KW Custom Kitchens | Kitchen Cabinetry

Sometimes it’s easy to become enamored of ideas that may ultimately be outside of your budget or what’s possible in your home. Therefore, it’s important to check your ideas against your priorities.

Priorities for your kitchen remodel are determined by evaluating your wants and needs, then assigning importance to certain needs over others. Your priorities will help dictate which options you should invest in as you budget your project.

The most straightforward approach to deciding if something is a want or a need is to determine if it is essential. Needs are aspects of the project that must be in place in order for your new kitchen to be a success according to your remodeling objectives. Wants are not essential but are preferences in case the option exists to make them happen.

That’s not to say that style or design choices can’t be needs for you. If you feel that a specific style or product type is essential to what you want your kitchen to be, mark it as a need.

Evaluating your general need for a remodel in the first place lays some of the groundwork for evaluating your wants and needs. Thinking about what your kitchen requires in order to work for you, how you want to use it, who will use it and how that group will change, and how the kitchen works with the rest of your home are all factors that help you mark your project’s needs.

Once you have a list of the features of your kitchen that are essential, the next step is to rank them in order of importance. This relates directly to the fact that your budget has a limit. By understanding which items are the most important to you, you know what to allocate money to first.

By going through all the previous steps, you will have completed the first stage of your kitchen remodel by creating your initial remodeling wish list. Your wish list will include your overall objectives, what you would like your new kitchen to allow you to do, your style descriptions, and a list of the items you’ve determined are either essential or preferred. This list will be your guide as you move forward to the next stage in the planning process- setting your budget range.

No two kitchen remodels are the same. For this reason, budgeting is a tough subject to cover. We can do our best to share some of our thoughts and expertise in this area, but when it really comes down to it, talking to remodeling professionals in your area, explaining the scope of your project, and getting some ballpark estimates will be your most reliable bet.

Each year, the Cost vs. Value Report provides a glimpse at the average cost of a remodeling project in specific categories in specific regions and compares it to the value of that project in terms of resale. Essentially, it puts the remodeling market up against the real estate market to see how things shake out.

The report is arranged in such a way that it provides defined categories of project types, and outlines the difference between a minor and major remodel as well as a midrange and upscale remodel. Use your remodel wish list against the categories to find the remodeling category that may apply.

The value portion of the report will also be extremely important for those of you who are remodeling your kitchen with plans to sell your home in the next year or so. Having an understanding of the average recouped costs you can expect will help you make smarter decisions on how much to splurge on the new space.

The annual NARI CotY Awards can provide a glimpse not only into what different budgets can accomplish but also what new design thinking and creative solutions may be out there. The awards require projects to outline goals and challenges and to show how the project successfully dealt with both. There are three award levels- local, regional, and national. You can see Neal’s winning projects here.

As you progress through the planning process, you will get closer to an actual picture of what your kitchen remodel might be. It’s natural, then, to start questioning whether the things you envision are even possible.

For the most part, anything can be achieved in remodeling, but it comes down to how much you’re willing to spend and whether you can make those changes within your area’s related building codes. Some items that may start to impose limits are structural changes (such as removing load-bearing walls), moving plumbing or other mechanical systems, or weight limits that your foundation can’t support.

It’s these types of details that make it so important to build your wish list around the things you want to do and the items you need in your kitchen, rather than specific arrangements or materials. Once you know where the limits of your project are for your budget and home, it’s easier to find suitable materials and layouts that work when you don’t already have hard-set preconceived ideas of what they should be.

A remodel, particularly a kitchen remodel, can be a big disruption in your home, so it’s smart to have an idea of how long you can expect things to take. Here, same as budgeting, the time frame for your project is going to be somewhat unique since your kitchen wish list is unique. Additionally, the timing of some elements of a kitchen remodel are dictated by industry standards and delivery schedules.

There are also points along the way that your involvement and decision-making process play crucial roles in the timeline of your project. Obviously, you want to be happy with your result, and it can be difficult to make key decisions, but be aware that if you miss selection-making deadlines provided by your designer, your project will be delayed.

Kitchen remodeling involves many steps and factors. While shows and blogs tend to favor the DIY approach, many times they aren’t entirely sharing how much work and help they get from a professional kitchen designer, contractors, and other professionals. A remodel is more than just tearing out the old and installing the new. There are many details to consider including building codes, structural issues, mechanicals, aesthetics, and a functional floor plan.

