 Planning for any kind of remodel project can bring on a mix of feelings. From excitement or fear, to a sense of being overwhelmed with all of the little details that go in to planning and designing a beautiful kitchen or luxury bathroom. You may be tempted to skip to the exciting stages like shopping for plumbing fixtures or selecting your new paint color, however you’d be missing out on some important key steps in the process. A full scale remodel or minor makeover of your space doesn’t have to be stressful though. With the help of an experienced remodel contractor and the following tips that we’ve compiled, your home remodeling project will run smoothly and stay on track.
#1 Identify Your Goal for the Project Why do you want to remodel? Are you upgrading to improve the resale value or making modifications to live and age in place? Knowing your end goal for your project is vital. If your focus is around resale value, then you’ll want to consider the other home values in the neighborhood and know which projects will provide a good return on investment. For the latter, you’re likely to be more focused around such things as durability for the years ahead, safety-conscious modifications, and designing around your needs now, as well as the future. #2 Establish a Comfortable Budget Establishing your budget is one of the most important steps in planning your home remodel. There are two parts of budget planning that you’ll want to carefully think about. Project Budgeting – This is the total cost that you are comfortable spending on your renovation. This number should include contingency funds for unexpected issues that arise. For example, having $75,000 to spend on your remodel, while knowing that you could come up with an extra $5,000 should it be absolutely needed. Unexpected issues are items that are unforeseen during the design and planning phase and are not revealed until the demolition and build are underway. Faulty wiring or the presence of mold is commonly unforeseeable that is not known about until the walls in your home are opened up. Incidental Cost Budgeting – These expenses are commonly not thought about when it comes to remodeling, but can add up in a big way if not careful. Being mindful of the ramifications of doing your home remodel like having to eat out while your kitchen is torn apart or for a hotel stay for a night or two during construction. #3 Know the Limit of What You Can Handle While many North Jersey homeowners think they can self-perform part of their home remodel, it is important to know your limitations and the pros/cons to your DIY. While doing some of the work yourself may give you a sense of accomplishment, more often than not it comes at a cost. A professional remodeling contractor has been doing kitchen and bathroom remodeling for years and likely has the processes down to a science in order to operate efficiently. By performing tasks yourself, you are essentially disrupting their lined out construction schedule, which can cause delays and result in fewer savings than it’s really worth. Know which tasks should be left to the pros from a cost and schedule standpoint. Lastly, it may not be worth self-performing tasks that could cause limitations to your contractor’s warranty or workmanship guarantee. #4 Think Through Your Daily Routine Consider how the remodel will affect your routine. Be clear about your daily schedule with your contractor to avoid any mishaps or delays. It is essential during the planning phase of your project that you discuss the contractor’s start and end times each day. This will avoid the crew showing up while you’re still in your pajamas or their work day running into other appointments that you may not be able to miss. Will you be away from your home during the construction phase? Now is a great time to discuss that schedule with your contractor and determine how they will have access to complete their work each day. Many Phoenix homeowners set up a unique garage code for access, utilize a lockbox for storing a house key that only the contractor has the code for, or having a friend or neighbor at the home to unlock and lock up each day. #5 Water and Electricity Outages Depending on the scope of work for your project, there could be times where your contractor will need to shut the water off from the main valve or turn off an electrical breaker while work is being done. Most commonly these are only temporary outages but are still something to be aware of for those families that are home during the day. Planning ahead by having bottled water on hand for drinking and cooking, and a contingency plan for bathroom emergencies can take the stress out of any possible situation. #6 Set Up a Make-shift Kitchen Most North Jersey homes have two bathrooms, so while it may be a slight inconvenience having one torn apart under construction, it is not a huge tribulation to live through. Kitchen remodels are a different story though. Before starting your kitchen remodeling project, we recommend setting up a make-shift kitchen in another room of the house. Incorporate small appliances such as a microwave, coffee maker, and beverage cooler or ice chest to