David Reimer

Kitchens and Millwork

First things first, you are about to rip out your kitchen and reinstall it. In the meantime you may be doing your dishes in the bathroom sink, cooking on the bar-b-que and you will have a reason to wear your shoes in the house. So smile, close your eyes and envision the end result and how much you are going to enjoy it. And remember to take a deep breath when things do not seem to be going as smoothly as would hoped.

Next, treat yourself, buy a binder ( a happy color ) and a nice pen, coloured page dividers and a package of sheet protectors (for pictures)

List them with the following tabs

• Pictures - take a couple of pictures or your existing kitchen, ( this will help the designer see your original layout and where everything is. Now find pictures of kitchens from magazines and ideas that you like and put them in there as well. This will also help the designer to see what you are trying to achieve.

• Check List - follow this link Kitchen Check List

• Calendar - it is important to be able to see at a glance what is scheduled - follow this link Calendars

• Preliminary Plans - measure you kitchen and mark out where the doors and windows are. Make two copies and on one copy draw out a rough sketch of what you would like and where you would like to put your appliances. This tab will also house the plans from you designer.

• Budget - make a list of what you are willing to spend on renovations, your cabinets (including crown and light rail if so desired), new lighting, new flooring, paint appliances and installation
• Contacts - plumbers, electricians, installers, designers, painters and so on
• Notes -
• Specs - (manufacturer specs) of ALL of your appliances including the kitchen sink (little humour)
• Estimates - from all the contractors and designers
• Invoices
• Final Plans - the final plan, the big deal, the Brand New Kitchen