Careful planning is essential to a kitchen remodel or bathroom design project. If you have decided that a remodel is the answer to your home life dilemmas, then it is time to start thinking about what spaces you need to update, what you hope to accomplish with your remodel, and how much you can spend.

Remodeling key home living spaces allows you to re-imagine your existing home and create an efficient design with better storage and style. This is the perfect solution if you love your home and neighborhood but have outgrown the style and functionality of your house. Start your remodeling journey with our guide to what you need to consider BEFORE embarking on your project.

Examine how you use the space.

Before you get started, it’s important to carefully consider what you actually need and what your purpose in remodeling is. Is this a space you use daily like a kitchen or busy master bathroom design? Or is it a hall or guest bathroom remodel that will only be used infrequently and does not have the same regular foot traffic and storage needs?

If it is a kitchen, how often do you cook and what type of cooking do you do? Are you a “quick dinner during the week but get takeout at the weekend” family? Or do you love to get creative in the kitchen, putting together culinary masterpieces for family and friends? How many cooks will operate at one time and how frequently do you entertain?

Likewise look at who uses the space on a regular basis and what stage of life you are catering for with this kitchen design or bathroom remodel. If you are an expanding young family your design requirements will be different than an adults-only household, empty nesters, or preparing your home for aging in place. Similarly, a bath designed for guests will have different space and storage needs to a frequently used master or kids’ bathroom. Does anyone in your home have limited mobility? These requirements must be taken into account from the very beginning of the design and remodeling process.

Who else is in your household? If you have furry family members, it helps to consider your pets when planning your kitchen or bathroom design. Do you need space in your kitchen design for a pet feeding station or in your kitchen or utility for pet supplies like food, toys, leashes, or medicine? Lay out all your requirements up front and discuss with your remodeling professional how you can accommodate everyone’s needs in your new design.

Figure out your project’s scope.

Spend some time figuring out the scope of your project. This will help you understand how much of an impact the remodel will have on your home, the price tag, what type of professionals you need to successfully complete the project, as well as other factors like required permits and inspections.

The size and type of your remodel will vary greatly depending on a number of factors, including:

Is it a full remodel where you plan to completely re-imagine the space or is it a partial remodel where only part of the room needs to be updated? Unless you are restricted by a limited budget, it is usually worthwhile to take advantage of a remodeling project to completely update your space.
If this is a bath remodel, is it a master bath, hall bath, or powder room?
How long do you plan to stay in your home? If you are planning to move soon focus on those items that have the greatest impact on resale value. Look at homes in your area and browse real estate listings to find out what the big selling items are. If, however, you plan to stay in your home, consider that you are remodeling for your lifestyle now and for the next approximately 15 years.
If your remodel is required due to storm or other damage to your home, focus first on what needs to be urgently fixed. You can also use the project as an opportunity to get a new design that will enhance your lifestyle.
Do you simply need to update items like cabinetry, hardware, and plumbing fixtures? Or does your dream design require you to change the layout of your space or the location of plumbing fixtures.
How much space do you have and what effect will this have on your final design? If you don’t have enough space for what you really want, can you change the square footage or layout of your room? This will depend in large part on your available space, adjacent spaces that can be incorporated into your design, and your budget. While moving a wall, expanding a room, or any other layout changes increase the scope of your project, they are a worthwhile addition to your project for the long-term value they bring to your home.
Are you focusing your remodeling efforts on a single room, or is this a multi space or whole home remodel?

Identify your functional and style goals.

A good place to start when thinking about what you want to get out of your new kitchen design or bathroom remodel is to first consider what works and doesn’t in your current space. Make a list of what you like and what you don’t in your existing kitchen or bath design. Likewise, consider what really bugs you about your current space that you can’t wait to fix in your new design.

Take your list with you as a starting point in your initial discussions to help your designer understand your priorities. For example, if you love the position and size of your current kitchen island, plus the fact that your sink is in the island, make sure to tell your designer you want to keep this as part of your new layout. Once you have updated your island with a fresh look from new cabinetry and countertops, and perhaps changed your tired old kitchen sink for a stunning and practical Galley Workstation, you will be in kitchen heaven!

Storage is key to a well-functioning home and should be central to your design planning. Make sure you carefully examine much storage you need and where. Start by decluttering your space so you can narrow down exactly what you need to store. Think about what can be stored away somewhere like a pantry or linen close vs. what you need immediately to hand in your kitchen or bath.

