Finally! Someone has written a kitchen-remodeling book that is based in reality. Don’t get me wrong; I love reading remodeling books that create lavish kitchens with all the bells and whistles. The photographs are gorgeous and inspiring.
I would love to have a walk-in pantry, professional indoor grill, wok burner, and vaulted copper ceilings with stone floors (taken from an English castle and imported for a small fee). However, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars and putting an addition onto my house doesn’t seem very sensible.
Kitchens for the Rest of Us by Peter Lemos (
compare prices) is a book for real people with modest remodeling goals and modest budgets. Lemos, former editor-in-chief of Home magazine, has created a how-to book that is practical and no-nonsense, yet interesting even for a casual reader.
Lemos suggests five basic steps to accomplish your remodeling goals:
- Taking Stock – What is your remodeling goal? What do you like or don’t like about your current kitchen? How much do you want to spend?
- Finding Your Style – What kind of look do you want your kitchen to have? Country rustic, cutting-edge modern, Spanish villa?
- Working with Pros – Lemos suggests consulting professionals before starting your project – architects, contractors, and kitchen designers. Even if you don’t hire them, you can gain valuable insights and ideas from their recommendations.
- Defining Your Space – How do you want your new kitchen organized? An efficient plan will save you money.
- Making It Happen – Put all these decisions together and fill in the details to create your master plan.
The remainder of the book is spent looking at twenty real-life kitchen projects. Using the five steps above, Lemos walks the reader through the development of each makeover. He goes into detail the thought processes behind the construction, what the homeowners wanted to accomplish, and how their goals were achieved (including the obstacles they faced and how they overcame them).
There are a variety of styles and design solutions covered including a charming country kitchen, a modern bungalow, an eco-friendly room, and a Victorian-style kitchen. All the kitchens are modest in size and budget. Separate chapters are used to cover specific topics in detail: Counters, Cabinets, Islands, Storage, Appliances, and Lighting.
Kitchens for the Rest of Us is a very useful tool for anyone thinking of remodeling their kitchen. Even a modest remodeling project is an enormous investment. Reading this book will give direction to your early planning and help you find solutions to problems you may encounter during the project. Following Lemos’ advice should make your remodeling project less stressful and save any homeowner money in the long run.
Kitchens for the Rest of Us by Peter Lemos. The Taunton Press. November 1, 2005. ISBN 1-56158-759-1.
