Kitchen Remodeling: Go High Tech While You Reface

You'll save money when you reface your kitchen cabinets as opposed to replacing them (up to a third of the cost). Instead of splurging on the cabinets, splurge on your new kitchen appliances. While you remodel, consider going high tech in your kitchen.

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Remodel with Smart Appliances

As you save on kitchen remodeling costs, you can automate your life by installing appliances that will do the thinking for you. Here are some examples:

  • A "smart" microwave that is programmed to read over 4,000 UPC barcodes. No need to touch any buttons, just scan your meal, pop it in the oven, and the microwave automatically knows the temperature and time required to cook it.
  • A television refrigerator. Like to watch TV while you're cooking or cleaning up? For a cost of about $3500, you can buy a refrigerator with a 13 inch cable-ready LCD monitor, FM radio, and stereo speakers.
  • A refrigerated range ($1399 to $1599). Stick your lasagna dish in the oven before you go to work, and the preprogrammed range will keep it cool until it's time to start cooking.
  • A faster oven-microwave combo. Two-in-one appliances are ideal remodeling options because they save room. Ovens can now cook food up to eight times faster than average without preheating. With a touch of a button, you can convert the oven to a microwave.
  • Refrigerators with Internet connections. Download your favorite recipes, update the family calendar, or even order sugar when you run low.

If you have a busy work schedule, play dates, and several school activities, you may want to save time and increase efficiency by remodeling with high tech kitchen appliances. You can reduce kitchen remodel costs by refacing your cabinets as opposed to replacing them. You may not have thought that you could afford high-end kitchen appliances, but with the cost savings created by refacing your cabinets, you may be able to buy newer, smarter appliances.

Sources:
The Digital Home Cooking in the High Tech Kitchen
Post-Gazette: High-Tech Kitchens Let Appliances Do the Cooking