You are ready to remodel your kitchen, but where do you start? Before you start browsing Pinterest for kitchen remodeling ideas, it’s a good time to call a professional for some guidance. The team at Graham’s Flooring and Design provides free guidance and can help make your dream kitchen a reality. Professional experience and guidance helps you make well-informed decisions, and can help keep you from getting overwhelmed by a remodeling project.

Step 1: Commit to Remodeling

Think about your overall goals and motivation for remodeling your kitchen. Write these down and discuss your list with your household to make sure everyone is on board. Think about how your remodel will: 

  • Meet the lifestyle needs of your household
  • Fit and maximize the dimensions of your space
  • Fit your remodeling budget and timeline

Step 2: Evaluate Your Needs vs. Wants to Create a List

You want to remodel the kitchen to meet your needs and hopefully some of your wants. Writing a list of needs and wants helps you prioritize what’s most important to you in the remodeling process. 

  • Who cooks and how often?
  • Do you need more counter space? Where?
  • Do you need more storage? Where? Is your storage accessible? 
  • What do you like about your current kitchen?
  • What kitchen equipment do you use most?
  • Do other activities take place in or near the kitchen (paperwork, computer work, laundry, etc.)?
  • How easy is it to access the trash? Do you store recyclables in the kitchen?

Now, what would you change about your existing kitchen?

  • What are your dislikes about your current space?
  • Which features are missing in your kitchen?
  • Do you have ideas about the layout of your kitchen?
  • What styles and colors do you want to include in your kitchen?

You can prioritize the list once you answer these questions and have a list of remodeling wants and needs. This list also makes it convenient to communicate your project goals to your designer. 

Step 3: Establish a Timeline

Your timeline depends on the depth of your remodeling project. For example, tearing out walls and rearranging all aspects of your kitchen will take longer than replacing countertops and adding a backsplash. 

In general, experts say to plan nine months for an average kitchen remodel. That’s six months to plan your project (searching, shopping, designing, preparing, ordering, hiring and scheduling), and three months of remodeling work. This doesn’t mean your project will take nine months, but it’s a good idea to allow nine months. 

Step 4: Time to Shop

Shopping is fun but takes a lot of time! Create a spreadsheet of all the items you’ll need to purchase for the remodeling project. This is where you can document your options and help keep you organized. Here are some ideas to get you started: 

  • Cabinets
  • Countertops
  • Appliances
  • Sinks and faucets
  • Flooring
  • Lighting
  • Backsplash
  • Cabinet pulls

Within each category, research different brands, materials, installation methods, maintenance and care requirements, costs, warranties and more. 

Where should you shop? You have plenty of options. You can shop online and offline, read product catalogs, visit showrooms and trade shows, and check out your local salvage yards and specialty stores.

Step 5: Establish a Budget

You might be wondering why you started shopping before you set a budget. That’s because it’s helpful to research the costs of items before blindly setting a budget. 

Kitchen remodeling budgets vary. Similar to shopping for a larger purchase like a car or house, determining your budget is based on how much money you have to put toward the remodeling project, how much you want to spend and financing options. 

According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost of a kitchen remodel is about $25,000, with a typical range of $13,000 to $37,000. You also want to research the return on investment on a kitchen remodel for your area and the current market. That way you’ll recoup some of the remodeling money you’ve invested when you sell your house. Plan on cabinets costing about 25-30 percent of the remodeling budget. To give you an idea of remodeling projects at different ranges:  

  • A smaller kitchen remodeling project costing between $10,000 and $15,000 may include painting walls, refacing cabinets, upgrading the sink and installing a tile backsplash. 
  • A $30,000+ renovation may include installing custom cabinets, hardwood floors, granite counters and high-end appliances.

Step 6: Involve the Pros

If you haven’t contacted a professional designer earlier in your process, now is the time. A designer can help you make the most of your space, ensure your kitchen is efficient and makes the most of your budget. Depending on your level of remodeling, you might have a general contractor to oversee all the aspects of the kitchen remodel construction. You may choose to be the general contractor or you could hire someone to do this. Similarly, you may want to do some of the work. Check out Graham’s in-stock flooring options.  

Hopefully this gives you an overview of the kitchen remodeling process! If you have any questions, please contact us! We’d be happy to do a virtual design consultation and be your Fort Collins and Loveland design experts.