Many people, once they get done with their kitchen remodel, say that if they had known better they would’ve done a few things to differently to prepare before the construction began.  Kitchen remodels are one of those things where it’s easy to get there and say “Oops I wish I would’ve thought of that!” 

One of the exciting things about a new year is the chance to think about what you’re going to change this year. It’s the time people consider making lots of changes.

What is it about kitchens that cause people to congregate? Some of our fondest childhood memories revolve around the kitchen.  Whether it was making those holiday treats or just helping grandma cook your favorite dessert. While in the past the kitchen was typically used for cooking, it is so much more today. It is the place where family and friends not only cook together, but also build relationships. Our kitchens have become a part of our family rooms. 

It’s time to remodel and finally get that dream kitchen you have been wanting for so long. It’s amazing to think of what this new kitchen is going to mean to you and your family. You have your Pinterest board ready with everything that is going to make your kitchen just perfect.  

When beginning a kitchen remodel it is easy to get caught up in all the latest and greatest trends. We tend to want to have it all. Many homeowners make the mistake of cramming too much in to their new kitchen and end up frustrated because it doesn’t function like they thought it would. They get so caught up in the aesthetics that they overlook the layout and storage options. They end up tripping over each other because the flow and workspace interferes with the different activities in the kitchen.

Before ever starting your kitchen remodel there are five questions you need to ask yourself. This will help you and your kitchen designer create a kitchen that will function like you need it to.

Once you’ve decided to remodel the kitchen or bathroom it can be a little overwhelming knowing what to do first. You have the design complete, cabinets picked out, flooring ordered, and fixtures on the way. The big dilemma is, knowing what to do first.  

Some people will just opt to hire a general contractor to handle the whole process. Others will try and save a little money and deal directly with the different contractors involved in the job. 

If this is your first time taking on a project like this there are most likely some things you may not know, or have not considered. Do you install the flooring or cabinets first? Should you paint before or after the cabinets are installed?  There are some general rules of thumb when it comes to the order in which things should be done.  

When it comes to shopping for new cabinets there seems to be so many different terms for different things.  It can be a little overwhelming as you are doing your research. It’s important to make sure you truly understand what you are getting. 

Many people tend to confuse door styles with overlays. The term “Overlay” refers to how much of the cabinet face frame the doors and drawers cover. You will mostly hear three different terms when it comes to overlays:  Inset, Partial Overlay, and Full Overlay doors. So what do they mean?

A lot has changed in the cabinet industry over the past several years.  One of the big changes is the way we design our kitchens for our customers.  It used to be that you would look at a hand drawn design and try and envision what your kitchen would look like when it was finished.  

If you were lucky you had a kitchen designer who was actually an artist and could draw a pretty accurate sketch.  Most were just quick hand drawn sketches and didn’t even come close to really resembling the finished product.  Customers had to use their imagination more times than not.   Too many times people ended up disappointed because the drawing might have been similar but the kitchen didn’t turn out quite like they envisioned.

          Sketch Drawing                           CAD Design                             Actual Kitchen

Some days, it can be a challenge to remember an important date or even to put two matching socks on – so, we understand completely why homeowners often feel overwhelmed when it comes to planning their remodels. Luckily, there are plenty of people who have taken the leap before you, and most of them are willing to talk about their mistakes in an effort to help others.

Make no mistake

As you begin your remodeling plans, you’re not expected to know all of your cabinet options (unless of course, you happen to be a kitchen and bath expert) – which is why we encourage you to do some fun research. Soak it all in.

Visit kitchen and bath remodeling websites, or if you spend too much time on the computer as it is, dig through some magazines, take photos in neighbors’ homes (please don’t do this by peeking through the windows, though), snap pictures at stores or even of examples on the remodeling show you just DVR’d.  

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