Kitchen Renovation: The Dirty Details

Let's face it - renovations are stressful, complicated, and might cause you to pull out your hair, yell at your husband, and gain 10 lbs while eating nothing but frozen burritos for a month.

But... when it's all said and done, you get to live and cook in a space that you helped create. The stress is forgotten, and all that's left behind is a dream kitchen to enjoy for years to come. Hey, you'll have plenty of inspiration for new salad recipes once it's over. I promise!

Here are the dirty details and a few tips from our latest kitchen renovation...

(Keep scrolling for those coveted before and after pics!)

TIP #1: Do Your Own Demo

If you're looking to save pennies on your next renovation, demo is a great DIY project. An entire kitchen can be stripped in about 1-2 days with a little bit of know-how and some elbow grease.

Above: Husband/handyman/demo expert

Not pictured: 2 small children. One was sobbing tears of grief over the loss of the old cabinets and countertops (he saved tiny bits of the old materials for his treasure chest), and the other was trying to pick up those tiny bits and put them in his mouth. Needless to say, it took us 2 full days for demo.

TIP #2: Don't Start Construction Until Everything Has Been Delivered

Follow this rule and your contractor will thank you. Even if you've ordered all the appliances and fixtures, there is no guarantee they will arrive on time. Complications with shipping are a common reason for a project to be delayed. If your contractor has everything on hand, this can shorten your construction time by half, and it might even save you money.

TIP #3: The Devil is in the Details - Hire a Pro

Kitchen design is complicated. There are many angles to consider, compromises to be had, and decisions to make along the way. Unless you are fully prepared to immerse yourself in the world of kitchen design, you may want to hire a pro to help with floor planning, finishes, fixtures, and even the layout of drawer accessories. Of course, you can check out our list of services at FormandFunctionStyle.com and contact us for a free consultation (we're pretty great). But, wether it's our service or another kitchen design pro, we know you will find tremendous value in having someone navigate through the endless options and help create a dream kitchen that screams "you".

And... finally, those addicting before and after photo's you were waiting for...