Tips for living through kitchen renovation?

[Anonymous]

We are renovating our kitchen, which is anticipated to be a three-week job, the first week of which we will (blissfully) be out of town. But that leaves two weeks without a kitchen/living in a construction zone. We have a dog and a 19-month-old son, so I welcome any tips/suggestions from those who have gone through something similar on how to make it through with the least amount of pain. Just accept we’ll do delivery/microwaveable food for two weeks? Send the dog to daycare everyday? Stop pretending this is feasible and get an Airbnb for two weeks? Looking for any and all advice - thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Get an Air BnB for a month.

[Anonymous]

We are planning a kitchen remodel also, but ours is a total gut job including moving some walls, so it'll probably take 4-6 weeks. At least.

Here's my plan:
Move the fridge to the basement. Set up a table with a microwave, crock pot and instant pot. Borrow my sister's electric skillet and set that up there too. Turn the laundry room sink into a dishwashing station. But mostly use paper plates, crockpot liners, and such to keep dishes to an absolute minimum. Will probably have takeout 3-4 nights a week, lots of cold cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch.

I'll let you know in about 6 months whether we survived or bailed to an Airbnb after a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are planning a kitchen remodel also, but ours is a total gut job including moving some walls, so it'll probably take 4-6 weeks. At least.

Here's my plan:
Move the fridge to the basement. Set up a table with a microwave, crock pot and instant pot. Borrow my sister's electric skillet and set that up there too. Turn the laundry room sink into a dishwashing station. But mostly use paper plates, crockpot liners, and such to keep dishes to an absolute minimum. Will probably have takeout 3-4 nights a week, lots of cold cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch.

I'll let you know in about 6 months whether we survived or bailed to an Airbnb after a week.

also recommend using a toaster oven-- can use it basically as an oven in whatever part of the house you set up the fridge/microwave.

I was older than 19 months when I recall my parents renovating our kitchen but at the time I thought it was super fun to eat most of our meals in a makeshift kitchen/microwave/toaster. both of my siblings have renovated their kitchens and mostly stayed in the house (one sibling stayed at my parents for a few nights).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are renovating our kitchen, which is anticipated to be a three-week job, the first week of which we will (blissfully) be out of town. But that leaves two weeks without a kitchen/living in a construction zone. We have a dog and a 19-month-old son, so I welcome any tips/suggestions from those who have gone through something similar on how to make it through with the least amount of pain. Just accept we’ll do delivery/microwaveable food for two weeks? Send the dog to daycare everyday? Stop pretending this is feasible and get an Airbnb for two weeks? Looking for any and all advice - thanks in advance!

i think the dog daycare may be helpful if you don't have a fenced yard as I assume it will be loud

[Anonymous]

Paper products, toaster oven, grill (if you have one). Lots of flexibility.

[Anonymous]

I'd get an airbnb if you can swing it. Consider that contractors usually work 7-5 (I think) and for us that would really affect our morning breakfast/getting-out-the-door routine. Otherwise, as others have said, set up appliances (coffee maker, toaster oven, small fridge) you need where you can (living room, bathroom), all paper plates and utensils, and generally just accept it's going to be a rough few weeks.

[Anonymous]

3 weeks seems an awfully short timeline. Are you doing a simple renovation (swapping out counters) or something larger? I would come up with a contingency plan for it take longer than 3 weeks, as there may permitting issues, delays on materials/appliances.

I would definitely plan on putting the dog in daycare, between the noise and chaos.

Is the 19 month old in daycare?

Agree that I would do an Airbnb if you can swing it. It may make it go faster since they don't have to clean up every day if you are not in the house and retape/tape up. Camping out/eating take out gets old after a week or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3 weeks seems an awfully short timeline. Are you doing a simple renovation (swapping out counters) or something larger? I would come up with a contingency plan for it take longer than 3 weeks, as there may permitting issues, delays on materials/appliances.

That's what i was thinking. We've been considering a kitchen reno, and we've been told the project would take 2-3 months.


If the project were only going to be 3 weeks, I'd just rent an Air BnB.

[Anonymous]

Living through it right now, after waiting months to get cabinets and appliances. While waiting for items, we purged for months, and packed up the kitchen. Many trips to the dump and goodwill to help with the clutter. It has been about 5 weeks, and will be about 3 more weeks before we can move stuff back to the kitchen. Honestly, it is not as bad as we thought, which is great because my husband and I are still working at home. We set up a small kitchen space in our basement. We grill, use toaster over, a portable induction cooktop, microwave and refrigerator and go out or get carry out for dinner about 2 to 3 times per week.

[Anonymous]

Lots of good tips. Don't forget your sense of humor and of the absurd. Those come in quite handy!

[Anonymous]

You should assume it will be a two month job. Live elsewhere.