When we talk with our clients in planning for a kitchen renovation there are a couple of areas we try to address outside of the standard questions and decisions surrounding the kitchen cabinets and I’d like to focus on those with you as well.  Most likely you are in the process of considering a kitchen renovation project or perhaps in the middle of such a project now.  Let’s address some options for you that honestly would only be cost effective if you tear out older kitchen cabinets.

Technology for most of us has become an integral part of our lives through entertainment, news, communication and even time management therefore it should have a consideration for your future kitchen.   Even if technology has not driven your life personally it has for potential buyers so if you do intend on selling apply some basic inexpensive options and instantly set your home apart from the rest.

 Are You Wired?

 Let’s first start with the power since it provides the backbone to all we will discuss in this article.  Of course, it’s best to obtain the professional service of a licensed electrician but make sure you have enough power in your kitchen to add the necessary lighting or appliance changes.  Keep in mind that appliance electrical work tends to be more expensive than say standard lighting.

An entire article is planned on the topic of lighting alone due to the overwhelming influence in a kitchen renovation project however, for the purpose of this article allow me to briefly point out what lighting options should be considered. 

1. If upper cabinets do not extend to the ceiling consider over cabinet lighting with dedicated switch.  This makes for great party impact to have a soft glow above the cabinet area not to mention Christmas light installation.  Lighting should be considered for all upper cabinets and can be added quickly with rope lighting hidden behind the crown molding at the top of your cabinet run.
2. In addition, under cabinet lighting is almost a given with every kitchen project so research this option well.  At the time of this article I suggest Xeon lighting since it can be hard wired to a switch, it’s generally dimmable but most importantly it’s fairly inexpensive.  Until LED lighting comes down in cost this remains the best budget conscious choice in my opinion.
3. Last but not least – recessed lighting over every 4 feet of kitchen counter space, placed directly above the counter area.  You cannot go wrong with recessed lighting unless you don’t plan on placing it directly above your counter tops.  If you simply create lighting additions in the room center shadows will be viewable on the counter when you stand to work unless under cabinet lighting is turned on.  We always recommend to clients to add lighting over the counters and in the general room area and consider switches on both groups if you can afford the nominal increase.  At the time of this article the going rate for recessed lights is about $125.00 per light with everything included.

Wiring a Kitchen for the Future

When you consider what life was like less than twenty years ago and what it’s become today, most of us wouldn’t have had a clue that DVDs, CDs, LCD readouts, the Internet and cell phones would be as common.

Dishwashers, refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers and much more are ruled by high-tech advances. Overall, families have adjusted quickly to these changes. But what will the next wave bring? If you’re going to be remodeling your kitchen, you’ll want to ensure that your new cooking area is as ready as it can be for the next wave of high technology which is why I want to point out the following.  Networking.

Don’t just think of the internet as a source of information.  Consider it the avenue to control your appliances.   Is this hard to believe?  Currently, various cable and satellite companies are advertising the ability to program your receiver to record your favorite shows.  This is done through the use of the internet.  Although not yet cost effective but coming down in price in the not so distant future is the ability to turn on/off coffee makers, check temperatures within the refrigerator or even turn the household HVAC system down to the desired vacation setting after you’ve gone to the beach.  All this and more is here and is coming down in price as more people turn high-tech.

That being said, consider running several CAT6 network cables within your kitchen and do so in pairs.  Meaning, run two cables not just one for each “drop” location.  High Definition television can now be transferred from your main living room to another room simply through CAT6 network cable (when run in pairs).. but the networking cable offers other options too.

Two other smart kitchen innovations, both of which are paperless, include a digital calendar that displays on a large screen and accessible remotely.  Ever through about a recipe projection device that downloads recipes off the Internet and projects the image onto a selected surface?

In closing, if you are renovating your kitchen, then the best time to prepare for the future is when the walls are exposed. Run Internet cables with Internet outlets. Also, it’s more proactive to run a conduit or two through which you can fish additional wires or cables.

Hard to know for sure what tomorrow brings.. but we do know that multimedia, internet, and communication will be integrated very soon.  Visit us at www.lyndencraft.com