Don?t Let D.I.Y. Become D.I. Why Oh Why: Tips on Avoiding The Mistakes of Kitchen Renovation
It’s tough to learn how to do something if you never give it a try, but the best way to learn this lesson certainly isn’t to be standing knee-deep in wreckage in what is supposed to be a beautiful new kitchen. While the scene isn’t always exactly that dramatic, rookie mistakes when it comes to home renovation are not a stretch of anyone’s imagination. Too often, armed with a few helpful printouts from the internet and a dream, aspiring do-it-yourselfers manage to make an initial mess, which often only grows bigger when they try to correct it. Instead of learning those mistakes on your own, here are some simple tips on how to avoid regretting the decision to have the kitchen of your dreams.
Think that you measured right? You might want to think again. It’s such an embarrassing mistake that many homeowners don’t even want to own up to it, but the truth is that some of the biggest disasters in kitchen renovation stem from this one simple problem: thinking that a measurement is right and not taking it again. While any contractor would scold an apprentice (or worse) if he caught he or she doing the same thing, there might not be someone around to let you in on that secret. So when it comes to anything in the process of getting the kitchen ready for renovations, get those measurements more than once. The worst that can happen--appliances not fitting, benchtops that are too small, cabinets that can’t squeeze into their area--is actually pretty bad.
Getting swept away in concept without remembering practice. Yes, it would be absolutely wonderful to have a juicer just an arm’s length away, or a pasta maker, or some sort of expensive blender that most people in your house don’t know how to work. But before you let someone talk you into adding all of those devices to the kitchen plan, check yourself. What do you really use that often? If you’re into the slow food movement, your kitchen renovation doesn’t require a microwave, but most people will need a microwave that’s easily accessible, along with a solid stove, well-placed fridge, and non obtrusive dishwasher. All of those other things? They’re just extras. Don’t get caught up in planning where to put them.
But on the other hand, don’t forget to plan where you want those essentials. If you’re going to be preparing food on an island in the kitchen, for example, you don’t want to have to go around the corner to open the refrigerator door. Likewise, if you often have a home packed with people, don’t put the dishwasher in the pathway of foot traffic, or else you’re going to drive yourself crazy during the holidays trying to get it loaded. Visualize the space as you will actually be using it, and allow that to guide you in your decision-making process.
The biggest mistake when it comes to kitchen renovation, however, is overestimating one’s own abilities. Yes, you might have made a mean birdhouse in shop class, and you might even be a skilled mechanic when it comes to automobiles. However, neither of these two things equals the experience needed to handle electricity, plumbing, and carpentry when remodeling a kitchen. And it’s not just about aesthetic here, either: it can be downright dangerous to attempt many of those tasks on one’s own. It’s not a sign of defeat to find someone qualified to assist in a home improvement so extensive; it’s actually a sign of intelligence.
Ready to renovate but unsure of where to start? Call up the people at sears home design consultation, where everything from installing appliances to kitchen countertop replacement can be made surprisingly easy.