Picture this: you are standing in your beautiful new kitchen. The farmhouse sink is sparkling clean, the marbled countertops and brass fixtures give you a sense of warmth, everything is designed to your exact specifications. It’s a nice picture, right? If you are getting ready to undergo a kitchen renovation, but worried about the process, we’re here to put your mind at ease.
In this article, we’ll cover practical tips to help you manage a kitchen remodel, plus give you some guidance on how to ensure your process runs smoothly.
Do Your Research
We always recommend that the first step to a successful home project is thorough research.
Learn how much typical projects cost in your area and start to think of a realistic budget. Then, look for inspiration and put time into describing your ideal kitchen: do you need more storage space? Room for multiple people to cook at once? Is a layout for entertaining the top priority?
Then, reach out to architects and builders in your area to get consultations and estimates. It’s important to engage a partner you trust to ensure your project runs smoothly.
As you research and contact architects in your area, make note of the projects you like — try to find firms that have projects aligned with your vision.
Consider Timing
Next, consider when it’s best for your family to renovate. Each season has pros and cons:
In the spring and summer, you can eat outside, and if you have a grill, you’ll have an alternative cooking method readily available. In the winter, the demand for residential construction projects typically slows down, and you can reap the benefits of shorter lead times in some cases.
However, if you have a kid graduating from high school, or are planning to host extended family over Christmas — take those plans into account. You never want to worry about the hassle of entertaining in a construction zone!
Prepare Thoroughly
Once you’ve chosen a contractor and planned your renovation — it’s time to organize! We recommend packing up your kitchen and any other areas that will be a work zone, as well as removing fragile items from pathways in and out of your home, just for peace of mind.
When packing up items, organize and label each box to make unpacking into your new kitchen a breeze. Plus, you can use this opportunity to sort through your kitchenware and get rid of items you no longer find useful.
Tips & Tricks for Surviving the Renovation
Now comes the fun part! While living in a construction zone comes with challenges, it will be worth it when you get to enjoy your new kitchen.
You’ve already budgeted for your construction work — ensure you don’t spend far more than you expected on takeout or restaurant meals. While that’s certainly an option if you choose, it’s possible to get by without having to rely on DoorDash. Here’s how many of our clients have managed to live through a kitchen reno:
Use Alternative Cooking Methods
If you have a crock pot, instant pot, toaster oven, microwave, or air fryer, you have a place to cook! These can be relocated to other spaces in your home. It might be strange to cook in your living room, but if it saves you from daily takeout — it’s worth it.
Meal Prep
In the week leading up to construction, plan to cook extra large portions of your favorite meals. You can freeze these leftovers into single portions. Soups and stews, chili, curries, and shredded chicken or pork all freeze and reheat well. It’s especially nice to have the comfort of your favorite meal when you start to grow weary of life without a kitchen!
Stage a New Kitchen Area
With a few supplies, you can stage a perfectly usable kitchen area in another section of your home. A small folding table can act as a counter for meal preparation, and hold your countertop appliances. Rubbermaid tubs can hold pantry staples. Some construction companies will help you move your fridge to another location if there’s a spot in your house for it — otherwise a dorm fridge/freezer combo is inexpensive and small.
Dedicating another spot in your house to cook and eat will give you back some functionality while you wait for your new kitchen to come to life.
Deal with Dishes
If you renovate in warm weather, you may be able to get by doing the dishes with your hose … but if that’s not a viable option, get a plastic soaking tub for a few dollars and use that to soak or rinse dishes as needed. Bathroom sinks are often too shallow to easily wash dishes, so a deeper soaking tub can make it easier to wash then rinse dishes.
Alternatively, get disposable dishes — it’s not the most eco-friendly option, but paper plates and bowls will cut down drastically on your dishes, so all you have to hand-wash is glassware and utensils.
Enjoy Your Kitchen
At last, the construction is over — it’s time to enjoy your new kitchen! Kitchen projects can be one of the most disruptive remodeling jobs, but often have the biggest payoff in terms of updated looks, increased functionality, and added resale value.
Plus, with a trusted team taking care of the design, permitting, and construction admin, you’ll be able to watch your vision come to life without having to deal with any stress or headaches.
Oztan Studio provides comprehensive architecture and project management services in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland to make your kitchen renovation seamless. Get in touch to learn more about our efficient & transparent process that achieves stunning results for clients.
