Kitchen Remodeling can be an exciting prospect! You'll want to start planning early so you know your options, priorities, and limitations before you get started.
If you're considering a kitchen remodeling project,
you need time to plan and budget carefully. You probably already have a lot on your plate, so you need to carve out time to explore and determine your options, priorities, and limitations with your kitchen remodeling project. Perhaps you want to set aside Monday evenings for the next two months for kitchen remodeling brainstorming sessions with your spouse, significant other, or entire family.
Whatever time frame you choose and people you include, make sure to keep those planning dates. Not only will the finished product show your attention to detail, but your anticipation will heighten with each planning meeting, too.
Options
When it comes to kitchen equipment and surfaces, there's no shortage of state-of-the-art possibilities. You'll want to look at the available options for each of the following major aspects of your remodel.
Appliances
Cabinetry
Countertops & Backsplashes
Eating Area(s) & Seating
Flooring
Sink
As you look into the various options out there, you'll want to find a way to keep track of what works for you--list them out, save websites in your "favorites" list, put them into a spreadsheet, or perhaps cut out pictures in magazines for a kitchen-remodeling scrapbook.
You could also consider taking pictures of kitchen features you like as you visit friends' homes or home-improvement show rooms. You may want to list general price points along with your findings, too.
Priorities
As you catalog your options, you may find that your kitchen-remodeling "wish list" is pretty unrealistic, and that's okay. The next step in planning is to pick out your must have items—those things you're willing to pay for. No one can determine this but you, and it will largely depend on your lifestyle and the way you use your kitchen.
If you tend to host big holiday meals, perhaps a double-decker oven will be on your list. If you really like your wine, a wine cooler can be significant. For those who like to entertain casually, having a good flow for a buffet line and adequate mingling space might be worth consideration. Whatever your priorities for your kitchen are, you need to write them down and build (or tweak) the rest of your "wish list" around them.
Limitations
Perhaps you're on a major budget, have a small space with which to work, or know you want to keep your current kitchen table. These things will limit the choices you'll be able to make. In some ways, that can be a good thing though. Because the options out there can be overwhelming, having pre-determined limits can lessen the headaches that can come from too much information and too many options.
Once you know your options, your priorities, and your limitations, you'll be in pretty good shape to start interviewing kitchen remodeling contractors.
