We had our design consult with Lowes on Friday night. It went really well and the person who helped us was really great, has obviously been doing this for years and was able to help fill in some of the design blanks that we weren’t sure about.
He seemed to want to work within our budget (yes, we have one and it’s not very big!) and even gave us some ideas that would save us money.
After our first appointment, when I measured wrong and we had to go back, my husband drew up a proper little plan which served as a guide. We are changing existing space, adding a small area for a lap top, adding a pantry and broom closet and trying to maximize the small space we have in an open concept room.
To give you an idea of how terrible I am at picking things, here’s a snippit of the conversation:
Me: I really love the pantry in that small white kitchen you have on display. It’s 18 inches across, so not huge but pulls out all the way (see pic below) so I love it.
Salereps: Yes, it’s great but it’s very expensive. Here’s the list price, works out to be about $2000 for the customer.
Me: What?! Oh forget it. Okay, how about that one beside it, with the drawers that pull out and the shelves on the door for spices and stuff. That would be handy.
Him: Wellll. That’s even more. It’s (looking and point at paper) about $5000.
Me: What the wha?!! [turning to my husband]. Pick something. Obviously I can’t be trusted.
Seriously, that wasn’t the only time that my ‘tastes’ were quickly changed based on dollar sign. Built in recycle drawers that I love? About 9 times more expensive than if I just buy the hardware to install ourselves after.
What would be in your ‘would love it but can’t believe how crazy expensive it is’ reno category?
But, the process has started. We get our 3D mock up this week, and some real numbers to see how close we are.
Will keep you posted!
We too are going through a kitchen reno. Just finished picking almost everything and signing the contract..yikes!! I can relate to picking things out that are too $$ and we are definitely adding the “organization” parts to the cupboards after for the most part. Much, much cheaper to do it on our own. I just hope we actually do it 🙂 Have fun planning and designing…it really is fun and exciting!
For me it was the stove, had to have it, the rest, irrelevant.
But I did want to get a professional dishwasher, one that does a load in 60 seconds, and that was certainly not in the budget
Granite counter tops. Our home builder would have charged us 3 times what they cost to put in ourselves so we went with melamine “for now”. Now hubs wants to wait until the kids are old enough not to destroy the granite so I’m stuck with the yucky cheap counter. *sigh*
Our kitchen reno was purely cosmedic. And THAT was more than enough of a headache. I don’t think I could survive a total tear out reno…I think I would move out of the house for a week or two and let the workers have at it 🙂
But, ooohhh I’d love me some granite counter tops
I have no idea what this will be like while the renos are going on.
Samer, I would love a new oven – a double specifically, but it’s not in the cards today.
Amanda/Carrie – I love granite but again, I think I have to let it go in exchange for extra cupboards etc. No final decisions have been made yet though 😉