Posts tagged with "kitchen island"

10×10 Kitchen Remodel with Peninsula to Island Conversion

Your kitchen and living area are the heart of your home but many San Diego home owners are working remotely which means that 80% of their day is spent in the kitchen!

Check out this article to read about how home owners are making their kitchens more work compatible.

  1. Peninsula converted to an island
  2. Total remodel or partial
  3. Open up the layout

Man, we know about how this year has gone and we totally understand that you're needing to maximize your home for the holidays and 2021.

But don’t worry. In this article, we'll show you where to start! 

Read on for the first three things you MUST CONSIDER before you begin!

Teknik Testimonial

Peninsula Converted to an Island

The thing is, a peninsula used to be a good idea. 

Home owners find that it usually restricts traffic whereas an island allows for better flow and movement...especially if there are two or more people who need to be in the kitchen at once. 

If you'd like a cleaner look, more efficient storage, and more total storage (yes, there is a difference), then go ahead and ask your contractor today about ripping out your peninsula and  building you and island. 

If you'd like depth and complementary colors in your kitchen, going with an island that's a different color! Since your paint, flooring, and counter tops are all uniform, you'll have a simple, classy look that is timeless, bright, and beautiful.

Total Remodel or Partial?

It would be a partial remodel if you wanted to replace paint, flooring, counter tops and appliances. But in this case, you'd keep your plumbing, electrical, lighting, cabinets, etc.

The only problem is that replacing appliances means new appliance sizes. New appliance sizes mean new cabinets, new cabinets means that your island or peninsula will be replaced, which means that your flooring will be replaced. And this all means that you've gone from a partial remodel to a total remodel. 

So consider if you'd like to buy new appliances or keep your existing ones. This will make all the difference. 

Take It From Our Happy Customers


"Kevin had the work done as if it were his own house and the project was completed before the contractual completion date."  - Jack B., San Diego, CA

“This is our second remodel with Kevin. Once again, done on TIME! Great job! Just sorry we’re out of bathrooms! 🙂 He’s on speed dial in case we have another project.”   - Gary G., Encinitas

“Kevin told me to allow 25 days and it was done in just over two weeks.”  - Gina H., San Diego, CA

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

Open Up the Layout

The new thing in 2020 is having enough space. Imagine that. 

When you have to work from home, it's easy to allow your work life to taint your experience of your home. You work on the couch, in the kitchen, on the patio, perhaps in your bedroom. 

Please don't allow your whole house to be ruined by working from home! You may just need to remodel the space to create a more compatible work area. A few ideas are:

  1. Remove a divider wall
  2. Remove an L-shaped wall
  3. Replace doors and windows for better light or ventilation
  4. Remove all different types of flooring and replace with continuous flooring

With the total square feet available in your home, or on the main floor, you can have a way better experience of your home with an updated layout.

Make sure you hire a design-build firm that has an architect or engineer on their team already so that you have a one-stop-shop experience and don't have to farm out your own job to a disjointed series of subs. 

Why Choose Teknik for Your 10x15 Kitchen?

Let us be your guide as you strive to avoid the blunders that make our industry look bad. When you work with us, we help you avoid:

  • Late Completion  
  • Going Over Budget
  • Overuse of Subcontractors

Still apprehensive about calling? You'll be 100% protected with our Spoiled Rotten Customer Guarantee.

1 - Dream Design

Step 1: Dream Design


We’ll collaborate with you to transform your dark and outdated space into bright and inviting space.  It all starts with your free consultation so book now!

Step 2 - True Quote

Step 2: True Quote


You can trust our service agreement!  We get to know your home intimately before working on it to ensure we stick to budget with no change orders.

Step 3 - Complete On-Time

Step 3: Complete On-Time


We'll make your dream come true and do it on-time and on budget!  Then it's party time!  Perhaps leave out your friends who get jealous easily.

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

12×12 Kitchen Remodel

Hey, if you’re a San Diego homeowner about a few changes to your kitchen, this article will share four of the most common questions that home owners ask our design team.

