Building a kitchen in your basement is a great idea if you have someone moving in, you’re renting the basement, or want an extra kitchen for your own family. These kitchens have a private apartment vibe and if done by experts of home addition companies, it can do wonders for the property. However, those planning to take on the project are usually not sure how to get it done. Here are some ways to make your basement kitchen addition easier.
Be Clear About The Purpose
The first thing you need to do when it comes to remodeling or building something new in your house is define and be clear about the purpose. Unless you have loads of money to spend, you should be clear-headed about why you need to go ahead with a specific project.
Having a purpose helps you move in the right direction. A basement kitchen could be used for several reasons. As mentioned earlier, it could be for your expanding family or a tenant. However, there is a difference between the two. If you intend to rent the place entirely, you will have to opt for options and design that is practical and offers value to the individual renting it.
However, if you are doing it for a closed one, you can spend on luxury items and accessories and choose a design that matches your needs and preferences. In simple words, you have a lot more flexibility. Furthermore, defining your purpose also helps avoid distractions.
It is often that homeowners end up spending money on unnecessary items during the process creating nothing but trouble down the road. Therefore, be very clear on why you need a basement kitchen.
Define A Budget
Another important factor that is mostly overlooked is the budget. Without a budget, you will simply be lost and spending on things that add no value to the space. Keep in mind that areas like the kitchen need to be practical.
If you are spending more on luxury kitchen items rather than on appliances that offer convenience, do not be surprised if you have to put in the same amount of effort every time to get things done. When building a new kitchen, you would expect to make things easier for yourself. If that is not the case, your project will fail.
A good way of defining your budget is by defining your preferences. Once you have decided on the most important kitchen components, you can move forward with all the extras like the model, variant, color scheme, etc.
Get A Permit
Projects like basement kitchens may require a permit. Depending on the state or region, you may have to inform the local authorities a few days or weeks before the project is supposed to begin so that they can offer you a permit. The reason is that building a basement let alone a kitchen puts the underground networks at risk.
It could also be that you threaten your neighbor’s foundation or cause leakages. Underground leakages are very difficult to spot and fix. You will need to spend a lot of money to fix such issues. Therefore, if you apply for a permit, a state individual will most likely pay a visit to your house and personally inspect it.
Furthermore, you might also need to hire an expert who will inspect the foundation of your house. If your house is decades old, it might not be a good idea to build a kitchen. You will have to correct the foundation first. You can only move ahead only if the prerequisites are considered.
Have A Plan Ready
Although building a basement kitchen is not a big project as compared to building a house, you still need a plan for it just as you would need for a condo remodel McLean. This has been a common case in the past where homeowners took the significance of planning for granted. But if you’re aware of this mistake of common homeowners, you can easily avoid it and make your basement kitchen project successful.
Preparing a plan is going to get you closest to reality. Considering the advancement in technology, you can hire an expert and request them to draw the entire plan on a software. This will give you an insight into every inch of the detail and how things will go.
Remember, the ideas in your head are totally different from the reality. You cannot focus on the minor details that can either make or break the project unless they are out there on the drawing. The last thing you would want is to tear everything down just because you forgot a minor detail that you wanted all this time. So, make sure you know the design and details you want and then work with an architect for a practical design.
Install Proper Ventilation
Basements can become suffocating if ventilation is done properly. But, since you are building a kitchen, you are surely going to need proper ventilation. While laying out a basement kitchen design, make sure you include the ventilation accessories. Keep in mind that people using the basement kitchen are going to cook all sorts of meals.
As a result, fumes and odors of every type will be produced as a byproduct. If you have kids and some elderly living in the house, you should not let them be exposed to such threatening factors as it could lead to chronic breathing problems. Therefore, make sure to add ventilation and connect it with the main ventilation system of the house.
For example, if you have a duct system installed, add a duct or two in the kitchen as well and connect it to the ventilation system so that the fumes and odors can be sucked in as soon as they develop.
Opt For A Good Lighting System
In addition to the basements needing proper ventilation, a good lighting system is also of utmost importance. It could get dark in there if the lights are turned off. Furthermore, the only way anyone is going to enter the basement kitchen is via the stairs.
So, that could be dangerous if there is no sufficient light. Plus, you will have to opt for a lighting system that creates an energetic and welcoming vibe. Depending on the space available, design, and budget, you can opt for wall or ceiling-mounted lights combined with free-standing lamps.
Keep in mind that a basement kitchen won’t have access to natural light. Therefore, you need a lighting system that doesn’t break your bank and offers a great output at the same time. If you are still confused, we suggest hiring an interior designer to help you identify the right lighting spots.
If you are smart with the allocation of the lighting system, you won’t need multiple sources. As a result, you will save yourself some money without feeling any difference in the lighting and brightness of the kitchen space.
Conclusion
Summing it up, building a basement kitchen is surely an exciting process. However, you need to follow the tips mentioned above to be smart and careful. If possible, hire a home addition contractor DC or a designer to help you along the way. This will surely cost you money but help you building a beautiful basement kitchen.