Next, consider your personal and home style and how you want to realize this in your new space. Will you change the color scheme and completely change the look of your cabinetry and fixtures? For example, are you taking your home from a traditional style to contemporary? Or are you just updating products and materials but sticking to your existing style? This is a personal choice, as your home living spaces should be meaningful to you and be a physical representation of your style and personality. Also consider what makes you feel comfortable – you may love the look of an ultra-modern kitchen you spotted on a favorite website, but remember you need to live in this space and be comfortable.

Browse designers’ website and social media pages and pull together your own idea books with photos that provide you inspiration. Visit design showrooms and look at different product lines where you can see and touch the materials in person. Take note of friends’ and neighbors’ homes and what you love about them. Is there a particular item that’s a must have, around which you want to plan the rest of your design? Select colors, personal items, or artwork that inspires you and could be incorporated into your room to help define your design.

Don’t worry about how all of these ideas go together yet, as this is where your experienced designer comes into the picture. Try to bring samples home and look at them in your home at different times of day and how they vary with different lighting.

Determine your budget.

Unless your budget is unlimited, it helps to consider and list what you need vs. what you want vs. what you can afford. Prioritize your design items and then focus your budget dollars where they have the greatest impact. If you have to repair certain items they obviously go to the top of the list, but don’t forget to also prioritize items that bring you joy and will inspire you for years to come.

Pay for the best quality you can afford and if you can manage it remodel multiple spaces at one time. This will typically save you time and money in the long run since you already are opening up your home to a remodeling team. Look at add ons like a laundry room or master closet when doing a kitchen or master bath to completely transform your home.

If your budget is limited, you can cut costs to stay within budget by leaving out things not required or substituting materials not as critical to your project. In some cases a less expensive material will give a similar result for both style and functionality, without breaking the bank.

Understanding all the costs up front is key to budget and project planning, including materials, labor, taxes, contingency, and more. By working with an experienced designer who offers you transparent pricing, you will be able to see all costs before you start and to plan for them. Your designer is also the best person to help you find alternatives to more expensive materials. Their industry knowledge and experience will help you stay within your budget over the course of your project.

Partner with the right professionals.

Who do you need for your project? Depending on the scope of your remodel, you need to decide if you require a designer, general contractor, or a full design/build firm. Will you DYI any of it or do you want someone to take care of everything for your project. For anything more than small changes there is a distinct advantage to bringing in the professionals to help with everything from designing to picking and ordering products to managing subcontractors and every issue. Unless it is your area of expertise or you have a lot of time and patience, it pays to hire an experienced design/build firm to manage your project.

How do you find the right person or company with which to partner? Look for local businesses in your area, check out their websites and social media sites to get an idea of their work, and then make an appointment to meet with them. Personal recommendations go a long way too, so ask friends and neighbors for ideas. Find someone who seems like a good fit for your requirements and personality.

Bring photos and ideas with you to talk to your designer, including photos of your own space as well as of your design goals. Make a list of any questions you have about your design, the process, and pricing.

Set clear expectations…for everyone in the household.

A remodeling project of any size is a disruptive process, but a full, large-scale remodel is particularly so. If you have family members at home all the time it is even more intrusive. Think carefully about when you will do your remodel and how you will live in your home (or if you should move out temporarily) to maintain everyone’s sanity.

Get a clear understanding of which areas of your home will be affected by the remodel. Will you be without water for any part of the project? How long will it go on and when will be the most disruptive part of the process? Which parts of your home will the installers need access to, and do they require space to store materials? These and other questions will help you recognize the full impact of the project on your home life and to realistically assess whether you can co-exist in your home during that time.

If you have children or pets, consider how will you handle the project with them. Remember certain parts of the house will be off limits for at least part of the project, particularly for kids and animals. Plan for noise during the project, and how this will affect you if you work from home, have pets, or small kids with nap times. You may find that it is easier to vacate the house for part of the project.

While a kitchen design or bathroom remodel is an exciting opportunity to reinvent your home living spaces, it is also an intimidating process. Bring in the experts to help guide you through the complexities of creating a design, selecting and ordering products, and completing every stage of your installation with ease. All the effort will be worth it when you see how a fresh design can change the way you live in your home. Get more ideas when you visit our website and contact us to start planning your remodel!

What Do You Need to Know Before Starting a Remodeling Project?