Tips for temporary kitchen during reno!

HU-918119203

3 years ago

I’m renovating the kitchen and living areas of my house. Initial work starts next week and kitchen demo will be in 2-3 weeks. I’m living in the house during renovation (there are few pet friendly short term rentals in my area, and those that exist are $5k or more a month, which is more than I’m willing to spend). I’m planning to use the current primary bedroom and bathroom on the first floor as a temporary kitchen space. Unfortunately, my contractor can’t rig up my existing kitchen there except at very significant expense because my Sub-Zero fridge needs a special outlet and the gas line for the stove would need to be moved, and in the end it would cost a lot of money to restore the space. I’ll have a microwave, toaster oven, and will buy a cheap fridge to get me through. Obviously, planning on living on lots of takeout and using biodegradable disposable plates and utensils and grilling when it warms up a bit. But what else can I do to make this as painless as possible? When I do need to wash something, how do I do that in a tiny bathrooms sink? Is there any way to keep my dishwasher hooked up for at least a portion of the work? What else am I not thinking of that I should be? What other tips do folks who’ve survived this have?

I’m trying to remain optimistic about this experience, so please keep comments in that vein!

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Comments (5)

nycbluedevil_gw
3 years ago
Outdoor hose and bucket sound like they could help you with cleaning. I have lived through multiple renovations and ever used paper plates or plastic utensils. I just washed everything. Depends on your tolerance I suppose. I assiduously avoid waste so that was my choice. I don’t use an instapot but I borrowed one during the renovation. Inwas able to cook pasta in it. I found that cooking things in water was the biggest challenge. The grill can be used as an oven. Regarding your dishwasher, I guess it depends on what your renovation entails but I find it doubtful that you can keep a sink hooked up for any useful period of time, so long as your comtractor has his act together.
palimpsest
3 years ago
Our kitchen was demo'd year ago this month, and we just got rid of the range and DW this past week. (Because they both finally gave up working). We still have a sink set up on a piece of plywood in the space, and we've just moved things out of the way and worked around them.

I am not recommending this to anyone, just pointing out that we kept a working sink, and DW (which was out of commission a couple days here and there) in the kitchen throughout the gut demolition, and putting things back together, for a year. Our Subzero will not be delivered until December. So the renovation total time will be close to two years.

Since we have gotten rid of the range we have been using two portable burners, and a Breville oven. We wash everything as we use it, immediately. Our old refrigerator also died during this and we got an apartment fridge and put it on casters. It will go in the basement when all is done.
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KW PNW Z8
3 years ago
You don’t say where you live - FL vs MI or how many in household. But for my experience, in August, just me & my husband, we used our garage as kitchen. Our existing frig was moved to FR next to kitchen along with stove. Frig plugged in & we had access to it. stove was not set up. Kitchen was draped off so no entry, no sink & no DW. To cook we used our micro & an induction burner in the garage all set up on a long portable. We used paper plates & our outdoor plastic dishes but also had access to laundry sink for hand washing. Used our BBQ a lot. Do you have a shower or bath tub in that bathroom? Maybe get a couple of basins / bucket for dishwashing. Instapot sounds like a great idea - I don’t have one but folks seem to love them.
sushipup2
3 years ago
Large dish pans. https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/dishpan

Portable induction burner with proper cookware for it.
yeonassky
3 years ago
I used a portable dishwasher that I hooked up to a laundry tub sink. I had two little kids that I had to keep occupied! I did not want to worry about dishes. It worked perfectly I don't know if you have any place for that. The portable dishwasher had a cutting board top. In fact I still own one of them and use them for overflow dishes when I need it.

I agree using an induction element also is wonderful but I cooked so many things in my microwave that that's what I really recommend.