A kitchen remodel has a lot of moving parts, and most of the stress people associate with remodeling comes from decisions made too late — a countertop that wasn't ordered, a sink that doesn't fit the cabinet, a layout change discovered halfway through. Here are the five decisions we ask every customer to settle before demolition starts.
First, the layout. Are the sink, range and refrigerator staying where they are, or moving? Keeping them in place keeps the cost down, because plumbing, gas and electrical stay where they already run. Moving them can make the kitchen work far better, but it's a bigger job — and it needs to be decided before anything else, because every other choice depends on it.
Second, the walls. If you're thinking about opening the kitchen to the dining or living room, decide now. Removing a wall affects the layout, the flooring, the lighting and the budget, and it's much easier to plan in than to add later.
Third, the cabinets. Cabinets drive both the look and the cost of the kitchen, and they can take weeks to arrive. Choose the style, the color and the configuration early — including details like drawer bases instead of doors for pots, a pantry cabinet, and where the trash pull-out goes.
Fourth, countertops and backsplash, chosen together. Quartz, granite and solid surface all behave differently and cost differently, and the backsplash tile needs to work with the countertop's pattern and color. Pick the countertop first, then bring a sample when you choose the tile. A busy stone with a busy tile rarely works; one of them should be the quiet one.
Fifth, the flooring. Is the existing floor staying, or is new flooring going in? If it's new, it usually goes in before the cabinets on a full remodel — so the decision has to be made early, not at the end.
Settle those five, and the rest of the project becomes a matter of execution. You'll also get a far more accurate estimate, because the scope won't be shifting under it.
Planning a kitchen? Call Rosales Remodeling at (239) 318-8065. We'll walk through the room with you, help you work through these decisions, and put the full scope in writing.