Kitchen remodeling is a real piece of work. Without a solid plan and prior knowledge, it’s easy to sink in tons of money for a mediocre-looking job. Save time and money with these tips. Here are the basics of what you need when remodeling your kitchen:
1. Identifying Wants & Needs
Remodeling your kitchen isn’t as cheap as it seems. Don’t fall victim to spending more than six figures just cause you couldn’t identify your desires from your actual needs. Plan it out. Start by asking yourself what’s currently lacking in your kitchen and if you really need the things you lack.
Do you lack space to cook efficiently? Is the problem the lack of space to store your food, spices, equipment, or dishware? Is your dining area lacking or too much? Or is the layout and design of your kitchen outdated and depressing to look at?
These are only some of the questions that you have to ask yourself when remodeling your kitchen. Afterward, find which problems are imperative for you to fix and which ones aren’t necessary.
2. Remodeling Real Talk
When you’re remodeling your kitchen, realistically, you have two options. Either you hire contractors and subcontractors that will do most of the work for you by tracking through your house for weeks or months on end, or you do the work yourself.
If you have prior experience remodeling your kitchen, go knock yourself out! However, the more practical choice would be to hire people to do the work for you. It may cost you a lot more money, but the downtime for your kitchen will be a lot lower. Make sure you get a reputable contractor that can turn your dream kitchen into reality.
3. Brainstorming & Planning
Once you’ve grounded yourself to reality, it’s time to finally brainstorm and plan out how you want the kitchen to look. Deciding which of the five classic kitchen design plans you want to use is a good start. Here are the kitchen design plans you want to keep an eye on:
- One-wall design
- L-shape design
- U-shape design
- Double L design
- Corridor design
After that, you can consult with kitchen designer staff or general contractors to develop actual blueprints of your dream kitchen. Be prepared to make a few compromises here and there as well! Make sure you get involved in the design process to avoid surprises.
4. Preparing For Remodeling
Before the remodeling process starts, you’re going to have to prepare a few things. First of all, you have to handle the paperwork. Apply for a building permit from different agencies— especially for the electrical, plumbing, and building permits.
Once you’ve handled all the necessary paperwork, it’s time to make contingency plans for the meals you will have while your kitchen is being remodeled. Though some parts of your kitchen may remain operational during remodeling, most of your appliances and even your plumbing around the kitchen area won’t be operational.
Plan out your meals—ask your friends or relatives if you can prep meals at their homes or find good and cheap restaurants to eat at consistently! If you hired a contractor, the remodeling process should take anywhere between a week to a few months. This depends on how big of a change you’re going to make to your kitchen.
5. Overseeing The Project
Although being there for the remodeling process isn’t necessary, spending time with the contractor can help you stay informed if they decide to make changes or encounter problems. Be involved and actively communicate with the contractors from the demolition process to the re-building.
Remodeling is a tough process—but as long as you keep the basics in mind, not only will you come out with a house with an improved resale value, but also with the kitchen of your dreams.