Introduction and Addition

[gt7301b]

This is my first time posting on H&G, but I have been lurking for a while.  We have just started an addition that will allow us to open up our kitchen and add an island.  We started working with the architect about a year ago with the hopes of being able to do a more modest renovation, however, that didn't work.  If you look at our current flow plan you see that the bathroom and laundry prevent us from being able to do to much in the existing space.  Behind the kitchen/Eating area is our elevated deck which keeps us from expanding that way.  We currently have laminate in the kitchen and family room, which will all come up and replaced with hardwoods.  The existing hardwoods will also be sanded and restained, so everything matches.

Our contractor started work last month and the foundation and framing are already done.  They seem to be moving pretty fast now, I think because the county was slow with approving the permits so some of the contractors work has dried up.  (After much waiting I just called at 8:00 AM and sat on the phone till I got a human who pushed things through that day.)

Our cabinets are supposed to come in the week of Feb 13th, so that is the date that the contractors are working towards. with the demo.

I've gone back and read a bunch of tips about living through a remodel and have been planning out our temporary kitchen.  The contractors plan to leave us a sink and we will create a mock kitchen in the dinning room area.  I've cooked a lot of stuff to freeze this past weekend and plan to cook some more next weekend.  I figure it will keep us from eating out all the time.

I'd love to hear any tips that you think would be helpful. 

Attachments:

[momin2013]

I think your plan looks great - should be a nice improvement!

As far as living through the reno, will you be able to keep use of the fridge through it? I'd say you'll need at the very least a bar fridge plugged in somewhere if you can't use the one in the kitchen during the reno...

[lessel]

The new plan looks great! I so miss my kitchen island.

When we redid our old kitchen years ago (before kids) we survived on a lot of takeout, quick microwave stuff, and used a lot of paper plates/disposable stuff. It was definitely not ideal, but it was temporary. Doing dishes in the bathtub was not my favorite, so a temp sink sounds handy

[gt7301b]

Jan 10, 2023 14:35:23 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

I think your plan looks great - should be a nice improvement!

As far as living through the reno, will you be able to keep use of the fridge through it? I'd say you'll need at the very least a bar fridge plugged in somewhere if you can't use the one in the kitchen during the reno...

Thanks, I am excited, my husband will be happy afterwards, but is not looking forward to the disruption.

The contractor said they will make sure we have a place for the fridge.  They are also going to insulate the mudroom (and remove for the inspection) so that we can use the washer and dryer while we are still in construction phase.

[gt7301b]

Jan 10, 2023 15:30:49 GMT -5 lessel said:

The new plan looks great! I so miss my kitchen island.

When we redid our old kitchen years ago (before kids) we survived on a lot of takeout, quick microwave stuff, and used a lot of paper plates/disposable stuff. It was definitely not ideal, but it was temporary. Doing dishes in the bathtub was not my favorite, so a temp sink sounds handy

I am so excited about the island.  When we talk to people they keep suggesting that we put things on the island, like another sink, but I am looking forward to have a clear space for prepping food.  Right now I do most of that on my stove/ area by the stove because I have so little clear counter space.

[libbygrl109]

The new plans look great! I wish we had enough space for an island, but I am so happy with how our reno turned out. It was this time last year that we were living in construction mess. The crockpot, airfryer, instapot, and microwave helped us feel like dinner could be somewhat normal, but when we were in the think of construction, geting takeout unfortunately made more sense.

Hope everything goes smoothly from here on out for you!

[dr.girlfriend]

Good luck! We set up our fridge and microwave around the corner, but honestly now I think I use my air fryer more than my oven too. We were never big cooks, though. Paper plates are definitely your friend!

[gt7301b]

Jan 10, 2023 21:07:00 GMT -5 libbygrl109 said:

The new plans look great! I wish we had enough space for an island, but I am so happy with how our reno turned out. It was this time last year that we were living in construction mess. The crockpot, airfryer, instapot, and microwave helped us feel like dinner could be somewhat normal, but when we were in the think of construction, geting takeout unfortunately made more sense.

