It’s hard to even begin thinking about the holidays when our weather is in triple digits, but if you’re hoping to have a brand-new kitchen or bath before holiday visitors arrive, now is the time to get started. Here’s what you need to do to get that remodel done by the holidays.
A realistic timeline for a kitchen remodel
Depending on what you’re trying to accomplish with your kitchen remodel, you may be looking at a longer timeline than you think. For a major kitchen remodel involving plumbing, electrical, and structural changes, a realistic remodel timeline is about 6 to 12 months. The key to this lengthy timeline is “structural”. Are you knocking down walls? Removing weight-bearing beams? That’s major renovation that requires permits and approvals, and that takes time. And that’s not all. There are a lot of components that go into a complete kitchen remodel including:
- Measuring the space
- Defining your ideal kitchen (a project plan)
- Creating the floorplan design by a design professional
- Choosing kitchen components (cabinets, lighting, sinks, hardware, etc.)
- Kitchen demo
- Installation
Besides waiting for permits (which can vary greatly depending on where you live) waiting for your products to come in can also add a significant amount of time. It all adds up!
Don’t despair! It IS realistic to have a renovated kitchen by the holidays depending on what you’re trying to do. If you take out the major structural changes, you’ve just saved yourself a big bucket of time, but that still means you need to start the process pronto to give yourself the holiday gift of a new kitchen. You may have to take a few shortcuts and compromise a bit to get it all done, but it is possible. Custom cabinetry and in-demand products will add to your timeline, so if you’re more interested in getting your kitchen by Christmas than getting custom-built cabinets, you may be able to pull it off. There are many high-quality kitchen cabinets that can be ordered and arrive in time for the remodeling. Same goes for lighting, hardware and other kitchen items. You go custom, you must wait.
How working with a professional designer will save you time and hit your deadline
Whether you’re remodeling a kitchen or a bathroom, there is a lot involved, and to get it all done in a timely fashion, you need an interior design professional that is well-versed in choosing products, obtaining the resources to get the job done, stay on budget and hit your deadline. A design professional will discuss your needs, your timeline and your budget, gently guiding you towards options and products that will ultimately meet your needs and still give you your dream kitchen or bath.
Here’s what you’ll get with a professional designer:
- A designer will save you money
- A designer can serve as project manager
- A designer offers a wide array of resources and industry contacts
- A designer knows how to achieve the look and feel you want
If you’re set on a new kitchen or bath before the holidays, hiring a professional designer is the only way to go.
Why it may not make sense to rush a remodel through before the holidays
Everyone wants their holiday company to walk in their front door and gasp at the beautiful new kitchen or bath. We get it! And depending on what you’re looking for, you may be able to get it done but let’s look at a few reasons why it may be better to wait.
Even the best laid plans go awry: When you’re remodeling a kitchen or bath, there are a lot of moving parts, and there’s a good chance that one of those parts is not going to go as planned. That hardware you ordered for your cabinets that had a 3-week lead time may suddenly have an 8-week lead time. That permit you were hoping to get within 6 weeks may be rejected and the request revised for resubmittal. That must-have double oven is now on backorder. No one can control these things; they just happen! Do you really want to face the holidays with a half-done kitchen?
Is it worth the compromise to not get everything you want?: To hit the holiday deadline at this point, you’re likely going to have to compromise on what you want. Custom orders, structural changes, and larger renovations simply cannot be done before the holidays. Sure, you could forgo knocking down that awful view-blocking wall but why not wait and really get the kitchen or bath you want. Renovation of any kind is a commitment: do you really want to give up your must-haves simply to get it all done before the holidays?
Cooking in an unfamiliar kitchen: People forget what it’s like to cook in a kitchen that’s new to them. Maneuvering around a new kitchen can be confusing and unfamiliar at first, especially if you’ve made big changes like adding an island or rearranging cabinets. If you finish your project right before the holiday season, you may not have time to get accustom to your new, awesome kitchen.
Everyone wants to give themselves the gift of a beautiful bath or kitchen before the holidays. If you’re looking to remodel for the holidays, reach out to an interior design professional to find out what your options are.
