Professional Whole House Remodel, DeForest, WI

Planning The Perfect Kitchen Remodeling Project

Degnan Design-Build-Remodel, DeForest, Wisconsin

Kitchen renovation can be a hazardous business. We’ve all heard the horror stories of projects gone awry and money wasted – and maybe even been burned ourselves. Our best kitchen remodeling advice is to know when it’s time to bring in a pro. A professional design-build remodel team has the expertise to save you a lot of time, money, and frustration.

If you’re already onboard with bringing in a professional for your kitchen remodel, where do you go from there? Follow our advice below to get started on planning your kitchen remodel project and making sure it goes smoothly from start to finish.

Planning a Kitchen Remodel — Designing A Large Island

Knowing your needs is key. This photo features the largest island we've ever built, in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. The clients knew their goal for seating space and it was used to define the island size.

Know what you want… and what you need

Analyze your current kitchen. Make a list of exactly what you’re looking for in a kitchen remodel. Is your kitchen operational but in dire need of an update to the finishes? Do you want a soup-to-nuts demolition and total rework of the room? Do you want more space? More storage? Better light? Better style?

If you don’t think much about how you use your kitchen, now is the time to dive down. How many chefs are usually working in your kitchen? How many people are they cooking for? Do you entertain regularly or only at the holidays? Do you use your kitchen for anything besides cooking — is it a gathering hub, a workspace, or anything else? How important is easy cleanup?

Make a list of your remodel goals and organize it from “must have” to “in our dreams.” Do some research on how those goals might be implemented. Check out your friends’ kitchens and kitchen design ideas from magazines of the internet. Start keeping a folder of pictures of rooms, products, materials, and architectural details that appeal to you, and show it to your design-build remodelers.

This is also the time to establish a firm budget. It’s essential for both you and your design-build team to know from the start how much you are working with. Their vast experience and know-how will be able to stretch your dollars as far as they possibly go.

Kitchen and Dining Room Design Build Madison WI.jpg — Small Island Without Seating

These clients knew that they did not need seating at their island. Instead, we were able to create a small island with cabinetry facing both the sink and the walkway. This ensured that the walkways were unobstructed.

Kitchen remodeling requires flexibility

In addition to stretching the budget, a design-build team will use their knowledge and experience to identify and anticipate potential issues within your wish-list. They may point out unforeseen problems with your dream materials, or they may suggest options you’d never considered. The most important thing is that your design-build team will help balance beauty and functionality in your kitchen to create the best possible outcome — and the advantage of a design-build team is that you’ll be working with the same people from draft to completion. There’s no hand-off from an architect to an unfamiliar contractor that could create miscommunication and issues. A design-build remodeling firm has the expertise to take you through every step of the kitchen remodeling process.

Work with your team

It’s important to stay in good communication with your design-build team during kitchen remodeling. Work with them to settle on a timeline and number of draft plans — no good designer expects to realize your vision on the first try. Having a timeline for the work will help shore up everyone's expectations, although extenuating circumstances can throw even the best-planned jobs off-track sometimes.

Once the contractors are working, try to keep changes to the plan to a minimum, as they can both delay the job and dent your wallet. However, if something must be changed for your long-term happiness, it’s better to speak up.

Our final tip… be patient. Planning your dream kitchen — and bringing it to life — takes time. The last thing you want is a rush job. Your design-build remodel team understands better than anyone how important your kitchen remodel is to you and will work with you to make everything happen as soon as possible. But with our experience, we can tell you that putting in the time and effort, in the beginning, makes your kitchen better in the end. Learn about how we make this happen using Our Proven Process for Your Successful Project.

This article was updated by Abe Degnan on 8/1/2018.

About Degnan Design Build Remodel
Since 1981 Degnan Design Build Remodel has provided home improvement and construction services to customers throughout Greater Madison, Wisconsin. Our goal is to WOW you with a "Designed For Your Life" solution using a process that will transform your home into a beautiful living space, delivered on time, and on budget. We are known for our communication, respectfulness, and a commitment to our customers and our community. Contact us to speak with one of our designers about your home improvement project.

An Above the Garage Master Suite Addition Remodeling Project

We recently completed an addition for our clients, John and Amy, a professional couple with young children living in the Blooming Meadows neighborhood in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

Their home featured three bedrooms on the second floor. The existing master bedroom was outdated and impractical for modern living, and with three young children, two needed to share one of the two remaining bedrooms, and all three kids shared the second-floor bathroom. Another problem the family needed addressed was that John needed a private home office, and the one they currently had was a shared space that did not work well for his job.

Let's take a look at our creative solution for this young family!

A New Private Bathroom for the Adults!

One of the major elements on John and Amy's wish list was a private bathroom space just for them. They wanted plenty of space to get ready in the morning, away from the kids, and we delivered! The bathroom features a handcrafted Amish custom double vanity with a tower cabinet in alder wood, stained Carbon Gray. The contrasting Linnstone Quartz Calcutta pattern countertop brightens the space and ties in visually with the elegant tile work in the spacious walk-in shower. We added custom alder wood framed mirrors stained in the same Carbon Gray as the cabinets to complete the vanity. Over each of the mirrors, we installed Quoizel 2 light vanity fixtures to provide plenty of warm light.

In the shower, the 21st Century Tile 12x24 floor-to-ceiling tiles in Tivoli Silver give the room a bright and modern feel, and the low entry shower makes entering the shower safe and easy for the couple. We included a helpful niche in the shower for shampoo and other toiletries and, for contrast, used a beautiful hexagon mosaic accent tile. The glass doors give the space an open feel, making it bright and inviting. The Arbor Hills luxury vinyl plank flooring in timber adds a warm feel, giving the room a natural look with the benefit of waterproof LVP.

The Result

The final result of this second-floor master suite addition is a home that fits John, Amy, and the kid's needs and lifestyle perfectly. John now has the perfect private office space. Since John and Amy now have their private master suite, and each of the kids has their own bedroom giving them their own space to grow as they grow, their home is more comfortable and functional. And on the exterior, you can't even tell there's been an addition!

Are you considering an addition or other home improvement project? Let us help you design the perfect finished space! If you live in the Greater Madison area, call the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel at (608) 846-5963. We can take your home to the next level of comfort, design, and function! Ready to learn more? We're always happy to answer your questions.