Step 1: Gather Information and Plan Your Kitchen Renovation
The first step in your kitchen remodeling journey is to gather information and plan your project. This stage is critical as the choices you make will form the foundation of your renovation.
It’s important to take your time and consider your options carefully to avoid mistakes, missed opportunities, and additional costs. At Washington Cabinetry, we understand the importance of this stage and will work closely with you to understand your goals and help you bring your vision to life.
Whether you’re looking for a quick update for a re-sale or want to create your dream kitchen, we’re here to listen, take notes, and guide you every step of the way.
Get Ready for Budget Questions
Budget considerations are a crucial aspect of your kitchen remodeling project, and we’ll ask you about it from the start. We’ll ask about your home’s value and how long you plan to stay in it to determine the right amount to spend on your project. Our online kitchen estimator tool can help give you an estimated cost range.
Your Washington Cabinetry designer will schedule a free in-store or in-home consultation, ask you questions, and provide professional insight to guide you in making the right choices. After educating you on your options, we’ll collect a design deposit, which will be applied to your purchase, and move on to the formal design phase.
Once the design process begins, we’ll explore ideas and take into account current kitchen trends. We’ll start by discussing appliances, which will determine available cabinet space and any special requirements for plumbing, gas, and electrical. Taking the time to make informed decisions will help avoid mistakes, missed opportunities, and additional costs.
Costs of Your Kitchen Remodel
The final stage of your kitchen remodeling project is to review the pricing and put together your quote. It’s important to make sure you understand everything that has been specified and included in your quote.
The cost of your kitchen remodel is dependent on several factors, such as the size of the space and the scope of the project. If your project involves major changes like moving walls or plumbing, the cost will likely be higher than if you were simply replacing materials.
Statistics from the National Kitchen & Bath Association indicate that almost a third of the project cost is attributed to cabinets and hardware (on average, 29%) followed by installation (17%), appliances (15%), and countertops (10%). This doesn’t include the costs of faucets, plumbing, backsplashes, flooring, lighting, and more. For a better understanding of the costs, you can check out our blog on the 3 things that have the biggest impact on your kitchen remodel cost.
Designing Your Kitchen: A Collaborative Process
With the product choices made, it’s time to design the kitchen. Using measurements provided by you or taken by our professional designer, your new kitchen will take shape using the products you selected.
Our goal is to design a kitchen that is functional, cost-effective, and meets your needs. You can then decide if the design meets your expectations, or if you want to make any changes.
As the design evolves, you may want to add details such as moldings, cabinet accessories, drawer storage, and other elements to make your kitchen both functional and beautiful. We will also discuss countertop options to tie everything together. You may even find that adding a second cabinet finish and countertop material and color provides the perfect touch to your kitchen.
The kitchen design is a collaborative effort between you and the designer. Since you will be using the kitchen daily, it’s important to ask questions, provide input, and understand every decision made. The more collaboration, the closer the final design will be to your desired outcome.