Kitchen renovations are nothing if not complex – a multitude of details all have to come together to create a harmony of design. It’s critical that this harmony also addresses functionality – after all, the kitchen is the heart of the home.
The key to avoid kitchen chaos is to involve the cabinet designer at the point when the architect or builder is drafting the project drawings. Some details, such as maintaining a minimum 24″ clearance between counter and island, make for an awkward tap dance if ignored. Room for crown moulding needs to be factored in if the fridge has a wall on one or both sides. All too often, the location of the fridge, stove and sink are determined without consulting cabinetry design and once electrician and plumber move ahead, the consequence can be expensive redos or annoyingly inconvenient placements of plumbing and electrical fixtures.
The only way to ensure success on the complex kitchen front is collaboration. Either the homeowner or general contractor needs to take the initiative to ensure all the trades are working together. The disconnect between trades happens less frequently with the larger projects where a designer or project manager assumes the role of coordinator.
Kitchens in Muskoka have unique features based on local attributes. Open concept designs prevail to accommodate entertaining space while maximizing lakeside views. For unheated cottages, one has to consider that wood (that expands and contracts with humidity and temperature) may not be as appropriate as medium-density fibreboard (MDF).
Budget, of course, dictates choice. In Muskoka, a kitchen runs anywhere from the modest $7,000 to the pampered chef’s domain at $250,000. Setting a budget at the outset will help determine scope and design decisions. Equally as variant is completion time. Six to eight weeks is common for a small kitchen project while a six to eight-month timeline is not unrealistic for the larger ones.
Whether a large or small kitchen project, planning, consultation and collaboration are all critical to the end result – kitchen bliss.
Founded in 1985, Woodsmiths of Muskoka has built a reputation for supplying quality custom kitchens and vanities. They constantly strive to be the best at what they do, and their goal is to provide clients with expert advice, quality custom products, professional installation, and exceptional service.
Woodsmiths of Muskoka
Don MacLean
President and General Manager
[email protected]
www.woodsmiths.ca
Main Showroom and Factory
23 Monica Lane, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1P8
Telephone: (705) 645-3191; Fax: (705) 645-6482
Auxiliary Showroom
61 King William Street, Huntsville ON P1H 1E5
Telephone: (705) 789-2425; Fax: (705) 789-2425
