Kitchen Remodel – Recommendations?

[an]

[quote=rnen] Note that I am in the slab business so I my opinion is not without bias but I will offer it anyway. Using granite tile IMHO is half a step up from ceramic tile in appearance and you still have the grout lines to deal with…. which in my experience is the number one reason my clients remove the existing tile in the first place.

Granite tiles do not look anywhere near as good as slab granite. While you may not get 100% of your investment in slab granite back if you are installing it in a house to sell you WILL make the kitchen much more appealing than graite tile.
[/quote]
You hit the nail on the head right there. The main reason why we switched from ceramic tiles to granite slab was because of the grout and the look.

[quote=rnen]12K for a kitchen sounds quite high to me unless the kitchen is very big or they have selected a very expensive material. My average kitchen runs between $5-$6k including demo of the existing tops. We import our own stone and do not sub any of the granite fabrication or installation, it is all in house.

[/quote]
I also think 12k is very high, based on my shopping around for granite.

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of people talking here about Ikea. I’m a kitchen designer, and I sell modular cabinetry. I’ve been in the industry for 14 years. Ikea has its place. If you are buying only for a good look and little money, Ikea is fine. IF you want quality, craftsmanship, warranty… look elsewhere.

We’ve chosen not to carry that level of product. We tried carrying an RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinet, but it was a nightmare. My strong recommendation is that you get a cabinet that was built in a factory, not your living room, by a cabinet company, not your spouse with a stamped aluminum crescent wrench.

I own http://www.totalkitchenstore.com

We sell high quality stuff at wholesale prices. Sure, I have personal interest in the issue, but as someone who’s been in this industry for a long time, I would encourage anyone considering a remodel to buy cabinetry that comes ready to install, not ready to assemble.

Jason Alley

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of people talking here about Ikea. I’m a kitchen designer, and I sell modular cabinetry. I’ve been in the industry for 14 years. Ikea has its place. If you are buying only for a good look and little money, Ikea is fine. IF you want quality, craftsmanship, warranty… look elsewhere.

We’ve chosen not to carry that level of product. We tried carrying an RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinet, but it was a nightmare. My strong recommendation is that you get a cabinet that was built in a factory, not your living room, by a cabinet company, not your spouse with a stamped aluminum crescent wrench.

I own http://www.totalkitchenstore.com

We sell high quality stuff at wholesale prices. Sure, I have personal interest in the issue, but as someone who’s been in this industry for a long time, I would encourage anyone considering a remodel to buy cabinetry that comes ready to install, not ready to assemble.

Jason Alley

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of people talking here about Ikea. I’m a kitchen designer, and I sell modular cabinetry. I’ve been in the industry for 14 years. Ikea has its place. If you are buying only for a good look and little money, Ikea is fine. IF you want quality, craftsmanship, warranty… look elsewhere.

We’ve chosen not to carry that level of product. We tried carrying an RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinet, but it was a nightmare. My strong recommendation is that you get a cabinet that was built in a factory, not your living room, by a cabinet company, not your spouse with a stamped aluminum crescent wrench.

I own http://www.totalkitchenstore.com

We sell high quality stuff at wholesale prices. Sure, I have personal interest in the issue, but as someone who’s been in this industry for a long time, I would encourage anyone considering a remodel to buy cabinetry that comes ready to install, not ready to assemble.

Jason Alley

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of people talking here about Ikea. I’m a kitchen designer, and I sell modular cabinetry. I’ve been in the industry for 14 years. Ikea has its place. If you are buying only for a good look and little money, Ikea is fine. IF you want quality, craftsmanship, warranty… look elsewhere.

We’ve chosen not to carry that level of product. We tried carrying an RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinet, but it was a nightmare. My strong recommendation is that you get a cabinet that was built in a factory, not your living room, by a cabinet company, not your spouse with a stamped aluminum crescent wrench.

I own http://www.totalkitchenstore.com

We sell high quality stuff at wholesale prices. Sure, I have personal interest in the issue, but as someone who’s been in this industry for a long time, I would encourage anyone considering a remodel to buy cabinetry that comes ready to install, not ready to assemble.

Jason Alley

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of people talking here about Ikea. I’m a kitchen designer, and I sell modular cabinetry. I’ve been in the industry for 14 years. Ikea has its place. If you are buying only for a good look and little money, Ikea is fine. IF you want quality, craftsmanship, warranty… look elsewhere.

We’ve chosen not to carry that level of product. We tried carrying an RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinet, but it was a nightmare. My strong recommendation is that you get a cabinet that was built in a factory, not your living room, by a cabinet company, not your spouse with a stamped aluminum crescent wrench.

I own http://www.totalkitchenstore.com

We sell high quality stuff at wholesale prices. Sure, I have personal interest in the issue, but as someone who’s been in this industry for a long time, I would encourage anyone considering a remodel to buy cabinetry that comes ready to install, not ready to assemble.

Jason Alley

[WaitingToExhale]

What would the ballpark cost for a total remodel for a 1970’s 2000 sqft house be? How much time would it take? I understand that these are rather general questions, but I’m just trying to get a general idea of how much of a “discount” would be appropriate if a place needed a total remodel.