  • Can I convert the peninsula to an island?
  • Can I move my appliances in my medium sized kitchen?
  • I love my cabinets, can I just reface them?
  • How much do San Diego kitchens cost to remodel?

There are so many questions but here are the top four questions for this week!

You’re in the right place to get started! One question at a time. 

Read on!

Teknik Testimonial

1. Can I Convert The Peninsula To An Island?

You sure can! The top benefits you might take into consideration when looking into your peninsula-to-island conversion are:

  1. Improved flow in and out of the kitchen into surrounding rooms
  2. Improved workspace flow for food preparation
  3. Your kitchen will feel larger
  4. A new island will have new cabinets which means the cabinet options will be custom selected by you to fit exactly what you would like to be stored in them, i.e. large bowls, food storage containers, cookie sheets. 

Here are some of the options that will come with your decision to build an island:

  1. How much counter top space would you like? What are the dimensions you could see in that space?
  2. Do you want drawers or cabinet doors?
  3. If you'd like drawers, do you want deep drawers or shallow ones?
  4. Could you use inserts and dividers for each cabinet box to help you stay organized?
  5. Do you want a sink in the island or perhaps your cook top?

These options and many more are available for this one item in your kitchen!

2. Can I Move My Appliances in my Medium Sized Kitchen?

Don't you love to hear "Yes!"? 

It is possible, but the plumbing determines the feasibility of this option so make sure that you check with your contractor first!

3. I LOVE My Cabinets - Can I Just Reface Them?

It's possible to reface your cabinets by:

  1. Repainting them
  2. Sanding and refinishing them
  3. Replacing the doors, hinges, and pulls but keeping the cabinet boxes.

However, most estimates we provide for refacing cabinets get shredded and the home owner chooses to replace them with new cabinets.

The cost savings exist, but the margin is not that significant, when you consider all the organization options and other options that you forfeit by refacing instead of replacing.

Take It From Our Happy Customers


"Kevin had the work done as if it were his own house and the project was completed before the contractual completion date."  - Jack B., San Diego, CA

“This is our second remodel with Kevin. Once again, done on TIME! Great job! Just sorry we’re out of bathrooms! 🙂 He’s on speed dial in case we have another project.”   - Gary G., Encinitas

“Kevin told me to allow 25 days and it was done in just over two weeks.”  - Gina H., San Diego, CA

4. How Much Do Kitchen Remodels Cost?

The cost varies so widely, there is no way to give you a price without the design process.

At the same time, here are some general rules of thumb for what a kitchen remodel range might look like for you.

The kitchen remodel cost range may fall between $70,000 and $120,000+ for the following sizes. Scope and selections will vary.

  • 10x10 Kitchen Remodel in San Diego
  • 10x12 Kitchen Remodel in San Diego
  • 12x12 Kitchen Remodel in San Diego


The kitchen remodel cost range may fall between $90,000 and $135,000+ for the following sizes. Scope and selections will vary.

  • 12x14 Kitchen Remodel in San Diego
  • 14x14 Kitchen Remodel in San Diego
  • 14x16 Kitchen Remodel in San Diego


The kitchen remodel cost range may fall between $110,000 and $160,000+ for the following sizes. Scope and selections will vary.

  • 16x16 Kitchen Remodel in San Diego
  • 16x18 Kitchen Remodel in San Diego
  • 18x18 Kitchen Remodel in San Diego


The kitchen remodel cost range may fall between $135,000 and $190,000+ for the following sizes. Scope and selections will vary.

  • 18x20 Kitchen Remodel in San Diego
  • 20x20 Kitchen Remodel in San Diego
  • 25x25 Kitchen Remodel in San Diego
  • 25x30 Kitchen Remodel in San Diego

None of the ranges listed are representative of what your project will cost. 

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

Why Choose Teknik for Your Kitchen Remodel

Being in love with your own kitchen is so important if you want to food prep, host company, and enjoy all the moments at home that center around the kitchen. 

