLANNING YOUR DREAM TODAY

Whether you’re renovating or planning for a new kitchen, bathroom or storage in your garage or storage shed, designing can be an extremely fun process

CLOSET PLANNER

Create your own virtual closet design with our closet organizer planner tool and get a quote for the installation based on your plan.

KITCHEN PLANNER

Our kitchen planner tool makes it easy for you to try different design configurations for your kitchen renovation or new home kitchen cabinetry.

TOUR OUR FACILITY

Your cabinets are crafted with pride in our 135,000 sq ft facility, comprising our manufacturing plant, distribution centre, and head office.

RTA CABINET INSTRUCTIONS

Need assembly instructions and videos? Each customer support document provides a list of items and step by step procedures on how to put the item together easily

FEATURES & finishes

Traditional Wooden

wood species

finishes / stains

Painted

wood species

color swatches

Eurostyle (thermo-plastic)

high gloss Acrylux

matte THERMOFOIL

WOOD SPECIES

Customizing your kitchen begins with choosing not just the style but also the wood used for the construction of your cabinets. The descriptions that follow may help you choose the right wood for your home

Cherry

Colour: Rich, reddish-brown. Cherry darkens considerably with age and exposure to sunlight

Grain: Straight-grained and satiny. Small gum pockets produce distinctive markings

Characteristics: Light and strong, Cherry’s grain is more subdued than some other hardwood species, with very interesting character

Maple

Colour: Cream to light reddish brown

Grain: Usually straight-grained and sometimes found with highly figured bird’s eye or burl grain

Characteristics: Heavy, hard and strong, close-grained and possesses a uniform texture. Maple has an excellent resistance to abrasion and indentation

Red Oak

Colour: Ranges from nearly white cream colour to a beautiful warm, pale brown heartwood, tinted with red

Grain: There are many distinct grains patterns that emerge such as pin stripes, fine lines and leafy grains

Characteristics: Heavy, very strong and very hard, durable under exposure, great wear resistance

Kitchen Remodel

Your kitchen is your home’s central hub of activity. The Federal Way kitchen remodel experts will infuse new life to your home by creating a custom kitchen that impresses with both form and function .

Getting Started On Your Federal Way Kitchen Remodel

Our talented in-house staff works with skilled craftsmen and recognized artisans to design and build some of the most beautiful and unique Federal Way kitchen remodels in the region. We will work with you to help bring your Federal Way kitchen remodel ideas to life by using our experience and expertise.

Contact The Federal Way Kitchen Remodel Experts

Our in-house Federal Way kitchen remodel experts offer an artistic edge combined with technical knowhow to create a final product that you can be proud of

Federal Way Tidbits

The majority of people would probably be surprised to learn Federal Way once boasted a 157-acre homestead of Black settlers, an airstrip, and a brothel. However, a member of the Historical Society of Federal Way, named Arnold Rolfsrud, hopes that people won’t be surprised for long. At four historically significant locations in the community, the society wants to use its $5,000 allotment in 1999-2000 lodging tax money to install markers. The City Council advised the society to use its share of money from motel and hotel taxes in order to promote historical tourism. The Finance, Economic Development, and Regional Affairs Committee of the City Council had reviewed the proposed use of the money by the society. The committee forwarded its recommendation to the full council. The markers would be designed after those at Bay Centre, which cost somewhere between $1,700, and $1,500, and are sufficiently large enough to tell a story.

The society is hoping to add additional markers that have additional stories. This is only to occur after the first markers are installed. The markers would describe some interesting personalities and have information on their past. They would also describe some of these key things that occurred. Some people likely have the feeling that there isn’t much history to Federal Way. However, there is an amazing amount of history in Federal Way. Manu committee members are very happy about by the proposal for historic markers by the society. They will not only benefit residents as well tourists, who will realize that Federal Way won’t cause any problems.

Kitchen Makeovers That Prove Every Room Has Potential

Don’t let previous owners’ questionable decor choices stand in the way of your dream kitchen. These total transformations prove that some white paint and new lighting can erase even the biggest interior design sins.

