Design Notes

Part 3: Living In A Construction Zone

It’s here, it’s finally here!!! The day you’ve been dreaming of has arrived… construction begins! Then it hits you… Construction chaos has arrived! I now realize I need more time!

It can be stressful to have your home torn apart, and even more daunting to think of living in it throughout the renovation.  But you can do it.  If you’ve read and followed our previous blog posts in our remodeling series, Part 1 and Part 2, then you should be well prepared for the demolition and construction phase.  The pre-planning done during those stages of your project should make this most arduous phase as brief as possible, getting you smoothly to Part 4 – Finishing Touches –  and ultimately to the reward of tasting the first delicious meal in your new kitchen.

Before The Construction Crew Arrives

  • Clean out the cabinets and haul off old appliances.  This is a good time to purge.  You probably have more than you need in terms of kitchen gadgets and cookbooks, which e-versions have replaced.  Use this time to clear out the clutter.  Bonus: if you give them to charity, you can keep the receipt for a tax write-off.
  • Set up a makeshift “kitchenette” in an easily accessible location.  During my own experience, my husband and I used a mini fridge, toaster oven, and microwave to survive our construction phase.  Coffee is essential for me as well, so I also set up a coffee station in our bathroom.  Keep your take-out menus in a convenient spot; they will come in handy for surviving life without a kitchen.
  • Find a place to store excess food until the job is completed.  We turned a spare closet into a temporary pantry while our home was being disassembled.
  • Set up dust barriers if possible, or have your contractor quote them.  This will depend on your layout and the scope of the project, but if possible, you can hang sheets at the construction entrances to minimize dust and debris extending beyond the work zone.
  • Breathe – you’re prepared, enjoy the process as much as you can

Demolition Day

The contracting crew will disassemble walls, cabinets, floors, and other fixtures.  Whatever is required to create a “clean slate” for your new design to become a reality.  It will be exciting to see the old cabinets leave the space.  Seeing the new open area can help you envision how the new plan will come together.  Once our space was cleared, I used my plans to draw the kitchen footprint.  I became excited to see my vision finally come to life before my eyes.