7 FAQs to Know Before You Renovate Your Kitchen

You’ve finally decided to say goodbye to dated kitchen finishes and a not-so-functional floor plan. Exciting! But now, your mind is probably racing with questions, ideas, and maybe even concerns. But who will answer them? Who can you trust? 

I would love to say “call us!” but if you’re not on the Emerald Coast, you probably need better advice than that. My suggestion is to: 1) read this blog post, and 2) hire a licensed general contractor or interior designer for a complimentary initial discovery call and/or a consultation before you start your project. 

Even if you don’t plan to work with these professionals during your project, paying for their expertise at your project’s outset will help you to avoid common mistakes and make sure that your investment is being well spent. I can’t emphasize that enough. We see way too many people who come to us after they’ve already tried it themselves, lost money, and need a professional to fix the problem. Please don’t let that be you. 

Okay, I’ve made my case. For now, let’s talk about 7 things to know before you start your kitchen renovation. These will include:

1. How much will this cost?

2. How long will it take?

3. What’s my first step?

4. How do appliances factor in?

5. What if my kitchen opens up into adjacent spaces?

6. How do I know my design style?

7. Will renovating add value to my home?

Now let’s get to those answers and set your mind at ease…

1. What does a kitchen renovation cost?

The honest answer? Your project will cost you more today (late 2022) than what you may have planned a year or so ago. We have seen an increase in material and labor costs that have impacted the overall budget. Exactly how much you’ll end up investing will depend on the work that needs to be done, but here are some general ranges:

• Forever home kitchen: $80K-$200K+

• Cosmetic updates or sprucing up for resale: $25K-$40K

Some of the biggest factors that will impact where your project falls in this range includes:

• Moving electrical and plumbing

• Removing walls for an open concept space

• Adding in high-end appliances

Note: Working with a professional team (like us) may be an investment, but you’ll also be able to leverage the most up-to-date knowledge on the existing market and available resources, in order to stretch your investment as far as possible. For instance, we've found that using local and U.S. manufactured goods softens the blow on your budget because it saves on freight costs. And that’s just one example.

2. How long will my kitchen renovation take?

While construction times haven’t changed, the preparation timelines are still extended due to back-ordered items and available materials. For example, although COVID lag times for cabinetry manufacturing have improved, we still have favorite lines that are 8-10 weeks lead time, with the longest stretching to 20 weeks. 

Including design and construction, you’re looking at your kitchen renovation taking roughly 6-12 months.

Again, this is where having a trusted team can help you decrease the project timeline. We do so by thoroughly planning, pre-ordering materials, and prioritizing sources that have shorter lead times. Someone managing a project on their own simply doesn’t have the resources or network to make these kinds of decisions.

Note: We have a firm policy that we won’t start a project until we know we can finish, and if that means postponing the start date until the essential items are on hand, we will do that. Transparency and professionalism is everything to us.

3. Who should I hire first for my kitchen remodel?

If you care about the aesthetics and functionality of your kitchen, hiring your interior designer is the best first step. Designers are responsible for creating a detailed plan with all the special features you may want to include, and we communicate your vision to the contractor who will execute the construction.  

The unique thing about CKD Remodeling is that our go-to trusted contractor is one-half of our team! As a design-renovation firm, we’re the designer and the contractor, so we plan your dream kitchen and use our in-depth, in-house knowledge to bring it to life. You get to work with one team and we deliver you everything you need.

CKD Remodeling: Sarah Abbott (Interior Designer) and Steve Abbott (Licensed General Contractor)

4. What do I need to know about kitchen appliances? 

Truth be told, many appliances are on backorder right now (late 2022), or their parts are on a ship headed to us overseas. To mitigate this challenge and test of patience, we suggest you check your suppliers and purchase based on availability. This is something we can help you with.

Worst case scenario? Wait for the appliance, and build a space into your cabinetry that is large enough to accommodate it when it arrives. It’s essential that the cabinetry plan is precise, down to the centimeter. For instance, if you want a 42” gas range, make sure the plan provides for that, along with the correct size hood. 

5. What if my kitchen opens up into adjacent spaces?

Can you imagine walking into your freshly renovated kitchen, reveling in new appliances and a stunning backsplash, and then you turn around and see… a living room that feels tired and dated. That’s probably not the dream kitchen you had in mind, right?

If cohesiveness is important to you, we recommend planning your entire space in advance. Yes, even if you don’t start construction on these spaces at the same time as your kitchen. (Although you probably will, especially if they share flooring!) 

Tackling this at the beginning saves time and money (so you don’t have to hire a team twice), as well as ensures that you will have a beautiful, fluid result at the end. 

Note: Depending on the size of your project and the finishes available, we usually approach a multi-room renovation in phases. For example, right now, we are working on a whole home renovation that will be completed in stages due to its size — we are planning the kitchen as well as the adjacent office and foyer at the same time.  

6. How do I choose a style for my kitchen renovation?

Is your design style modern, transitional, traditional or eclectic? I know all these styles and their various interpretations can make your head spin. But that’s why we’re here to help you select the design style that suits you and feels like home. We follow this process:

Gather Inspiration

Start pinning away! We want you to collect photos of kitchens you love with features you must have included in your design. You’ll probably begin to see a pattern of the kinds of finishes and styles you’re attracted to.

Look at Your Home’s Architectural Style

We always take into account the style of your home. For example, an ultra-modern kitchen will look out of place if it's in a traditional Craftsman home. Our team prides itself on blending your home’s architecture and your preferences to design a kitchen that reflects your tastes and showcases your personality.

Refine Your Aesthetic

After we’ve seen your collection of photos and viewed your home’s architecture, your style quickly becomes apparent to our trained eyes. If you’re reading this and still think this process sounds overwhelming, don’t worry. We guide you through the process of finding a style that is perfect for you.

Two palettes we considered for the colorful, coastal kitchen reno in Milton, FL.

7. Will renovating my kitchen add value to my home?

If you purchased a home with a fantastic interest rate recently, renovating is an excellent option for improvement.  But what about improving while the market has shifted and interest rates have climbed? 

Renovating is still an excellent way to add value to your home, and we believe in that so much that Steve and I have plans to buy and renovate a second home in our area next year. (See our fully renovated 1940s Fixer Upper here.)

If you would like a more personal answer to your question, we would be happy to provide one. There are so many details that go into a kitchen renovation — or any home renovation for that matter — and I will always, always advise getting a professional opinion when you can. 

Reach out to us here for a complimentary discovery call and we would be happy to help talk you through this decision and share more about how we can help create a kitchen that meets your goals.

Warmly,
Sarah