Have you ever worked on a project where the knowledge you collected at the end could have better served you at the beginning? Nothing could be truer for anyone who remodels their kitchen for the first time. Here are some design details that you don’t want to overlook if you are planning a kitchen remodel.
BUDGET IS EVERYTHING
If you are planning a kitchen cabinet remodel, it’s always best to have an established budget for cabinets and countertops before you meet with your kitchen designer. This can help make your first meeting much more productive, as your kitchen design expert can help them determine what you can do with your budget. Don’t worry if you don’t have a budget established, as most designers can help you with this, but it is a good idea to have a spending bracket you would like to stay within.
CHOOSING A KITCHEN DESIGNER
There are many types of cabinet stores, which can be confusing and overwhelming during a kitchen remodel. The most common are Big Box, Manufacturer, or Dealer stores, and each has benefits. Many heavily emphasize the store, which is really important, but choosing your kitchen designer is equally as important.
A good kitchen designer does a lot to ensure your dream kitchen is realized and achieved. Many of these things happen behind the scenes, which makes it hard to ensure they are the right fit for you. It is recommended that you work with someone you connect with who understands you and can explain and communicate things. You can also ask to see their portfolio if you feel that would help you decide who your ideal kitchen designer is.
ADDING LOTS OF DRAWERS
It’s true. Adding drawers does add cost to your kitchen remodel. Remember that more drawers improve your space and make it more ergonomic. Having more accessibility in your kitchen will ensure you reduce back strain and can age in place.
SOMEONE WILL LET YOU DOWN
It’s the ugly truth of any kitchen remodel… at some point, someone will probably let you down. This is because it takes many people to successfully achieve a kitchen remodel and simply put, everyone is human. This can be as simple as a delayed email reply or tradespeople running behind on appointments. What matters is recovery and the commitment to excellence to ensure your job is completed to the details agreed upon in the contract. So when someone lets you down, just know they didn’t do it on purpose, and they want to make it right. Your happiness is your success. Keep focused on the finish line.
THE FIVE-BY-FIVE RULE
As things progress, it is easy to get stressed out about some of the small details. Plans are made, and sometimes they need to be modified to move forward because of restraints or to keep on schedule. Reflecting on the 5 by 5 rule during your kitchen remodel will really help you. The rule is “If it won’t matter in five years, don’t spend more than five minutes worrying about it.” Again, sometimes this is easier said than done, but this can help sometimes.
SUMMARY
There are many things to plan and consider during a kitchen remodel. Proper preparation and identifying the right store and designer to serve you are really important. Surround yourself with passionate people and let them build that passion into your home. Spend valuable time in the idea-collection phase to determine your needs. This will make it easier for your designer to help you achieve them. Lastly, don’t sweat the small stuff, as everyone wants to see your kitchen dream come true.