My Life In Order
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Contact

Lessons From a Kitchen Remodel

4/30/2019

5 Comments

 
My husband and I have been talking about a kitchen remodel for years, and when the doors to our cabinets literally began to fall off, we knew it was time!  We are still a ways from a final product, but I'm very happy with how the process has gone so far.  I planned more for this project than any other home improvement project, and it's been worth it!  

What I've learned so far:
  • Start WAY in advance
Home improvement projects always take longer than expected, so start much earlier than you think is necessary.   A kitchen may be the most difficult of all remodeling projects and the timelines are longer than I ever would have expected.  5-6 weeks for cabinets to get in and ANOTHER 4-5 weeks for counter tops once cabinets are installed seems extreme, but once you know what to expect, you can begin the planning process.
  • Ask lots of questions
Do your research!  Ask professionals and, more importantly, friends who have been through a similar project.  Ask for your family's input, too.  They will be the ones living with you in the space, so you want to make sure it's functional for them as well.  Things you want to learn about are style, color, materials, functionality, and durability.  
  • Visualize the final product
Look at magazines, watch some home improvement shows, browse home home improvement stores, and of course create some Pinterest boards to help plan out your final design.  When you have a design in your mind, it's easier to make all the choices required for a remodeling project.
  • Make your temporary space work for you
When you are remodeling a section of your home, it's an inconvenience not matter how you slice it.  Take a little extra time to set up the necessities in another area in your home.  Our family has been using our breezeway between the kitchen and garage as our temporary kitchen complete with our fridge, microwave, toaster oven and kitchen table.  Yeah, I washed dishes in my bathroom for a couple of weeks, but other than running water, I had everything I needed!
Picture

  • ​Do first things first
Based on all the questions you asked earlier, you should know the pieces of the project that take the most time.  Make yourself a timeline so you don't have to put your project on hold or have your house torn up longer than necessary.  For example, we took measurements first, then found our installer which allowed us to get his input on materials and be aware of his availability.  Next we ordered cabinets so they would be delivered in the right window of time.  We knew we need to have our cabinets torn out, floor repaired and floor installed first, and we didn't want to have a kitchen's worth of cabinets taking up our garage space for longer than necessary.  
  • Find the right person to do the work
Some of you are able to do home improvement projects on your own...and then there's the rest of us!  Finding someone who does quality work when they say the will do it at a reasonable price is one of the hardest parts of home ownership.  This is why asking around to others who have been through the same type of project you're doing is so valuable! Learn from their experience (and their failures!)  and ask for and take recommendations.  
  • Be willing to wait for quality
Along the way, there are going to be surprises (especially if you live in an old house like mine!)  Try not to get frustrated if your well-laid plans get pushed back.  It's more important that the job get done right than get done fast.  Make sure to plan in some "fluff" time so that you don't end up having the painter scheduled to paint on the same day your counter tops are being installed because the cabinet installation was delayed due to unexpected issues with the floor.  If you build in some buffer days, your project will flow much more smoothly!
  • Don't forget progress pictures!
It's so much fun to see those progress pictures.  It helps you appreciate how far you've come even when the project seems to be going slow.  When I look back at my green linoleum and what was under it, I'm even more grateful for my new, level floor!  We have a few more weeks before we can call the project complete, but we've come a long way!
Picture
Picture
Picture
5 Comments
Kerie
5/1/2019 06:33:34 am

Great advice! We bought a condo that needed some serious updates, and did a lot of the work ourselves. We didn’t plan well, had limited time, and honestly, neither of us are very “handy” with that stuff...we got through it, but you can probably imagine how it all went down! I’ll spare you the awful details!

I’m so happy for you, as I’ve heard you talk about it for a while. I’m glad it’s finally all coming together...you work hard and deserve the things that make you happy!

Can’t wait to see the finished product! Congratulations, and kudos to you for your excellent planning! 👍🏻😊👏🏻

Reply
Kelli Craft
5/1/2019 11:02:01 am

It looks fabulous!

Reply
Debris Removal link
12/14/2021 02:13:29 pm

There are so many fantastic ideas to easily update your kitchen that you’ll want to get started right away. Thank you for the beautiful post!

Reply
Learn more link
12/27/2021 09:55:41 am

Getting a great kitchen remodel or renovation can be as simple as picking up the phone. A free in-home consultation is available from Sears Home Services, for a makeover that meets your budget and timeline.

Reply
Fence Installation Contractor link
1/3/2022 05:39:12 pm

This is why asking around to others who have been through the same type of project you're doing is so valuable! Learn from their experience (and their failures!) and ask for and take recommendations. Thank you for the beautiful post!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Follow


    Author

    A woman with many roles in life who knows the necessity of keeping things in order!

    Categories

    All
    Book Review
    Boundaries
    Change
    Confidence
    Crafts
    DIY
    Goal Setting
    Habits
    Housework
    Mindset
    My Life In Laughter
    Organization
    Parenting
    Planning
    Productivity
    Self Care
    Self-Care
    Support System
    Time Management

    Archives

    August 2021
    July 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017

    RSS Feed

*Blog posts may contains affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link and buy something, I may get a portion of the sale at no cost to you. 
Privacy Policy and Opt Out of Cookies
MY LIFE IN ORDER, LLC
​2021 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Live Chat Support ×

Connecting

You: ::content::
::agent_name:: ::content::
::content::
::content::