provide a functional way to make food and drinks while your kitchen is out of order. Another great idea is to plan meals that you can cook on the grill outside. #7 It’s Time to Pack In an effort to keep your items protected and clean during the renovation process, it’s recommended that you pack up and move any items from the construction zone. Consider using an extra bedroom, storage pod, or off-site storage room to store your stuff. This will also provide a safe work area for the contractor’s crew to get to work. #8 Create Drawings & Keep Them Handy You may not be required to have a full set of blueprints drawn for obtaining a permit depending on the details of your remodel project, but it’s worthy to mention the importance of working with a reputable contractor that has an on-staff design team that will still create drawings and/or renderings of your project with dimensions. It is recommended that they remain near the work area or posted on the wall in the room where they can easily be seen. Not only does this provide a reference if any questions arise, but it also goes a long way in helping to make sure you and your contractor are on the same page with the goal for your space. For many homeowners, this may be your very first home renovation project. Hopefully, these tips can minimize that overwhelming fear of the unknown and have you ready to get your project underway confidently. A well-done quality remodeling project takes time to complete, but utilizing these guidelines from day one of your planning will help you be better prepared and ensure that your project is a success. As a homeowner, it can be difficult to balance between trying to stay on time, on budget, and on top of the thousands of details and moving parts that are involved in doing a luxury remodel. It’s a full-time job! That’s why you’ll want to hire the professionals for your upcoming remodeling needs. North Jersey homeowners looking to remodel are likely to hear about the team at Berceli in their research or have used them for other home improvement projects. Our team has been a leading contractor in the Bergen County area performing full home remodeling design-build services. Over the years we have built quite a reputation for our great customer service and impressive portfolio. If you are ready to start planning your next home remodeling project, then you’ll want to reach out to our on-staff design team or stop into our Fort Lee New Jersey design showroom to begin exploring ideas for your home. Visit our website at www.bercelinj.com for our business hours and to request your appointment today.
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Five affordable centerpiece options that will spruce up your kitchen without breaking your budget.10/12/2020  Centerpieces are a timeless form of decor. They have a long history as a traditional method of home improvement.
Today, these classic accessories are used to complement the kitchen table and add a stylish touch to an otherwise blah surface. You’ve probably seen elaborate centerpieces used at important events like weddings and galas. By definition, they’re the center of attention, intended to catch the eye and turn heads. The same idea is used in the home, with no special event necessary. Simple, classy centerpieces are placed in the middle of the kitchen table to add a splash of color or style to the empty area. This can be done with something as basic as a flower vase or as elaborate as a cornucopia. Whatever statement you want to make, you can do it with a few simple steps. If you’re not sure how to decorate your table, there are thousands of ideas out there. To keep it simple, here are five affordable centerpiece options that will spruce up your kitchen without breaking your budget. 1. Candles The simplest centerpiece idea is also one of the oldest: The candle. With a few tapers and some accessories, you have a beautiful adornment for the middle of your kitchen table. Dining by candlelight is a relaxing way to enjoy a meal. But, you don’t actually have to light your candles if you don’t want to — that’s up to you! To create an affordable centerpiece, start with two tapered candles in colors that match your kitchen theme. Find some candle holders you like to set them in. Then, arrange a few flowers in a vase to set in between the candles, or leave them bare if you prefer. For those who want to make a bigger statement, pillar candles are the way to go. Set a variety of candles in complementary colors and sizes on a glass or silver tray. Arrange them in groups and accessorize the tray with colorful stones or greenery. Related: 53 Kitchen Essentials for Your Brand New Apartment 2. Succulents Plants are another popular type of centerpiece and are smart to have in the home. The health benefits of indoor plants extend to both the mind and body. When you’re sitting around the table, it’s impossible not to enjoy the perks of nature in front of you! Replacing flowers every time they wilt gets burdensome. An easy way around this is to stick with succulents. These plants are vibrantly colored, and they don’t need much maintenance. They hold moisture in their leaves, stems, and roots, so a little water goes a long way. Also, you can put them in just about any holder as long as it anchors the stems. Flower pots, clear bowls with colored rocks, and floral foam are common choices. Make sure the succulents you choose are low enough that everyone at the table can see each other during conversations. Mix and match varieties to create a finished centerpiece with lush, vivid colors. 