This dated kitchen is a candidate for a total makeover – what will it take?
A kitchen remodel is one of the most rewarding home improvement projects you can undertake in your Madison WI home. It is also one of the most complexed. And, it can be one of the most frustrating.
Family activities center in the kitchen. The day’s events are planned and the day recapped. Creating an efficient, welcoming kitchen is a lofty goal, but one well worth the effort. Tearing out the heart of family organization requires planning and foresight. It disrupts all aspects of daily life. Is your family ready to do without the kitchen for weeks, maybe months? Now’s the time to think about it.
The duration of a remodeling effort depends upon the scope of the project – the more you want to accomplish, the longer it takes. Taking out and changing cabinets, flooring, countertops or tile takes less time than doing all at once. And, far less time than knocking down walls and changing the overall kitchen floor plan.
Before turning your ideas over to a professional remodeling contractor, there are items to check off your “to do” list:
Outline your priorities and expectations – what is the overall goal? More space or just a new, modern look. Or are you looking to create something totally different and unique? When do you want the project to start? When do you hope to have it finished? Are there any solid deadlines for completion – special events like weddings or graduations?
Know what you can spend – set a realistic, workable budget. Don’t forget to include all the little details (see a list below) that are too often overlooked and can be real budget busters.
These two are the most important from Day One. They provide guidelines for what follows. Fine Tune Kitchen Remodel Plans
Once you’ve outlined the scope of the project you can fine tune it. Add design points like:
Home Improvement Kitchen Remodel worm’s view installed in a new kitchen
Color choices – select colors and material that will blend smoothly with the rest of the house, especially if your is an open floor plan.
Choose materials – select flooring, tiles for features and backsplash, cabinets, fixtures and countertops.
Appliances and fixtures – decide what kind, make and model of appliances you want if you’re replacing what you have. Work with lighting specialists to create functional kitchen lighting – don’t overlook the benefits of under-cabinet lights in your redesign.
These are relatively big choices. There are dozens of little things you’ll be asked to decide upon, too. Among them are:
Cabinet hardware – knobs and handles
Faucet accessories – soap dispensers, on-off by touch options, etc.
Sinks – sizes, shapes and materials
Custom lights – fixtures, colors, textures
Light switches – colors for switch plates, rocker-style or traditional, dimmer switches, etc.
Hinges on cabinets – different types function differently
Shelving – stand-alone shelves, shelves in the pantry
Range hoods – there are far more shapes and styles than you can imagine
Include The Process In Kitchen Renovation Plans
Plan for the unforeseen. There will be obstacles.
Be prepared for noise, dust and traffic. You’ll have people you’ve never met coming and going nearly every day. The process creates plenty of confusion – dust from removing and installing materials, power tools running and objects being shifted and installed. One of the often overlooked parts of the process that can create problems is where contractors park. On any given day in the middle of a project you may have four or five crews coming and going – plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etc. Where do they park their vehicles? Where can materials be safely unloaded? How will your neighbors react to the extra traffic and reduced parking space? These are things to work out with your remodeling contractor on the first day. It’s wise to share what’s happening with neighbors, too. Knowing you’re considering them will ease most conflicts.
To ease the day-to-day impact of the remodeling process, professional designers offer these tips:
Get out of the house – if you can, get out of the house completely while the remodel is in progress. Few people can do it, so they must just live through it. Try to schedule a vacation around the job – even a week away from the disruption is a welcome relief.
Set up a temporary kitchen – modern kitchens include many small appliances that can replace large appliances for cooking. You can move the refrigerator to the garage for a while or invest in a small, college-size fridge. A microwave is essential.
Create a comfortable eating area – with normal eating spaces under construction, finding a place for the family to gather helps get through the disruption.
Consider pets – anything that’s hard on you is hard on pets. Provide safe places for them to stay and guard against workers accidentally letting them loose.
Advice For A First-time Kitchen Remodel
Veteran remodeling professionals offer a few words of wisdom for the first-time remodeler. They make sense and are worth remembering:
Don’t sweat the small stuff! Trust the people you’ve hired to do the job and don’t try to second-guess or micromanage. Don’t second-guess yourself, either. Little things like cabinet hardware can balloon into major points of contention – don’t lose your sense of perspective. Can you really remember what your best friend’s drawer pulls look like? The point is, it will all come together.
Don’t lose you sense of humor! When you get to a point where the noise, mess and stress piles up, take a minute to write down all the things you’ll get when the dust clears. Plan the party you’ll throw in your new kitchen!
When you’re working with remodeling professionals like Westring Construction LLC you can rely upon their expertise to carry you through. They’ve seen it all. They’re prepared for whatever twist or turn arises. The professionals at Westring have decades of experience remodeling single rooms and whole homes. They understand all the variables and make the process as smooth as possible. You get the highest quality workmanship to bring your dream kitchen to life. Call Westring Construction LLC at 608-441-5435 or email us to explore how we can complete the ideal kitchen remodel project for your Madison WI home. Kitchen Remodel Services