We’ve lived in our house for almost nine years now, and I’ve finally had it with our kitchen. It’s time to remodel and I want your advice!
We are staying within the footprint of our current 1920s kitchen and it’s about 80 square feet, but because of the layout, not all of it is terribly usable. We’re definitely getting new cabinets and appliances (except for the fridge, which is only a few years old). We’d like to keep the pantry, which you cannot see in this picture (though you can see pretty much ALL of the counterspace).
So, questions. If you have done a kitchen remodel…
- What was your best remodeling decision?
- What would you do differently?
- What space-saving devices did you add?
- Do you actually like and use said space-saving devices?
- Is there anything you thought you’d love but don’t?
- Is there anything you wish you had spent money to upgrade, but didn’t?
- Is there anything you spent money to upgrade, but wish you hadn’t?
- What should we ask the remodelers before we start?
- How did you survive without a kitchen during the remodel?
Our current thoughts on what we’d like like to do:
- Keep with a traditional/vintage style
- Go with gray, white, and black for colors and add color with accent pieces
- Keep it as simple as possible to make the room look as big as possible
- Cabinet doors! I’ve lived with dusty bowls for long enough, thank you
Though it’s a big step, and will be messy, and take time, I’m really looking forward to it! Comments and suggestions are very, very welcome!
Hee hee. As you know, we’re in the process of the remodel, but did most of the planning ourselves. We also have a lot more space than you do, though, so it was easier!
I’ve actually had a ton of remodeling experience over my short 33 years, and the best piece of advice that I can give is that it will always, always take at least 3 times longer than you plan for and cost at least 33% more. Expect it now, and it will be a lot less frustrating in the future. Also, for the kitchen, I think its worth it to splurge on decent countertops not only because it will add value to the house, but because the hold up a lot better too.
Hey! (1) Get the pull-out shelves on rollers for your cabinets. It doubles your usable storage space. (2) We have a “lazy susan” now and love it. Makes so much use of the unusable corner space. (3) Get an undermounted sink so you no longer have to clean the edges of your sink…we didn’t get this in our last house and regretted it. One is being installed in our new house next week.
(4) Get the tallest cabinets you can find, use every inch of space up to the ceiling. Good Luck! With your style and vision, it will be beautiful!
Oh man, I could write a book on renovations! I recorded some of our most recent experience on my blog (http://houndsinthekitchen.com/category/home/kitchen-renovation/). We gutted and redid the kitchen in our previous house too.
Twice now we have used IKEA cabinets. They are easy to assemble, inexpensive, and very durable. I like that there are solid wood doors available.
In the most recent reno, we choose all lower cabinets to have drawers. I LOVE this – so much easier for organization.
If at all possible, give yourself the gift of a semi-pro vent hood that vents to the outside. Ours was only about $350 from Lowes and is a lifesaver – no more whole house heated up from running the stove.
I really like our stove/oven. It’s a GE JGBP86. Big wide burners on top with a ‘turbo’ on one of them that heats big pots of water very quickly.
My husband made our counters out of wood. It wasn’t that difficult and cost only $450 for much more counter than you have pictured. I made him write a tutorial if that is something you are interested in repeating: http://houndsinthekitchen.com/2009/12/15/wooden-countertops-tutorial-part-one/
As far as surviving during the remodel, we planned out every detail so the whole thing could be done in about two weeks. We did it between dec. 26 and early january when lots of family was off work. They were able to help out with the work and offer food.
We moved the fridge and toaster oven to the dining room. We generally ate cold cereal and milk for breakfast, sandwiches and chips or the like for lunch, and dinner with friends/family/out.
I would be happy to have you over and show you our kitchen if you wish. We’re having an open house on Sept 11 from 11 – 1 if you are free then or email to set up another time.