Five Phases To Planning Your Dream Kitchen

Kitchen Remodeling Tips for homeowners Oct 19

You’ve made the choice to remodel your kitchen. Now begins the planning, where you will set goals, settle on a budget, choose designs and themes, determine timelines, and plan what is required of you during the build. Some people feel overwhelmed by the sheer size of the project, but you don’t need to be. Here is a guideline for how the planning process will go, broken down into small chunks that make even the most complicated project doable.

Preparation

You need to know what kind of kitchen you want before the first project meeting. Determine what you want and need from a kitchen. How does your current space meet or fall short of those desires? Next, measure the space, making detailed sketches of the room’s size, design features like windows, doors, and architectural highlights, electric and water features, and any obstacles you wish to keep or that can’t be moved. Finally, make detailed notes to help you stay focused as the meeting approaches. This helps ensure you remain focused when presented with options. Additionally, do homework on the installation company you are hiring. Request details on business history, references or testimonials, certifications, a list of potential subcontractors, and anything else you may wish to know before the first meeting.

Finally, make detailed notes to help you stay focused as the meeting approaches. This helps ensure you remain focused when presented with options. Additionally, do homework on the installation company you are hiring. Request details on business history, references or testimonials, certifications, a list of potential subcontractors, and anything else you may wish to know before the first meeting.

Initial Planning Meeting

You and the designer will discuss the look, flow, and theme of your new kitchen, including organization requirements and special requests. Make sure you have all your notes and drawings with you to make this meeting go as smoothly as possible. Ask any questions you may have of the designer and make sure the answers you get satisfy you.

Designer Follow-ups

After meeting in your home for a complimentary detailed measure and a review of your lifestyle-design requirements, the designer will offer you a mock design to look at in your next meeting to help you visualize your new kitchen. This gives you the chance to give further input, request changes, and ask any other questions you may have. Make sure you bring up anything that may have changed in your requirements and understand that any changes to the design will require more meetings. The final design will provide renderings for you to visualize your new kitchen.

Approval Meeting

This meeting lays out the plans, construction documents, and labor contracts for you to review, ask questions, request revisions, and finally approve. Revisions will require additional meetings. Questions you may wish to ask include means of communication for consultations or problems that arise, who will be on site and when, who the suppliers and laborers are, and how busy the business currently is.

You will also be told what deposits you will need to make, which generally equals 35% of the total costs. Once you approve these plans and finalize the design details, request copies of everything in writing. The company will assign a project manager, who will serve as your connection point throughout the project.

Project Details Meeting

A scheduler will contact you with specific details of your kitchen remodel. You will receive a login to the company’s digital project manager software, allowing you to see the complete timeline, including which days the crew will be in your home, demolition days, start day for the build, specific install dates for various parts (e.g., flooring, cabinets, appliances), and necessary inspections.

This overview provides oversight and opportunities for you to inspect progress. Make note of when you need to empty the premises, project dates you will need to be present in the home, and any other requirements of you during the project.

Having a plan with a detailed schedule that breaks the project down into smaller chunks can help you understand what is coming in your kitchen remodel. Be informed, stay on top of each phase of the project, and ask questions to ensure the project results in the kitchen you really desire.

Has the time come for your kitchen remodel? With decades of remodeling experience, Kurtis Kitchen & Bath’s experts are ready to make your dream kitchen a reality. Just call 1-888-Kurtis-1 to get started.