You have decided it is time for your kitchen remodel, what now? You can survive the remodeling process and get the kitchen of your dreams with good planning and preparation form the start. Here are some tips to help you survive your kitchen remodel and ensure every step of the way is smooth.

The Kitchen Remodel – Planning and Preparation

While you might not realize it yet, kitchen remodeling is extremely unsettling to your family’s daily routine. It is actually worse than any other remodeling project you will ever do. Why? Just stop for a moment and think about how many times your kitchen is used in a single day – from breakfast to midnight snacks, your kitchen sees a lot of traffic and use. If you are doing a full-blown remodel, you can expect the process to take weeks, sometimes longer, to complete. This means you’ll need everyday realistic options for storing food, cooking, and cleaning up. Let’s get started developing your remodeling plan.

• Plan Early – your planning and preparation should begin months before the project is scheduled to start. This means making your design plans and product choices before the demolition of the old kitchen begins.
• Get Professional Help – It is always in your best interest to hire a professional planner, like a kitchen designer to help. A professional will be able to answer your questions and guide your decision regarding the best kitchen layout for your space, cabinetry and countertops, appliances, lighting, fixtures, and more. Plus, they can help with product and installation specs. Hiring a professional will mean an additional budget item, but when compared to fixing costly, avoidable mistakes after the remodeling has begun is a bargain!
• Obtain the Necessary Building Permits – Your contractor should secure the needed building permits and know the inspection schedule before the project starts, but you should verify it has been done. Inspections, like plumbing and electrical, if not approved, means work stoppage, and lengthens the time you go without a kitchen.
• Order Early – You should order fitted items like appliances, sinks, cabinetry, in advance of your remodel to avoid interruptions to the remodeling process caused by manufactured delays, incorrect sizes, freight damage, and other issues.  You can store the items in your garage, storage unit, or with the contractor and have them readily available when they are needed.
• Prep Your Temporary Kitchen – Chose an area of you home that is convenient. Often the adjacent dining room or family room works well. Put down plastic sheeting, followed by plywood sheathing to provide a work area. Move your old appliances (refrigerator and microwave) into the space. If you think you will need it, consider adding a tabletop cooking unit with a convection oven and two burners, like those used in apartments and dorms. You will also need a laundry or utility sink, or another accessible sink for clean-up.
• Plan Simple Menus – Consider serving frozen prepared meals, salads, sandwiches, canned foods, fruits, and other easy to prepare items that can be eaten on disposable dinnerware during the remodeling process. Of course, takeout options are available as well, though you probably won’t want those every night of the week. Budget for dining out on the weekend to keep everyone in the family happy during the project. You might even hint to family and friends for a dinner invite during the remodel which you can kindly repay in your brand-new kitchen when complete.

With a bit of planning and preparation, you can help your kitchen remodel along, keep the process moving smoothly, and survive the process ready to enjoy your beautiful, new kitchen.