EASY STEPS TO - Kitchen Planning

The process of renovating your kitchen needn't be difficult and it is certainly worth it!

Kitchens continue to maintain their long-standing status as one of the two most frequently remodeled rooms in the home; the other is the bathroom. They are known to realtors as “the rooms that sell houses” and when well designed, with quality products, a kitchen remodeling can produce a return on investment averaging between 86% and 119%.

As with any investment, it is important to know as much as possible about what you’re getting into before you making your final decision. There are many important things to consider, including how much you can spend, who will design and install the project, what you want and will need, what the project will entail and how well you will survive it!

Begin with a budget

The planning process should start with a full knowledge of what the project budget is. You must know exactly what your resources are and how much you are willing to spend.  Investment dollars for the project can come from a number of sources, including personal savings or a home equity loan, or if you are buying a house, the cost might be included as part of the mortgage.

An average remodeling including replacement of almost all elements from flooring to cabinets to appliances, can cost up to $7,000 when lower end products are used; $7,000 to $16,000 when middle-range products are used; $16,000 to $28,000 when high end products are used; ultra high-end kitchens, using custom cabinetry and the most expensive surfacing materials and appliances can cost $28,000 to $200,000 and higher.

When analyzing those prices it’s safe to assume that about 40% to 45% of the cost goes toward the cabinets, another 10% for appliances, and 15% for surfacing materials. About a quarter of the remodeling budget pays for the skilled labor and craftsmanship needed to design, install, and finish the kitchen properly.

Find and Work with a Kitchen Design Professional

Working with a qualified professional designer is extremely important to the success of your remodeling project. Kitchen remodeling is an intricate process and requires knowledge of space-planning rules, which are applied to the arrangement of special working centers in the kitchen.

Who should you choose to remodel your kitchen? There are a number of options. Architects and interior designers often work on such products, but your best plan is to find a kitchen specialist.  Kitchen designers usually operate out of a design showroom, focus nearly exclusively on kitchens (and probably bathrooms) and typically offer complete services, from design to product ordering to installation.

Ideally, you should engage the services of a kitchen design firm that is a member of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). Such companies in order to belong to the organization, have met certain business establishment and practices requirements and must operate within a strict code of ethics. You may further seek out the expertise of a Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD), a specialist recognized for his or her talents. (CKDs are tested academically and must meet strict experience requirements. They are also required to submit affidavits from satisfied clients and must adhere to a professional code of conduct.)

Before You Meet with a Designer

You can get a head start on your kitchen remodeling by gathering information, documenting kitchen use and evaluating your wants and needs before you ever meet with a designer. Eventually the designer will interview you at length to uncover the information needed to properly plan your kitchen. Be ready to answer questions.

You can begin by keeping a log of who uses the kitchen, when and how.  Think also about the types of meals you prepare. Do you cook with a lot of fresh foods, thereby requiring extra refrigerator space? Do you grill foods often or cook in a wok? Do you do a lot of baking and would benefit from two ovens?

When you prepare your meals, where do you work? Is there enough space? Do other cooks get in your way or you in theirs? If you’re sharing cooking responsibilities, are you fighting to get to the sink or the refrigerator?

What about storage? Do your cabinets have sufficient storage capacity? This may have a lot to do with shopping habits. Look at the types of food you buy and the quantities that you buy it in. Do you keep a lot of canned goods in the house? What about boxes of dry foods or large bottles?

Consider also how and where you store pots and pans. Are they stacked up on the bottom of a cabinet, making them difficult to get to?

You can do some advance legwork by clipping pictures from magazines or collecting brochures that illustrate the style of cabinets you like best, the colors you prefer, appliances you might like, even design ideas that appeal to you. Put together an idea file that you can share with your designer at the planning stages.

Make lists, in fact encourage the whole family to make lists of features that are needed or wanted. You may have to make some tough decisions, and perhaps even some sacrifices. Remember that needs should always take priority over wants, especially if the budget is tight.

Designed for Your Needs

The kitchen must be designed for you according to your budget and with your wants and needs in mind. A good designer will learn as much as he or she can about you, your family, your life-style, how you cook, when you cook and what the problems are with your present kitchen. Most designers will uncover what they need to know through an in depth interview process. Questions will range from your height to how often you entertain and in what manner (formal/informal). If a designer doesn’t ask these questions, there is no way for him or her to know enough about you to create a space especially to suit you.

Once you have chosen your designer, you’ll find that the remodeling process follows a logical progression. One or several further design conferences may be held to finalize plans, sign contracts or order products. Tear-Out and installation will begin and finish work will complete the job.

It is very important that you be given a full set of project documents. These include floor plans, elevations or perspective renderings, product specifications and a contract. These documents clearly spell out what you’re getting, who is responsible for completing all phases of the project and what the job costs will be.

Living Through the Remodeling

From beginning to end, the actual tear-out and installation can take, on average, two weeks to a full month.

The process generally takes the following course:

• Removal of old cabinets, flooring, equipment, etc
• Repairs (to previous damage or for inadequate construction)
• Installation of mechanical systems (plumbing, electric, ventilation)
• Inspections
• Sealing up of walls
• Installation of subfloor
• Installation of new flooring
• Cabinet installation
• Counter installation
• Installation of appliances
• Finish work (moldings, baseboards, thresholds, paint, etc.)

Generally work will not begin until all of the products ordered for the job have arrived.  If the project calls for construction changes or an addition to the home, work may start sooner. Once a crew begins work on your new kitchen, they should continue on a daily basis until the entire job is completed. Your designer will likely provide a schedule showing estimated start and completion dates. However you must understand that the schedule may change during the course of the job. For example, hidden problems found during tear-out, such as a hidden pipe chase, damaged wood or even asbestos could cause substantial delays.

Keep in mind that during the remodeling; you’ll have no kitchen to cook in and possibly no place to store perishables. And you’ll also need to find a place to store all of the things in your present kitchen cabinets.

Yes, there will be inconvenience. But consider the ultimate goal - a beautiful new kitchen that functions well and is designed especially for you!

While the design firm will likely be accountable for most tasks associated with the project there are several things you may choose to do yourself to save money. Since a good portion of the remodeling budget goes toward labor, it may be beneficial for you to tear out the old cabinets yourself.  You also can be in charge of trash removal or, once the kitchen is installed, do your own painting and wallpapering. (If you choose to complete any tasks yourself it should be duly noted in the project specifications).

Depending on the firm you choose, you may pay a design fee up front for work done prior to the signing of contracts (preparation of plans etc.). Typically, once you hire a firm, payment begins with 50% of the total project cost at the signing of the contract, and 50% upon delivery of the materials.

Download our Kitchen Planning Guide to start your project today!