10 tips for those planning a kitchen renovation
A Life / / January 06, 2021
Tatiana Vasilieva
Interior designer in the company "Repair Masters».
1. Choose a durable flooring
In the kitchen, something is constantly falling and spilling onto the floor. Therefore, the coating should be resistant to mechanical stress, it should not be afraid of water and lose its appearance from frequent cleaning.
Suitable for the kitchen floor:
- ceramic tile;
- porcelain stoneware;
- linoleum;
- quartz ‑ vinyl tiles;
- bulk epoxy floor.
Linoleum is the most affordable material. Variants of 32-42 classes of wear resistance are suitable for the kitchen. Such linoleum has an average price of 500-700 rubles per m² and lasts 10-15 years.
Quartz-vinyl tiles are stronger and more durable than linoleum - the period of operation is not less than 15 years. For the kitchen, they choose quartz-vinyl of 32-42 classes of wear resistance, this costs from 800 rubles per m².
Ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware and bulk epoxy floors are the most durable options. Their service life is calculated in decades. But for the kitchen they are recommended less often than quartz-vinyl and linoleum: such coatings are tough, so the dishes break when they fall. Prices for tiles and porcelain stoneware start at 250 rubles per m², but
stacking is expensive - from 800 rubles per m². The cost of the epoxy floor includes immediately the payment for the work, prices start from 2,000 rubles per m².Reading now😌
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The above materials will survive daily cleaning of floors and even a pipe break. If sharp knives and heavy hammers are not dropped on them too often, they will last the entire duration of their assigned period.
It is not worth choosing coatings for the kitchen floor that are afraid of water and dirt: laminate, parquet, carpet. They will quickly deteriorate.
2. Place the warm floor correctly
Tile, porcelain stoneware and epoxy flooring are cold to the touch. To make it comfortable to walk barefoot, a heating system is laid under them - warm floor.
The location of this structure must be properly planned. Furniture and household appliances should not heat up, otherwise their service life will be reduced, moreover, you will be wasting money for electricity. Therefore, a warm floor is laid only where people walk.
Before installation, decide where to install the headset, stove, refrigerator, sideboard. Draw a kitchen plan and mark where floor heating is needed and where not.
3. Protect walls in your work area
Areas of walls above the slab and countertop are often dirty. They must be protected from splashes, grease, food pieces. To do this, an apron is laid out in the working area - a section of the wall protected by a stable material. Most often, ceramic tiles, tempered glass or chipboard panels are used for decoration.
- Tile - the traditional option. She is not afraid of grease, dirt, soot, water. It is fireproof, which is why it is used in kitchens with gas plates. Such an apron will last 15-30 years. But the seams between the tiles are difficult to clean, so over time, the coating loses its outer gloss.
- Tempered glass (skinned from glass) - a practical option. Combines the benefits of tiles and ease of cleaning. Glass can be plain or with a pattern at the request of the customer. Skinali serves up to 50 years. The disadvantage is the high cost: a glass apron costs from 4,500 rubles per m².
- Chipboard panels - a budget option. Usually such an apron is selected under the countertop and installed together with the kitchen. Pros - quick installation and low price. Minus - short service life in comparison with tiles and skins: 5-10 years. In addition, chipboard panels are not fireproof, so they are not used in kitchens with gas stoves.
4. Count the required number of outlets
Set only a couple sockets in the working area - a mistake: for sure they will be immediately occupied by a kettle and a microwave. To use, for example, a blender or toaster, you have to disconnect one device and connect another.
The kitchen must have sockets for the refrigerator, stove, oven, microwave. They are marked on the plan in accordance with the location of the equipment. They immediately check which outlets are needed: for example, three-phase ones are sometimes installed under electric stoves. They allow you to connect the device to a more powerful network and have more contacts than conventional options.
The socket for the refrigerator is connected to a separate circuit breaker, independent of the input, is allows you to de-energize the entire apartment, leaving only the refrigerator active if the owners leave for a long time at home.
To calculate the number of outlets in the work area, estimate how many appliances you use each day, and add two or three more points to this number. If you need access to the power supply near the sink, buy a waterproof outlet - with a cover.
