Sooo you’ve thoughtfully planned out your next kitchen remodel: carefully selected the designer and/or contractor; worked out your budget; hand selected your cabinetry, counters, backsplash tile, even lighting (kudos!)… Now you can kick up your feet and let the Pros go to work.
Ummmmm…not exactly.
As an interior designer with a substantial amount of kitchen/bath experience, I have witnessed a lot (and I mean A LOT) of homeowners think they can pack up their kitchen in a few days, and easy peasy. When I revisit during demo week – most of those same homeowners are completely frazzled, stressed out, hangry versions of themselves. Most confess they thought they were ready but had no idea. (insert “ahhhhh you were right Cristina” here)
So here’s a list of things you MUST consider ahead of time if you have any chance of staying sane through kitchen remodeling!
LOCATION: Find a location (away from the dust if possible, but easily accessible) to set up a temporary kitchen. A simple folding table works well; if weather permits, a table like this is well worth the purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Outsunny-Portable-Folding-Camping-Faucet/dp/B06XQ4NY2X
REFRIGERATOR:
You’ll need to keep your refrigerator working during the process. Find a place close to your temp kitchen.
Check if it needs a special power hookup in advance.
Hooking up the water line will likely not be possible, so consider buying a water filtration pitcher.
Check with your appliance company about disposal. They will often swap out appliances one for one, but since you’ll likely need the refrigerator long after your contractor will need the new cooktop on site, you may have to have them deliver twice.
COOKING: How are you going to cook? Here are some fairly inexpensive gadgets that will make living without your double oven much more tolerable (just make sure they are not all plugged into the same circuit, as you;ll be making daily trips to your breaker box):
Microwave – Just make sure you’re not using your above range microwave; as these can heat up quickly when resting on a counter, and could present a fire hazard.
Toaster
Toaster Oven
Plug in griddle or Foreman Grill
Instant Pot or Crock Pot
Plug in hotplate
DISHES: How will you do dishes? Unless you have a wetbar, butlers pantry or in law suite, Yes…you will probably be without a dishwasher.
Do you have a bathroom nearby with sink large enough? I know, this one kind of grosses me out a little, but we are in survival mode peeps!
Maybe you could have your contractor install a simple laundry sink?
Going disposable. *cringe* I can hear Mother Nature crying now, not to mention research shows that a meal eaten with disposable flatware and plates is actually much less enjoyable.*
PLANNING: Allow 2 full weekends to go thru cupboards. At least. I know. You will go through at lightning speed with your daughter/sister/husband/grandpa. Here’s the thing though. You’ll want to go through everything with a fine toothed comb now. Trust me when i tell you – you will not want to put back anything into your spankin’ new, beautiful kitchen that is cracked, worn, chipped, not useful, or not beautiful. So:
Time to toss all those old duplicate/expired/funky/unlabeled spices.
Get rid of the mismatched tupperware.
Adios amigos to those 14 Pyrex containers you never EVER use, yet manage to always be in the way when you’re squatting down looking for something.
EATING: How will you actually eat?
Make sure your temp kitchen is as close as possible to your breakfast/dining area. You’ll want to retain some sort of normalcy/routine, especially if you’ve got kids.
TRASH/RECYCLING:
You won’t have that convenient pull out trash/recycling sorter – so where will be the new dumping ground, and does it have a lid?
WHAT TO KEEP/WHAT TO PACK AWAY:
Spices: keep the bare minimum out. A lazy susan like this can help maintain easy access: https://www.amazon.com/mDesign-Medicine-Turntable-Organizer-Bathroom/dp/B01CGZ3WMO/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=lazy+susan&qid=1556021011&s=lawn-garden&sr=1-2-spons&psc=1
Keep out all foil/plastic wrap/ziploc bags/wax paper
Microwave safe dishes – LOTS of them
Knives – a must have, always
WHERE WILL YOU KEEP ALL THE BOXES OF STUFF? Away if possible. Those boxes will bring you back to your college days in the blink of an eye.
MEALS:
Cook some freezer meals in advance in glass or pyrex that can be microwaved
Prepare some freezer meals in ziploc/boiler bags that can be easily boiled/cooked on a hotplate or grill burner. Most grocery stores also have pre-prepped fresh meals you can toss in a skillet without any messy prep work.
Get creative with pasta & one pot meals – TRUST me when I tell you – cooking will take much much longer than you imagine, not having everything where you need it; and you will quickly get tired of it and not want to do it.
Work up credits with your family/friends/neighbors that you can cash in on during this process for a nice home cooked meal on the weekend.
Plan a regular family take-out or eat out night, where someone else can do the dishes!
Use those credit card points to pay for dinners out; you can usually get double points/rewards at restaurants and grocery stores.
LASTLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, B R E A T H E. It’ll be over before you know it – and SO worth it.
*when i say research, i am really referring to my own head trash, but most people will agree. I think.
