Items to Educate and Empower
Start with a stack of magazines and set aside a few hours to rip out the
photos you like. Look for pictures that show the type of wood, metal, and
glass doors that appeal to you. Search for ideas in the colour of the
wood stain or paint finishes that you like. If possible, write your
comments on the photos. You may start to see some commonalities in the
photos you select. Assess your need/desire for new appliances, stone
counters versus plastic laminate counters, and so on. This will help you
to formulate a preliminary budget.
Refer to my complimentary Summary Matrix. Determine your “able to spend”
amount and then your “absolute” maximum amount. Deduct 20% off the
maximum amount to have a buffer of 20% to cover unforeseen expense. Consider this your new maximum amount.
Today, kitchen design is broken down into work zones: preparation areas,
cooking areas, cleaning, storage, and serving areas. Please refer to the
detailed List of Questions at the end of the article to assess your habits
and needs for the design and layout of your new space.
Show the doors and drawers closed
and then show the doors and drawers open. Take photos of how you
currently have your kitchen organized. Bring these photos with you when
you meet your Kitchen Designer as the photos will assist with the process
of upgrading your storage and work flow patterns.
November through February: low season for construction, kitchen
manufacturers are more flexible with their pricing and will generally give
you a 4 – 6 week lead time.
March through May: the construction industry is starting to build again;
prices return to the norm, and lead times are typically around
6 – 8 weeks
for the delivery of your kitchen.
June through October: the construction industry is going full steam ahead
and lead times of 10 – 12 weeks in not uncommon.
The timing of your project will have significant impact on your family
life. You might want to consider:
Moving your family to the cottage
or take a holiday for the bulk of the messy time (typically 2 – 3 weeks.)
If removing your family from the renovation is not possible, you will
want to be able to open the windows to keep the paint and adhesive smells to a minimum.
Preparing a temporary kitchenette location.
If you choose to remain in your home – prepare yourself for camping; yes,
I said CAMPING!!! A kitchen renovation is a MAJOR event in a family’s
life. You will need to prepare a temporary “kitchenette”, this may be in
close proximity to the laundry sink area. You will need: counter space
for a food preparation, a microwave, possibly a toaster oven, space to
wash dishes. You will need a garbage, as well as extra shelving for the
storage of dishes and dry/tinned foods. This could be a good time to
purchase some extra shelving for the laundry area that can be used for
your storage within the kitchenette”, and you can re-use it later in your
garage or basement for bulk storage.
Determine your target timelines that include a “must start date” and a “must be completed” date. Tell your General Contractor the “must be
completed date” is two weeks ahead of when you really need to have it
completed. This buffer time will save lots of headaches and frustrations
later, as projects always take longer than originally anticipated when
several trades are involved.
A Designer has experience in what I call the “order of operations”: where
to go for products, knows the appliance industry, knows the cabinetry
industry, knows the latest functional items, trends, and best of all will
be highly organized to make your decision making process as easy as
possible.
The selection of a reliable General Contractor is probably the most
important decision in the process and is one to thoroughly investigate.
Ask lots of questions of your friends and associates who have achieved a
good kitchen renovation. Ask your Designer for trade references; ask the
various kitchen companies that you will visit for references.
Make sure your GC is insured and ask to speak with their previous Clients.
Ask how many jobs they will have on the go along with yours. You will
want to ensure they are focused on your job and have it completed within
your timelines. If a GC has a good reputation and you feel comfortable
with them, negotiate your agreement with your start date as soon as you
can as the good General Contractors will be in high demand!
With research folder under your arm, including your wish list, your
answers to the list of questions from the end of this article, magazine
photos and photos of your existing kitchen, start out for a day of
investigation and discovery.
I recommend you do this on any day other than Saturday or Sunday.
Everyone and their neighbour will be out on the weekends. It is smart use
of your time to inquire what evenings through the week these showrooms are
open later so that you will have quality time with designers and sales
staff.
I like to start with the larger kitchen companies in the city to see their
offerings. They should offer wonderful showrooms with all of the gizmos,
up to date styles and finishes; and will have some of the latest
appliances integrated into their displays. They will have brochure
information with photos; their sales teams will be well versed in design,
functional products and appliances to make your investigation easier. You
may not end up buying from these larger showrooms, but their resources do
offer you the best education in the product.
To give you a ballpark idea of what it can cost for your kitchen, the
prices range from $75 per linear foot for basic knock-down, do it
yourself cabinetry and installation to upwards from $175 per linear foot
for custom cabinetry. The overall construction of the box, the door
style, door material and the finish are all factors that contribute to
price.
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aesthetics that match your tastes.