I know exactly, the flood happened April 18 th, so pretty much immediately after that. Of course whole house not just kitchen. I think it's probably usually much more fun when you are planning it rather than forced to.

ravencajun Zone 8b TX, I wish you the best with your renovation. I can't imagine having to make all the decisions that have been forced upon you.

Didn't plan it at all. Even not a flood or something-just us being stupid, stressed out, and vulnerable. Never buy houses when you have too much on your plate. We were in such a hurry to accommodate everybody in the family-now I can see that they would do so much better without our good intentions.

On the other hand, I guess in a several months or so I'll find it all highly entertaining:)

I have been storing inspirational photos for years. In May I actively started planning the space and choosing products. I am still no where's near ready to place an order for cabinetry or appliances. There were so many details to contend with. My goal was to have it done by Thanksgiving but it doesn't look like that will be the case Disappointing, but I'd rather do this right

Before I moved in to the house in 1991... The old kitchen was a serviceable and in its own way pretty. I decided to live with that a while to see what would work and what didn't. Had I understood the incredible inflation in kitchen prices I would've redone it immediately; however, I am glad I didn't because I didn't know nearly what I know now.

Dreaming about it for several years. I mean, DH and I would say, wouldn't it be nice if we had a bigger kitchen? Oh, I'd love to have a pantry. That sort of thing. But actual planning only began in June of this year. We are now two weeks in and every day I delight in some new thing that I see. They weren't even supposed to start until late next month, but I think the contractor kind of overbooks and then whomever is ready to go first gets going. When he came out to inspect the cabinets and saw that we had everything either already at our home or on order, he said he could start immediately.

My mistake, I found some old emails and quotes from 2007.

This was my 2007 bathroom idea, although not blue.

These were my 2007 kitchen ideas.

ravencajun Zone 8b TX Agreed. It's more fun to plan than be forced into renovations. I can't even imagine.

Starting researching and planning in earnest in 2011 -- had so much to learn (so glad I discovered this board and Ikeafans) and took so much time to decide and choose a contractor (plus some interruptions from life) -- started work in June 2013.

I don't. recall exactly, but I'd say it was about 4 years in the making. It started with a "I'm going to replace the island", to "I need all drawers" to what the heck, total reno! We are just getting the last little pieces done now.

I had been sketching kitchen plans for at least 15 years before I finally hit on a solution that solved a few problems with the existing layout. Fortuitously, I came up with the right plan at a time when we had the money to renovate. Once I finalized the plans, I sought out a local cabinetmaker. It was about 8 months from the first appointment until the kitchen was complete. Much of that was lead time from the cabinet guy - I paid a deposit in early March, which got me on the calendar for July.

When we bought the house in 2002.
Then, a 2005 fire was the catalyst. With nothing to start with, the world was my (construction site) oyster.

I finally feel I'm making real progress!

We moved into our one and only home in 1982. The kitchen was bastardized but do-able for the time being. I had 20 years to plan my new kitchen.