5 Essential Steps to Successfully Remodel Your Kitchen and Bath

Remodeling your kitchen or bathroom can be an exciting endeavor, but it’s also a messy and disruptive one. Strangers track through your home and make noise for weeks or months.

Knowing the recommended order of doing things is a good idea so you don’t end up paying for work that should have been done first.

Identify Your Goals

Identifying your goals is the first step in any remodeling kitchen or bathroom. You can remodel a room in your home for many reasons. Increasing your home’s value is always a good choice, but you may also want to create a functional space that fits your lifestyle.

Think about the ways you use your kitchen or bathroom daily. Do you host dinner parties or entertain guests? Do your kids and pets spend time in the kitchen, where you might find yourself tripping over food or water bowls or searching for a spot to keep the litter box?

Assessing what your home is missing can help you prioritize your project. If you love entertaining but have a small, closed-off kitchen area, removing a wall and creating an open-concept kitchen would be your biggest need.

Create a Budget

A budget will give you a guideline to follow. However, adding extra items throughout the remodel is easy, which can become a slippery slope that ends in budget purgatory. A good kitchen and bath designer like Striking Remodels will help you stick to your budget and avoid unnecessary expenses.

For example, a minor kitchen remodel generally keeps the current layout and is focused on cosmetic changes like a fresh coat of paint, affordable countertops or new floors (like laminate). Ornate crown molding and pilasters will consume your budget, while simple woodwork looks timeless and less costly.

It’s also a good idea to pad your budget by about 15% for unforeseen expenses that will inevitably pop up. For instance, you may have to spend money on takeout food or boarding your pets while renovating your home.

Create a Design

A designer knows the latest trends and can help you select a design that will work within your budget and enhance your lifestyle. They can also advise you on materials, finishes and fixtures.

Choosing a kitchen and bathroom design style is important to impact your remodeling project’s resale value if you plan to sell your home. It’s important to consider which types will appeal to most home buyers.

For example, industrial kitchen and bath designs are inspired by warehouses and factories. They feature utilitarian colors, materials and surfaces like brick and steel. This style is best for homeowners who want a modern look with more character. This style works well with a monochrome color palette and a few pops of color.

Hire a Contractor

A remodel is a big job. It will involve strangers tracking through your house, making noise and messing with it for weeks or months. Hiring a contractor will help ensure the project stays on track and that the finished product matches your vision.

Research kitchen layouts, designs, cabinets, appliances, fixtures, and building materials to create a list of items you want to include in the plan. This will assist you in determining what fits into your budget.

Consider who will use the space and what their needs are. It is important to plan for the people living in your home and not just their “wishes.” This includes children, pets, and frequent visitors. Make sure to plan for them so everyone can enjoy the new spaces.

Apply for Permits

A permit is needed for any plumbing or electrical work during the remodel. This will ensure that the changes are recorded and up to code. It will also help with future home sales. In addition, mortgage companies are likely to provide coverage for a remodel done with proper permits.

Many kitchen designers and contractors will handle the permit process for you. However, if you find someone who doesn’t want to take care of this step, it is best to look for another company. A good contractor will not want to risk being associated with unpermitted work. Plus, they will know how to submit plans and handle the inspections properly. This will make the entire process run more smoothly.