Kitchen remodeling advice from an ameteuer
It has been just over a year since this story began, and if I’ve learned anything about home renovation, it’s that it takes a clear vision and lots of patience. Like, buckets of patience. Although renovating the kitchen and flooring in our home was something I wanted to do eventually, we were thrust into it sooner because of a leak that started a week before our second baby was due. Talk about crappy timing, right? Suddenly all of the nesting and Marie Kondo-ing I’d been doing seemed fruitless. We were going to bring our new baby boy home to dehumidifiers, fans and missing countertops. Instead of sleeping in the room I prepared for him, he’d be in our bedroom and his brother on the floor in his. You guys, it was a cluster.
The short of it: the water line to the refrigerator leaked onto our wood floors and through the wall into a bedroom and the laundry room. We ended up ripping out all of the floors in the house (save for the bathrooms), the kitchen and laundry room. Yea, I know — it’s a LOT. After going through this process, I’m sharing my thoughts on how to plan and execute a remodeling project in your home. I don’t claim to know everything, but these are the big-picture things that helped me navigate our project more confidently.
1. Do your research
Make sure you hire a contractor who is licensed and insured. Hiring a company with a showroom means you have a place to go to talk with someone and you can see and feel samples. Ask if they do their own work or if they hire subcontractors. Either way is fine, but if they hire subs, get details on how they work together. We went with a general contractor who subbed out the flooring installers, drywall guys, plumbers and electricians. You could absolutely find a contractor for each piece of your project, but know that you will have to manage the timing of it all yourself. A general contractor will do all of the coordinating for you, but he will charge an additional percentage on everything for that service. You’ll pay a bit more, but it may save some stress on your end.
2. Move out
First off, no matter what kind of reno you’re doing, there’s going to be dust. Lots of dust. But if you’re doing your kitchen or floors, and you have the capability to move out during the process, for the love of God, please do. The easiest thing to do is pack up everything into a POD and have it hauled away until you’re ready to move back in. We are fortunate to have my in-laws nearby, so we stayed there until everything was complete. If you must stay in your home during a kitchen remodel, I’d recommend designating an area somewhere for a folding table with a couple of small appliances to cook with. Please note that you will be washing dishes in your laundry or bathroom sink for the majority of the project.
3. Layout
Changing the footprint of your space can get costly, but making it more user friendly may be worth it. Your contractor will likely have a designer on his team to help you come up with a a few options for your space. We kept the same footprint in our kitchen because I already loved the triangle pattern we had. The three points being the sink, stove top and refrigerator. I’m all about consolidating my steps when I’m cooking. Especially when there’s a toddler hanging on my leg.
4. Choosing finishes
This is 100% personal preference. Cabinet color, countertop style, door pulls, flooring and appliances. No matter what style you love, keep it consistent. Not sure what your style is? Make a Pinterest board of images that strike you. Even if they’re not all the same style, you’ll find similarities that you lean towards, and those are what you should look for when choosing finishes for your project. We went with neutral shades of white, gray and oatmeal because I figure I can throw in accent colors with stuff that I can easily change. It’s easier to switch out wall decor, linens and vases than a backsplash in a trending color that you might grow tired of over time.
5. Cabinetry
There’s a lot to think about here, especially in a kitchen. Consider what items you already have stored in your space and your workflow. Here are a few things to think about:
Roll-out drawers verses shelves in your lower cabinets. It will change your life. I’m not even kidding. No more taking everything out to reach the one thing you need waaaaay in the back.
Location of silverware and utensil drawers. You’ll want easy access while you’re cooking. Also, consider built-in dividers for better organization and to keep that damn spatula from getting stuck all the time.
A multi-level spice drawer next to your stove top. It will store way more than spices and it’s super convenient!
A cookie sheet cabinet so you can store all of those big, flat pans on their sides and make the most of your storage space.
A roll out garbage can next to the sink. Even better if it has a spot to store the bags. Score.
Double stacked upper cabinets to give you extra storage space up high for the things you don’t use very often. Think cake stands, large serving trays and holiday items that you only bring out to give the impression that you’re fancy.
A drawer for dish towels, oven gloves, trivets, coasters and placemats.
A lazy Susan to make the most of a corner cabinet space.
A drawer for pens, notepads, tape, paperclips, envelopes, stamps, etc.
A cabinet or appliance garage for small appliances (Instant Pot, Crockpot, Air Fryer, etc), so they aren’t an eyesore on your counter.
A cabinet for paper plates, cups, napkins, food storage containers.
A space to store kid stuff. For easy access for the kiddos and clean up for you, markers, crayons, Play Doh, construction paper and coloring books can have their own drawer in the kitchen where they’re usually being crafty anyway.
6. Flooring
Choices in flooring are seemingly endless; so you first need to decide if you want to go with tile, hardwood, engineered wood, vinyl plank, or even stained concrete. Head to your local hardware store and snoop around. You can usually bring samples home to see how it will look in the lighting of your home. Trust me, it’s not the same as it looks under those warehouse florescent lights. Once you choose the type, then the color is personal preference. A few notes on flooring options:
Tile: nearly indestructible and easy-to-clean, but cold.
Hardwood: solid wood that adds value to your home. It will dent and scratch but can be refinished. Not ideal for humid climates. Spills must be wiped up immediately.
Engineered wood: A thin veneer of real wood glued on top of alternating layers of plywood that are glued and pressed together to form a strong bond. This type of flooring can be less expensive than hardwood, but will still add value to your home. A deep scratch can expose the plywood beneath, but it can be camouflaged with putty and wood pens. It works well in humid climates because the layering process makes it more resistant to moisture.
Vinyl plank:If you want the look of wood without the maintenance, take a look at vinyl. It’s waterproof, scratch and dent resistant and can be installed over existing flooring. It comes in a large variety of styles, so you’ll probably find one that works for you. However, it’s not completely indestructible. It can tear from a sharp object and heavy furniture can leave imprints. It might look like wood, but it can feel plasticky under your feet.
7. Appliances
If you have the space, go with a convection double wall oven. Take it from someone who only had one oven in her old kitchen (that’s me). Cooking three sheets of cookies at once, or a roast and veggies at the same time, is a game changer. You can even get one with Bluetooth connectivity! Can’t stand a microwave on the counter or above your stove? Get a drawer microwave. It doesn’t take up any counter space AND because you reach down, taking out a hot bowl of liquid isn’t a circus balancing act of trying not to spill down the front of your shirt.
8. Communicate with your contractor
Whether you’ve moved out or are living in your home during your remodel, be sure to be in constant contact with whoever is doing work for you. Remember, you’re paying THEM so they need to answer YOUR questions and adjust things if you aren’t happy along the way. That being said, check their work every day and take notes to bring to their attention if need be. Don’t settle with work you aren’t happy with. There will be hiccups. We had our laundry room backsplash installed and reinstalled three times before I was satisfied. It happens, but if you stay diligent and pay close attention to the work, even if it causes a confrontation, you will be glad you addressed it sooner than later.
When the day comes that you decide to take the leap into a remodeling project at home, take the time to do some planning so you feel more in-control of the process. Set a budget. Stay true to the things that spark joy in you. Go with your gut. If you’re going to do it, do it right. It can be stressful, but having a vision and watching it come to life is ultra satisfying. The last project in our home is the master bath and I’ve already got a collection of images ready to go! In the meantime, I’ll just be over here in my new kitchen, cooking gourmet meals of chicken nuggets, noodles and chocolate chip cookies for my boys. I’m fancy like that.