3. Large-Leaved Plants When you have a minimalist kitchen that’s already elegant and understated, you don’t want to go overboard with a bulky centerpiece. Sometimes, simple is best. This look can be achieved with a clear vase and some plants with large, lush leaves. The bright green shade will look sophisticated against your classic background colors. And if your plant has a flower, the splash of color will pop even more brightly on your kitchen table. 4. Seasonal Looks Changing your decor for every season sounds like a hassle, but it’s a lot of fun. Ask yourself this question: What makes me happy in each season? Combine those ideas into your kitchen table spread! A summer look, for instance, can be a glass bowl full of beach sand, shells, and doll-sized plastic beach chairs. Winter styles tend to include decor in colors like white, red, silver, and green. The best part about seasonal centerpieces is that they are personal. Use flowers, accessories, greenery, or holiday decor to create a design you’re happy to keep on the table for those three months each year. 5. Holiday Cheer Similar to seasonal centerpieces, these kitchen table designs change with the passing holidays. It may sound difficult to switch up your centerpiece every holiday. But once you’ve created a look for each one, you can toss it in storage and pull it out when the time comes. For floral centerpieces, use artificial plants and greenery to make them a yearly tradition in your home. Some decorations, like fairy lighting and neutral-colored garland, can stay out all year and adorn your kitchen table regardless of the holiday.
Inaccuracies Due to Overbidding
When you overbid a job – meaning you estimate that it will require more materials or labor hours than it realistically calls for – you’re likely to lose out on a lot of projects. If you’re worried about the cost of materials or unsure of how long it will take your team to complete the work, you might be tempted to put a high price tag on your proposal just in case. But general contractors closely compare the bids they receive from subcontractors for an idea of price ranges, and many of them also perform their own takeoffs to check measurements. If your bid comes in significantly higher than others, the job will go to a lower bidder, and you’ll be back to searching for other projects. Inaccuracies Due to Underbidding Underbidding can win you the job, but you shortchange yourself in the process. When you underbid a project, you’re held to the quote you originally provided even if the job costs more than you anticipated. So you won’t recoup the cost of any materials that are more expensive than you planned for or any added manpower or overtime – these costs will come out of your pocket. An exception to this is change orders. When plans change in the midst of a project, you’ll have the opportunity to reevaluate your estimate and provide a new quote for the changed work – but again, if you underbid on the change order, you are responsible for covering any extra costs. There might be times when it’s worth it for your overall business strategy to intentionally underbid a project, which we’ll discuss later. But remember, in order to underbid on purpose, you still need to have a strong handle on what an accurate estimate looks like for the job. Developing a Positive Reputation with Contractors If you consistently submit accurate, professional proposals to Contractors, they’ll begin to take notice. General contractors measure success on the same things you do – time and monetary efficiency – just on a larger scale and with more moving parts. Your accurate bid means they can spend less time checking your estimate – they’ve worked with you enough to know that you have a good grasp on the cost of getting the job done without price gouging, and this way your company can give the Contractor peace of mind. When a Contractor knows they can trust you to bid the job correctly and deliver on your estimate, you can expect to win more jobs from them. Saving Time with Accurate Estimates Bidding accurately is also a simple time saver for your construction company. An accurate estimate allows you to order the right amount of materials – no scrambling to source more supplies or find storage for a surplus, and it keeps your crew schedules on track. When one job is bid accurately, your time is freed up to evaluate other projects and keep a steady flow of work for your team. Knowing When to Aim for Submitting the Lowest Bid If you’re trying to break into a new area of specialization and get a foot in the door, underbidding can be one way to catch the attention of the general contractor. This could be the case if you’ve expanded to a new trade and your team doesn’t have many projects under their belt, or if you’re