Back to school

As the summer winds down and fall is within arm's length, most of us begin to find ourselves at home more often. Everybody's back from summer vacation (hopefully well-rested) and ready to take on another school year. History shows that this tends to be the time when our office phone starts to ring. A lot. And that's a good thing. The kids are back in school. No more weekend trips. No more summer chaos - that's not to imply that we don't love the summer fun, but admittedly it can be exhausting. Back to routines. Somehow that seems refreshing right about now. Maybe we can finally find some time for ourselves. Take a nice long walk and sip in the delicious September air. Go to that yoga class we've been meaning to go to. Or simply sit in our kitchens reading the newspaper and enjoying our morning coffee. In silence. 

In theory, that all sounds idyllic. In reality, that may happen for about a week. Two if you're lucky. Then, suddenly the realization that holiday season is right around the corner. Gulp. Panic begins to set in. "Is it my turn to host? Again? Already? I need a second oven. And the stove is on its last legs. If only we had a second sink... or an island... do you think I could fit an island in here? How much would it cost to re-do my entire kitchen?" All these thoughts race through your head. And that's when you start looking for a kitchen designer. And the inevitable phone calls begin.

So here's my two cents, for what it's worth. It is highly unlikely (although not impossible), that you will be able to undergo a complete gut and wind up with your Dream Kitchen before Thanksgiving of this year. That being said, don't refrain from seeking out a kitchen specialist right now. Planning in advance is your best friend. And a good kitchen designer will give you some things to think about so that as you host this years festivities, you can go through your checklist of 'what you truly need' vs 'what you really really want' vs 'what you can live without' so that you don't wind up with regrets when you do finally get to design the kitchen of your dreams. And start the planning now. You're kitchen designer will help you plan when the best time to undergo the renovation would be for you and your family, so as to create the least disruption in your daily life. I hope no one comes away from this post feeling discouraged, as it is meant to be empowering. It's never to early to start planning for next year!!!