Remodeling your kitchen can be a huge undertaking, but also one of the most rewarding projects in your home. There are many parts to consider — from cabinetry, to color, lighting, appliances, flooring, and even tiling/wallpaper, to name a few. The kitchen is a place of gathering, a place of community. In my home, it’s the place that everyone eventually gravitates to. That’s why it’s important to consider all your options when remodeling — you want your kitchen to be warm, inviting, exciting, and clean. Here are some tips on what to consider when trying to achieve one of the best designer kitchens in Los Angeles.

Make A Plan

Before you take a sledgehammer to that wall, make sure you have a solid plan for remodeling your kitchen. Visit your local Home Depot or Lowes to browse the aisles and get an idea of what you’d like to fill your home. Some of the top designer kitchens in Los Angeles can easily be found right online. Browse websites, like Leicht LA, to get a better idea of the style you want to achieve. Leicht LA provides some great tips and tools to get your kitchen looking designer chic. For example, you can talk to a professional contractor and get a cost estimate of the remodeling or browse through their ample project collection online.

After going through your basic plan, you may want to figure out the base layers of your kitchen — “what’s creeping behind those walls? is there insulation that needs to be replaced? water damage that needs repairing? wallpaper from the 70’s that you’d like to keep?” These are just some basic questions to ask yourself when considering remodeling.

Once you have a general idea of your design and what you’re working with, you may want to consider hiring a contractor and plumber. Contractors will take your layout and design it to scale, giving you a clearer estimate of time and cost it will take to achieve everything. A plumber comes in handy for any sink work you may need that you can’t complete on your own.

Purchasing Ahead of Time

To speed up the remodeling of your kitchen, purchase all the items you know you’ll need ahead of time. Kitchen cabinets, accessories, lighting, paint, and surfaces like tiling, countertops, flooring, etc, can all be purchased once you’ve finished your design. When you can see the bigger picture of your design, you can feel more confident to move forward and purchase these items. Don’t worry though — if you have a change of heart on any of it, such as the wall-color, you can always return your items and change course.

Demo-ing Your Kitchen

While it’s fun to bash the walls in, you may want to take a more careful approach to demo-ing your kitchen. Most cabinets can easily be unscrewed, so there’s no need to apply force with that hammer. You’ll first want to make sure all appliances are unplugged and out of the way (you don’t want to add “new blender” to your finance list!). You’ll also want to make sure all immobile appliances are turned off and hidden wires are covered and protected.

Now you’re ready to smash those walls! However, make sure you’re hitting them in their sweet spot. Most walls have one — it’s an area where the wall is most hollow, making it easier to hit through and tear down. Be careful not to disrupt any important structures, like wood beams, electrical wires, or plumbing that might be hiding behind it.

Now that you’ve got a plan and a bare room, you’re ready to move to the next step: start building. The next steps, such as plumbing, setting up new lighting, and building new cabinets, may take a few extra hands, so remember to go slowly and hire a professional to ensure you’re getting one of the best designer kitchens in Los Angeles. Leicht LA is a great place to start — they will gladly help you draft your design and get the ball rolling. If you’d like to speak to a professional to obtain an estimate cost of your ideas, discuss the building process, or any future steps, please visit their website to contact us today.