Kitchen Remodeling 101 | Where to Start
Kitchen Remodeling 101 | Where to Start
Approaching a kitchen remodel can seem overwhelming and daunting. We want to help you approach it with confidence! We polled the team and put together a list of our top 5 things to do to help you get started with ease.
1) Have a plan before you hire a general contractor or buy materials.
Have your design team measure your space to help get through the layout and general design. If you are moving walls or opening up the space, know you will need a structural engineer for that and they will need to be brought on board as well. Depending on the scope, you may need permits, so be sure to check with your design team that they are rehearsed in providing those types of drawings and will get you what you need.
2) Spend time on the details.
Kitchen planning is complex. Walk through where you see yourself storing your wares and really consider the function of the space. Think about what didn’t work for you before and look into options on how you can solve that. We spend a lengthy amount of time going through your habits and lifestyle to determine what inserts, add-ons, and internal options will maximize your livability.
3) Look for materials that really speak to you.
It can be pretty easy to get overwhelmed and want to just pick the easy choice. Avoid letting sales designers pick one thing without seeing the whole project. Think holistically about where you want your focal point to be and build around it. Often times for us, that is the counter. If you reach a point where you are just overwhelmed by it all, reach out to a designer. That is what we are here for. You may have to pay a bit more upfront, but the offset to how much more you will love your space and avoid any mistakes will certainly make up for it.
4) Order your materials and appliances as early as possible.
Lead times are still super long. Order as much as you can up front. If you don’t have a place to store it, reach out to your design team and ask about warehousing and storage options. Many designers have connections to this and can help take it off your plate.
5) Ask lots of questions.
Stay in the know. If you are not working with a design team, you will need to be extra diligent that you are asking questions and really trying to understand the installation and outcome before any serious/permanent decisions are made. Be present on-site and if things look off, ask about it.
Like we said, journeying through a kitchen remodel can be stressful and daunting. We hope this list gets you going and if you decide that you would rather have an extra set of hands to help you through the process, we would love to help.
Cheers!