Don't get stuck in the unending remodel by getting snagged by these industry failures. Choose Teknik to help you avoid:

  • Late Completion  
  • Going Over Budget 
  • Overuse of Subcontractors

If you're excited to call but still nervous, don't worry! You'll be 100% protected with our Spoiled Rotten Customer Guarantee!!

1 - Dream Design

Step 1: Dream Design


We’ll collaborate with you to transform your dark and outdated space into bright and inviting space.  It all starts with your free consultation so book now!

Step 2 - True Quote

Step 2: True Quote


You can trust our service agreement!  We get to know your home intimately before working on it to ensure we stick to budget with no change orders.

Step 3 - Complete On-Time

Step 3: Complete On-Time


We'll make your dream come true and do it on-time and on budget!  Then it's party time!  Perhaps leave out your friends who get jealous easily.

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

Kitchen and Living Room Remodel with A Large Island

If you're looking for a multi-room remodel like a kitchen & living room remodel, you're likely asking a few of these questions:

  • can I get an estimate that is broken into phases, so I can see the living room phase and kitchen phase separately?
  • if I like my flooring, can we salvage it?
  • is there a ballpark cost, or does it vary greatly from project to project?
  • what are the best window options so we can maximize natural light?

We know how overwhelming it can feel to start doing research and hope that you're not missing anything major. But don’t worry. You’re in the perfect place! 

In this article, we will answer some of the most important questions so you can make a great decision for your kitchen and living room.  

Teknik Testimonial

Preparation and Timeline - Phase One

Find your design-build contractor - this can be fast or slow, but usually happens in two to three weeks:

  • Doing your due diligence online on HomeAdvisor.com, Houzz.com, Google reviews, Yelp.com and their company website
  • Interviewing them over the phone to investigate their processes and communication style
  • Having site visits to develop trust and rapport and to see who will be the best fit for you

Insiders Hint: It has been said that "People don't leave companies, they leave managers". The implication is that if the primary relationship becomes sour, the rest doesn't matter. 

This principle also applies to design-build firms. On the face, it seams reasonable to choose companies based on price and timeline. But no lawsuit has ever been filed because of a fair and necessary change order (change of price), or because of a reasonable timeline increase. Often, the home owner has contributed to their own negative experience by failing to do their due diligence up front, so they end up paying for it twice over.

Please, we beg you...advocate for your own success by assessing and prioritizing:

  • how the firm functions
  • how and if they communicate their process to you with transparency
  • how they follow through on details

If they are demonstrating excellence in these three areas, you WILL be able to read it in their reviews. 

Preparation and Timeline - Phase Two

Collaborate on your design and product selections:

  • Call NOW to hear about our Teknik True Quote process and how we will customize it to fit your project!

Really?...Majority of Decision Energy Spent on Cabinets?

We are often asked "How long does it take before you can start?", "How quickly can we get through the design and selections process so we can get started?"

Designing your new cabinets involves dozens of decisions; sometimes they account for 50% of the decisions you will make throughout your entire project. Holy complicated cabinets, Batman! Here is a small sampling of features you can consider:

  • Deep full extension heavy duty drawers including dove-tail joints
  • Full extension rollout trays
  • Pull out storage units on side of island
  • Pullout spice rack by stove
  • Double pullout trash cabinet
  • Island with cabinets on all 4 sides with matching panels on all non functioning sides for full furniture look and 4 large size solid wood legs
  • Rollouts and tray divider storage on tall pantry cabinet by refrigerator
  • Double stack uppers with glass doors
  • Wine rack
  • Custom drawer inserts such as dividers and pegs
  • Crown molding
  • Solid wood carved corbel details

The goal is to find a contractor who is able to be your coach and a good coach will do two things: they will guide you to keep you on track with your expressed goals. And they will pace you, i.e. run along side you as you make each decision. 

