Renovating a kitchen or a bathroom can be very exciting to undertake! Whether it is updating to a more modern look, or renovating existing cabinets, walls, and/or floors, it can add a lot of personality to your home. While it can seem like a daunting endeavor, as with most things, with proper planning and the right amount of gusto (and working with the right contractors), your remodels and renovations will keep the fun and excitement going.
There are some big steps to consider when performing a renovation:
- Knowing what you want and need
- Defining a budget and estimating your costs
- Creating the remodel/designing the room(s)
- Dealing with construction
Knowing What Your Want and Need
And effective room setup will be both aesthetic and functional. You want the layout to take advantage of the shape of the room, that way you take advantage of the space you have. Picture your current kitchen or bathroom, and what you like about the layout, and what you imagine you can change or improve upon. Imagining this will help give you perspective on how you may want to renovate/change things, and things you may want to add.
One of the first steps to a remodel is creating a list of things you “cannot live without”. Additionally, you’ll want to make another list called something along the lines of “everything I’ve ever wanted”. This second list may not be completely feasible for all, but it sure is fun to make. And by making these lists you’ll be able to find compromises between the two. Make sure both of these lists are extremely detailed. This will help in the actual design process to actualize your vision for the room, and can help prevent added costs of changes mid-renovation.
Make sure to ask yourself questions about the room and how you plan on using it.
- How many people can fit in the kitchen at once (without bumping into each other)?
- Is the kitchen multi-purpose (watching TV, doing work/studying, eating, etc.)?
- Does the dining table go in the kitchen or another room?
- Do you use multiple appliances in the bathroom? How many electrical outlets will you need?
- Do you need a lot of storage space, or just a small amount, like a medicine cabinet?
- When you walk into the room, what colors would you like to see?
Imagine a typical day, and think about how that room gets used. How many times a day to people go into that room? Are they just passing through? Do they use the room for anything specific? Use this information to further define your lists.
Some people like to scrapbook to help develop ideas and aid the vision of their remodel. Clippings from magazines, samples of materials, anything that may catch your eye can go in here. Searching online is a great way to see what other people have done, and to help you think of ideas for your own home. When it comes to drawing out your remodel plans, it is helpful to create an accurate model/plan of the room you are renovating. Use measurements to be more precise, and help you gain a better idea of how much space you are working with.
When it comes to designing very public spaces within your home, it can be helpful and worth the expense to hire a professional designer. Experts can have a keep eye for how to make effective use of space, without making the room feel cluttered or awkward. They also tend to think of things you may have not thought about previously, like plumbing and appliances, how renovations affect the floor plan, colors of cabinets, counters, and appliances complementing each other, and much more. They are also experts at working with your budget to help make your vision come true. Here at Clean Earth Restorations we have years of experience in remodeling kitchens (and also bathrooms), and proudly offer professional kitchen design services. Our experts work closely with you to make sure your dream remodel is not only possible, but also within your budget.
Speaking of which…
How to Budget your Remodel
Once you have created your lists and defined your vision, it is time to dive into the formalities. After speaking with professionals and doing thorough research, you’ll want to compare the costs of the remodel with the amount of funds you have for the renovations. This should help you determine if you have enough funds, or if you’ll need to scale back or take out a loan. Additionally, you’ll want to factor in whether you plan on staying in the same home for the next several years. If you plan on moving eventually, will the renovations raise the property value enough to offset the changes? If you plan on staying for a long period of time, will these changes make you happy for the foreseeable future, and will you not grow tired of them? Whether you do or don’t is fine, these are just some factors to be considered when performing a remodel in your home.
As mentioned earlier, working with a designer can sometimes bring out the most possibilities in redefining a space. If you find discrepancies when it comes to costs, a professional can help find ways to make things work.
Pro tip: it is wise to add another 10%-15% to your estimates renovation costs. This can help account for any wanted and unwanted surprises during the renovation.
When it comes to budgeting, we provide in-house estimators to help you actualize your dream remodel, and to help you make sure it happens within your price range. Check out our Renovation Budget Checklist to help get your planning started.
The Fun Part – Designing the Room
This is arguably the best part of the renovation process. When performing a remodel, you get to pick the room’s functionality, style, and how it will bring value to you and your home. This puts into consideration both your wants and your needs (keep those lists handy!), how you plan on using the space, and the decided budget used to come up with a functional yet great looking design. Keep in mind the layout and any appliances, cabinets and choices of fixtures, counter tops, flooring, windows and doors, and make sure it is all tied into your unique decorating style. Armed with these tips, your next remodel should be tackled with ease. Here at Clean Earth Restorations, we want to help eliminate stress and make this process exciting, fun, and enjoyable for you. For more information on renovations and remodels, or to schedule an appointment with an in-house design specialist or cost estimator, give us a call at 619-284-4239, or contact us at cleanearthrestorations.com.
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