BEFORE: Vinyl Flooring

Vargo of Yellow Brick Home had a common problem: The kitchen had good bones but was covered in dated decor.

AFTER: Scandinavian Haven

In a lucky break, discovered original 1930s Douglas Fir flooring under the vinyl and worked to refinish it to its earlier glory. The gray tile, wooden shelving, and modern tools make the rest of the kitchen a minimalist dream.

BEFORE: Yellow, Yellow Everywhere

A Beautiful Mess fell in love with her home the second she saw it, but knew the kitchen would need some TLC to become a bright and functional space.

AFTER: Clean and Modern

swapped out the dated cabinets for sleek open shelving and went with a mostly neutral color palette. The best part? The gorgeous mint green oven adds the perfect amount of fun to a bright white space.

Things to Ask Your Contractor Before Remodeling Your Kitchen

Hiring someone for kitchen remodeling takes a lot of trust. You need to put tremendous amount of faith in knowing the job will get done. Communication is everything, especially for such an engaging project like remodeling your kitchen. That’s why you need to ask some serious questions to the contractor you hire. This will help you find out how the staff will finish the project, before it even starts. Here are three things you need to ask before you get the task underway.

What’s the Schedule?

For any major construction project, knowing the schedule is important not only for timing but budgetary purposes. A few days over a course of a month can easily turn into a week or so. When you have a start and finish date, it helps you organize the small tasks that lead to getting specific things built in the home. Work with your designer to create a step-by-step schedule to reduce the margin of error. Additionally, by creating a schedule you’ll have a better understanding for the work that will be completed on any given day / week. Good distribution of tasks will help make the work more feasible.

Do You Have Insurance?

This is extremely important because in certain cases there will be some damages during the course of remodeling. You want to make sure that you remove delicate items ahead of time or designate certain spaces where the staff shouldn’t work. This way you can prevent mishaps from occurring to things that mean a lot to you. Also, check to see what kind of workers compensation is available in case someone gets injured on the job. You don’t want that liability coming to you – that is extra money and a potential lawsuit waiting to happen. Also, if property damage is not your fault, you should be compensated or at the least, the contractor should fix it without extra cost. It’s better to sign a contract with all of your questions accounted for before the project starts.

What’s the Best Mode of Communication?

Being able to properly communicate on a close-knit project like this is integral for completion. Not only do you need a good schedule, but knowing the best modes of communication with your contractor will be key. Find out the office number, cell phone number, and email contact. Set up a contact method even after hours if you have any pressing questions or ideas. Also, you should have a meeting in person once a week. That way you can meet face to face to discuss the future of the project. This is better than a text or phone call, because you can truly see the intentions behind each answer.

KITCHEN REMODELING IDEAS THAT WILL SURELY PAY OFF

Kitchens are, without a doubt, the soul of a house. No other area of the modern home compares in terms of versatility and actual foot traffic. The kitchen of today is not hidden in a corner, only to be accessed for cooking. The modern kitchen is used for entertainment, parties, get-togethers, and everything in between. As a result of its emergence into the limelight, kitchen remodeling has turned into this giant multi-billion dollar industry

The return on investment on these projects vary dramatically. And like it or not, you can indeed go wrong with kitchen remodels. If you don’t plan the budget and expenditure carefully, you might end up not recouping the money. As a rule of thumb, mid-range renovations have the highest ROI. You should aim for these as they not only recoup the original cost but also increase the resale value of the house.

PAINT IT RED

Not literally of course. Or who knows, maybe red will work for your kitchen. The point is, painting your kitchen with a fresh coat can do wonders for your resale value. Even though it is minor in terms of pricing, you can do a lot with just a bunch of paint cans and brushes. Just make sure you pick something that complements the rest of the space.

