Happy Friday!!
Now that the weekend is FINALLY here – almost – here are a few tricks to surviving the long process of the Kitchen Remodel!
The plans are finalized, the cupboards are ordered, the demolition begins…and now for the hard part: making do without a fully functioning kitchen. There’s no escaping the inconvenience, but with some smart planning, it doesn’t have to wreak havoc on your household. Follow these tips to make the journey as smooth as possible.
Designate a kitchen stand-in. Eating out all the time gets exhausting (and expensive!!). So no matter how much takeout you bring home, you’ll still need a spot to make school lunches, pour a bowl of cereal or brew coffee. Set up a temporary kitchen somewhere that’s out of the way of construction…some use a place in the garage, a spare bedroom or in the family room. Setting up some movable shelves near a usable sink is ideal, especially if you need that morning coffee to function.
Keep things simple and pare down to the kitchen tools you really, truly can’t live without…but be merciless — how often are you going to use your food processor or waffle iron? Stash the essentials close at hand and store the rest. And don’t forget to keep a few utensils close by…wooden spoons, spatula, egg flipper and a can opener.
Plan meals around small appliances. Portable conveniences such as slow cookers, microwaves, toaster ovens, electric griddles and skillets, hot plates and coffee makers can get you over the mealtime hump. If you don’t have these (especially a hot plate or two), check thrift stores and places like Kijiji and freecycle. You can usually find them for cheap or free.
Stock the pantry with disposables. Without your usual spot to wash dishes, you’ll be getting creative (the bathtub, an outdoor hose, a cooler full of sudsy water) but make life so much simpler by using recyclable or biodegradable plates, napkins, cups and utensils. Cleanup will be a breeze and will definitely cut down on the stress of your temporary displacement.
During nice days, become the BBQ Master! Here’s a secret: Your grill can do almost anything your oven can. Need to roast meat or vegetables, or bake pizza? Look to the grill…and don’t forget the convenience of foil-packet meals, pans of biscuits and rolls, skillet pies and cobblers and, of course, s’mores. There are literally hundreds of websites that will teach you how to operate your grill like an oven.
Keep a stash of nonperishable snacks.When you’re starving but can’t face putting together a full meal in your makeshift digs, snacks can save your stomach. Jerky, peanut butter and crackers, dried fruit, canned goods, trail mix and more can make for quick meals in a pinch.
Now would be a good time for a vacation. That is if you are comfortable leaving your home while the renovations happen without you. But let’s face it, even a quick weekend getaway can help alleviate the stress of living in a construction site for a few weeks.
Remember the big picture. In the grand scheme of things, this is but a short period of inconvenience for years of kitchen bliss. Keep the process in perspective and treat it as an adventure. When you’re hard at work in your sparkling new custom designed Ikea kitchen, the temporary hassles will fade from memory….eventually.
So, just remember, even though living in a construction site can be stressful and disruptive, We here at Easy Installations, are available to make sure that Your New Kitchen is ready for you as quickly and as neatly as possible.
Call today for your free in-home consultation and free Quote!