HERE'S MY WHY
I've renovated a lot of kitchens.
I've also made a lot of mistakes.
But I've also learned what works and I've put the lessons into this guide so you don't have to learn them the hard way.
This guide is tailored for old and historic homes but honestly, it can help any homeowner with their kitchen renovation.
a sneak peek
Inside the Kitchen Renovation Guide
A note from Heather, how to use this guide, connection to the Old House Renovation Guide
02 — Why Kitchens Are Different
More moving parts, the sequencing problem, why order matters as much as decisions
03 — Before You Do Anything
Goals, budget, funding, and mental preparation before anything else begins
04 — Designing Your Kitchen
The most important section and the most fun -functional design, materials, getting it on paper
05 — The Planning Process
GC vs. Acting as your own GC, hiring your cabinet contractor, contracts, timeline, permits, and the domino effect
What to order, when to order it, and why it matters more than you think
07 — Preparing For Construction
Temporary kitchen, clearing and sealing, family and pets, contractor access, neighbors
08 — The Kitchen Renovation Sequence
All 15 phases of construction from demo to punch list - in the right order and everything you need to know
09 — Managing Your Kitchen Renovation
When to show up, when to step back, tracking budget, change orders, and documentation
10 — You're Done - Now Take Care Of It
Punch list, photography, post-renovation care, common issues, a final note from Heather
three bonuses
And because reading about a renovation isn't enough...
Kitchen Renovation Scheduling Timeline Builder & Budget Tracker
Plan your renovation, track your spending, and see what's coming next.
Master Kitchen Renovation Checklist
A comprehensive checklist to help you keep track of the decisions, purchases, preparations, and tasks that happen before, during, and after your renovation.
Sample Kitchen Layout Document
See an example of how a kitchen layout can be documented and use it as a starting point for your own planning.
All three are included with your $57 purchase.
This guide is for you if....
You don't need to do the renovation yourself to benefit from this guide. You just need to understand what you're getting into.
- You're renovating an old or historic home.
- You're planning a kitchen renovation and don't know where to start.
- You're hiring a General Contractor and want to understand what's happening behind the scenes.
- You're considering acting as your own GC and need to understand what's involved.
- You're working directly with individual trades.
- You want to understand the order things need to happen before construction begins.
- You want to avoid expensive mistakes and last-minute decisions.
- You want a kitchen that works for your house and the way you live.
why I created this guide
Hey, I’m Heather — and I've been doing this for a long time.
I've been renovating older homes for more than two decades, including nearly 29 full-house renovations and a whole lot of kitchens. I've worked through the beautiful parts, the frustrating parts, the unexpected discoveries behind walls, the contractor headaches, the budget surprises, and all the little decisions that can make or break a renovation.
I created this guide to give homeowners the information I wish every homeowner had before starting a kitchen renovation.
There are hundreds of decisions to make before the first cabinet ever arrives.
What should you order first?
When should you hire your contractor?
When do cabinets get measured?
When does the countertop get templated?
When does the electrician come back?
What happens after demolition?
What do you do when something unexpected turns up behind the wall?
This guide walks you through the process in the order it actually happens — so you can stop guessing and start planning.
