Are you ready to plan a kitchen remodel this year? Congratulations! A brand new kitchen is refreshing and exciting, but there’s so much to think about. Here’s how you can make the entire process a breeze from start to finish.
8 Steps to Help You Plan a Kitchen Remodel
Step 1: Decide what’s most important in your kitchen renovation.
In order to properly plan a kitchen remodel, you’ll want to nail down exactly what you’re hoping to achieve through the renovation. Here are some questions to answer as you work through this phase:
- Do you need to add space to the kitchen, or will your existing dimensions be okay?
- Do you want an open floor plan?
- What works and what doesn’t in your current kitchen?
- Are you wanting to stay with the same style or make major changes?
- What floor plan will work best for the number of people using your kitchen on a daily basis?
- Can movement throughout the room be done in an efficient way?
As you’re brainstorming ideas, take the time to look at kitchen design portfolios and make note of what sparks your fancy. Then, start your own collection of ideas in a scrapbook or folder – you can organize and narrow them down later in the process.
Step 2: Map out your kitchen remodel’s scope of work.
After answering the questions in step 1, you’ll have a better idea of the extent to which you want to remodel your kitchen. Perhaps you’re going to be moving soon and you simply want to upgrade some colors or fixtures to make your house more marketable. Or, maybe you have a growing family so you need to renovate the entire room and even build an addition to create more space.
Regardless of how big or small your kitchen remodeling project will be, the overall scope will significantly affect two things: the size of the budget required and the amount of time needed to do the work.
Step 3: Set a budget for your kitchen remodel.
Now that you know how much you want to change and how you want the new space to function, it’s time to decide how much you can afford. If you plan a kitchen remodel but skip this step, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
Simple kitchen upgrades can be as cheap as a few thousand dollars. However, an extensive kitchen renovation can cost tens of thousands of dollars, even $50,000 or more, depending on the scope of work.
Before you jump all in, make sure you have a kitchen remodeling budget that you’re willing and able to stick to. You’ll also want to make sure to set aside some extra funds for contingencies – those unpredictable events that are often out of your control but can bring your project to a screeching halt if you’re unprepared.
Step 4: Find the best kitchen remodeling company.
Unless you’re an expert builder, plumber, electrician, or designer yourself, a kitchen renovation is not a do-it-yourself job. Yes, you’ll significantly influence the overall project but the actual work should be completed by a professional.
Ideally, you’ll want to choose a design-build remodeling company. That way, everything can be handled under one contract and the process will be much simpler from start to finish. To find the best kitchen remodeling contractor, you can start by asking friends, family and co-workers about their remodeling experiences. Or, you can jump right to looking at online reviews of reputable companies.
Step 5: Get estimates and finalize your remodeling contractor choice.
Once you’ve interviewed a few remodeling companies and taken a look at their work, it’s time to make a decision about who will do your project. To get an idea of whether or not you’re getting a fair price, feel free to ask multiple companies for quotes. Just remember that cheapest doesn’t always equate to best. In the remodeling industry, the old saying ‘you get what you pay for’ certainly rings true.
In addition to price, consider the company’s expertise, availability, reputation, and work quality as well as whether or not you can hire one company to do the job versus having to manage several.
Step 6: Finalize your kitchen design.
If you’ve followed our advice and hired a design-build team, this step will be much easier. A professional kitchen designer will be able to help you marry your own ideas, style, and design preference with current kitchen design trends and best practices.
Step 7: Choose furniture, fixtures, and finishes.
When you plan a kitchen remodel properly, this is one of the last steps. That’s because it’s much easier once you’ve decided on how you want the room to function, what it will look like, how much you have to spend, AND you have the right professionals on your side.
A professional kitchen designer, for example, will know what materials are readily available and which ones must be special ordered. He or she may also be able to show you options you never considered before and help you find solutions that will fit within your budget.
Step 8: Get ready, get set, build!
In this last step, you and your family need to plan how you will live and work around your kitchen remodel as it could take weeks to months from start to finish. Your remodeling contractor will get any permits needed and work will begin. Stay in close communication with your contractor throughout the process so any changes or additions can be made in a timely fashion and you’ll be enjoying a new kitchen before you know it!
Plan a Kitchen Remodel With the Orange County Remodeling Experts
Sea Pointe Design & Remodel is your one-stop-shop to help you plan a kitchen remodel in Orange County. With an expert design-build team, we have what it takes to plan, design, and build your ideal kitchen with quality materials and craftsmanship. Simply give us a call at (949) 861-3400 or fill out the form below to schedule your complimentary design consultation.