Summer is now in full swing, and many homeowners are planning renovation projects in their kitchen or baths over the next few months. What is the process a homeowner should expect to go through as they plan out a kitchen or bath project — where to begin?

Inventory Your Existing Space

What are you thinking about changing in your kitchen or bath area? Appliances, fixtures, flooring, cabinetry, countertops need to be considered. Do you want better task lighting under the cabinets or island pendant lighting? A renovation is a great time to upgrade the lighting in your space. Don’t forget to consider re-painting, a new backsplash tile and even the type of hardware for your cabinetry. Take “before” photos of your existing space and try to gather a digital scrapbook of your preferences for the new space from sites like Houzz or Pinterest.

Once you have a general outline of the scope of your project, contact your design professional who will come out to your home to discuss your project and provide a general estimate of what your project will cost. This estimate, along with estimates for your appliances, fixtures and tile make up your proposed budget. The final budget is confirmed once actual cabinet choices, countertop materials and other project items are selected.

Timing Considerations Are Important

In addition to design time, many projects require township building permits – which, depending on the township, can take several weeks before a project can start. Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time before the desired completion time of the project to allow for these items. It’s better to start early to make time for appliance, cabinetry, countertop, tile and accessory decisions.

Project Management Is Key

Once your project starts, at Cranbury Design Center we use a Project Management approach to get your job done on time. Every project we take on is managed by a Project Manager. We create an initial project schedule and plan, assist clients with shopping trips to make project selections, monitor deliveries, and handle all trade professionals involved with the project. Constant updates to clients ensure the project stays on schedule and within budget. This an integral component of the process.

For more information about how Cranbury Design can help you with your kitchen or bathroom project, call us at 609.448.5600 or visit us online at cranburydesigncenter.com