How to Remodel Your Kitchen – Tips and Tricks

The kitchen is an important part of any household. However, it is also one of the most neglected parts of the home. It is important to remodel your kitchen to create a look that you will love. Similar to remodeling a bathroom, most people start by searching for appliances when they start remodeling, while others start by looking at different photos. There are some tips that can really help when you are remodeling. Some of the things to remember include the following in this blog post.

Tips on how to remodel your kitchen

• Your needs

You need to think of all the ways in which you use the kitchen space. You should then think about features and a layout that matches the lifestyle that you lead. There are so many resources available, and you should entertain as many ideas as possible. You should consider your own priorities. This includes determining whether you need space enlargement or not.

• Planning and research

You need to research, plan and consider your budget before you start doing anything. A scope of work should also be formulated. During the process of design and as you gather more details regarding remodeling, the budget and the scope can change from time to time. You can then determine what exactly is affordable and accessible to you.

• Professional help

To have a great job done, you need to hire professionals. Regardless of how much you want to handle the matter by yourself, there is still the need to have professionals in your corner to perhaps delegate some important tasks. You may get referrals from your family, colleagues, or friends. It is important to have a designer or architect look at the space and make recommendations. A contractor and a builder may also be the only professionals you need. When you hire professionals, they will assist with all matters, including permits, contracts, and even space planning and so on.

• Schematic design

This phase has to do with floor plans, elevation, spacing, and even sketches.  You need to consider how you will want to lay out the kitchen to best support the aesthetic that you want as well as the functionality of the space.

• The finish and fixture specifications

Throughout the process, you need photos of exactly what you want your kitchen to look like.  It could be traditional, classic, modern, personal, or a cottage style. It could even be a hybrid! You will already have your own specifications and models to think about.

• Work on construction documents and the design development

In this stage, the design is finalized and the floor plans and elevations prepared. You need to think of all the details. Exterior elevations, light switch plans, electrical drawings and mechanical drawings should be developed. You will need to have a permit or have construction drawings. It is also the best time to select your fixtures and finishes and get the final pricing laid out. The drawings should be submitted to get permits. Since there is a lead-time, you will have to check the timing with the local authorities. A licensed contractor should be hired. You also need a designer and an architect to finalize all paperwork and get the permits.

• The estimates from the contractor

You need a licensed contractor working on the project. You will want to get estimates from a number of contractors in order to pick the right one for you. Doing a walk-through with the contractors is also important to get ballpark estimates and find out whether you are within the budget.

• The demo

After submitting the permits, it is time to start the kitchen remodel. You will need to clear your cabinets and put away all the things that are not needed. You should have a temporary kitchen set up, especially if you are already living in the house during the remodeling phase. It will also save you money because you will not have to eat out, which could add to your expenses.

What happens if you cannot afford a complete remodel?

Remodeling kitchens is very popular. However, revamping that space can cost you quite a lot of money at the end of the day. It is still rewarding to upgrade the space. If you cannot afford the full remodel, then you should do it in stages.

Design a plan

Regardless of the budget, you should have a detailed and comprehensive plan of the whole kitchen. Include the location of all the fixtures and choose the direction of your doors. To save time, you can plan using the walls that are already in place on the configuration to ensure the electrical and plumbing systems are still intact. This will guarantee that you will not have a mess or any added expenses.

If you cannot afford a designer, then you can get help from home improvement stores. However, in this case they may expect that you will buy some of your appliances from them. You can then hold the plans until the time when you are ready to remodel.

Lighting fixtures, appliances, and cabinets

These are very important investments in the remodel.  When remodeling in stages, you can order them after the plans have been completed and have them in storage. It is important to have them stored properly. If it is not possible to buy all new products, you can use your old ones first and then make plans to buy others eventually when the budget is stable. This is the same case with all other fixtures.

Your floor

The flooring is very critical. Get to know where the flooring runs and find out if it is under any of the cabinets. You should keep the flooring if you have a limited budget to save on costs, especially when the cabinets match the old layout. If the flooring goes all the way under the cabinets and covers the entire area, it means that any cabinet configuration will be just fine. The old flooring can be replaced at a future date.

Plumbing and electrical work

This is a critical part of stage remodeling. The old appliances and cabinets are removed and electrical circuits need to be viewed. You need to be active at this point because the contract may need things cleared. You will need to set up an alternative cooking space at this stage. You should consider what time of year it is to make cooking outside an option.

Installation of the fixtures, flooring, appliances, countertops, and cabinets

If all other components have already been dealt with, the kitchen is almost complete. If you cannot afford a countertop, you should make do with a temporary top or anything that is inexpensive and then upgrade later.

The upgrade

When your budget allows, you can remove the inexpensive counter top, the laminate flooring and then use hardwood or tile. You can even replace appliances such as your fridge if necessary. You should make sure that all items will fit in the new space before purchasing.

Once all construction has been completed, you need to check whether everything is in place or if you forgot to include anything. You should have all the little details ironed out for that perfect kitchen.