Kitchens are undoubtedly the heart of many homes. As a result, they tend to be one of the most popular spaces to remodel or renovate. Life without a kitchen can be inconvenient and frustrating, so keeping a kitchen remodel on schedule is important. With some foresight and planning, you can avoid a remodel “hold up” by addressing the room elements that typically take the longest to manufacture first.
Without further ado, here are three things to tackle early in your kitchen remodel. Order these items after your remodel design is finished, but before any demolition or construction has begun.
Design and Order Custom Cabinetry First
Kitchen remodels are big and can be expensive, and one of the most expensive elements is custom cabinetry. Custom cabinets are built to order with wood and design elements of your choice. Cabinet makers are craftsmen and artists, and artistry takes time.
By designing and commissioning the cabinets first, remodelers can work on demolition, framing, electrical, plumbing and other essential work while the cabinet maker finishes the cabinetry.
Working this way, there won’t be an almost finished kitchen that has everything but cabinets that won’t be ready for another three weeks.
Order Custom Windows and Doors Early
Like cabinets, order custom made windows and doors early. This is especially true for custom sizing that most manufacturers don’t offer.
For example, older or historic homes may have window and door sizes that aren’t standard today. Or perhaps you just like the style and look of tall, slender windows, or a wide, carriage-style door. Whatever the case, custom doors and windows can hold up a project, so nail these elements down and order them early.
Unique, Rare, and Other Custom Features
This is a big category, but Odom Design builds one-of-a-kind home elements. For example, we have commissioned multiple reclaimed wood elements, imported stained glass for a home elevator, and more.
In a lot of cases, these items are decorative, but not central to either the integrity of the structure or a homeowner’s ability to occupy a space. That said, things can look “unfinished” while we wait for custom pieces.
Like we mentioned above, obtaining these “must haves” early is central to finishing on time.
So What Doesn’t Need to Be Ordered Early?
You may be asking yourself the question above right now. Essentially, anything that isn’t custom-made can be ordered and installed with relative ease.
Manufacturers of mass-produced kitchen elements provide lead times that help contractors figure out a remodel timeline. Our goal is to have items before you need them so your kitchen remodel isn’t put on hold until a critical piece is obtained.