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		DO expect that you will need to use alternate food preparation and dish clean-up techniques for an extended period of time. DON’T plan a major event in your household (like a TV show!) until you’re certain that the renovations will be complete. In almost every renovation project complications arise to set plans back by days or weeks.

Be Your Own Kitchen Contractor

1. When Brigitte decided that she’d had enough of her old kitchen, out came the sledgehammer! Before the day was out, she had cleaned her kitchen right out of her house. Then what? She was without a kitchen. Worse than that, she was without a plan for a new kitchen. When you get fed up with your current kitchen don’t be too hasty to get into destruction mode. The first step to your new kitchen is a really great design. Take your time plotting out your new kitchen. It’s an expensive undertaking and you live with the results for years so you want to do it right. Talk to friends, consult interior design experts and shop around for the kitchen elements that you really want. (see fig. A)
   
   

   Fig. A		Fig. B

2. You need to consider appliances from the outset because you need to include their locations in your plan. Choose and order your refrigerator, oven, microwave, range and range hood and dishwasher. Brigitte chose stainless steel finishes for her new appliances for a clean, sophisticated look. (see fig. B)
   
3. Design and order your cabinets next. Aside from being a very important functional element in the kitchen, they are the dominant visual feature in any kitchen. Kitchen cabinets can take 4 to 6 weeks to arrive so place your order promptly.
   
4. Choose your sinks. You need to know which sinks you want and where they go in order to sketch out the plumbing plan and so that your new countertop can be tailored accordingly.
   
5. NOW is the time to start taking apart your current kitchen. With plans in place you can start to prepare for the changes to come. Take down cabinets, lift flooring and remove any appliances that are in the way. If necessary remove the drywall to make way for new plumbing and electrical installations. But leave the kitchen as functional as possible while you work.
   
   

   Fig. C		Fig. D

6. The way is now clear for the plumbers and electricians to do their work. Install any plumbing pipes and electrical, phone or cable wiring. (see fig. C)
   
7. Call in the electrical inspector to make sure that everything is up to code. This is a must. You don’t want to create a kitchen that’s a fire hazard and you don’t want to have to tear down work later to accommodate an inspection.
   
8. Install insulation on exterior walls and complete any necessary drywall work. Paint. (see fig. D)
   
9. The shell of your kitchen is now complete. Now you can start to fill it up with all the fun new stuff that you selected. Start by installing the lower kitchen cabinets. (see fig. E)
   
10. Once you have the lower kitchen cabinets in place you can measure for your counter. It is especially important to wait until this point to measure if you chose a granite counter like Brigitte. Each granite counter is cut to precise measurements and once a cut is made, it’s made and can’t be readjusted. Countertops can take anywhere up to 6 weeks to arrive so be prepared to be patient. (see fig. F)
    
    

    Fig. E		Fig. F

11. Install the upper cabinets. By this time your kitchen is really starting to look like something. (see fig. G)
    
12. Depending on how long it takes for your counter to arrive, you may have a long wait at this point. The counter needs to be installed before much more can happen. But a granite counter is definitely worth the wait.
    
13. While you wait you can work on some lighting installations and other finishing touches. (see fig. H)
    
    

    Fig. G		Fig. H

14. Once your counter is in place, you can install the sinks and place and connect the appliances. (see fig. I)
    
15. Wow! What an amazing kitchen! It could be used for a TV production. Just make sure that you keep your pants on… (see fig. J)
    
    

    Fig. I		Fig. J

Building Materials, and Sico paint BMR/Builders Warehouse 3636 Innes Rd. Orlean, ON K1C 1T1 p. 613-824-2702 Kitchen design, cabinets, hardware, lighting, and installation Astro Design Centre 1260 Old Innes Rd. Ottawa, ON K1B 3V3 p. 613-749-1902 Kitchen cabinet (manufacturer) available of Astro Design Centre. For other locations, please check their website Bernier Kitchens Kitchen faucet (manufacturer) available of Astro Design Centre. For other locations, please check their website Selection 25 Granite countertops and installation Emerald Tile 2878 Sheffield Rd. Ottawa, ON K1B 3V9 p. 613-738-7841 Hardwood flooring Westboro Flooring and Décor 195 Colonnade Rd. S Ottawa, ON K2E 7K3 p. 613-226-3830 General Electric kitchen appliances Universal Appliances 1915 Bank St. Ottawa, ON K1V 8A2 p. 613-521-5002 General Electric kitchen appliance (manufacturer) available of Universal Appliances. For other locations, please check their website General Electric Bar stools and location Ashley Furniture 3636 Innes Rd. Orlean, ON K1C 1T1 p. 613-824-2702

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