Kitchen Design Process Step 5
Temporary Kitchens
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Throughout your kitchen renovation, you’ll have family, a team of professionals, and guests come and go through your home. Relax; there are steps you can take to make sure your home doesn’t look like it’s under construction.
1. Choose a space for your temporary kitchen. To create a temporary
kitchen, you’ll need to find an area in your home that has enough room to cook and
prepare a meal. Make sure that the area is well ventilated and is near an electrical
outlet that can support small appliances.
2. Bring out the portable cooking appliances. In today’s culture of
“dinner on the go”, we are fortunate enough to have access to a range of quality,
portable cooking appliances such as countertop grills, crock pots, convection ovens,
microwaves, hot plates, etc. These portable appliances are great to have on hand when
you’re facing a kitchen renovation, large or small. Keep your portable appliances in a
central location with a recipe box of meals that can be made using each appliance.
3. Keep things cool. Talk with your installer or subcontractor to
determine the best place for your refrigerator. Ideally, it should be moved to the
garage, dining room, or an area in your home that has the proper electrical
requirements. Most importantly, avoid putting it on carpet or flooring that might be
damaged in case of a leak. Consider creating a kitchen work zone: position a mini fridge
next to your portable cooking appliances so everything you need for meal preparation is
in one place.
4. Set aside your essential cooking items and place settings. When
you’re packing up the items in your existing cabinets, set aside place setings for each
person (plus an extra set or two for unexpected guests) with cooking utensils that are
must-haves to make a meal: a can opener, colander, cutting board, knives, favorite pans,
measuring utensils, etc. The rest of the dishes and appliances should be carefully
packed and stored until the project is complete.
5. Keep it neat. Take advantage of the mock-counter space that a
long, sturdy table can provide and position each appliance in a neat row for fast, easy
use. Include a small storage container for cooking utensils like a can opener, spoon,
spatula, etc. You might consider reusing your old base cabinets in an alternate room
(dining, garage, etc.) to store canned and boxed goods, dishes, and glasses, top them
with your old countertop or a large piece of plywood and you’re half way to a temporary
kitchen. Designate one sink, preferably a utility sink, to wash dishes. It may not be
ideal to eat next to the closest utility sink. Instead, use a small tote to collect all
dirty dishes after a meal. This way, you can easily carry dishes to the sink and avoid
spills or stains along the way.
6. Be safe. For example, wherever you decide to do setup your
temporary cooking space, make sure that the area is well ventilated, portable appliances
are plugged into surge protectors, and a smoke alarm is installed near the cooking area.
Be sure to unplug portable appliances (except refrigerator) after you’re done using
them. Keep all activity out of the room that is under construction. Communicate this to
family and friends by sealing off the entranceways to that room with large sheets of
plastic and possibly even a baby gate to keep out children and pets. For more tips on
sealing off entranceways to the room, learn how to live through the remodel.
7. Be a resourceful chef. Precook meals before the installation
process and freeze them. Homemade stews, soups, and baked goods are a wonderful treat
when you’re missing the luxury of your former kitchen setup. Tired of cooking in? Treat
yourself to new restaurants or visit markets for freshly prepared foods. In warm
weather, enjoy your outdoor grill and picnic with friends and family.
8. Hang in there. We understand that everything may feel scattered
around your home, but remember it’s only temporary. The end result will be well worth
the wait.