Making the Best Decisions Before Starting Your Kitchen Remodel in Barrington or Throughout Chicagoland

Making the Best Decisions Before Starting Your Kitchen Remodel in Barrington or Throughout Chicagoland

There is no doubt that a kitchen remodel involves a lot of decisions. From the budget to the materials to the layout, being well informed will pay dividends. The clearer your roadmap is, the smoother the project will go. Jim Keller Kitchen, Bath & Home has decades of experience helping clients through the remodeling process in Barrington, Algonquin and Hoffman Estates.

Project scope

First, consider the scope of your project. Are you simply replacing cabinets & countertops for a quick update or do you want something more extensive? Will walls need to be moved? Soffits removed? Appliances relocated? Determine what you would like to accomplish in your new kitchen.

Establish your budget

Nobody likes to think about money, but establishing your budget early in the process will save time and minimize frustration in the long run. Knowing how much to invest in your kitchen remodel in Barrington IL can be a hard question to answer. After all, it’s not something you do every day. Using Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs Value 2020 Report is a good place to get an idea on average project costs in your area. You can also refer to our Cost of a Kitchen Remodel article for more information. Decide how much you are willing to invest in the project; then develop a realistic budget.

Create your wish list

Now you can move on to the fun stuff! What’s on your wishlist? What problems are you trying to solve? What would make your life easier? What would make the kitchen a pleasant place to spend time in? Are you looking for more storage, countertop space, built in appliances? When you finish your list, prioritize your items to make sure the most important things are included.

Your style

Think about what you like and put together your ideas. Pinterest and Houzz are great sources for kitchen remodel pictures and ideas. You can create your own file to share with your kitchen designer. You may notice that you are drawn toward certain styles as you browse through kitchen pictures. Designers like to use words like transitional, French country and Contemporary, but you may have a different definition of those than others. Pictures of kitchen remodels help everyone get on the same page.

The right fit

Now that you have an idea of what you want and how much you want to invest, it’s time to find a kitchen remodeling contractor. Finding the right fit can be the difference between your dream kitchen and a remodeling nightmare. For a simple cabinet replacement, a trip to the local home center and “chuck in a truck” may suffice. For more extensive projects finding the right professional will make all the difference. Ask friends and relatives for recommendations, read online reviews, check out websites and testimonials. Develop a list of questions to ask prospective firms. Ask about the design process and about the installation process. Do they have their own crews or is everything turned over to outside contractors? Will the people you started with be with you during the whole process?

In our opinion, the single most important factor in a successful remodeling project is finding that relationship. After all you will be partners for the next several months from design through installation and beyond. Developing a trust you can lean on through what can be a long process makes it easier and much less stressful.

At Jim Keller Kitchen Bath & Home, we are a 2nd generation business that has been remodeling homes for decades. We pride ourselves on the relationships and friendships we have developed during that time. We will work through different ideas, create different layouts for you to consider, use both hand sketches and computer aided design to help you evaluate all the options – and let you know about the behind-the-scenes necessities you may not be aware of.

We provide the highest level of service to make sure your kitchen remodel is successful and gives you years of pleasure. From upfront planning and consultation, through design and construction, to the day you are able to begin using your new kitchen, you can rely on Jim Keller Kitchen, Bath & Home to guide you every step of the way. Call us today at 847-844-1900 if you live in the Barrington, Elgin, or Crystal Lake areas, and you can begin creating the perfect kitchen or bath for your home!

Staying Safe With COVID-19

Are we working?

YES!
Our team members are still hard at work. Our office staff is mostly working from home and are setup to do virtual appointments and answer any questions you may have about remodeling in general and remodeling through a pandemic.

Are we taking on new work?

YES!
We are equipped to take on new clients and are running virtual appointments and presentations.
Although we are all anxious to get back to “the way things were,” being quarantined at home for weeks on end may also have you realizing some areas of your home that just aren’t functioning as well as they could be and it is a great time to start thinking about a few remodeling projects of your own. If you’d like to learn more about starting a project, fill out our contact form and we can start the conversation!

Is our showroom open?

While we are anxious to fully open and welcome visitors to our showroom, for the safety of our clients and staff we are closed to the general public for the foreseeable future. We are using virtual meetings as much as possible. When a showroom visit is required, we will set an appointment time when we can limit staff to a minimum. Special sanitation measures will be in place along with social distancing and masks are encouraged.

How is Jim Keller Kitchen Bath & Home protecting themselves & their clients on job sites?

The team has compiled a list of protocols and procedures to be strictly followed on all job site for the foreseeable future. These protocols are more than just new procedures, they are our promise to our employees, clients, and community to do our part to flatten the curve and keep our society safe through the course of this pandemic.

JOBSITE SAFETY GUIDELINES

  • The work area of a job site will need to be quarantined off from the rest of the house as completely as possible. We already do this currently; however, we are going to take things further with this protection.
  • Jim Keller Kitchen Bath & Home are using HEPA construction filters wherever possible on projects. (These filters have been used on our job sites for several years and more are on order!)
  • Production team members will be required to wear face masks while in any unquarantined area of an occupied home or when more than one team member is on site.
  • We are limiting the number of team members on the job at one time as much as possible including subcontractors.
  • Jim Keller Kitchen Bath & Home will be providing hand sanitizer and disinfecting cleaners to be left on the job at all times. Vigorous hand washing (for 20 seconds) should be done several times per day. Disinfectant wipes will be on the job to wipe down work surfaces.
  • Jim Keller Kitchen bath & Home employees must also follow the following guidelines:
    • If they, or anyone they live with is ill or has a fever they must stay home and not report to work.
    • Employees must maintain a social distance from every one of at least 6′ whenever possible.

Stay Safe. Stay Healthy. Stay 6′ Apart.