[WaitingToExhale]

What would the ballpark cost for a total remodel for a 1970’s 2000 sqft house be? How much time would it take? I understand that these are rather general questions, but I’m just trying to get a general idea of how much of a “discount” would be appropriate if a place needed a total remodel.

[WaitingToExhale]

What would the ballpark cost for a total remodel for a 1970’s 2000 sqft house be? How much time would it take? I understand that these are rather general questions, but I’m just trying to get a general idea of how much of a “discount” would be appropriate if a place needed a total remodel.

[WaitingToExhale]

What would the ballpark cost for a total remodel for a 1970’s 2000 sqft house be? How much time would it take? I understand that these are rather general questions, but I’m just trying to get a general idea of how much of a “discount” would be appropriate if a place needed a total remodel.

[WaitingToExhale]

What would the ballpark cost for a total remodel for a 1970’s 2000 sqft house be? How much time would it take? I understand that these are rather general questions, but I’m just trying to get a general idea of how much of a “discount” would be appropriate if a place needed a total remodel.

[NotCranky]

It goes without saying, but there is nothing wrong with beautiful slab stone and high quality installations like you can see at rnen’s site. From perusing his site and being somewhat familiar with the industry, I think it is safe to say that he has a high quality product and service. It would not be fair to comparision shop him against home depot, Lowes or probably most other options and yet he sounds reasonable.

The granite squares are just a budget conscious and in my case (sometimes) DIY option.If the luxury is similarly taken down a notch throughout a house it really adds up. It is also cheap/safe enough to put in rentals and yet pleasing to somewhat discerning tenants.
I don’t agree that it is only a half step up from tile. It is still granite…an obviously great surface.The grout lines are much fewer and very small.Of course it is true that most those who are willing to go top of line would not want them.For me a twelve by twelve installation is a small step down from slab(depending on the quality of each job), and the full tile back splash makes up for the difference to some degree if respecting budget is still factored in. You could even say the grout lines in the granite and tile back splash compliment each other in a charming sort of way. I like the full mortar bed with granite tiles, which doesn’t come with slabs. A cracked tile or chipped tile can easily be replaced.

[NotCranky]

It goes without saying, but there is nothing wrong with beautiful slab stone and high quality installations like you can see at rnen’s site. From perusing his site and being somewhat familiar with the industry, I think it is safe to say that he has a high quality product and service. It would not be fair to comparision shop him against home depot, Lowes or probably most other options and yet he sounds reasonable.

The granite squares are just a budget conscious and in my case (sometimes) DIY option.If the luxury is similarly taken down a notch throughout a house it really adds up. It is also cheap/safe enough to put in rentals and yet pleasing to somewhat discerning tenants.
I don’t agree that it is only a half step up from tile. It is still granite…an obviously great surface.The grout lines are much fewer and very small.Of course it is true that most those who are willing to go top of line would not want them.For me a twelve by twelve installation is a small step down from slab(depending on the quality of each job), and the full tile back splash makes up for the difference to some degree if respecting budget is still factored in. You could even say the grout lines in the granite and tile back splash compliment each other in a charming sort of way. I like the full mortar bed with granite tiles, which doesn’t come with slabs. A cracked tile or chipped tile can easily be replaced.

[NotCranky]

It goes without saying, but there is nothing wrong with beautiful slab stone and high quality installations like you can see at rnen’s site. From perusing his site and being somewhat familiar with the industry, I think it is safe to say that he has a high quality product and service. It would not be fair to comparision shop him against home depot, Lowes or probably most other options and yet he sounds reasonable.

The granite squares are just a budget conscious and in my case (sometimes) DIY option.If the luxury is similarly taken down a notch throughout a house it really adds up. It is also cheap/safe enough to put in rentals and yet pleasing to somewhat discerning tenants.
I don’t agree that it is only a half step up from tile. It is still granite…an obviously great surface.The grout lines are much fewer and very small.Of course it is true that most those who are willing to go top of line would not want them.For me a twelve by twelve installation is a small step down from slab(depending on the quality of each job), and the full tile back splash makes up for the difference to some degree if respecting budget is still factored in. You could even say the grout lines in the granite and tile back splash compliment each other in a charming sort of way. I like the full mortar bed with granite tiles, which doesn’t come with slabs. A cracked tile or chipped tile can easily be replaced.

[NotCranky]

It goes without saying, but there is nothing wrong with beautiful slab stone and high quality installations like you can see at rnen’s site. From perusing his site and being somewhat familiar with the industry, I think it is safe to say that he has a high quality product and service. It would not be fair to comparision shop him against home depot, Lowes or probably most other options and yet he sounds reasonable.

The granite squares are just a budget conscious and in my case (sometimes) DIY option.If the luxury is similarly taken down a notch throughout a house it really adds up. It is also cheap/safe enough to put in rentals and yet pleasing to somewhat discerning tenants.
I don’t agree that it is only a half step up from tile. It is still granite…an obviously great surface.The grout lines are much fewer and very small.Of course it is true that most those who are willing to go top of line would not want them.For me a twelve by twelve installation is a small step down from slab(depending on the quality of each job), and the full tile back splash makes up for the difference to some degree if respecting budget is still factored in. You could even say the grout lines in the granite and tile back splash compliment each other in a charming sort of way. I like the full mortar bed with granite tiles, which doesn’t come with slabs. A cracked tile or chipped tile can easily be replaced.

[Author]

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