You’ve made the decision to remodel your kitchen.  What should you do next?
 
You’ve got ideas and you can’t wait to see them implemented.  It’s exciting and you’re eager to get going!  Still, you should stop and take a breath – your project will be more successful and you’ll be happier with the results. There are several things that you should consider before any work begins. 

• Identify your goals and objectives
Ask yourself what your primary motivation for the kitchen remodel is.   Are you looking to increase your counter space?  Do you need more storage?  Do you want a different look?  Are you looking to improve the kitchen for re-sale?

Think about how you use your kitchen and how you want to use it after the remodel.  Is the kitchen just a place to cook and store kitchen items?  Is it a place to eat?  Socialize?  Pay the bills?  Do homework? 

Look around your existing kitchen and make a list of things that you like and dislike about your current kitchen.  Make a list of the things that you’d like to change or add.  Consider the three basic functions of a kitchen: food preparation, storage (food, cookware, utensils, etc.) and clean-up.  Ask yourself: “How could these to be improved?”   Think about the aesthetics such as your current cabinet style, countertops and backsplash, appliances, flooring and lighting.

• Set a Budget.
Realistically determine how much money you have to spend on your kitchen remodel.  There may be a difference between your dream kitchen and what you can afford.   Think about the list you made above and identify your priorities.  How much are you able or willing to spend?  Are you willing or able to borrow?

When considering your budget, in addition to the actual remodel costs, don’t forget to think about where and how you are going to eat while your kitchen is torn-up and unusable.  Do you have an alternative place to cook and put your refrigerator?  Will you be eating out and bringing in take-out more often?

Kitchen remodeling is an excellent investment in your home!  Remodeling Magazine  reports (in their eighteenth annual Cost vs. Value Report) that minor kitchen remodels with an average cost around $15,000 returned 92% of that cost upon resale.  On a major kitchen remodel (high-end, with an average cost slightly above $75,000) more than 80% of the cost was recouped when the home was sold.  Mid-range remodels showed similar results, returning more than three quarters of their costs. 

• Think about Timing
Do you have some major event coming up that you’d like the remodel completed for?  Do you have enough time or should you wait until afterwards?  Can you plan the remodel for the summer months when you can grill and eat outdoors?

Whenever you do it, make sure you allow adequate time for the remodel – it will probably take longer than you’d think.  Allow time for planning, ordering products such as cabinetry, plumbing and appliances, demolition, installation & finally moving back into your new kitchen. Realistically, the entire process from start to finish could take six to eight months! 

• Find a Qualified Professional
Doing a kitchen remodel is a time consuming and expensive undertaking.  The thought that goes into the design planning and selection of finishes requires education, experience and talent. A Professional designer will work with you to ensure that you end up with the kitchen that you’re envisioning and will make certain that your kitchen functions properly.  Your kitchen work and use habits and traffic patterns will be taken into account.   Additionally, an experienced designer will help you select materials that not only look beautiful but will also suit your lifestyle and perform well over time.

• Start a File of Ideas
Collect pictures of kitchens and products that catch your eye.  It doesn’t have to be the entire picture that you like – you can identify a sink, a cabinet style, an appliance, or simply “the feel” of the kitchen.  Also collect pictures of things you don’t like. 

When you meet with your designer, the pictures that you have collected along with your list of goals and objectives and your preliminary budget will help get the process started smoothly.

With these tips you’re ready to get started.  Grab a piece of paper; go into your kitchen, and start planning for your dream kitchen!

By Sheri D. Orts, Allied Member ASID
Sapphire Studios, Owner & Principal