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How do I redo our Kitchen?
Our Kitchen is a do it yourself nightmare from the previous owner. There are currently only two flloor cabinets, one a 42" sink and the other an ancient open frame 1940's vintage cabinet. I've done a rough layout that involves moving the sink location about 5 feet to the left to be under the window and adding other cabinets from Home Depot: Things currently look like this --------------------Window I------------------- Old dish-Old Sink--Gas Stove-----Old cab I There are wall cabinets mounted at sides of room extending to top corner. Wall cabinets are also at top of drawing across stove and current sink. We weren't going to change these since they are in good shape. Dishwasher is currently portable roll around, Stove is gas with flex pipe going to outlet on wall behind . Preferred Layout --------------------Window |New corner-- New sink--New Dish--Stove--New corner cab |New cabs Door------------------Fridges---------------Door Floor is old vinyl that needs replacement and subfloor and walls will probably need work. Bathroom is behind left wall and shares floor with Kitchen. Sink plumbing will need to be moved and new plumbing and electric added for dishwasher. Question: This is an active used kitchen. What do I do first? I wanted to start work on the floor from the top left and then call the plumber after I need the sink moved and finally finish up the cabinets and other side of the room once the top part is in place. Does this make sense? Should I do it a different way? Would really like porcelin or ceramic tile layed over concrete board. Subfloor will probably need some work. I want to try doing the floor piecemeal from the top left, wait a few days and then move appliances to finish the rest. Wife thinks it will be too hard and wants new vinyl. New Home depot cabs are raised off floor with little plastic legs about 2-3 inches and will install toe kick. I have most tools. Experience: Never done cabinets or plumbing. I know electrical and have done peel and stick floors before (along with minor subfloor repair). Was going to have plumber and electrician do their part. Any ideas or critiques appreciated. By the way, my wife would like us to have someone else do the floor. My biggest concern with this is waiting weeks between the time they start the job and when they finish. Any experience with Home Depot floor jobs?
Public Comments
- at the moment my mum is in the middle of this too...
my advice is to go to professionals - the credit crunch is good cos you can bargin a little better if you price a number of people.
also the best thing to do is just not use your kitchen; plan to eat out/convenience foods and bring the following into your living room and use it as a make shift kitchen;
Kettle
Toaster
microwave
washing up basin
a few utensils
trust me it will make life easier for you if you dont have to cook etc in the mess that the kitchen will be in
- Your ascii layouts don't come through well, so I can only offer general comments.
First - if you're in the US, and anywhere near a Lowe's, Menard's, or Home Depot store, they often offer free or low-cost design services for kitchen remodelling. Or you can get kits or software that allow you to play with designs on paper or your computer screen, so you can try different layouts without committing a ton of money to the project first.
Second - the same stores usually have a book rack where you can get books on kitchen design, garage and shed plans, decks, etc. Buy one or two, and spend some time looking at a lot of different ideas. All the time spent learning and planning up front can save you money, time, and headaches later.
Third - plumbers and electricians cost a lot. I had one come in and move 2 water lines just slightly for me. It took him about 2 hours, and it cost me almost $400. And that was about 9 years ago. Get estimates up front, and think hard about leaving your water lines where they are, if you can. It can be worth your while.
Fourth - don't plan on using the kitchen while you're doing this. If you can, set up a temporary kitchen in another room. Plan on cooking with the microwave, or eating take-out, or some such. It's about 3 times as hard for someone to work around your tools to cook dinner, and it's just as bad for you to try to work in the kitchen while leaving things set up enough for someone to cook there later that day. Don't try this by working in the evenings and weekends, either. You need to take a week off from work to make it happen. You can't remodel your only kitchen on a part-time basis, or you'll be working on it for weeks or months. Been there, done that.
Finally - try to line up help from friends, or hire someone to help you. Better yet, hire someone who will accept you as their assistant while they lead the work effort. Mounting cabinets, wrestling counter tops, etc is heavy work, and it's a lot easier to do so with 2 people than just one. It will go much faster with 2 people, too. All you have to do is drop and damage one $500 cabinet, and you'll see what I mean.
There are a lot of builders and carpenters right now who aren't working much. If you look around, you may find someone who will let you help them, and work with them. They will be happy to have the work, they will bring in tools and expertise you may not have, and you can learn a lot from them. More importantly, you should end up with a kitchen you'll really be proud of afterwards.
- http://homerenovations.about.com/od/kitchens/ss/stephowremodkit_7.htm
