Kitchens · 4 min read

How to Plan a Kitchen Remodel in St. Petersburg: 6 Decisions to Make First

The choices that shape your budget and schedule, in the order to make them.

Start with how you use the room

Before you look at a single cabinet door, write down what bothers you about your kitchen today. Not enough counter space? No place to land groceries? A pantry you cannot see into? That list is more useful than any inspiration photo, because it tells you what the new layout has to solve.

Decide whether the layout changes

Keeping the layout is the biggest way to control a budget. Moving a wall, a sink or a range changes the scope of the whole job. We do not do plumbing or electrical work, so if your plan moves a sink or adds new lighting, you will need a licensed plumber or electrician for that part.

Set your budget before your finishes

Pick a number you are comfortable with, then let it guide your choices. Cabinetry usually takes the biggest share of a kitchen budget, so settle that first. Countertops, backsplash tile and flooring can then be chosen to fit.

Choose cabinets early

Cabinets drive the schedule and the look of the room. Choose them first and let the countertop, backsplash and hardware follow, rather than trying to match cabinets to a tile you already fell in love with.

Pick materials in person

Colors shift between a showroom and your home. Bring samples home and look at them in your own light, in the morning and at night, next to your floors and walls.

Plan how you will live without a kitchen

Set up a small temporary kitchen in another room with a microwave, a coffee maker and a folding table. It makes the weeks of construction far easier.