Today I’m starting a little series called “Realities of a Kitchen Remodel,” where I’m going to take you through some of the design planning aspects and some of the logistics of remodeling the hardest working room of your home. Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll go into a bit more depth with each category so you know what you’ll need to get accomplished if you’re managing a kitchen remodel on your own.
I also did my very first Facebook Live video last Friday! It was about all the things that go into preparing for a major remodel. My plan is to do a few more videos on this subject, and dive a little bit more into the specifics of each category. You can watch that video here if you are so inclined :)
The Before & Afters of remodeling projects are always so fun to see, but sometimes it can feel like renovation and remodeling projects that we see on social media or blogs just happen so seamlessly, with little headache, extra finances and without all the decisions. With this little series, I want to pull back the curtain a bit and bring up the Ins and Outs that need to be considered before you start a major remodel, specifically a kitchen remodel.
And let me just say, it’s not all glamorous!
As an interior designer, I have had the privilege of working with a lot of clients who were updating kitchens and bathrooms. I’ve also worked on many larger projects on our own homes, so I have experienced the remodeling journey from both sides. After finishing our most recent major remodel project about a month ago, I thought about all the aspects that go into a larger remodel that may be forgotten in the planning stages. It can be SO much!! The planning stages of a project are so important and so key to assuring a successful remodel, and sometimes the planning takes months prior to actual work starting. I actually believe planning is just as important as the actual work being done.
Every single remodel project is different and unique. The size of the space you’re remodeling and the condition and age of the home, {the older a house, and the less it’s been updated, the more “fun surprises” can occur! Been there, done that!} can all add to the uniqueness of each project. But any kind of extensive remodel involves a lot of phases, changes and expense, even when you are keeping a lot of the existing cabinetry like we did.
This is especially true if you haven’t ever tackled a larger scale home remodeling project. There are a ton of moving pieces that can easily get forgotten if you are doing all the planning and prep yourself. So I’m sharing a Kitchen Remodel Checklist to make sure you’ve remembered all those moving pieces when you are planning your own remodel.
Here’s what you’ll need to think about:
Like I mentioned earlier, I’m going to be breaking these categories down into more bite size pieces and go into a little more depth with each category so you’ll feel more equipped if you are tackling a remodel on your own.
Hopefully this list doesn’t scare you if you’re about to take on a larger remodeling project, but equip you with what you will need to consider. I think that if you know ahead of time and you are expecting it to be difficult, it won’t make it as hard when challenges arise. That’s kind of a motto in our family :) Lower expectations in major transitions like this and it will be better than you thought!!!
It’s going to be messy, totally inconvenient, and stressful. It just is. There will be times when things will definitely not go as planned and you’ll have to make some on the spot decisions. But let me say this: It will all be totally worth it in the end!! You’ll be adding to the value of your home, the ease of your every day life and you will have a beautiful space when you’re done!
If you’re about to start on your own kitchen remodel, but this all feels too overwhelming to tackle on your own, send me an email and we can chat. :) Whether you’re local or long distance, want someone to hold your hand step by step or just give you a little direction and you run with it, Living Solutions can help!
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