When you do business with the right firm, they will always be one step ahead of you so you wont be waiting on them for input and feedback. Your timeline will be unique, but the right partnership will keep you moving forward.

Everyone's Favorite Feature - Your Island

If the kitchen is the most important room in the house, the island is arguably the most important feature in your kitchen. It is, after all, literally the centerpiece

One of the most beautifying options that families fall in love with is door panels on the sides of the island that don't open, for a uniform furniture look. See below for pictures of our recent Carlsbad kitchen island.

Consider if you will use your island primarily for cooking, entertaining, or something else. Perhaps the kids will study there? Families who use their island primarily for food prep often want their primary sink in the island to reduce dripping every time they transfer from island to counter or vice versa. 

In contrast are families who often entertain guests. They like to place a smattering of yummy dishes across the island to facilitate the natural gathering around of conversation, wine and sharing bites. The sink would both interrupt the flow and attract dirty dishes and hand-washing. Clutter and contamination? No, thanks. These families keep the sink in a separate area.

FAQ: Can we have a movable island? No; the building code requires electrical outlets be wired into the island, so it must be fixed.

Continuous Flooring or...?

Opening up the room is a common motivation of families who choose to install continuous flooring throughout their remodeled space, or the whole first floor. It adds a quality of flow to the rooms and contributes to people moving freely throughout the space. 

Saving flooring comes up periodically as a potential option to save money. If you are replacing your cabinets and island, this is a poor strategy. The increased labor cost you will incur to have the crew gingerly and slowly demolish everything around your flooring without destroying the floor itself, will more than cancel out the savings. If the budget is a priority, replacing the flooring is actually more cost effective.

Take It From Our Happy Customers


"Kevin had the work done as if it were his own house and the project was completed before the contractual completion date."  - Jack B., San Diego, CA

“This is our second remodel with Kevin. Once again, done on TIME! Great job! Just sorry we’re out of bathrooms! 🙂 He’s on speed dial in case we have another project.”   - Gary G., Encinitas

“Kevin told me to allow 25 days and it was done in just over two weeks.”  - Gina H., San Diego, CA

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

Option for Indoor-Outdoor Living

If your backyard is wholly absent or if your backyard is a beach cliff, ignore this paragraph. If however, your backyard has a lawn, patio, pool, barbecue, or trellis, you must consider indoor-outdoor living. Sunshine is why we live in San Diego, California!

It is often possible to open up a wall that currently exists with two or three windows, and convert it to a multi-panel glass door that opens up to an outdoor dining area. This is such a beautiful change to make. When the door is open, guests feel drawn through the kitchen and directly into your outdoor living area! Check out these before and after pictures to see what we mean!

Before: Entire kitchen and living room closed off to the back yard and fireplace.

Outdoor living and dining room area

After: Removed pigme palms, installed LaCantina door, and built custom trellis.

Before: Too dark, soffit makes kitchen feel smaller, wall with three windows, closed off, poor natural light.

Kitchen view into outdoor dining area

After photo of Adams Residence, 2019. That deep breath kind of kitchen.

Why Choose Teknik?

Across every culture, tongue and tribe, we gather around food to celebrate, collaborate, and enjoy one another. We serve one another through food. We deepen connections within our homes and for over twenty years, Teknik Design & Remodeling has been creating beautiful space to foster those connections. We have fail-safe systems in place that allow us to rise above the industry stereotypes that frustrate home owners into perpetuity:

  • Late Completion  
  • Going Over Budget 
  • Overuse of Subcontractors
1 - Dream Design

Step 1: Dream Design


We’ll collaborate with you to transform your dark and outdated space into bright and inviting space.  It all starts with your free consultation so book now!

Step 2 - True Quote

Step 2: True Quote


You can trust our service agreement!  We get to know your home intimately before working on it to ensure we stick to budget with no change orders.

Step 3 - Complete On-Time

Step 3: Complete On-Time


We'll make your dream come true and do it on-time and on budget!  Then it's party time!  Perhaps leave out your friends who get jealous easily.

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!