This is where a remodeling professional can be an asset to your kitchen project. You could work with designers, architects, contractors, and specialists each independently. We believe, however, that our particular “all-in-one” approach, known as design-build remodeling, is the most ideal option for the majority of homeowners. Design-build remodeling companies have professional staff for all stages in your project- from the initial design through to construction.

Kitchen Designer

Kitchen design professionals will listen to your ideas and needs then use their knowledge and experience to pull it all together into a functional design. If you feel like their ideas and vision for your kitchen are more important than yours, move on.

Professional remodelers will often offer a complimentary initial consultation so you don’t have to invest until you’ve found a remodeling partner you feel comfortable with. If the professional won’t even see you without a deposit first, especially if it’s several hundred dollars or more, look elsewhere.

Design and Construction professionals will be conscientious about your budget expectations and get everything in writing. If your professional is making promises without a contract, or if you aren’t able to get clarity on cost, the professional doesn’t have your best interest in mind.

The process outlined in this guide has lead you through the initial considerations of planning, budgeting, and gathering ideas for your new kitchen, but there are more steps to go.

We’ve created a companion guide, our Kitchen Design Guide, that takes you further into the details of kitchen design, covering everything from floor plans, storage planning, cabinets, flooring, appliances, and more. It’s a crash course for anyone seeking to better understand all the pieces that they’ll need to decided on to make their new kitchen uniquely their own.

The best kitchen remodelers in Pittsburgh are the ones that take time to understand your renovation dreams, expectations, and budget. A good remodeler asks the right questions and listens carefully, making note of even the tiniest details. One question a good remodeler asks is how involved you’d like to be in the project.

As a design-build company, every new kitchen renovation we undertake in Pittsburgh is a partnership between us and you, our client. Some of our clients want daily updates, while others are more hands-off. Some homeowners want to be intimately involved in their kitchen remodel, and some trust us to handle the details so they can focus on big picture decisions.

Once you’ve narrowed your search for a kitchen remodeling contractor, ask your top three candidates for references. Reach out to those customers for an honest evaluation. Pay special attention to those with recent projects, since recent work is more reflective of a remodeler’s work quality and professionalism than jobs from years ago. Ask plenty of questions.

If possible, try to visit a job in progress. You can learn a lot about your design-build contractor by seeing for yourself how clean the site is and inspecting the details of their work.

A good kitchen remodeler is worth waiting for, so be patient. The best designers and contractors tend to earn the most jobs, so they may be busy. Plan your remodeling schedule around the design-build company you love, rather than settling for the one that can start right away.

A well-thought-out, detailed plan for a kitchen renovation minimizes uncertainty, confusion, and on-the-fly decision-making. We encourage you to be actively involved with your project during the design phase. This is your best opportunity to share your vision for your new kitchen, from look and feel to functionality and features.

Designing and building your dream kitchen is a big investment. It’s important to recognize that even with a detailed plan, projects run into problems and unforeseen conditions, especially in older homes where wiring, plumbing, and outdated construction need to be adapted to a modern home. Budget for a 20% contingency for your kitchen remodel project.

Do you want a backsplash in your new kitchen? What color should the chair rail be painted? Do you want track lighting above the cooktop?

A successful kitchen remodel begins with anticipating questions and being prepared with answers. Impulsive decision-making leads to choices you’ll regret later, cost/time overruns, or both.

Even the most prepared homeowner can’t anticipate every question during a remodel. As your design-build partner, we strive to set clear expectations about the key decision-making points during a project. When unanticipated questions need answers, we work with you to understand your options. Our goal is to be patient as you make decisions, while also keeping your project on track and being transparent about the impact of delays.

Have you been getting the impression that your kitchen has a run-down or outdated feel to it? If the answer to that is “Yes,” then it’s probably time for you to look into major kitchen renovation plans. Keeping in mind that renovating a kitchen can be an overwhelming experience, especially if you don’t have any kitchen renovation ideas of your own, Decor Aid designers have created a simple guide for how to renovate a kitchen (this also includes complete kitchen remodel ideas for a tight budget and all kinds of needs).If renovating a kitchen was a recipe, it’d be Difficult, but totally worth it. Thankfully, our designers have crafted a guide on how to make a space worthy of a top chef. Started From the Bottom. Once you get your layout set, move on to your flooring.