Small Kitchen renovations

keep the tub just in case you want to sell and people will want a tub (even though no one uses one) Of course go with high end applicances..the cost is a small difference between all of the appliances.

Actually, high end appliances can be 2x, 3x+ or more. A small subzero is over 5k vs a standard fridge for under $900.

Still Since your kitchen is small, you may not have to spend as much for cabinets, etc. So this may leave you room for splurging. As for bathroom keep the tub, as you dont want to isolate some buyers.

Keep the tub; if a future buyer wants to install one it's a pain in the butt.

And #2, I take baths often so yes, people DO use tubs. Before I bought my place I saw a number of places that didn't have tubs and crossed them off my list.

#3...I renovated my kitchen in '04 and I guess the prices have changed...A fridge is a fridge...I bought stainless steel but i definitely didn't spend 5k.

Not sure if you are doing the work...I did lot of research on this a while back..still haven't found a place to move, but i thought these were good sources of info on small kitchen issues...and some generally interesting ideas...pardon the "dot com" as streeteasy wouldn't let me post more than 2 links...i have no affiliation with any of these links..but it took me a while to find some of this stuff..hope it's useful...

Consultants:
121studio dot com

Samsung Hi Tech
www.avinfo.co.uk/index.php?main=story&ArchiveID=15055433

General Appliances
compactappliance dot com
www.subzero.com/products/detail.aspx?cid=5&productid=19

Buy a 18" Bosch dishwasher and a high-end Viking 24" gas range if you need smaller appliances, however, I wouldn't go Sub-Zero on the 'fridge. If you want stainless steel, just get a smaller GE Profile and you'll save $3,500 and it will be more than enough. I hope this helps.

NEVER TAKE OUT A TUB. ALTHOUGH MOST PEOPLE RARELY USE THEM, ESPECIALLY MEN--WHO NEVER USE THEM (OTHER THAN GAY MENT), TUBS ARE EXPECTED. SHOWER ONLY ONLY GOES OVER IN A SECOND BATH.

For the Kitchen, if possible, go also with a wine cooler (12 bottles is fine). Beliweve me, a huge selling point. that and eyepopping stanliess steel but of course.

I will say that you can renovate yourself into the red particularly in small apartments where your target audience is not that monied to begin with. If a studio or small 1 BR, i'd go with medium to slightly high end appliance (kenmore, ge) not bosch or miele or subz's.

try apartmenttherapy.com
one suggestion is to buy a wood panel that matches your cabinets and mount it on the refrigerator door. Often you can purchase the wood from the cabinet manufacturer. It will add a cohesive look to your kitchen. You can also do this with stainless steel- though be careful which kind you get- some leave awful prints.

Spend the money on a Sub-Zero. It's built-in and counter depth, so it actually takes up less space than a regular free-standing fridge.

And please, not all stainless steel appliances are equal. I especially dislike GE Profile and the the like--stainless "panels" on the front and black plastic on the sides and top (looks really tacky).

I don't know how high end of a reno you're doing, but if a Sub-Z is out of your price range, then consider the slightly less expensive Liebherr or the much less expensive ConServ. Both are scaled for smaller kitchens and are nice looking to boot.

I once saw a very small kitchen (by my standards, about six feet wide by seven feet deep, wall to wall, give or take) that had been beautifully outfitted with a 24" wide stainless fridge/freezer, a 24" wide stainless viking stove/range, and an 18" wide stainless diswasher. To help expand the space, there were no cabinetry above the counter to encroach, and only open shelving. All the countertops (and sink), below counter cabinets/drawers, and above counter shelving were completely wrapped in stainless steel, so everything felt 'of a piece.' They had even gone so far as to cover the walls and backsplashes with stainless steel as well. It was truly like walking into a silver jewelbox, and really helped to expand the sense of space. The floor was greyish concrete. The ceiling was painted a very high gloss grey/silver as well. A remarkable solution of what to do with a tight kitchen space. And also a really useful, fully functional kitchen to cook beautiful meals in!

#11 - unfortunately all stainless everywhere would not attract me and I love modern. I think you want to make sure you dont isolate buyers with something too extreme. I think all stainless/grey is extreme.

I went with a liebherr, reasonably priced bosch dishwashwer and ge freestanding stove. I dislike the one with the clock on top which sticks up. In hindsight I should have really considered 24" viking - though it would have cost 3x more than the stove i got.

Keep the tub!

Keep the tub. Buy a liebherr refrigerator- 24X24X78 stainless steal box...it is simply beautiful and costs about $3,000....well worth it.

why is any refrigerator worth $3k..does it keep the food any colder. WAIT, maybe it cooks the meals. Please don't spend $3k rathher spend $1200 and give the rest to a deserving charity.