trying to get into government contracting, where those with the lowest responsible bid tend to win. In these instances, the main goal might be adding these projects to your portfolio rather than simply making a profit. Perform your takeoff and create your estimate as you normally would, and then you’ll be able to see how much of the total price you can shave off to increase your chances of winning. You need to have a strong understanding of your overhead and other indirect costs to make cuts to your price. When you know your normal markup for labor, for example, you’re able to reduce it by a fraction if needed. Be careful of coming in too low, however, because this can still result in losing the job if your qualifications are questioned. You also don’t want to set the bar so low that you can never make a profit in this area. How to Create More Accurate Estimates You may already understand why accurate estimates are so important, but how do you go about improving your process so that you can be more precise? These 5 tips can help. 1. Get ahead of deadlines If you’re always working down to the wire on submitting proposals, your estimating team is stressed and playing catch up. Instead, be proactive. Find a tool that lets you increase your takeoff speed so that time isn’t wasted in the measurement stage. The faster you can perform takeoffs, the better able you are to decide which projects are worth bidding on in the first place, and you have time to gather more information, conduct potential site visits, and create a comprehensive proposal that will get your company noticed. 2. Eliminate mistakes caused by human error. Sometimes a ruinously inaccurate bid is a result of something as simple as a misplaced decimal point or a typo. This is an easy fix, so don’t let it happen to you. Use a pre-construction platform that keeps all your data in a single source of truth. You should be able to go from takeoff to estimate to proposal in one software without transferring data elsewhere and introducing the opportunity for mistakes. 3. Get familiar with the details. Even if you want to send only a high-level overview in your proposal to the Contractor, get in the habit of making your internal estimate as detailed as possible. A labor and material estimate allows you to break down costs in terms of items and assemblies, but even if you prefer unit cost estimates, you should separate all indirect costs, rather than adding markup into the price of your measurements. Knowing your true direct costs enables you to adjust markup, overhead, or labor charges as desired both per estimate and company wide. Don’t forget to include other indirect costs associated with the project, like freight, delivery charges, or refuse containers. 4. Take material cost increases into account. If you can, share your takeoffs with your suppliers along with your quote request to ensure the most accurate possible order. And remember that prices rise regularly, so be sure you’re informed about supplier increase cycles. Don’t assume your materials will cost the same now as they did three months ago – double check before finalizing your estimate, and if you anticipate an increase mid-project, include a clarification about time-sensitive pricing in your proposal. This way your cost remains accurate and the Contractor isn’t caught off guard. 5. Anticipate waste. We’d all like to think our crews are perfect, but in reality they’re human. People have off days and don’t accomplish as much as they intend. They make mistakes when measuring and have to scrap some supplies. Account for this in your estimate by tracking how much waste is generated on average per measurement or per material (and labor) and add that percentage into your total price so all your bases are covered. By following these 5 practices you should see your estimated costs start to line up much more closely with actual completed job costs, so you can bid more, win more, and grow your business. Looking for a pre-construction estimate that will help you save time and improve your home remodeling processes? Click Here  Homeowners of all generations are paying even more attention to the health of their homes and everyone living in them - especially during this global pandemic in which we are ensconced. This includes but also goes beyond using low-VOC materials, paying attention to ventilation and incorporating nature light. Homeowners are paying closer attention to more hygienic products that can instill a sense of control in our current state of chaos. In light of the coronavirus, Berceli is keeping in mind the aspects that make up wellness design and how to help our clients choose products that will support their healthy lifestyles that are becoming ever so important. We also focus on what goes on behind the walls to ensure today’s homes are as safe as they can be, The new remodeling designs and technology along with our remodeling expertise can help augment this ever growing need.
 The kitchen is the most important area of the home when it comes to promoting good health and prosperity. A kitchen with a good feng shui will bring good fortune and good health for the whole family.
