The Key To A Successful Kitchen Remodel
What is a successful kitchen remodel?
As a design professional I define any successful remodel as a project completed on time that fulfills all of a client’s needs and requests within their budget. It may sound like fiction, but success really can be yours. Whether you are hiring a designer or choose to work directly with a contractor, the key to successfully remodeling your kitchen into a space that fits your needs is detailed planning.
Many times when we think of remodeling, the focus tends to head to the final details like the cabinet finish or the pattern of the floor tile. Instead, the time should be spent on how to make the space functional for whomever uses it.
To start planning, I recommend putting together a project binder that will contain your thoughts, ideas and details about the space, how you currently use it and how it can be aesthetically and functionally improved. Divide the binder into the topics below, each a separate tab with blank sheets of paper, where you should answer questions, like the ones under each topic, and keep detailed, related notes.
Project Info:
Reasons for project?
What do you dislike about the space?
How long do you plan to live in the home after the project is complete? Designing a kitchen in a home with possible resale within 5 years can be different than if you plan on making it the home you pass on to the next generation.
Any special design requests (ie. Green/Sustainable design/products)
Function:
Is the kitchen only for cooking?
Or is (or would you like) the kitchen to include an eating area and/or entertaining areas?
Tasks/Activities:
For cooking enthusiasts and foodies, hours upon hours can be spent preparing one meal.
Make a list of tasks and activities that happen on a regular basis, occasional basis and rare occasions. How often do you cook? How often do you bake? Entertaining: what kind and how often?
What major and countertop appliances do you use on a regular basis?
Inspirations & Wish List:
Search the internet for ideas:
Kitchen photos on Houzz- More than 1,500 photos available from design and architectural firms all over the country .
Home & Garden Television is another online source that really focuses on mid-range projects.
Budget:
Depending on size, style and product types, full kitchen remodels roughly start at $20,000-$25,000 and can run into the six digits.
I recommend at least three to four weeks to compile a complete project binder. By this point, you should be able to communicate your needs to any industry professional. The more details you give them, the better chance they have of understanding your needs and style and building the kitchen of your dreams.
As a design professional I define any successful remodel as a project completed on time that fulfills all of a client’s needs and requests within their budget. It may sound like fiction, but success really can be yours. Whether you are hiring a designer or choose to work directly with a contractor, the key to successfully remodeling your kitchen into a space that fits your needs is detailed planning.
Many times when we think of remodeling, the focus tends to head to the final details like the cabinet finish or the pattern of the floor tile. Instead, the time should be spent on how to make the space functional for whomever uses it.
To start planning, I recommend putting together a project binder that will contain your thoughts, ideas and details about the space, how you currently use it and how it can be aesthetically and functionally improved. Divide the binder into the topics below, each a separate tab with blank sheets of paper, where you should answer questions, like the ones under each topic, and keep detailed, related notes.
Project Info:
Reasons for project?
What do you dislike about the space?
How long do you plan to live in the home after the project is complete? Designing a kitchen in a home with possible resale within 5 years can be different than if you plan on making it the home you pass on to the next generation.
Any special design requests (ie. Green/Sustainable design/products)
Function:
Is the kitchen only for cooking?
Or is (or would you like) the kitchen to include an eating area and/or entertaining areas?
Tasks/Activities:
For cooking enthusiasts and foodies, hours upon hours can be spent preparing one meal.
Make a list of tasks and activities that happen on a regular basis, occasional basis and rare occasions. How often do you cook? How often do you bake? Entertaining: what kind and how often?
What major and countertop appliances do you use on a regular basis?
Inspirations & Wish List:
Search the internet for ideas:
Kitchen photos on Houzz- More than 1,500 photos available from design and architectural firms all over the country .
Home & Garden Television is another online source that really focuses on mid-range projects.
Budget:
Depending on size, style and product types, full kitchen remodels roughly start at $20,000-$25,000 and can run into the six digits.
I recommend at least three to four weeks to compile a complete project binder. By this point, you should be able to communicate your needs to any industry professional. The more details you give them, the better chance they have of understanding your needs and style and building the kitchen of your dreams.
Honoring a client’s request for a “retro style” kitchen with a kid’s sitting area, this remodel is exactly what the patriarch of this family wanted.
Q