Kitchen remodels can be disruptive and stressful, but they can also be survived with vigor. You don’t have to eat potato chips for weeks, and you don’t have to worry about signing up for yoga because of all the stress. To get through your remodel and finish with flying colors, you simply must plan ahead and communicate throughout the process. Here are a few tips to make it easier for you to continue with life as usual during your big remodel
Packing
Pack up the items you’ll be able to survive without during the remodel. Label them clearly so it will be easy to reorganize in your new, beautiful kitchen.
Save the items you will be able to and will need to use in your temporary kitchen. Some examples are:
- Silverware
- Microwaveable plates/bowls
- A couple sizes of tupperware
- General use knife
- Grilling tools
Temporary kitchen
Find the right space to set up a temporary food preparation area. This might be an area in your basement, dining room, or a guest house if you have one. Because your food preparation abilities will be limited, start to plan your meals around your temporary kitchen. You could focus more on grilling, cut coupons for restaurants, or just skip town for a while.
A few appliances you’ll need in the new kitchen:
- Microwave
- Crockpot
- Water bottles/pitcher fill water in the bathroom
- Paper dishes or prepare to do dishes in the bathroom
- Mini fridge
Staying safe
Set boundaries for kids and pets. Consider using baby gates, signage, or whatever you need to be sure they won’t get themselves hurt.
Keeping it clean
- Use dropcloths to protect your floors and make the final clean-up simple.
- Turn off central air/heat during sanding to keep all the dust out of your ventilation. Use a box fan or space heater if necessary.
- Protect your lawn by designating walking paths and suggesting that deliveries be stored on pavement rather than grass.
- Keep a broom and shop vac handy for small cleanups along the way.
Communication
If there’s something to be communicated about, you should over communicate it. Don’t leave a stone unturned, and you can save yourself time, money, and a headache.
- With your spouse about the budget
- With your designer about your needs for the space (eg. more outlets, storage)
- With your construction team about timelines (eg. when the water will be disconnected, when countertops will be delivered)