One of the most important tips is to make sure that the kitchen is not visible from the main door. Imagine the house to be your body, the main entrance being your mouth and the kitchen your digestive system. The kitchen should be located deep within the house. It should be towards the back of your home, but not exactly at the back of the home, to prevent the good luck generated from escaping to easily. The stove of the kitchen should be positioned in such a way that when a person is cooking, he or she is facing the dining or living room with her back against a wall. This is known as the “command position". All sharp objects and the kitchen utensils should be neatly tucked away out of sight in the cabinets, to keep the kitchen uncluttered and airy. Hanging pots and pans out into open is bad feng shui, as it promotes the accumulation of negative Chi. This is especially true when it comes to kitchen knives and other cutting instruments. Sharp objects emit a lot of shar-chi (killing energy), and are therefore best kept in drawers and cabinets. Another great tip is to use your kitchen often. When you use your stove, wealth energy is created. So the more often you use your stove, the better. Traditional gas stoves are preferred over electronic stoves as they produce real flames. The element of the kitchen is fire. So the constant ignition of flames is beneficial to the sector. The auspicious colors for a kitchen are reds, yellows and greens. Try to use these colors as much as possible to strengthen that element of fire in the kitchen for good luck! So You Want to Remodel Your Bathroom!  An increasing number of people find that they can remodel their bathrooms to create the perfect place in which they can relax, refresh, rejuvenate and/or have a romantic time. A bathroom redo can be an inexpensive and fun way to spruce up your entire house. So, what you need are some tips for remodeling your bathroom.
When you decide to begin a bathroom remodeling project, it is quickest to organize your goals before shopping for materials. Choose what items you want to replace, add, or take away from the bath area. Consider refinishing existing items such as bathtub, shower, sinks and toilet, or renewing the tiles or tub and shower enclosure to give a new look to your bathroom even with just a little investment. The bathroom is one of the most used areas of the house, so you want to be sure that you have it remodeled in such a way that it will last for a long time. Remodeling is extremely exciting because it means you are getting to create the ambiance you have always wanted in one of your favorite places: the bathroom. Why Remodel If You Can Decorate? Perhaps you would like to redo the bathroom, but at the same time you would like to keep things uncomplicated. If it is time for a bathroom makeover, count yourself lucky when you see the number of wonderful current decorating ideas for the bathroom today. There is a huge amount you can do with simple decorative treatments that avoid a full remodel. If you have a small bathroom, remodeling ideas should mostly revolve around freeing the space of clutter and making better use of the available space. Using shelves, taller cabinets, and other organizational items will help the room seem larger because everything has a place and there is nothing left to crowd the space. There are any number of cabinets available to fit over the toilet or along empty walls to maximize the available area, or cabinets can be hung on the wall to free up floor space. Regardless of the size of your bathroom, it is important that you sort out the existing items in the bathroom and choose which items you want to keep and which items can now retire. Clearing out unimportant clutter from the bathroom can help you decorate the room easily and match items for your fresh theme. Don't be afraid to be bold and exciting - make your bathroom a fun place to visit! Another decorating idea for a bathroom is to redo the porcelain sink and the tub. These tend to take a lot of abuse through the years, and with a fresh treatment, they will look brand-new. It's a lot cheaper than putting in all new fixtures, and it really does make your bathroom look good. A common bathroom decorating idea for people on a budget is adding or replacing light fixtures. While choosing a light may seem like a daunting task, be aware that once you have chosen the perfect lighting to enhance your bathroom's theme, it can make a dramatic change to the overall feel of the room. Of course, also consider new paint, tile or wall paper to freshen up the space. Following the new bathroom decorating trends while maintaining individual taste and style can be achieved with a little research and great imagination. Building on these ideas is sure to help anyone create the bathroom of their dreams. Home decorating magazines can be quite helpful, because if you see decorating materials that you like, there is often a section that shows how you can get them. They are also good at allowing you to see how the materials you're interested in fit with other colors in the room. But I Need to Remodel If you find that redecorating just won’t do, and you really need to remodel, as part of your planning process create a bathroom remodeling check list to help you determine how much of an upgrade you can afford. Make sure you know exactly where your fixtures will go when designing your remodeling project, since you need the plumbing there to accommodate them. Unless you can somehow move the location of your fixtures, your sink, tub, and toilet are going to be exactly where you have them right now. In most cases, the location of your fixtures is going to be a hard limit, so