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THE BERNARDS-RIDGE CONNECTION
NOVEMBER 2013
134
South Finley Avenue
Basking Ridge, NJ
(908) 766-2006
www.trueleafkitchens.com
Visit us at our New Design Center
in Basking Ridge
New
Location
ENGLISH RIDING
LESSONS
for all ages
15
Shannon Hill Road, Basking Ridge, N.J.
201-924-3616
Cindy Del Bosco, Manager
Great horses and ponies with careful instruction.
www.shannonhillridingacademy.com
•
Boarding
•
Leasing
•
Fox Hunting
•
Showing
•
Lead Line through
Advanced
Renovating your kitchen is exciting…and a
little scary. It is a big project, and a vital
room in your house will be out of commis-
sion for the duration. With each renovation
we’ve done, including some in our own
home, we’ve learned what a homeowner
can do to make the process run smoothly
and be as painless as possible.
Make a wish list and a must list by record-
ing the things you really need, and those
you just want. This will help you prioritize
and referring to it when making purchasing
decisions will keep everyone on track and
could even prevent a few arguments.
Plan ahead and make selections ahead of
time to keep your project running smooth-
ly. When all elements are selected and
ordered, the chance of delay is reduced,
even if delivery takes longer than expected.
And don’t make things harder on yourself.
Planning a party or guest visit for just after
your completion date will only add to your
renovation stress and your contactors will
be in a frenzy meet the deadline.
Be prepared to pack –
everything. The contents
of all your cabinets will
need to be packed up and
stored until the project is
complete. Storage boxes
designed for dishes and
glassware will reduce the
chance of damage. Label
every box with a detailed
description of the con-
tents. When you realize
that you need a certain dish to prepare
something you’ve promised to bring to a
family gathering you won’t have to rum-
mage though your boxes.
No matter how carefully your kitchen is
sealed off from the rest of the house, dust
will escape and settle on everything else in
your home. Accepting that this will happen
and preparing for it will help you survive
the dust storm. Anything that might suffer
from being dusty, such as a piano or
antique clock, should be stored off-site, if
possible, or tightly covered if not.
Navigating around stacks
of boxes in your home can
add to the frustration of a
remodel. Arrange for stor-
age of boxes and delicate
items. A mobile storage
unit is ideal as it provides
easy access but keeps
things clean and out of the
house.
Set up a small “kitch-
enette” in another room with a microwave,
mini fridge, toaster, etc. to make quick
meals. Stock it with convenience foods that
can be microwaved. If there is a sink near-
by, create a dishwashing station or set up
one in a spare bathroom or laundry room.
Or take the easy way out. Gather as many
take out menus as you can and stock up on
disposable plates, cups and flatware.
Remind your friends of the times you had
them over for a meal when their kitchen
was being renovated – hopefully they will
reciprocate!
If your kitchen is the hub of your house,
make sure you have an alternate location to
gather with everything your family usually
finds in the kitchen – TV, computer, places
to charge electronics, snacks, water, etc.
Don’t forget to consider the impact of your
renovation on all family members including
your pets. If the noise and activity might be
too much for your cat or the comings and
goings of the workers will make your dog’s
escape inevitable, make arrangements for
them to stay with a friend or board at a
nearby kennel.
Your pets might not be the only ones who
need to get away. When your project is in
full swing you may need to escape. Consid-
er booking a hotel room for a few days or
the weekend or sneak away to a spa.
The final element to a less stressful kitchen
renovation is choosing the right design firm.
TrueLeaf Kitchens has the experience, dedi-
cation and skill to create the kitchen you
have always wanted. Visit our gallery to view
past projects and get an idea of what Tru-
eLeaf Kitchens and Baths can do for you.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR KITCHEN RENOVATION FROM DRIVING YOU INSANE
Submitted By: Eileen Barna, TrueLeaf Kitchens
www.theconnectionsnj.com