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Home Decorating

First Things First?

7 years ago

For the first time ever, I will be able to renovate my new home before moving in. So, I want to 1) add/modify kitchen cabinets, 2) add/modify kitchen lighting (ceiling and under cabinets), 3) replace flooring (carpet in 2 bedrooms; tile in 2 bathrooms; wood flooring in LR, DR, den, kitchen, and halls), and 4) paint throughout. Do I have them listed in the order they should be done?

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Comments (5)

Ellie RK
7 years ago
I did the floors first because I wanted the new floor everywhere, including under the cabinets and appliances, then we did the cabinets and island. Then we painted. After that, I had the lighting modified (very recently) because I was still deciding on the size and how many pendants I wanted over the island.

The painting should have been last, as now I need touch-ups all over my kitchen and my painter isn't available again until the end of December.
Annie Deighnaugh
7 years ago
If you're doing wood flooring in the kitchen then the cabinets go on top of that. Not sure of the condition of the existing cabinets or if they can be salvaged or just need replacement.

If you are looking at lighting, be sure to look at other electrical needs as well like where are the outlets, how many of them are there? Do you need electrical for range hood or is it there? Duct work for range hood? Consider heating as well...do ducts need to be moved?

How are the bathroom fixtures? If you are doing flooring, now's the time to address any fixture issues, layout issues, potential leak/structural issues and upgrades like venting if needed.
User thanked Annie Deighnaugh
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There's no such thing as leaving the fan on too long. My wife took a shower before bed last night leaving the bath and bedroom sticky with the extra humidity (she doesn't like the fan on for some reason). I turned the fan on and left it running all night. What would be the problem with that? It's a waste of electricity, and it puts more wear/tear on the fan. Deep medicine cabinet if your situation allows for that (pic attached). Love that. Cavernous vanity storage under sink (pic attached). I don't love that deep, dark storage where it'll be easy to lose things. Shower at least 16 square feet. If grab bars are a concern (for aging in place), be careful of how you structure that square footage. If you go beyond 4' wide, you may not be able to reach the grab bars on the two sides at once. Plenty of shower storage. We have two horizontal shelves and a small window ledge. Still we needed a hanging shower caddy. I used Command hooks to hang the caddy and a squeegee in the shower. Love it! If you are going to use a tub and it is any kind of oversized unit, it should be insulated and have a high flow faucet. If not insulated and with a low flow faucet it can take 30 minutes or more to get a usable amount of water. By then the water is cooling off. You should be able to fill a tub in way less than 30 minutes. Related thought: Be sure your water heater is big enough for a tub. Don't see a reason to have a light dimmer in the bathroom. Mood lighting?? What mood are you trying to get into when you're in the bathroom? I have LED night lights all over the house. I can think of two reasons for low light in the bathroom. Night light is one of them. I also don't see a reason to have two sinks in a bathroom. In my 40 years of marriage there have been zero times when another sink would have helped. Agree. It's just more money and more square footage. San Antoin' - lots of great ideas but I don't understand the need for 36" around toilet, is that to give plumber more access space? 36" is for your comfort. You, especially when you reach your arms for the toilet paper, are wider than the toilet itself.
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User
Original Author
7 years ago
The existing base cabinets will not be changed. A pantry cabinet will be removed and a new one installed in the same footprint but will open on the longer side rather than the front so accessibility is improved. The over fridge cabinets will be replaced with full depth cabinets and pull outs. A bank of new cabinets (Upper and lower with drawers) will be added opposite the fridge wall. flooring could extend under the new cabinets but I really do not need to replace any of the other cabinets. They are good quality and in good condition, but will be improved with pull outs/sliding shelves.

No electrical needed for range hood, but I will note whether additional outlets are needed along existing cabinets and will have at least 2 added with the new cabinet run.

i may do the master bathroom (raised vanity and toilet and replace sheet vinyl flooring with tile) before I move in, but the floor place is great! The guest bath and closets will be improved after I move in.
User
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Floors first.

How are you going to replace the kitchen floor if you're not taking the base cabs out?

If you have any upper walls to paint over the upper kitchen cabinets, paint them before putting the cabs in. Painting over kitchen cabinets is a PITA.
User
Original Author
7 years ago
The kitchen floor is sheet vinyl. Even if it extends under the existing base cabinets, the toe kicks/sides can be taken off and vinyl removed as/if necessary to address subfloor/underlayment I was told. No?

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