The Ultimate Kitchen Remodeling Checklist for Homeowners
Updating your kitchen can be very exciting and rewarding. It’s a way to leverage the space to get the most out of your cooking, baking, family meals, and nights of entertainment.
Of course, your kitchen remodeling project involves a lot more than simply choosing new appliances, picking out a new backsplash, and maybe adding an island to the center of the space. Kitchen remodels require a lot of planning as it’s a significant investment, and you want to get the most out of it since you likely only have one chance to get it right, financially speaking.
To make your life easier, we’ve put together a kitchen remodeling checklist so you don’t leave any important details out.
The national average for a mid-range kitchen remodel starts at roughly $80,000. However, there are several factors that come into play in determining what the ultimate cost will be, such as:
Your kitchen’s current square footage and what you plan to add
How many new appliances you’ll need
The cost of materials
Potential issues that may crop up, such as electrical or plumbing
Labor costs
You’ll also want to think about how you use your current kitchen. Do you cook or bake a lot? Do you do a lot of entertaining? If so, you’ll likely want your space to cater to those things to make your life easier and the experience of using your new kitchen more enjoyable.
Lastly, you’ll want to consider your style preferences. The most common kitchen aesthetics include:
Modern
Rustic/farmhouse
Contemporary
Luxury
Mid-century
Mediterranean
French country/provincial
American traditional
Ultimately, you want to choose an aesthetic that’s cohesive to the rest of your home. Fortunately, these are all things your kitchen remodel contractor can help you with if you get stuck.
The Ultimate Kitchen Remodeling Checklist
Your kitchen remodeling checklist should begin with finding a reliable and trustworthy contractor. The right contractor will be able to guide you through all of your options, work within your budget, and create a reasonable timeline for the kitchen remodel project.
Here’s what to consider when sifting through the different kitchen contractors in your area:
Years of industry experience
Proper licensing and certifications
Customer reviews
Their gallery of completed kitchen remodels
The warranties they offer
Their partnerships
Awards and accolades
Their online presence
Special financing options
Once you find a trustworthy contractor, you can schedule a (usually free) consultation and get an estimate for the work.
Once you have a dollar amount to work with and know what you can expect from your contractor, here’s the checklist you’ll want to run through before confirming the details:
Flooring Options
Kitchen floors are not something to overlook. Many flooring styles go in and out of style, but what’s most important is that you choose materials that are functional and long-lasting. After all, kitchen floors take more of a beating than most homeowners realize.
The most popular kitchen floor options include:
Hardwood
Tile
Wood laminate
Finished concrete
Cork
Bamboo
Limestone
Vinyl
Be sure to choose kitchen flooring that will work within your budget and overall design preferences.
Cabinets
New kitchen cabinets can become costly, depending on the materials you choose. The good news is that many older kitchen cabinets can be salvaged by updating and resurfacing them to match the aesthetics of your new kitchen.
So, you’ll want to start by assessing your current kitchen cabinets to determine the type of shape they’re in. You may even be able to do the refurbishing yourself if you’re handy, which can save you money on the remodel.
If you need to purchase new cabinets, you can find budget-friendly options by checking with:
Retailer outlets
Online resale groups
Vintage or antique shops in your area
You can also usually get a discount by purchasing floor models at hardware stores and kitchen showrooms.
Countertops
Countertops are often one of the first things to go during a kitchen remodel. Fortunately, there are tons of options available, including:
Granite
Marble
Sandstone
Engineered quartz
Wood
Butcher block wood
Stainless steel
Finished concrete
The type of countertop materials you choose should depend directly on what you like to cook and what you can afford to maintain.
If you cook a lot of sauces, you’ll want to stay away from marble as the acidity in sauces, citrus fruits, and wine can ruin the material. However, if you’re a baker, a perpetually cool surface like marble can greatly benefit your cookie-making efforts.
Appliances
Kitchen appliances come in all shapes and sizes, as well as styles and finishes. When it comes to choosing the right ones (if you’re updating them all), you’ll want to consider the following:
How much you cook and bake
Whether you prefer gas or electric
Whether or not you plan to do a lot of entertaining, i.e., feeling guests
Your style preferences
How many people in your household will be using said appliances
Which brands you prefer
You want your appliances to match your overall kitchen aesthetic, which can range from simple and modern to retro. If you plan to do a lot of holiday entertaining, you’ll likely need more cooking space, which means a double oven and larger range — plus plenty of refrigerator room.
Lighting
No kitchen remodel would be complete without installing new lighting fixtures to set the tone and mood. You have plenty of options here, including:
Track lighting
Recessed lighting
Chandeliers
Under-the-cabinet lighting
Pendant lighting
Sconces
While your lighting fixture choices will be narrowed down by the aesthetic you’re choosing, you never want to underestimate what lighting can do for your kitchen space.
Windows
If your kitchen is older and outdated, there’s a good chance that your kitchen windows are as well. This is an excellent opportunity to seize the moment while there are already renovations being done and a mess in the house.
Casement windows are the most popular in kitchens as they offer an unobstructed view of the outdoors. They’re also easy to open and close when you need to air out the space. However, you have plenty of other options to choose from, including:
Sliding windows
Garden windows
Double hung windows
You can even add stained glass details to add to your aesthetic!
Other Kitchen Details
Once you have the major details out of the way, you can focus on the minor details, which undoubtedly make a huge difference. This would include:
Your backsplash
Fresh paint
Storage preferences
Overall layout
Seating and furniture
Sink type
Decor
Your overall layout will determine what can fit into your kitchen. For example, counter stools work very well with a large kitchen island and can negate the need to spend money on a dining table.
Conversely, breakfast nooks are also incredibly popular in larger kitchens with open layouts, as are walk-in pantries. These are the little things that can genuinely take your kitchen remodel to the next level.
Ready for a New Kitchen?
Kitchen remodels can be overwhelming, even with a checklist. There are tons of options out there for every nook and cranny of your kitchen. With the right contractor, however, you can narrow down those options and achieve the kitchen of your dreams without frustration and tears.
JC Construction has the experience and knowledge to help you design your dream kitchen while remaining on par with your budget. Get in touch with us today to schedule a consultation and to start planning your kitchen remodel.
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Martin Luther
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Martin Luther
Manager at Sacramento's Premier Home Remodeling Company
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