Should I choose appliances before cabinets?

Yes, or at least decide on their sizes. The cabinet openings are built around them.

Can I stay in my home during a kitchen remodel?

Usually yes. The kitchen will be out of use for part of the project, so it helps to set up a temporary space beforehand.

What is the most common mistake?

Choosing finishes before settling the layout. It leads to changes later, and changes cost more once work has started.

Where to start a kitchen remodel: the decisions in the right order

Most kitchen regrets come from deciding things out of order. Start with the layout, and the rest falls into place.

A kitchen remodel is a long list of decisions: cabinets, counters, floors, lights, appliances, paint. Faced with the whole list at once, many people start with the thing that is easiest to picture, usually the color of the cabinets. That feels natural, but it is the wrong place to begin.

Decisions depend on each other. The layout limits the cabinets, the cabinets limit the counters, and the counters limit the sink and the faucet. Making them in order saves time and money.

1. Decide how you use the kitchen

Before anything else, write down how the kitchen works today and what frustrates you. Do you cook for a crowd or for two? Do children do homework at the counter? Is there a second cook? Do you entertain in the kitchen or in another room?

This is the most important step, and it costs nothing. The answers decide whether you need an island, a second sink or a wider walkway.

2. Look at the layout and the structure

Next, look at what can and cannot change. Walls that carry weight, plumbing lines, ducts and electrical panels all affect the layout. Moving a sink a short distance is usually simple. Moving it across the room, or taking out a wall, is a bigger project.

We walk the kitchen with homeowners and mark what is easy, what is possible and what is expensive. That gives you real options, not a wish list.

3. Set the scope and the budget together

Once the layout is clear, decide how far to go. Some homeowners want everything new. Others want new cabinets and counters but keep the floor, or new floors and paint but keep good cabinets.

Cost depends on the layout, the cabinets, the counters, the appliances, the lighting, the flooring and any structural or plumbing changes. We lay these out in a written estimate so you can see which choices move the total.

4. Choose cabinets and counters

Cabinets are the biggest single part of a kitchen. They set the style, the storage and much of the cost. Choose them before the counters, because the counter has to be measured and cut to fit the finished cabinets.

If you are deciding between painting, refacing or replacing cabinets, our post on kitchen cabinet options can help. For counters, see our guide to choosing a countertop.

5. Pick appliances early

Appliances have to be chosen before the cabinets are finished, because their sizes decide the openings. A range, a refrigerator and a dishwasher each have their own dimensions and clearances, and a hood has to match the ceiling and the duct.

A common mistake is to leave appliances until the end and find that the model you want does not fit.

6. Plan the lighting

Kitchens need layers of light: general light from recessed fixtures, task light under the wall cabinets, and sometimes accent light over an island or inside glass doors. The wiring has to be planned before the walls are closed, so lighting belongs in the early decisions, not the last ones.

In a white shaker kitchen we finished, recessed lights and a bright, light surface palette make the room feel open and clean after the oak and dark counters that were there before.

7. Then choose the finishes

Backsplash, paint, hardware and faucets come last, because they depend on everything above. This is also the fun part. Looking at samples of tile and hardware is much easier when the big decisions are already made.

8. Plan for living without a kitchen

A kitchen remodel means a stretch with no kitchen. Set up a temporary space with a microwave, a kettle and a small table in another room. Think about meals, dishes and where the refrigerator will live. A little planning here makes the whole project calmer.

Permits and timing

Some kitchen work needs a permit, especially when plumbing, electrical or structure changes. Requirements vary by village, so check with your village building department. Where a permit is required, OVK coordinates it. We give you a schedule with the estimate, because the real timing depends on the scope and on how long cabinets and appliances take to arrive.

Talk it through with us

If you are about to start, the most helpful step is a conversation in the room itself. Read about our kitchen remodeling, then request a free estimate. We will walk through these steps with you, in your own kitchen.