CABINETRY UPGRADE

Another kind of minor to mid-range upgrade which has a brilliant ROI. No matter how funky, chic, or cool your kitchen is — it all comes down to utility at the end. As a rule of thumb, you should invest in things you NEED in your kitchen. And upgrading cabinets is always a good idea in that regard

NEW COUNTERTOPS

Gorgeous countertops are really what make or break a kitchen, don’t they? But with so many different materials available out there, countertops can easily transform into a splurge rather than a thought out investment. Make sure you have researched the market you’re in before deciding on a budget for the countertop.  There’s no point spending half of what an average house costs in your locality to upgrade the countertop.

Minor Design Tweaks That Make Your Kitchen Feel Remodeled

Want a new kitchen but don’t want to spend the money or time necessary on a major renovation? Forget the idea of the “right” kitchen and improve your space with some “right now” partial remodeling ideas

“Take a hard look at your kitchen with all its pros and cons to decide what can be accomplished first, and what can be accomplished down the road,”. “Lifestyle, time spent in the home, and future resale are all factors that should be considered by any homeowner looking to make changes to his or her kitchen, while keeping budget in mind.”

BRIGHTEN UP THE LIGHTING

While giving the walls, ceiling, and trim a fresh coat of paint will combat dinginess, new lighting is an even better way to brighten your kitchen. “Good lighting has the psychological effect of making your kitchen feel brighter, more cheerful, less cavernous, and easier to work in,” she says.

ADD ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS

“A contractor once said that he could make any home look more expensive simply by adding better-quality—and prettier—trim, such as baseboards, crown molding, and door and window casings,”. “This is true for almost all homes. If you’re a handy DIYer, consider adding these to customize your kitchen.” If you’re a novice, pass on this upgrade until you can hire a pro: your home is likely not perfectly square and it can require some expertise to make sure everything lines up.

SPLURGE ON ONE APPLIANCE

Splurging on a professional range won’t necessarily put lesser-quality appliances in the shade. “Today’s appliances have a sleek appearance in almost any price category,”. “While it’s nice to maintain the same quality throughout—and imperative if your home is in the high six- and seven-figure price range—the same is not necessarily true for low- to mid-range homes. A nice stainless-steel professional range can be paired with a lower-priced stainless-steel refrigerator.”

things you must do before renovating your kitchen

If you are ready to renovate your kitchen, then there are a few things that you should consider before you start ripping out cabinets and knocking down walls. Having a plan before you start, and talking to the right experts will go a long way in getting you excellent quality and highly-functional kitchen that you and your family will love spending time in. Here are some tips from the team at Dash Builders to help you get into renovating your kitchen.

Don’t over-improve

You do not want to improve your kitchen to the point where it no longer matches your home. A good rule is that your renovation budget for your kitchen should not be more than 15% of the value of your home. There are many websites where you can get an approximate value of your home online.

Work with an interior designer when renovating your kitchen

It is super convenient to go to a home reno store or big box stores where they offer free design services for your new kitchen. Often, these “designers” have no formal training and are limited to recommending only their own products or minimal products from a few providers they have agreements with. It is worth it to either hire a designer, who is not limited in choices or to go with a reno company that has a designer on staff. A designer will be able to make the most of the space and help you budget; they know where to splurge and where to save.

Consider the size of your kitchen renovation

It may not be worth it for you to do a full kitchen renovation if you are going to be moving soon. You may not be able to make back the money you invested into your new kitchen in a move. So, rather than doing a full renovation, consider doing a cosmetic renovation. You can repaint or stain the kitchen cabinets, get new fixtures and a new sink, and even replace and upgrade the counters for cheap. You may even be lucky enough if your home is older, that under the linoleum there is beautiful hardwood.

Look for ways to gain space when renovating your kitchen

Homes that were built before the new millennium tend to have smaller kitchens. If you have a kitchen in an older home, then you will want to consider adding space to your kitchen if you are doing a major renovation. You can build into the hallway, remove a front hall closet, or even add an addition or a bump-out if you are truly strapped on space. You can also consider knocking out a wall to create an open floor plan, which can give you more kitchen space or at least the feel of more kitchen space.