5. Plan your lighting
The kitchen has different scenarios of use: they prepare food, drink coffee in the morning, arrange family dinners. All this should be foreseen in lighting.
In the working area, as a rule, built-in lamps are placed and lighting is installed under the upper cabinets. A lamp or sconce is hung over the dining table.
If the kitchen is small - 5–6 m², a lamp in the center of the ceiling and lighting under the cabinets are enough. But you can't do with a chandelier alone: it will be inconvenient to cook, and in the evening the room will seem too dark.
6. Do not block ventilation
It happens that when installing the hood, the ventilation hole is completely closed. This cannot be done, especially if a gas stove or a gas water heater is installed in the kitchen - in case of a leak, gas will accumulate in the apartment, and not leave through the ventilation.
To get it right install the hood, you will need a special ventilation grill. In it, half of the area is occupied by a pipe, and another half - by holes for ventilation.
7. Use the "working triangle" rule
When planning a kitchen, use the "working triangle" rule. It was invented to reduce unnecessary movement during cooking.
The tops of the "triangle" are refrigerator, sink and stove. Usually they are arranged in this order because of the sequence of actions: they took out the food, washed it, cooked it.
A distance of at least 1.3 m and no more than 2.3 m is left between the nearest peaks of the "working triangle". The area of the entire zone should not exceed 5–7 m². More roomy to make scrambled eggs for breakfast a full meal workout. And if you place the refrigerator, sink and stove too close, there will not be enough free work space - this is also inconvenient.
8. Consider the location of electrical appliances
When planning the location of electrical appliances, take into account the trajectory of movement in the kitchen and the growth of the owners.
The refrigerator is usually installed in the corner - there it fits comfortably into the space and looks best. If necessary, the door is outweighed so that it opens from the side kitchen set.
The oven and microwave are installed in lower cabinets or tall cases. Here it is necessary to take into account the growth of the one who most often cooks in the family: it will be inconvenient for a short person to use a microwave oven at the level of the upper cabinets. To find out which option suits you best, walk through a large kitchen furniture store and see the different solutions live.
9. Find the optimal height for the base cabinets
The standard height of the base cabinets is 85 cm. Together with the worktop, the height of the work surface is 88–91 cm. But, for example, for a person 150 or 190 cm tall, it will not work: it will be too high or low. In this case, it is better to make custom-made cabinets of non-standard dimensions - ideally, if there is 15 cm between the person's elbow and the tabletop.
If people of different heights live in the apartment, the height of the furniture is selected according to the one who most often trains. Or they provide work surfaces of different parameters - for example, a lower countertop and a higher kitchen island.
10. Choose a durable countertop
Water and food juices are often spilled on the countertop. It happens that it is hit with a knife or a meat hammer. And sometimes they even put a hot pan on it.
In order not to order a new countertop in a couple of years, pay attention to the material. It should be easy to clean, not afraid of water and accidental blows.
Artificial stone is the best option. It is practically indestructible: it does not deteriorate from water and high temperatures, does not absorb dirt, and is easy to clean. Such a tabletop will last a couple of decades.
Laminate is also good. It is cheaper than artificial stone, and high-quality laminate countertops are reliably protected from water and are easy to clean. However, they remain with knife marks and traces of hot pots.
There are other options: wood and natural stone. They look beautiful, but they require careful maintenance and are expensive. The tree swells, cracks, changes color. Some types of natural stone (for example, marble) have a porous texture and absorb liquids. This will leave stains from spilled wine or tomato juice.
Things to Remember
- The plan saves you from unnecessary expenses and inconvenience when renovation.
- Kitchen finishing materials should not be afraid of water, dirt, high temperatures and wet cleaning.
- Long-lasting materials are not necessarily expensive.
- There are never too many outlets. Sveta too.
- Safety comes first. If your home has a gas stove, choose fire-resistant materials and do not block the ventilation grill.
- The kitchen adapts to the person, and not the person to the kitchen. Consider your height, lifestyle and needs.
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