Planning a Kitchen Remodel


Thinking seriously about remodeling your kitchen? Start now. The process is a lengthy one. Proper planning can shrink the time line considerably and save a lot of headaches as well. Here are some suggestions for both taking that toughest first step of getting started, and tips on how to survive the entire project without having to utter any expletives.

Lay it out on paper

Your first step is to lay out the space on paper. A good start is to sketch it before measuring. Next, transfer that sketch to graph paper using the appropriate scale (typically ½” = 1’). Once you have the outline, locate windows, plumbing, gas lines, radiators, doors, and anything that must remain as is.
Make Lists and take notes

You are part way through the next step because you are reading this on the Web. Pore through this and other sites to find kitchens you love and features you want to include. Print the pictures, or at least bookmark the pages. Hopefully, this will help you envision how you want the new kitchen to look. Next, make two lists. The first will contain your musts and wants – and they should be noted as just that. The second list will be for your kitchen designer so that he/she will learn a lot about your needs and lifestyle. A great list to use can be found at LeeLumber.com under Services - Kitchen Planning. You should list things like whether you are left or right handed; if you do a lot of entertaining or baking; how many children you have and their ages and whether you want an eating area in the kitchen.
The Designer is the Key

Now armed with your existing layout and your two lists, it’s time to go shopping. If you already have a recommended contractor lined up, it makes sense to ask him what designers he has worked with smoothly in the past and whose designs have impressed him. If you have no idea as yet as to who will do the work, refer to all those websites you have visited and publications you have read to see if you keep returning to cabinetry by one particular manufacturer. If so, let your fingers do the walking and find a dealer of that brand. Then you can ask the cabinetry designer for a competent installer. I certainly recommend independent retailers or boutiques rather than Home Centers due to the latter’s very inconsistent installation quality. Be sure that your designer goes to your home to verify all measurements before ordering the cabinetry. It is almost a sure thing that your drawing is missing some vital information such as the location of a heat duct or electrical outlet. The designer you choose is the individual responsible for bringing your kitchen dreams to reality. You must feel comfortable with them as well as confident that they can create a design that is both attractive and functional. A design that includes all of your “musts” and as many of your “wants” that your budget can handle. Oh yes, budget. That number should be on your l