Ugh…you don’t want to look at your aging and deteriorating kitchen or bath any longer, but you see the inevitable is about to overtake, whether you like it or not.  There is the overwhelming dread of mastering such a project on you own, managing it, and then creating a realistic budget in these uncertain times.  Let me postulate some strategies that can develop some attainable remodeling goals. 

The first consideration is to determine the length of time you will realistically be staying in your home. This will be key to setting a budget, but we will discuss that further on.

The second step is to make an appointment with a designer.  The value placed in design services will supersede any errors of individual inexperience, and those can be costly.

Third, hinged on points one and two, its time to obtain an estimate.  An experienced designer will be able to steer you through to choices that will be able to meet your financial goals.  Yet most individuals find themselves with “Champaign taste on a beer budget,” soooo… here is where we come to step four, progressive staging. 

Successful designs most often integrate one material with another.  Meaning that replacing one item to meet monetary goals may mean another item or surface may be affected.  This is where your budgeting will need to be staged into categories or over a timeline.  Let me give you an example: I would recommend that if you want to replace countertops in your kitchen, consideration to the condition and longevity of the cabinetry would need to be factored into the decision.

Sample sales, clearance and promotions are great to investigate.  There are many fabricators and vendors sending out stimulus promo’s to help the public right now.  Clearance items can be hidden treasures, so don’t forget to ask what may be available.

Now with these helpful tips you can begin to transform your dreams into realities that are obtainable.  Take your first remodeling step and “just do it.”  Hope to see you soon,

Karol