Steps to a Stress-Free Kitchen Remodel

13 Mar Steps to a Stress-Free Kitchen Remodel

When it comes to planning a kitchen renovation, the steps involved may seem daunting. By breaking down the process into smaller portions, you’ll find a more streamlined and positive experience.

Cleveland.com recently asked a few remodeling experts to provide ideas that homeowners should keep in mind when facing a kitchen redo. Here are some helpful tips:

1. There’s a long list of decisions and selections to make. Start with the big items: cabinets, appliances, counters, tiles and flooring. Then work on the details.
2. Before you buy anything, know what your vision is for your kitchen (style, look, colors, lighting, finishes). Find your “look” in books, magazines, showrooms, etc. Keep your inspiration pictures on hand when shopping.
3. Develop a solid, detailed space plan, including cabinet specifics, installation and lighting. Work with a kitchen designer who can help you sweat the small details of a functional kitchen.
4. If you’re changing the kitchen’s layout, consider how that might affect the rest of the house. Think about how the kitchen’s new colors will fit with nearby rooms.
5. Come up with a plan for the time you’ll be without a kitchen. Can you set up a temporary kitchen elsewhere in the house? Factor the cost of take-out or restaurant meals into the budget.
6. Prepare for the unexpected. You never know what you’ll find when you start ripping out walls, especially in older homes.
7. Purchasing all your appliances in one bundle saves money. Some great deals can be found online as well.
8. When shopping, ask your salesperson about maintenance, lead time, warranty, etc. If you select something that could take eight to 10 weeks for delivery, it might hold up the project. Understand cleaning and upkeep of your new purchases, so you’re not surprised after they are installed.
9. While custom cabinets cost more, they allow for any configuration, especially uncommon layouts or size requirements. Both stock or custom cabinets have features that you should not overlook, like dovetail joinery on the drawers and roller glides on pull-out shelves and drawers.
10. To find reputable contractors, check with the Better Business Bureau, sign up for Angie’s List or call the National Association of the Remodeling Industry Greater Cleveland. Ask prospective contractors if you can contact clients they have worked with in the past.

Bottom line, don’t try to scrimp and cut corners; otherwise your kitchen will end up looking like you did. If you have to readjust your plan because of budget, do it thoughtfully with the end goal in mind — a beautiful, quality-built kitchen.

Project photo courtesy of BKC Kitchen and BathFor a positive kitchen renovation experience, contact BKC’s dedicated design team.

Cleveland.com contributors: Debra Shababy of Studio 76 Kitchens and Baths in Twinsburg; interior designer Robin Storie; Kathy Masterson of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry Greater Cleveland; Ron LoGrasso, owner of Kitchens by LoGrasso in Bedford Heights; and Timothy Dick of Timothy Frank Dick Inc. home-design firm in Mentor.