plan accordingly. Depending on the size of your bathroom and your budget, there are a few bathroom remodeling tips that can the project go smoother, as well as make life after the project easier. For large-budgeted bathroom remodeling projects, you can go beyond your dream bathroom by expanding the area and separating the toilet from the bath area. You can even add spa treatments, bathtubs, water jets and other more expensive bathroom add-ons. If you have a more modest budget, one of the most important things is to make sure that the shower area is easily accessible. For example, some showers require a person to step up in order to enter the shower, while others are just walk-in showers. Whichever kind of shower you choose, it is important to note that it will have to be well installed in order to prevent leaks. Another method of controlling bathroom remodeling costs could be instead of replacing your tub and all the wall tiles, you could look into a tub and wall unit that fits right over an existing tub and wall. By using this technique and for a few hundred dollars the area can look as if it is brand-new. The alternative is replacing everything, which could run into the thousands. When you choose where smaller fixtures go in the bathroom remodeling design, think function over form. For items such as the towel rack or even the toilet paper roll, keep in mind that they should go in places that are sensible, The towel rack might look nice by the door, but if it's out of arm's reach of the bathtub, then you won't be happy whenever you get out of the shower, for example. With all things in bathroom remodeling design, if you design with an eye for common sense and space, you will be successful in your attempt to create a room that's both stylish and functional. There is no greater joy to a homeowner then to remodel a favorite room such as the bathroom. So, enjoy every minute of it. You can take your first relaxing shower and enjoy the long-term benefit from the investment you made. Berceli has undertaken extensive home remodeling over the past 10 years. Learn why they were named on of the best remodeling companies in the New York and New Jersey area Brighten up! The year 2020 has inspiring tones for you to integrate into your lifestyle and personal expression. Weather you're doing your kitchen, bathroom or other rooms in your home, These are a few of the colors to keep your eye on.
How To Incorporate These Colors
Trending colors are most often seen in clothing and wall paint, but there are numerous other ways to use them in your life. You can be big and bold or small and subtle in your approach. Try out some of these ideas: Home décor: Furniture, accent rugs, linens, flowers, throw pillows, curtains, books, lamps Exterior decor: Doors, trim, planters, wreaths Accessories: Jewelry, belts, bags, wallets, luggage, cellphone cases Artwork: Pottery, paintings, photography The best part about these colors is they complement each other, so you can mix and match them. No need to choose just one! Why Color Matters Why is so much thought put into creating a color palette each year? The simple answer is that color influences the world. A specific tone can sway your mood and affect your behaviors. While everyone has a unique response, certain colors generally tend to elicit certain reactions. For example, blue is calming, whereas red is invigorating. Color is a way not only to experience but also express emotion. Having a new trend every year adds variety and excitement. It reflects current culture and events, as well as local geography. What is popular in one country will be different than what is trending in another part of the world. The same goes for industry: The color in demand for women’s fashion may differ from the reigning tone in nursery décor. Focus on the color that best matches your purpose and needs. You can find all these color trends and more right here at DIYvinci Market. Browse our handmade arts and crafts to find the perfect items for your closet, home, or loved ones. There are a lot of homeowners planning on doing a kitchen remodel next year. Many of them will emerge victoriously from the process with the kitchen of their dreams. However, there will be plenty of homeowners who’ll soon find out that they made costly, time-consuming and frustrating mistakes during their renovation. Get your pen and paper ready because we’re going to reveal the top remodeling secrets that you need to know about before starting your kitchen remodel to ensure your projects success.  There are a lot of variables to consider. Here are 20 Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes To Avoid. Plus 3 bonus kitchen remodel. Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes To Avoid
Renovating your kitchen is a huge undertaking with many variables and critical details to consider that are key to a successful finished product. The last thing you want during your remodel is regret! We’re going to reveal the most common design and remodel mistakes, so you can take the necessary steps to avoid them and be sure you’re left with the fully functional and gorgeous kitchen you envision.
Another common “form over function” mistake when doing kitchen remodeling is to not consider how your cupboards, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher open. For example, can you open the refrigerator and nearby cupboard door at the same time? You probably think this is something silly that never happens in real life, but it’s a lot more common than you may think. A design slipup like this is especially frustrating when putting dishes away or for families that tend to have more than one cook in the kitchen at a time.
