7 Tips for Surviving a Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen remodeling projects are still among the most popular home improvement projects in Northern Virginia. They also tend to have the greatest lifestyle impact, especially for those who are working from home during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Depending on the size of the project, a kitchen remodel can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

Here are 7 Tips for Surviving a Kitchen Remodel:

1. Organizing & Packing for a Kitchen Remodel

A kitchen remodeling project is a great time to gut and organize your kitchen. Determine an area of the home where you can store items that may not be needed during the remodeling project.

When you pack your kitchen items, sort them into three categories: storage, temporary kitchen (see below), and throw away/donate/recycle. It’s eye-opening to uncover items that have been stored in your kitchen over the years and never used! Now is the time to determine just what will delight you in your new, modern kitchen.

You may also realize that it’s time to update kitchenware and small appliances. Consider donating older items in good condition to local shelters or charitable organizations.

Clearly label boxes going into storage as you’re likely to find you’ve packed something that was more essential than you thought during the kitchen gutting process.

Keep your temporary kitchen item list simple and pared down to the tools you truly can’t live without; such as a couple of plates, glasses, measuring cups, and utensils.

A complete kitchen remodel as part of a whole-house renovation.

2. Setting Up a Temporary Kitchen

Setting up a designated area for a temporary kitchen is one of the most important steps in preparing for a kitchen remodeling project. Choose an area of the home that has access to a water source and electrical outlets. Many homeowners set up temporary kitchens in mudrooms, basements, garages or utility rooms. If your home has a wet bar in a family room or basement, you may already have the ideal temporary solution! Of course, a fantastic wet bar could always be added, prior to the demolition of the main kitchen.

The chosen space should have room for makeshift countertops, like tables and benches, and compact shelving units. You’ll also want to choose a space that’s easy to clean and ideally, is not carpeted.

Make life easier by stocking up on recyclable plates, napkins, cups and utensils. You’ll streamline and eliminate the stress of cleanup.

3. Storing & Preparing Food During a Kitchen Remodel

Refrigerating and cooking food during a kitchen remodeling project can be challenging; creating a plan in advance of your remodeling project is key!

Your existing refrigerator can be relocated to the temporary kitchen area or to another accessible area outside of the remodeling zone. If holding onto or relocating your refrigerator isn’t possible, consider investing in a mini-fridge and chest freezer.

When it comes to cooking, plan meals around smaller, portable appliances such as slow cookers, microwaves, toaster ovens, and electric griddles and skillets. If the weather in Northern Virginia is nice during your kitchen remodeling project, plan meals around your outdoor grill.

New Gourmet Kitchen Design

4. Ordering Takeout During a Kitchen Remodel

No matter how much planning you do to set up a temporary kitchen, ordering takeout food is inevitable. It’s also incredibly helpful for supporting small, locally-owned restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another benefit of ordering takeout during a kitchen remodeling project—leftovers! Ordering enough food for two meals can cover you for another day.

5. Protect Your Furnishings During a Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen remodeling projects can create a lot of dust and debris throughout your home, especially for homes with open floor plans. Your contractor should be able to partition off the space to be remodeled with draped plastic walls. Be sure your kitchen furniture is moved outside of the remodeling area and cover any furniture in adjacent rooms. You may also want to consider removing wall hangings or anything that may easily fall off shelves in adjacent rooms. Also, don’t forget to remove area rugs and runners to keep them free of stains and dust.

Relocated, Remodeled, and Modernized Kitchen as Part of Whole House Remodel

6. Keep Pets Safe During a Kitchen Remodel

If your pets aren’t crate-trained, plan a designated area in your home where they’re kept safely out of the way during the kitchen remodeling project. It’s also important to make sure pets who need to go outside can easily access doorways during the day, away from the working construction crew.

Some homeowners choose to board or have someone watch their pets during the day if they happen to be fearful of loud noises. You should expect a good deal of disruptive noises, which can also make working from home a challenge. All that being said, pets often make friends with craftsmen on site!

7. Working From Home During a Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen remodels are noisy, especially when flooring and cabinetry is involved. Additionally, you should expect people coming and going through your house throughout the day. If you work from home due to the Coronavirus pandemic, or always work from home, consider temporarily relocating your office space if it’s near the kitchen. We all know how easy it is for disruptions to occur during Zoom calls. Ensuring your office setup is in a quieter area of the home will make for a more productive and peaceful workday!