Hope everything goes smoothly from here on out for you!

The island is the thing that got my husband on board.  We worked through several design versions with the architect and none of them really got us what we wanted with an island.  We pretty much ended up with the design I had in my head.  It was probably a waste of mental capacity to work through the various options the island and mudroom were the two things I was set on.

We've had several hiccups, but the contractors are great and pivot/ fix the problem quickly.  I expect issues, it is how they are dealt with that I am concerned about.

[gt7301b]

Jan 11, 2023 0:39:22 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

Good luck! We set up our fridge and microwave around the corner, but honestly now I think I use my air fryer more than my oven too. We were never big cooks, though. Paper plates are definitely your friend!

Thanks!  We have an air fryer/ toaster that is going to get a lot of use over the next couple of months.  I ordered composable plates and realized that it was only enough to last our family ~ 3 days, so I have more in my amazon cart.

[lessel]

Jan 10, 2023 16:12:07 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

Jan 10, 2023 15:30:49 GMT -5 lessel said:

The new plan looks great! I so miss my kitchen island.

When we redid our old kitchen years ago (before kids) we survived on a lot of takeout, quick microwave stuff, and used a lot of paper plates/disposable stuff. It was definitely not ideal, but it was temporary. Doing dishes in the bathtub was not my favorite, so a temp sink sounds handy

I am so excited about the island.  When we talk to people they keep suggesting that we put things on the island, like another sink, but I am looking forward to have a clear space for prepping food.  Right now I do most of that on my stove/ area by the stove because I have so little clear counter space.

My most favorite thing about our old island was that it was just blank space. Great for prepping or spreading out food at a party. We’re starting to house shop again and every time I see an island with a sink or range I get bummed.

Here’s a random pic of our old kitchen with my most favorite island. 😢

[simpsongal]

I'm team nothing in the island too - it looks like such an awesome improvement! We added a mudroom + bath in a fashion similar to you a few years ago. It's truly the most functional space. Not a huge square footage addition but made the house so much more workable. We haven't done the kitchen yet, so I don't have tips on living through the reno, but you've gotten some good advice already

Definitely post after pics!

[gt7301b]

Jan 11, 2023 8:33:14 GMT -5 lessel said:

Jan 10, 2023 16:12:07 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

I am so excited about the island.  When we talk to people they keep suggesting that we put things on the island, like another sink, but I am looking forward to have a clear space for prepping food.  Right now I do most of that on my stove/ area by the stove because I have so little clear counter space.

My most favorite thing about our old island was that it was just blank space. Great for prepping or spreading out food at a party. We’re starting to house shop again and every time I see an island with a sink or range I get bummed.

Here’s a random pic of our old kitchen with my most favorite island. 😢

Those are exactly the reasons I want an island with nothing on it.  I am sure my family will find plenty of ways to clutter it up eventually, but in my mind it is a blank canvas:)

[gt7301b]

Jan 11, 2023 8:57:59 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

I'm team nothing in the island too - it looks like such an awesome improvement! We added a mudroom + bath in a fashion similar to you a few years ago. It's truly the most functional space. Not a huge square footage addition but made the house so much more workable. We haven't done the kitchen yet, so I don't have tips on living through the reno, but you've gotten some good advice already

Definitely post after pics!

Thanks!!!  I admit to being a total stalker and looking at all of your mudroom posts. It looks awesome.  I am almost as excited about the mud room as I am about the kitchen reno.  Even though it is "only" 220 sq ft it is going to make our space so much more usable.  I am not sure that my husband will use it as intended,  but the 6 year old is a rule follower so I can count on him.   It turns out that I have very specific ideas of how I want the space to function and it is exciting to work those ideas into the design.  I know that we are putting more into the design when we get out, but hopefully this design is the one that will make our lives easier in the long term and we have no intentions of moving any time soon.