Just like you need space to work in, you need places to keep all your kitchen tools. Excess storage is never a problem, but a shortage always is. Experienced general contractors, like TWD, have experts on staff that are nationally certified in universal design. Meaning they can advise you on the best way to include adequate storage that is easily accessible to you now, and as your needs evolve. The last thing that you want to do is design a beautiful kitchen today that doesn’t meet your needs tomorrow.
Ideally for a beautifully designed kitchen, there should be at least three types of lighting. General overhead lighting for illumination of the room, task lighting that is more focused and accent lighting. Pendant lights are great for illuminating prep areas. Under-cabinet lighting, over-cabinet lighting or even along the toe kick of your cabinetry show off and accent some of the design elements that you love the most, like that sexy backsplash that you splurged on.
Particular colors speak to us in different ways. Some are calming. Others are passionate or mysterious. There are specific schemes that invoke feelings of all natural or organic qualities making them great choices for eating areas. Color psychology plays an important part in any home improvement project, especially in rooms that you and your family spend a substantial amount of time in, like the kitchen.
Be sure your budget includes a way to pay for contingencies. You may plan to spend all your savings on the remodeling, and have a credit card for backup. That’s fine as long as there is credit available. Otherwise, you have to plan to set aside some money for “just in case” situations. In any remodel project, there are unknowns that can arise once a wall is opened up or material is removed. Rule of thumb is to set aside 10% of the total cost of your renovation as a precautionary safety measure.
The second item you’ll want to make a priority when you’re doing a kitchen remodel is installing good ventilation. Nobody wants to walk in smelling the bacon you cooked a few days prior? An inexpensive oven may come with a hood which re-circulates air, but it doesn’t truly clean the air. It’s better to invest in a ventilation system that will help pull the odors out of the air, vent smoke and heat out of your space.
You’ll need to properly plan how your contractor will have access to the construction area. In some instances a rear door may be most convenient point of access to avoid workers trudging through your entire home having to use the front door. This is a topic that you’ll want to discuss with your contractor at the pre-construction meeting to ensure that everyone is on the same page come start day.
Case in point when a cabinet is not available, you’ll want to carefully consider a dedicated placement within your kitchen. Having an open wastebasket in the center of the kitchen most likely is not a part of any kitchen you’ve dreamt about.
- Your project coming to a screeching halt. - Additional operating costs to re-order and revise the current contract. - Extra funds being needed to cover the difference in pricing between materials. - Applicable restocking fees of the original material (can often be up to 25%), - Labor and/or material delays holding up your project.
The ultimate—and glamorous—entertaining space  Project: Highlight a skyline view with an open, modern kitchen
 After: With one partial wall separating the living area and kitchen, Jennifer had her heart set on creating a seamless, or wall-less, space. Upon inspection, the couple learned the entire wall couldn’t fully come down because it was load-bearing. Instead, their contractor left a little under three feet of the wall remaining—a perfect spot for the refrigerator. In place of the knocked-down wall came a marble waterfall island with a deep black base and white veins. The rest of the kitchen’s palette picks up from the marble, juxtaposing the two colors. Glossy black drawers are one side of the island, while all white upper and lower cabinetry, plus a white quartz counter-top make up the rest of the cook space. Since the whole concept revolved around clean lines, the renovators chose sleek, linear hardware for their cabinets and installed the microwave drawer underneath the counter to keep the surface clear. Not one detail was spared, from the under-cabinet lighting to the textured back splash. “We walk in and with all the extra light, open air, clean lines, and high gloss finishes, and I feel as though I’m in a Soho penthouse and there’s a concierge downstairs that will gladly bring us a plate charcuterie for our enormous new counter.,” she said.“We feel like we are out when we stay in. It is just the best.” Bonus: Jennifer’s tip for future renovators? “Sign contracts that give you a firm start date, end date, and budget they will commit to. Our contractors were absolutely exceptional in each of these areas. A contract that you can all live with and by is essential.” Style finds: Flooring and backsplash: Porcelanosa. Bright white quartz countertops and Eternal Marquina island: Silestone. Sink and faucet: Kohler. Refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher: Samsung. Lighting: Lutron. Barstools: Wayfair.
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