Renovating your kitchen is one of the most rewarding improvements you can make to your home. A well- executed kitchen renovation will add more value than any other room in your home. This is achieved both on a financial level, but also on a quality-of-life level as well. Many homeowners spend much of their time in the kitchen- cooking, time spent with family, or entertaining friends, the kitchen is the place to be.
When planning a kitchen renovation there are a few points to consider.
Finding a Temporary Place
A kitchen renovation will naturally disrupt your typical daily routine in one way or another, and for many weeks in most cases. It is a good idea to plan prior to a kitchen renovation for where you will set up temporarily while the work is ongoing. Fast food will get old quickly and isn’t a reasonable solution for most. Having a dedicated space within the home that can be converted into a temporary kitchen-like setup is a great way to help while the old kitchen gets a makeover. Small appliances like microwaves, kettles, and even air fryers are excellent pieces to have set up in a temporary kitchen. You won’t have the full capacity of a full-size kitchen, but it will help with the short-term pain for the long-term gain of a new kitchen.
Selections
One of the most common areas for a delay in a kitchen renovation is not having selections decided when they are needed. In most cases, all the pieces have a sequence in which they must fit into. If there is a delay in one of the pieces, it has a domino effect on the remainder of the sequence. Selecting all the pieces such as countertop, cabinetry details, mouldings/ trim, paint colours, general layout, and flooring is critical to the success of the timeline. Being prepared and having all the information prior to starting the job will make things more efficient when the work takes place.
Expectations
A kitchen renovation is one of the most impactful improvements you can make to your home. The space is typically used multiple times every day, which makes it one of the most difficult renovations in terms of disruption. A good contractor will make every reasonable effort to make this process as simple and painless as possible, however the reality is that a
kitchen renovation is disruptive to most individuals’ daily routine. Having the ‘temporary place’ as mentioned earlier will make this process easier. A combination of occasional noisy days, some dust/ debris near the work area, and people in your home working throughout the day should be expected in almost any renovation. Good site preparation, dust containment barriers, floor protection, and prior planning will aid in keeping those nuisances to a minimum.
Communication
One of the most important elements of a successful renovation is good communication between the owner and the contractor. While it is difficult to relay every small detail of the project, a good contractor will keep the owner informed on milestones, advancements, potential problems/ delays, and notable project details on a regular basis. Professional contractors have no issue with answering questions or concerns from owners, and in fact encourage being involved in weekly updating.
In the end once all the pieces have come together, you are left with a beautiful product that will not only improve the look and feel of the space, but also add to your general satisfaction and flow while working in the kitchen. A well designed, planned, and executed kitchen renovation will provide years of beauty, enjoyment, and added value for your home.
