This is what was discovered in a recent survey conducted by ReliableRemodeler.com, a leading home remodeling resource for homeowners providing a trusted connection between homeowners and local contractors. “Regardless of whether they were in the midst of a kitchen remodel, or simply thinking about one, cabinets, countertops and flooring were the three features homeowners cited as being the most important.

For home owners that were presently remodeling 35 percent were replacing their kitchen cabinets, 24 percent were changing their flooring, and 21 percent were updating their kitchen counter tops. Other popular elements were new appliances, a change of paint and replacing sinks.

“It’s no surprise that these areas are most important to homeowners,” Eric Doebele, CEO of ReliableRemodeler, stated. “Cabinets and countertops are the most used area of the kitchen, so homeowners usually think of replacing these features first. Well designed cabinet and counter space is the most important element of making a kitchen efficient and enjoyable, and can provide the largest return on investment.”

When planning to remodel their kitchen, 76 percent of homeowners simply chose to replace or update specific elements , such as their kitchen countertops and cabinets. Only 24 percent of homeowners with kitchen remodeling projects stated that they would be creating an entirely new kitchen from scratch.

ReliableRemodeler.com is a leading nationwide home improvement contractor referral service working to bring together homeowners and contractors. To date, the company has matched over 450,000 homeowners with home improvement projects to quality, local contractors. Whether you want to remodel your entire kitchen or just update with kitchen cabinets remodeling or replace your kitchen counter tops a good contractor can’t be beat, they may have one in your area.

Some more popular wood species choices are maple, oak, cherry, red birch, white birch, pine, walnut, hickory and ash. They all have different characteristics. Some are hardwood, while others aren’t. The natural shades and grains are distinctive and how they will look after staining is one thing you don’t want to overlook. Here are the characteristics of a few.

1) Oak – a strong hardwood with a long, linear grain, this is the mainstay of the cabinetry and furniture industries. Oak coloration can range from golden blond to deeper tones. Glazing, especially in the darker shades, tends to enhance the additional grain patterns of kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

2) Hickory – is another strong and heavy hardwood, it has vibrant grain patterns and wide color variation. A clear or light stain will maximize the color, while darker stain selections will give this wood distinguishing characteristics all its own.

3) Maple – this hardwood offers versatility and a fine, smooth grain. Varying in color from nearly white to almost reddish brown it accepts a variety of stain colors to good effect. Mineral or sugar streaks occur naturally in maple and can vary from piece to piece. This is more noticeable in lighter stains of our bathroom and kitchen cabinets.

4) Cherry – offers warm rich color shadings with a distinctive grain pattern. It can range in color from nearly white to dark reddish brown. Cherry will darken when exposed to light, more than most wood species, especially in light stains. Cherry is a multi-colored wood characterized by shades of red, white and brown. With time, darker tones will turn a deep reddish brown, while light areas will mellow to medium yellows and brown.

This brief description of wood species for kitchen and bathroom cabinets is not comprehensive, and not meant to be. It is imperative to do a little research to get the full benefit of your decorating ideas. The best choice made will be based on your own design ideas and the usage of the room you are decorating/redecorating.

You should visit local galleries to see what finishes and wood species actually look like. A quick way to get an idea of what fits is online. The internet is full of cabinet manufacturers and merchant websites that feature photos of kitchen and bathroom cabinet wood species, stains and finishes. Many will send samples of items you are interested in. What ever you do, do not overlook this vital task. The worst thing in the world is to have kitchen or bathroom cabinets installed and then realize they don’t fit aesthetically.

Cabinets: $10,000-$80,000
• Trends: Mixed woods and finishes with lots of bells and whistles like designer hoods and extensive moldings. There’s also a huge movement to the “green” side of things, like cabinets manufactured with urea-free formaldehyde. European-style frameless cabinet boxes are another trend, as are glass-front doors.
• Cost: Price range is from $10,000 up to $80,000 or more, depending on type of cabinet — box vs. custom made — and kitchen size.
• Budget: Allow 40 percent to 50 percent of overall remodeling budget for cabinets.
Appliances: $6,000-$40,000
• Trends: High-end commercial grade (if you can afford it) stainless steel. The more efficient and energy-saving, the better. And gas cook tops continue to be more popular than electric.
• Cost: A complete appliance package will start around $6,000 for standard appliances up to $40,000 plus for commercial high- end products. Why such a big discrepancy? Brand affects the price. An energy-efficient Maytag refrigerator costs about $1,200, compared to a custom-panel Sub-Zero refrigerator that’s about $12,000.
• Budget: Allow 20 percent to 30 percent of your budget for appliances.
Countertops: $35-$80 per square foot
• Trends: Solid surfaces remain the preferred choice. And with the huge growth of imports and less expensive look-alikes on the market, adding granite has become an option for almost any budget.
• Cost: You need to really look at your budget. Do you want granite? Marble? Concrete? Laminate? The options are endless, and the price range is wide. A typical laminate countertop in an average-sized kitchen can run $35 to $40 a square foot, whereas a solid hunk of granite runs about $80, depending on the particular piece.
• Budget: Allow 20 percent to 25 percent of your budget for countertops…(more)…

When it comes to your kitchen’s design the use of mixing elements can be done to great effect. It is becoming common to use two different woods, glaze and/or stain colors on walls and base cabinets, with an accompanying third color, stain or glaze treatment on island cabinetry.
Contrasting dark and light colors are proving to be homeowners’ choices in kitchen designs.

Another popular trend is using cabinetry to blend a kitchen with an adjoining family room. Some homeowners are extending built in cabinetry into the family room. Like using cabinetry around a plasma TV that matches the kitchen cabinets. Doing this makes the kitchen appear larger.

While mixing and matching countertop materials is another design element being used with good results. For instance, the use of a granite countertop that is dark in color for the kitchen island to add flair, with a more subtle kitchen countertop for the perimeter.

Overall using materials and colors, on your kitchen cabinets and countertops, that contrast and/or complement one another you can give your kitchen a one of a kind personalized and stylish touch.

Prices for hardware for your kitchen cabinet can vary from as little as a few dollars up to as much as $70 per piece, which can add up quickly when renovating even an average kitchen, which generally requires about 40 handles and pulls. Gunn insists, like with any fashion accessory, that the hardware should complement but not overwhelm the room, and pieces should complement the style of door or blend with the metal finish of the faucet, light fixtures, or appliances. An example would be adding nickel or matte stainless hardware to compliment a stainless fridge and stove. Stainless and brushed nickel are generally the most popular choices because they are sleek and sophisticated, but copper, hammered silver, hand-painted ceramic, and even Swarovski crystal are gaining popularity, according to Catherine Pulcine of CPI Interiors.

New hardware can also revitalize old cabinets, at a fraction of the cost of replacing all of the drawers and cabinets. With so many styles and finishes to choose from, however, selecting a hardware set can be a daunting task. The general consensus is that hardware is purely a matter of taste and personal preference and there are really no wrong choices. So be sure to select a hardware style for your kitchen cabinets that you enjoy.