So you think you’re ready to renovate your small, enclosed space into an open concept. You want to take that old, grimy sink from the 80s and throw it in the dumpster to be replaced by a white, single-basin farmhouse-style sink. The kids have been driving you crazy slamming those funky, old cabinet doors closed and you’re ready to upgrade to soft-close Carriage House beauties. Well, if there’s one thing we know about kitchen remodels, it’s to take your time. It’s so important to do necessary research before you dive into any home remodeling project, especially when it comes to your kitchen. Don’t worry, we’ve done the digging, so check out our tips before you start Hulk-smashing everything in your kitchen.

1. Budget and Budget RIGHT

First and most importantly, when it comes to budgeting your Joanna Gaines kitchen, you need to take extra costs into consideration. You never know when an old pipe will need to be replaced or extra demoing may be required to get the refrigerator you want. Appliances can get pretty costly too, so give yourself some breathing room. It’s much better to have a bigger budget and come in under budget, than the reverse.

2. Prepare Yourself for the Worst

Next, you need to mentally and physically prepare yourself to live in a live construction zone for a while. The kitchen is by far the most visited room in a home, so when you’ve demolished it, you’ve got to be prepared to deal with Ground Zero day in and day out. And unfortunately, there’s no way around it. When you’re redoing a kitchen completely, you need to remember that you’re going to want to maximize the space. I mean really, most people don’t remodel a kitchen with the intention of making it feel smaller, right? In order to get accurate measurements for new appliances, cabinetry and furniture, it’s important to demo the entire space. This will also allow you to find any unexpected problems early so they can be addressed before it’s too late.

3. Give Yourself a Realistic Timeframe

With all that said, the kitchen remodel process will likely take you longer than you think. If you expect it to take you three months, give yourself four. Kitchens can take anywhere from three to five months on average (HGTV) and it’s better to overestimate and be pleased when it’s less, than underestimate and be disappointed.

4. Refrigerators, Dishwashers and Sinks Oh My!

Next comes a more exciting part of the process. Choose your appliances (sink, refrigerator, dishwasher, etc.) early. This goes back to the measurements and how important it is to get accurate ones. If you aren’t comfortable doing them yourself, contact your local Buchheit store and our professional Kitchen & Bath Designers will be able to get you the measurements you need to get the job done right.

5. What’s Your Style? Modern? Minimalist? Farmhouse?

Then, another fun part! When you’re thinking about the design and theme of your kitchen, it can sometimes be easy to get caught up in the latest and greatest trends and then you’ve got a minimalist kitchen with a teal hexagon backsplash that doesn’t match your argyle tile floor, black walls and gray cabinets with funky antique handles. Sounds like a lot, right? While it’s important to give the busiest room in the house a personality that bodes well with your family, just don’t go overboard. Find a commonality in all your pinned kitchens on Pinterest, or ask the Buchheit professional who does your measurements for their opinion. You may surprise yourself when it comes down to actually making decisions for your new kitchen.

6. Everyone Loves Samples Another important part of the process is to make sure you ALWAYS have a sample of your materials with you. This will help when you’re choosing your paint, cabinet colors and styles, flooring, backsplash, sink, appliances and more. It sounds crazy but your little makeshift kitchen-in-a-bag will likely save you a few trips to the store. You’ll be able to visualize what your kitchen will look like as you piece it together.

Good luck!

Any large home improvement project can be nerve-wracking and stressful. But take these things into consideration, do your research and make sure you’re financially ready for the challenge. Then, no matter what happens, you’ll be able to figure it out. We believe in you!