Really want to redo my 1990s kitchen, but....

[Anonymous]

...don't know if I have the energy/patience/will for another 6 months of remodeling hell. Find a contractor, negotiate with DH about the scope, figure out the design, decide about the cabinets, decide about the layout, decide whether to move the plumbing or not, spend hours at the tile store and at Home Depot and at Ferguson, order things that are out of stock, receive the wrong item and have to start a return, find out from the contractor that there's a troll farm in the crawl space, hire anthrax squad to fumigate the trolls, spend months picking out quartz patterns... and on top of that not being able to use the kitchen while all this is going on. Plus we don't have a ton of money set aside so we'll have to cut corners at every turn. I work full time and have two kids in high school. But I really want a new kitchen, ours is in terrible shape! Needs words of advice and wisdom on how to get started.

[Anonymous]

Just don’t do it. Fix what’s broken.

[Anonymous]

Keep the trolls in the wall!

[Anonymous]

I hear you, OP. We did a huge gut reno 10 years ago, my husband did a lot of work himself. Now we wouldn't have the energy and commitment.

My father has done two IKEA kitchens (design, order and install himself) in both his apartments. The entire process was really smooth, and I believe now they have installers you can hire. Would you be willing to explore this? At least it's one-stop shop. Both of his kitchens have aged wonderfully. My Home Depot kitchen looks nicer on the outside, but actually, it has lots of hidden faults that his do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just don’t do it. Fix what’s broken.

It's not really an option. We have hideous linoleum floors, the laminate on the counter tops is peeling, the cabinets were so filthy when we bought the house, it makes us look like slobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear you, OP. We did a huge gut reno 10 years ago, my husband did a lot of work himself. Now we wouldn't have the energy and commitment.

My father has done two IKEA kitchens (design, order and install himself) in both his apartments. The entire process was really smooth, and I believe now they have installers you can hire. Would you be willing to explore this? At least it's one-stop shop. Both of his kitchens have aged wonderfully. My Home Depot kitchen looks nicer on the outside, but actually, it has lots of hidden faults that his do not.

So many people have recommended Ikea I guess I should seriously consider that. We have slowly purged Ikea from our lives now that we're adults, I dread the thought of filling the kitchen with it again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just don’t do it. Fix what’s broken.

It's not really an option. We have hideous linoleum floors, the laminate on the counter tops is peeling, the cabinets were so filthy when we bought the house, it makes us look like slobs.

Well, this is obviously not true. Replacing the countertops and floors is not very disruptive and comparatively inexpensive. Dirty cabinets can be cleaned.

[Anonymous]

OK, so when people tell you not to do it, you say you have to. And then you yammer on about why you must. What do you want us to say? Do it halfway? Start, then stop? Never start, but finish? Honestly pointless. What do you want us to say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just don’t do it. Fix what’s broken.

It's not really an option. We have hideous linoleum floors, the laminate on the counter tops is peeling, the cabinets were so filthy when we bought the house, it makes us look like slobs.

Well, this is obviously not true. Replacing the countertops and floors is not very disruptive and comparatively inexpensive. Dirty cabinets can be cleaned.

+1 or have them refaced

[Anonymous]

We are currently taking the middle ground approach—new cabinets, countertops, and island from Lowe’s. Keeping flooring and appliances (except replacing gas stovetop with induction). So far it’s been fairly painless and affordable, though we’re not done yet. If there’s any chance you can keep the existing layout, I think you’ll avoid a lot of the headaches you’re worried about.

[Anonymous]

Figure out the scope, or close to it, first. If you can do a pull and plug renovation, that is much cheaper and faster.

We did our kitchen a year ago, and it was annoying but certainly not super painful. It was done in 6 weeks too, which was faster than I thought (I was mentally preparing for 10 since they'd promised 6-8 weeks). We moved plumbing and electrical, but did not remove any load bearing walls.

We used a company that our neighbors had recently used for an even larger scale renovation and we're very happy.

[Anonymous]

Do it and enjoy your new kitchen... I would not recommend a piecemeal renovation- if you love your home and its location, do the renovation that you want. I have two boys and make dinner for my family every night (and work full-time). I gutted my kitchen last year and while it sucked for a bit, I love my new kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do it and enjoy your new kitchen... I would not recommend a piecemeal renovation- if you love your home and its location, do the renovation that you want. I have two boys and make dinner for my family every night (and work full-time). I gutted my kitchen last year and while it sucked for a bit, I love my new kitchen.

Aww, that's what I wanted to hear. Me too, I spend so much time in the kitchen, making dinners and lunches. I would love a clean peaceful space to have my morning coffee on the weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Figure out the scope, or close to it, first. If you can do a pull and plug renovation, that is much cheaper and faster.

We did our kitchen a year ago, and it was annoying but certainly not super painful. It was done in 6 weeks too, which was faster than I thought (I was mentally preparing for 10 since they'd promised 6-8 weeks). We moved plumbing and electrical, but did not remove any load bearing walls.

We used a company that our neighbors had recently used for an even larger scale renovation and we're very happy.

Do you mind naming your company? Though I'm not sure we can afford a super large enterprise, they tend to be out of our budget.

[Anonymous]

OP if you’re going to be on a tight budget and that’s going to make you miserable, just don’t do it. Replace the counters and the flooring, scrub the cabinets with simple green, and put the money you have in a CD because interest rates are high right now. Then keep saving and revisit it in 5-10 years.