Step 6: Preparing for Installation
Make Life easier with these simple steps
Remove your existing cabinets, kitchen stove, sink and countertops, and preparing meals can become a bit of a challenge to say the least. Proper preparation can ease the restrictions of your remodel a great deal. This post will share some tips on creating a temporary kitchen, keeping the right tools close at hand and stocking specific foods to make your new kitchen renovation run as smoothly as it possibly can.
Set Up A Temporary Kitchen Space
Before any major construction begins, look for an area of your home such as basement, dining room or perhaps even garage where you can set up a makeshift kitchen.
- Use a folding table for your countertop
- Select secondary appliances to cook with, such as:
- Toaster oven
- Coffee maker
- Slow-cooker
- Small microwave
- Single burner electric hotplate
- Decide where you’ll wash dishes, such as a bathroom sink or laundry tub. Setting your temporary kitchen up close to this location is usually a good idea.
Keep the Right Tools Close at Hand
When working in your temporary kitchen space, less is certainly more. So, using a plastic storage bin, gather the cooking utensils and cookware that you know you will need — those compatible with microwave cooking, and safe for use in the toaster oven for example. A similar bin could keep some other essentials like aluminum foil, plastic wrap, garbage bags and sandwich bags, then place everything else into storage until the installation is complete.
Stock Specific Easy-Prep Foods
Take the necessary time to inventory your pantry and be sure to stock up on plenty of dry and canned goods such as cereals, canned and dry soups, canned fruit, veggies and more. Also, things like crackers, nuts, peanut butter, raisins and fruits make for quick snacks; while some already prepared and packaged foods like heat-and-serve entrées, fresh salads or a quick rotisserie chicken can usually be found in your local supermarket deli section.
You can also consider making ahead some of your own freeze-and-heat meals, and making good use of your slow cooker for bigger meals like pot roast and chili. As for the kids, packing their school lunch may be difficult during your new kitchen renovation, so consider allowing them the luxury of buying lunch at school instead.
Prepare for the Mess
Dust and debris is inevitable in any remodel project. Doing some prep work before our installers arrive is a critical step in the kitchen installation timeline – and a great opportunity to minimize the stress of living through a remodel. Here are some helpful tips for during and after construction to ease your transition out of and back in to your fully-functioning kitchen.
- Try to seal off your entire kitchen space with some clear plastic sheeting. This can be tough if you have an open floor plan, but the more you can create a bubble around your construction zone, the less the rest of your home is impacted.
- Be sure to close all air vents on the same floor as the kitchen, especially during heavy construction days.
- Close as many doors as possible, and keep them closed.
- For any adjoining rooms to the kitchen, cover your furniture, bookcases, and electronics with plastic or blankets.
- Give yourself a break by planning family time away from the kitchen remodel project, including some dinners out.
- If possible, create a main construction area in the garage or even outside (weather permitting) to help prevent both the dust and noise of construction from invading your main living space
Remember to keep in close contact with your Kitchen Craft Designer and their extended team during the installation process. They will be able to keep you updated as to the expected delivery of your cabinets, and when our team will begin the installation process. They can also provide even more helpful advise to make your kitchen remodel and install run as smoothly as possible.