Our kitchen renovation is complete! It is beautiful and functional and we are so happy with how it turned out. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen a reel of the new space. I plan to do a full reveal post soon, including sources. Today, I am sharing just a few [totally unprofessional] phone pictures along with some lessons learned throughout the renovation process.
what we learned
you get what you pay for
If you read my article on selecting a contractor, you know that the company we chose was not the one with the lowest bid. When all is said and done, they were worth every penny. The quality of the work is excellent, but just as important, the professionalism was outstanding. They solved problems, communicated relentlessly, hired good subs, and finished the job almost on time in spite of a major issue involving the stone fabricator’s saw. Speaking of getting what you pay for…
hire a cleaner
About midway through the renovation, right after drywall completion, our contractor sent over a cleaning crew to clean the entire first floor. It was amazing. I know it was baked into our cost somewhere, but I was not expecting it. They came back at the end, too, right after the finish guy left and right before the dumpster was removed. If your contractor does not engage in this practice, by all means, hire a cleaner yourself. It may seem like you don’t have two nickels to rub together, let alone hire a cleaner well into a renovation, but I promise you will thank me. And if you want to be a hero, hire a service for a couple of hours for a friend or family member in the middle of a reno.
be around a lot
Despite the fact that every subcontractor had a set of plans and specs, and that the GC was on site or available by phone/text, there were a lot of questions. Being at home most of the time during the project drove me crazy at times, but it enabled me to answer questions and make decisions as they arose. This prevented things having to be redone or us having to live with a choice made by a sub or the GC without our input.
do mock ups
Using your plans and a tape measure, map out the position of cabinetry, appliances, etc. on the floor. Take into account things like how far appliance handles and counter stools will protrude, and ensure that walkways and traffic flow work in the space. Ideally, do this prior to finalizing orders.
counter-depth fridges are smaller than you think
We chose a counter-depth refrigerator. We knew that they generally have less capacity than standard-depth sizes. I even viewed the model we chose in a showroom. Nonetheless, I was still surprised by the capacity compared to our old behemoth. I don’t regret the choice, but it took some getting used to.
plan your food
I enjoy cooking, and make a family meal almost every night, save for the occasional weekend takeout. For me, two months without a kitchen presented a challenge. Breakfast and lunch were easy: cereal, smoothies, sandwiches, salad, sometimes a frozen entree. Dinner required more creativity and planning. We ordered takeout once a week and my parents were nice enough to host us several times, but I still made dinner every night otherwise.
My secret? Advance planning, and bagged salad kits. It’s easy to create a dinner salad using a kit and mixing in some extras. For example, I prepared a Chili Lime Crunch salad kit, tossed in a can of black beans, and topped it with sliced grilled chicken. The variations are endless and I employed this trick once or twice a week. The grill was also key, as were the air fryer and slow cooker (don’t forget the liner for easy clean up). Here are a few slow cooker recipes we enjoyed:
Pulled Pork (There are SO MANY variations on this recipe. Once you have the methodology, you can add BBQ sauce for traditional pulled pork sandwiches, or change the seasonings/sauce and take it in an Asian or Mexican direction.)
Finally, even with a great team, there will be frustrating days when nothing happens. Contractors often leave a few days unscheduled built into the project timeline to play catch up. Think of those days as breathers for yourself and enjoy the quiet! Let us know – have you completed a renovation recently? Share what you learned from your experience in the comments!
In case you missed it, here are the previous posts on the our kitchen reno:
Part I: Selecting a Contractor
Part II: Mood Board, Plans, and Inspiration
awesome