Surviving Your Remodeling

Remodeling can be overwhelming but it does not have to be. As a designer, I walk the path with my clients on a daily basis, from the initial meetings when I try to decipher what their taste is, to every turn on the road as more and more decisions accumulate.

Here are a few tips and ideas I have learned along the way.

In General: Once demolition begins, you are going to have several new house mates. Here are a few tips that may make your life easier:

• You have spent months mapping and planning your remodel, but you might have forgotten the bare necessities. How is your daily life going to be affected? How much vital space are you going to lose? Plan in advance for the spaces you will not have, pack the things you may need carefully so they can be found, and - - make sure to plan for a temporary kitchen by setting up your refrigerator, microwave and even a hotplate in another room.
•  If you decide to hire a general contractor – and the need for one will depend on the scope of the project – it is best to communicate with him or her directly about any concerns to do with construction.
• Communicating with sub-contractors or the daily workers will only create confusion and disrupt the project.
  In the Kitchen: Most major remodeling projects will usually begin in the kitchen and will probably overflow into adjoining areas. Here are a few tips if your remodel includes a kitchen.
•  An open kitchen is preferable to a kitchen contained within walls. Let an island or peninsula define your space. An open layout will allow the cook to maintain visual contact with family and guests.
• Plan your lighting well. I usually recommend recessed can lights with dimmers, under-cabinet lights (either puck or strip) and if possible, decorative pendants. Make sure to have your contractor double check the current requirements for lighting in the kitchen. Energy regulation in California is very strict and it gets updated quite often.
•  Invest in high –end hardware. I generally prefer under-mount guides for full extension, self-closing drawers, and pull-outs in every cabinet. Good quality solid handles will not only add a decorative element but also last a lifetime.
• If you have ample work space on your counters, put in a couple of tall cabinets that sit directly on the counter. Make them deeper than the standard 12” to add visual dimension to the kitchen.
•  When selecting a finish for the cabinets, I usually try to choose more than one color. If your cabinets are going to be stained, why not paint the island and add some glazing or distressing for more dimension? If cabinets are painted or glazed, I like staining the island and making it look like a piece of furniture.
• Add columns, appliqués, or legs to some of your cabinets or to the island. I like “popping” the sink cabinet forward, adding columns to both sides of my range or decorative corbels under the hood.
  In the Bathroom: After the kitchen, the master bath is probably the next project down the line. I have been lucky enough to design master baths where the sky was the limit. Here are a few tips and ideas for your bathroom.
•  Whirlpools are so last century. I personally prefer a very deep soaker tub with air bubbles. Unlike the old-fashioned Jacuzzi tubs in which jets got clogged and collected bacteria, an air tub will allow you to use oils and slats and create an aromatherapy heaven.
•  If I had to pick between a tub and a luxury shower, there is no question in my mind that the luxury shower would win. Multiple shower heads, body sprays, and my ultimate dream, a steam shower, will all make your master bath feel like you just visited Burke-Williams for a day of pampering.
• The morning bar is something I do not intend to go without when we remodel our bathroom. It is now the latest trend for master bathroom suites but something I have been dreaming of since my first trip to London when I fell in love with the fact that every hotel in Britain offered a tea tray in the room, with an electric kettle, an assortment of teas and fine porcelain cups and saucers. The morning bar is more than just a tea kettle on a tray, but a well appointed area with an espresso machine, a small refrigerator and maybe even a toaster. Imagine getting out of your spa sauna and being able to immediately smell the coffee.

After the Storm: Once the workers move out and you reclaim your home it should all be worth the effort, if you did it right.

Please remember that the little things still count, and don’t forget to allocate funds in your budget for a few attractive knick-knacks, window treatments and new furniture. Chances are that you old pieces will look tired once everything else is sparkling.