After living in our new (1968 model) home for a mere 2 days, 48 hours, my husband and I decided we couldn’t cook one more meal in the disgusting, dated kitchen. It was then that our dream kitchen plans were underway.
We began the process just as any couple would: tearing out magazine articles, scouring the Internet, asking around. We had NO CLUE what it entailed or how to get started. Eventually, we consulted a kitchen designer and from there it was just taking it one step at a time.
By hiring a designer, we were able to save quite a bit of money. She connected us with someone interested in recycling their maple cabinets and she coached us on the best places to shop for the best prices. She had a great sense of space and it showed in the design plans she created for us.
We set a goal start date for Memorial Day – my husband is on a school schedule, so we knew we had to get it completed during his nine-week break. In the months leading up to “The Big Day”, we diligently prepared; buying/borrowing equipment and supplies, moving the essentials to our laundry room, building our bank account as well as our friendship “accounts”, and getting mentally geared up.
Clad in old clothes, masks and goggles, demolition day was underway. Two days of demo lead to a vigorous regimen of waking, completing a long list of tasks, eating dinner out (or off the grill) and falling into bed late every night. It was much like climbing a 14’er, just one step at a time.
Thanks to the help of friends and family (my electrician brother flew out from Alabama to rewire and our good friend who hangs cabinets did the obvious) the process wasn’t so bad and we -THANK GOD- got it all finished on time, if not slightly off budget. It didn’t take too much of a toll on our relationship and now we have a gorgeous custom kitchen!
Things I learned along the way:
1) Hire a consultant, designer or anyone that can guide you along the way. Be sure you know UP FRONT what services will be provided and how much it will be (one flat fee or a la carte). Insist upon a written agreement.
2) Get a permit. It’s easy to do through the city.
3) Plan WELL ahead of time – the best way we saved money was by knowing what we wanted and waiting until there was a sale to buy it (you’ll need access to a storage area).
4) Be unabashed in asking for help. Your friends and family will be happy to do so, especially when you throw in things like free dog walks for a year, homemade meals, or anything else you can barter.
5) Think outside the box. Our best purchase were maple cabinets from someone else’s kitchen. They were happy to recycle and we were happy to save $10K.
6) Use local artisans. Our custom hand-blown glass pendant lights are gorgeous and they always generate a response.
7) Go to http://homeandgardenmag.com/resource_directory.html It’s a great resource that’ll help you figure out who to use for what and where to buy.
Until our next project, I’m happily content to search for inspiration while I sit at my new concrete countertop bar!
