Eight Tips To Survive A Kitchen Remodel

Having a new kitchen is very exciting, but living through remodels is never an easy time. Having your kitchen in major upheaval is tough, with nowhere to cook properly and the house full of building dust. Here’s how to survive through a major kitchen remodel.

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1. Set up a temporary kitchen. Move your fridge to another and set up a makeshift kitchen with your small appliances. The kettle, toaster, microwave, and crockpot can all be used to help you make meals while you can’t access your oven. If you like to camp, some of your portable cooking equipment can be used indoors to help you survive. If the weather’s good, you can use the barbecue too. 
2. Buy disposable tableware. Washing dishes in the bathroom is less than ideal, but to save the hassle, you can buy a set of disposable plates, cups, and cutlery. This will be much easier, and there are lots of good recyclable options available.
3. Earn points while you eat. While your kitchen is being done, you’re sure to eat a lot of takeout food, or in restaurants. With smartphone apps, you can earn loyalty points through schemes like Ritual and Open Table. You can use these points to fund meals later on in the process. 
4. Take time over decisions. There’ll be a lot of choices to make during a remodel, especially if you’re extending. Make sure you understand all the choices you’re making, whether you’re deciding if you want a conduction hob or modified bitumen roofing. 
5. Manage the dust. Remodeling generates a lot of dust, and it can get absolutely everywhere no matter how careful you are. Protect anything special, like art or furniture, with dust sheets or plastic sheeting, even if they’re nowhere near the kitchen. Keep your temporary kitchen clean too, and cover it up when you’re not using it to keep the area clean. 
6. Stay with friends. If a friend asks if there’s anything they can do to help during the renovations, ask if you can stay overnight. Take over some food and a bottle of wine, so all they need to provide is a bed for the night, away from the dust and chaos of remodeling. The break will make you feel much better. 
7. Keep the neighbors updated. Long, noisy home renovations can easily strain your relationship with the neighbors. Before you start, go over with a bottle of wine and warn them about what’s to come. Let them know the estimated timelines of work and exactly what will be done. Make sure your contractors work during sociable hours, and if the project is delayed, let the neighbors know. 
8. Be prepared for issues. No remodel ever goes completely smoothly. Delays will happen and problems will arise. Be braced for this so it doesn’t stress you out. If you’re prepared for problems like the tiles you love going out of stock, they won’t seem so much like the end of the world. Problems don’t have to derail the whole project.