What Comes First? A New Kitchen Or The Addition?

Matt and I’ve been speaking about which one to do first, then new kitchen or the addition. Okay, let me again up a bit.

Proper now, I’m engaged on our bed room suite. And sure, I’ve fairly a option to go earlier than will probably be completed, particularly since I used to be slowed down final week with my injured hand. However I do plan to get that complete factor fully completed earlier than shifting on to the subsequent mission. After it’s completed, I’ll take a brief period of time to complete up the studio lavatory since will probably be our non permanent (and solely) visitor lavatory. After that, I’ll get the within of my workshop arrange in order that I will be prepared for the subsequent huge mission.

I had deliberate on that subsequent huge mission being the kitchen. I’ve already defined why I shall be transforming our kitchen, and why I’m going to maintain the kitchen in its present location as a substitute of shifting it to the breakfast room as I had been planning for the final yr. If you happen to missed that submit, you can see it here. As of proper now, I plan on that new kitchen wanting one thing like this. The peninsula will keep the place it at the moment sits.

The again wall may have precise usable floor-to-ceiling cupboards, and I’m hoping I can transfer the fridge to that again wall.

And, in fact, the opening to the lounge will keep…

After which, with the fridge moved, I’ll have extra room on the vary wall.

However I actually am questioning if my plan is within the mistaken order. I believe the addition wants to come back earlier than the kitchen. The addition shall be a household room, visitor lavatory, and visitor bed room.

Right here’s my thought course of. During the last week or so, I began asking myself this query. If I may solely select one or the opposite, the kitchen or the addition, which one would I select?

The clear reply is the addition. With out the addition, I gained’t be capable of have an precise eating space as a result of that eating space should accommodate a sitting space for Matt. And whereas we don’t have an actual demand for a visitor bed room, it might be good to have one. However what can be actually useful is to have a room that we will use as a house fitness center once more. Proper now, Matt’s Theracycle and my treadmill are in my studio, and that may’t be a long-term resolution. And, in fact, it might be very nice to have a correct visitor lavatory prior to later quite than friends having to trek by means of my studio for a loo. And eventually, I really feel like several plans for our again yard are perpetually on maintain till the addition is constructed.

And eventually, I requested myself this. If I needed to reside the remainder of my life with our present kitchen, may I do it?

That reply is clearly a “sure”. I’ve lived with this kitchen for ten years, and I’ve been completely high-quality. At a minimal, I’d need new home equipment, and I’d should get the counter tops refinished once more. These are concrete counter tops, and so they accumulate stains over time. So the primary space that I exploit to the left of the sink is fairly stained proper now. And I don’t suppose they are often eliminated and changed with out damaging the cupboards, so I wouldn’t even need to strive except I’m prepared to take the possibility of a full transform.

Now don’t get me mistaken. I’m nonetheless totally on board with an entire kitchen transform. That’s nonetheless my plan. However a full kitchen transform and a home addition are each actually huge initiatives, and I’m simply attempting to weigh which one is extra necessary. Matt isn’t actually any assist on this choice. His reply, as with most the whole lot else, is, “It doesn’t matter to me.” And since we will’t peer into the long run and know precisely what the long run holds, I all the time attempt to maintain these plans loosely in order that I gained’t be devastated if I by no means get to see my plans come to full fruition.

However sure, once I weigh the 2 largest initiatives that we have now deliberate sooner or later, I believe the addition is definitely extra necessary to me than a brand new kitchen. In order I take a look at our long-term plan, and we funds for our long-term plan, I believe that’s the route we’re going to move. Are you able to even think about how thrilling will probably be to lastly construct that addition after speaking about it for ten years? I imply, speak about long-term plans! 😀