Kitchen Remodeling Guide
The Kitchen is a focal point and gathering place for family and friends alike- so, naturally you are going to want it to look fabulous & also be functional. It's not surprising that the kitchen is usually the first space to be remodeled in a home and every remodel requires careful planning and consideration. Following are some important points to consider & steps to follow for the ultimate kitchen remodel.
NO. 1 SET UP A KITCHEN INTERIOR DESIGN BUDGET
There is a lot to consider when it comes to remodeling costs of a kitchen so, when you are putting together your budget it will be important to identify and prioritize your goals and set your budget accordingly. I always advise my clients to calculate a bit more than what they are expecting to spend for anything unexpected that might come up during the process- better safe than sorry!
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NO. 2 RESEARCH AND CREATE A ROUGH PLAN BEFORE STARTING
Once you know what your goals are and have your budget set, if you haven't already, start pulling together looks and ideas for layouts, finishes and examples of kitchens you LOVE. This should be a fun and exciting process- don't get caught up in exact space and details at this point, you just want to start pulling together what inspires you and, looks that you are drawn to. This will help your designer and the contractors when it comes time to shore up the actual final design. Pinterest is my go to for creative inspiration; you can also use Instagram and design magazines...the sky is the limit.
NO. 3 INTERVIEW & HIRE CONTRACTORS/DESIGNERS
You may already have a contractor or designer you like to work with,if so, this is already a win! If you are starting from zero and have no contacts, I suggest you take your time on this step and interview 3 ( that's my magic number - but you can do as many interviews as you want, just make sure you look at more than just one) companies and carefully compare them, then choose the one that is the best fit for you and your project. Many times a designer will have a contractor they work with ( or vice-versa) which simplifies the process for you if you don't have anyone that you have hired in the past. A good contractor and a good designer however should be able to work with anyone and get the job done efficiently.
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NO. 4 FINALIZE DESIGN & SET UP A TIMELINE
This is pretty straight forward. Once you have hired everyone and have gone through what your goals are, the final design can be agreed upon. At this point you and your designer should have selected floors, countertops, finishes, paint colors, backsplash, lighting & fixtures, appliances- basically, ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS! You can now establish a timeline for your project based on the delivery/availability of your items and the availability of the contractor based on his/her schedule. (One quick note : In 2021- and most likely 2022 supply chain issues, along with high demand in the home remodeling field are causing significant delays in project timelines so if you are in a hurry be sure to choose items that are in stock and a contractor who is currently available!)
NO. 5 DEMOLITION
This is scary and exciting! If you know you are someone who does not do well with a mess, this is the time during the process when you may want to take a little get away (if you can)- or make sure you have planned accordingly to make this step as stress free as possible. Signing up for a meal service or having a makeshift kitchen elsewhere in your home are both good options during this time.
NO. 6 PAINT
Once demo and reconstruction have taken place, it is time to paint! I am not going to lie, it is so satisfying to see the new paint go up on the walls, there is just something about it!
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NO. 7 INSTALL FLOORS, COUNTERTOP & BACKSPLASHES
Woohooo! Now we are rolling once we get to this phase. Can you tell I LOVE a kitchen remodel! This is where all the planning starts to come to life!
NO. 8 INSTALL CABINETS, LIGHTING & FIXTURES and APPLIANCES
This is it! The final step of the install process ushers in the cabinets, lighting, fixtures and appliances to bring the design together and create your dream kitchen. It is important to note here that not all installs are exactly the same and some contractors may do things in a bit of a different order than what I have outlined here- however for the most part these are the general order of things.
Always remember that the key to having a good experience when taking on a remodel is planning and organization (and a healthy dose of patience and flexibility!) Having a checklist to refer to during this process is a MUST. We have created an exclusive Kitchen Remodel Checklist for our readers that we hope you will find helpful.