Many of us will live with an inadequate, less than functional or just plain ugly kitchen because we just don’t know what to expect when it comes to renovating. We’re not going to sugar-coat it for you – it’s messy, inconvenient, frustrating and often takes longer than expected when problems occur. BUT – it’s also incredibly fulfilling to see a dream kitchen emerge from the dust and decisions.
We’re going to give you 10 ideas on how to survive this process. When you break it all down, you’ll discover it won’t be that big a deal after all!
1. Sort, sort, sort.
When you start packing up your kitchen, sort everything into three categories: storage; temporary kitchen; and throw/donate/recycle. You can take your time to do this and when demolition day arrives, you’ll be all done.
Make sure to label any boxes going to storage very clearly and specifically, you never know when you’ll need to find something you didn’t think you’d need.
Pack away any seasonal or larger items like slow cookers or deep fryers. They’ll only get in the way.
2. Designate a temporary kitchen.
Ideally you need a place on the main floor of your home that can be set up and stay that way for the entirety of the renovation. A sink, running water and a temporary prep bench are essentials!
Only keep the things you really need to prepare simple meals unless you have the space to really indulge in a great temporary kitchen.
3. Plan ahead to make meals with small appliances.
Portable appliances could be your saving grace. If it’s wintertime and you use your slow cooker a lot, don’t pack it away in point 1! Think glamping and think about how you can use your BBQ and camping gear to best effect!
Here’s a list of small appliances you may want in your temporary kitchen:
- Coffee maker/Keurig
- Hot plate
- Toaster or toaster oven
- Slow cooker
- Electric griddle or skillet
- Electric kettle
- Microwave
- Mini fridge
- Chest freezer
- Tupperware
- Good knife
- BBQ tools
4. Find a good place for your fridge/freezer.
Don’t make the mistake of not planning where you’ll have your fridge. It can be frustrating to end up with nowhere to store the biggest appliance in the home because no-one thought about it!
Having access to refrigeration can cut down on costs with takeout no longer always necessary and also keep life a little more normal.
5. Have a dishwashing strategy.
Know where you’ll set up your temporary kitchen sink and make it as conveniently accessible as possible. Try getting everyone in the family pitching in with washing their own dishes as soon as they’ve used them to keep down the clutter.
6. Have a plan for pets.
Crate train any dogs you might have for when they need to have time and space for themselves or need to be kept out of the way. Make sure any pets who normally have access to the outdoors still have that access, especially if it’s normally through the kitchen.
7. Buy some of your own tools.
This is an important point if you’re planning to do some things yourself like painting or putting cabinets together. You’ll be able to use them later so think of it as a household investment. A good stepladder is always a good idea. Make sure you also have a tape measure, a quality drill, plastic sheeting and tape, and heavy-duty garbage bags could be good also.
8. Be prepared for your garage to become a storage zone.
The garage often becomes the place for your kitchen installer or builder to store tools, equipment and product. Don’t be surprised when it gets full of all of the beautiful things you’ll soon have in your new kitchen!
9. Lower your food standards.
Choose menu items that only require one pan. Or none at all – Sandwiches, cereal, toast, fruit, yoghurt and salads are nourishing and easy. Think creatively to find snacks that don’t dirty any dishes but can also be healthy options!
10. Be excellent to one another.
It’s sometimes trying to go through a kitchen renovation. The kitchen IS the heart of the home. Remind yourself and your family often that it won’t be like this forever and family lasts a lot longer than a kitchen reno will!
At Wonderful Kitchens we have the very best designers to help you make that dream kitchen a reality. Even in the middle of the renovation we will be there every step of the way. Send us a message or call us to find out how we can help you – we are your go-to for all kitchen renovations Sydney.
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