Renovating Kitchen

Michael Holigan: Kitchens just aren't what they used to be, and that's good news. But if you're modernizing a kitchen that hasn't changed since the days of Ozzie and Harriet, how do you choose from the thousands of new products out there? That's the problem Barbie Borlaug faced.

Barbie Borlaug: Well, our oven is old. This hinge is, you know, almost broken.

MH: What the Borlaug's want is a bigger kitchen with new appliances, new everything. That will mean changing the size and shape of rooms. They briefly discussed getting that by moving to a larger home, but they didn't want to leave their neighborhood and beautiful backyard. So they decided to make renovations in the kitchen. It's such a complicated job that the Borlaug's have hired a trio of experts - an architect, an interior designer and contractor, Bob Curry. Curry warns the transformation won't be cheap. A kitchen is the most expensive room to remodel in your home.

Bob Curry: The national average is a little under $20,000.00 to gut an existing kitchen, take everything out, throw it away, put everything new in including appliances. It takes somewhere between eight and 20 trades, individual different job skills to make the kitchen happen.

MH: The remodeling the Borlaug's are doing is becoming increasingly popular. They're moving walls to expand the living space in the kitchen, plus make room for entertaining.

Patricia Magadini: Well, I've got the construction documents pretty well laid out here.

MH: That's where the expertise of architect Patricia Magadini becomes invaluable.

P. Mag: In remodeling, particularly, you are going to run across all sorts of electrical, mechanical, plumbing problems, things that are going to be reconfigured. And your average homeowner doesn't really understand how those systems work. The architect can look at the existing systems and determine whether it would be feasible to move them or so costly that you need to work around their existing locations.

MH: Patricia's plan for the Borlaug kitchen calls for a lot of moving. Right now, two separate dining rooms take up most of the space. Appliances and storage are crammed into a small dark kitchen. The new plan calls for the kitchen to be used for storage and laundry. The old laundry becomes a pantry. New space for a kitchen and breakfast area is added by enclosing the concrete patio. But that's only the beginning of the professional advice Barbie is getting.

BC: Which sample are you going to use? Which one of these?

BB: Well, we are leaning towards actually these....

MH: Priscilla McBurnett's job is to help Barbie furnish her new kitchen. That means choosing a granite for her countertops, the tile for her backsplash behind her stove, faucets, flooring, fixtures and fabrics.

Priscilla McBurnett: You have to start by pulling some things that people want and can actually see - pulling samples like the granite samples, pulling fabric samples and saying, you know, this is what this would look like with this. Most people before they start this process have already gone through magazines. Barbie actually had a notebook of things that she liked and things she did not like.

MH: The Borlaug's will probably spend about $40,000.00 to remodel their kitchen. The contractor, Bob Curry, says you can cut costs by compromising on big ticket items. Don't move doors, walls and utility lines. Keep appliances, if possible. Take a look at refinishing cabinets. And use vinyl flooring instead of more expensive ceramic or wood. When it comes to professional help, spending a little money may save you a lot more. A designer, for example, can buy some expensive kitchen items at wholesale prices. Even on smaller projects architects can prevent costly mistakes.

P. Mag: Most architects will gladly consult with someone on an hourly basis.

MH: Patricia Magadini says her average consulting fee is about $50.00 an hour. She's tried to prepare Barbie for what life will be like when her home becomes a construction zone. We're now two months into the kitchen remodeling project and they're starting to hang the drywall. Here's what life is like for Barbie Borlaug.

BB: Well, it's been pretty hard for us. Well, this is now changed to the living room, breakfast room, dining room and kitchen.

MH: The Borlaug's refrigerator now sits in the living room. That's also where they prepare meals with a microwave. More often they go out to eat. The dust from construction has become so bad Barbie's house is cleaned three times a week. She was told this project would take just four months, but guess what, when month seven rolled around the kitchen still wasn't done.

BB: No, I won't scream yet. I'll scream out of excitement when you come back.

MH: But there is a happy ending at this home. After enduring dust, inconvenience and a lack of home cooked meals, Barbie has a bigger state-of-the-art kitchen. New hardwood floors, granite counters, built-in appliances and plenty of storage space. Her advice to others brave enough to tackle a big kitchen overhaul - rely on professionals to guide your decisions. But plan for the project to take twice as long as they predict.

Episode 53 1997 - 98 Season

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