Is It Time to Give Your Kitchen an Extreme Makeover?

Do you own your own home? Have you lived in your home for many years> Have you done any remodeling yet, or does your home still look the same as it did the day you moved in? Odds are, you probably spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and may have thought on several occasions that it was time to remodel, but haven’t yet done so. There are many common reasons that people put off doing home remodeling, such as uncertainty of the finished results, not wanting to spend the extra money, and of course, thinking that everything is just fine the way it is. Ultimately, the decision really is yours to make, but there are many benefits to be gained from remodeling your kitchen, that you may have not considered.

Of course, you, the homeowner, greatly benefit by remodeling your kitchen, as you get a room that is more aesthetically pleasing to you, in and many instances, more functional. If you can afford to remodel your kitchen, and it is something that you have decided you would like to do, then there is no reason you shouldn’t do it. You want your home to feel warm and comfortable, especially your kitchen since it is such a highly used room, and if you don’t like it, then of course, you should change it.

Some people often just decide that they are disgusted with their home, and run out to look for a new home and list theirs on the market, when all they really need to do is some creative remodeling, to make them happy once again. It is much cheaper in most instances to remodel your home than it is to sell your home and buy a new one. If you do the remodeling and decide that you still don’t like your home, then you have improved the value of your home, and will be able to ask a higher price when listing it on the market, so you have won either way it ends up.

If you have lived in your home for a long time, it may be time to remodel to get some much needed repairs done as well. Your flooring may be in poor condition from years of use, your cabinets may be peeling, your sink may leak, etc. You can choose to just remodel the areas that obviously need work, or you can do a complete remodel and give your kitchen a new, more modern look. It all depends on what you want, and the money that you have to spend on the project. If you have an older home, updating and remodeling may actually make it a safer place for your family to be as well, so that is something that you should also consider.

The money that you spend in remodeling and updating your home usually adds value to your home in the form of equity, which is a definite bonus. If you ever decide to sell your home, you will get your money back and likely some extra cushion as well.

Oakland, Calif.: Camino (New York Times)

During his 13 years as chef and produce buyer at Chez Panisse , Russell Moore had one of the finer kitchens at his disposal. His home kitchen, however, was tiny, and he took to cooking his dinners on an open fire in his backyard.

Sinks taking on whole new life in kitchens (The Springfield News-Leader)

When Charles and JoAnn Clark remodeled their kitchen late last year, they wanted the sink to be a focal point in the room.

Up Next, Recaps & Links (CBS News)

Stories, links and the place to get more information on stories on CBS News Sunday Morning .

Dixon to give 'em a taste of Kiwi (Stuff)

New York state will catch a whiff of a good old Kiwi barbecue this weekend, when racing driver Scott Dixon comes to town.

A Diverse Brooklyn, With Meatballs (New York Times)

This store is for everyday Brooklynites needing something cheap and relatively well designed, even if the stuff is of dicey quality and doesn?t last forever.