Thinking about renovating your kitchen? Three ideas to help you get started

Whether you’re looking to organize a pantry or demolish an entire kitchen, every step of home remodeling can seem quite daunting.

For Kimberly and Israel Jones, first-time homeowners in New Jersey, the kitchen in their remodeled apartment felt dark and cluttered. The couple featured in “George to the Rescue” envisioned a lighter space with space for cooking and space for family dinners with their two daughters.

When it comes to remodeling a kitchen, there are a few things to consider before you pick up the hammer and get to work.

Before the George Rescue Crew could begin the renovation, they had a concept and plan for Jones’ dream kitchen and gathered the necessary materials.

If you’re thinking about a kitchen remodel but don’t know where to start, you need to start with a goal. Whether it’s a brighter space with natural light or an organized pantry, here are a few ideas:

Creating a brighter kitchen with new and improved cabinetry

If you want to create a lighter space, kitchen cabinets can be a great place to start. The refurbishment team started from scratch, removing the Joneses’ old cabinets and completely replacing them. White furniture with black hardware, combined with natural light, created a much more open space, despite still being small in square feet.

If you’re looking for an easier, more budget-friendly option, consider painting your cabinets.

Wood cabinets are perfect for painting, according to Lowe’s Hardware, but you can actually paint any surface by sanding it down with sandpaper.

Homeowners will want to prime their cabinets before taking on the brush. A primer prepares the wood for painting – like the base coat you apply before painting your nails.

Tidying up the kitchen pantry

Yes, wire shelving is handy, but in many kitchens, it’s also an eyesore (and prone to clutter).

The solution that the George to the Rescue team came up with was floating cabinets and under-seat storage at the dining table.

Bright cabinetry holds everything the Jones family needs in the kitchen, while also keeping the clutter out of sight.

Their new dining space features an installed bench with under-seat storage that’s perfect for kitchen linens or pots and pans.

Consider purchasing new technology

Installing a new oven or refrigerator may require a certain level of expertise and a larger budget. However, homeowners looking to make changes or upgrade their kitchen are usually top priority.

For the Jones family, stainless steel appliances were the finishing touch to their kitchen renovation.

The silver appliances work well with the black hardware on the cabinets and really complete the space.

Check out additional home hacks and watch more full episodes of George to the Rescue:

Lifeguard George performs a major overhaul of a Marine veteran’s water-damaged basement.