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 approach 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 utterly completed earlier than shifting on to the subsequent challenge. After it’s completed, I’ll take a brief period of time to complete up the studio lavatory since will probably be our momentary (and solely) visitor lavatory. After that, I’ll get the within of my workshop arrange in order that I could be prepared for the subsequent massive challenge.

I had deliberate on that subsequent massive challenge being the kitchen. I’ve already defined why I will likely be reworking 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. In the event you 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 presently 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, after all, 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 improper order. I feel the addition wants to return earlier than the kitchen. The addition will likely be a household room, visitor lavatory, and visitor bed room.

Right here’s my thought course of. Over the past 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 must 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 health club once more. Proper now, Matt’s Theracycle and my treadmill are in my studio, and that may’t be a long-term answer. And, after all, it might be very nice to have a correct visitor lavatory before later quite than company having to trek by means of my studio for a loo. And at last, I really feel like several plans for our again yard are perpetually on maintain till the addition is constructed.

And at last, I requested myself this. If I needed to stay 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, they usually accumulate stains through the years. So the principle space that I take advantage of to the left of the sink is fairly stained proper now. And I don’t assume they are often eliminated and changed with out damaging the cupboards, so I wouldn’t even wish to attempt except I’m prepared to take the prospect of a full transform.

Now don’t get me improper. I’m nonetheless totally on board with a whole kitchen transform. That’s nonetheless my plan. However a full kitchen transform and a home addition are each actually massive tasks, and I’m simply making an attempt to weigh which one is extra essential. Matt isn’t actually any assist on this determination. His reply, as with most every thing else, is, “It doesn’t matter to me.” And since we will’t peer into the longer term and know precisely what the longer term 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 tasks that we have now deliberate sooner or later, I feel the addition is definitely extra essential 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 feel 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, discuss long-term plans! 😀