Renovation, Explained.

Across Your Project What Is the Difference Between Renovating and Remodeling? Explained 7 min read

Dream + Define Do I Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade for a Kitchen Remodel? Explained A kitchen remodel may require an electrical panel or service upgrade, but an electrician must assess your existing capacity, breaker space, and planned appliances before confirming what is needed. 7 min read Dream + Define Does the Kitchen Work Triangle Still Matter? Explained The kitchen work triangle is a traditional layout guideline. The thinking behind it still makes sense, but a functional kitchen does not need to form a perfect triangle. What matters is how your appliances, counter space, and storage work together, and whether the arrangement makes sense for the people using it. 8 min read Dream + Define How Much Space Do You Need Around a Kitchen Island? Explained Plan at least 42 inches on the working sides of a kitchen island, or 48 inches when two or more people cook together. A walkway can be narrower, while seating needs its own clearance. 11 min read Dream + Define How Wide Should a Kitchen Aisle Be? Explained Plan for at least 42 inches in a kitchen work aisle for one cook, 48 inches for two or more cooks, and 36 inches for a walkway, measured from the finished countertop edges, not the cabinet boxes. 9 min read Dream + Define What Are the Most Common Kitchen Layouts? Explained Common kitchen layouts include one-wall, galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, and peninsula configurations; the right choice depends on your room and how you use it. 9 min read Dream + Define What Are the Steps in a Kitchen Remodel? Explained A kitchen remodel moves through planning, design, hiring, permits, and ordering before construction starts, then demolition, rough-ins, drywall, cabinets, countertops, backsplash, appliances, and a final walkthrough. 12 min read Dream + Define What Drawings Do I Need for a Kitchen Remodel? Explained Most kitchen remodels need an existing floor plan, proposed floor plan, and cabinet elevations, with additional permit, structural, electrical, plumbing, or site drawings depending on the scope and local requirements. 10 min read Dream + Define Where Do I Start With a Home Renovation? Explained Start by defining your budget range and your non-negotiables before you contact anyone, then work through the six phases, Dream and Define, Build Your Budget, Hire Your Team, Select and Specify, Run the Build, and Close It Out, in that order. 10 min read

Build Your Budget Bathroom Remodeling Costs, Explained What It Actually Costs (And Why Estimates Vary So Much) 17 min read Build Your Budget Kitchen Renovation Costs, Explained Kitchen renovation costs depend on specific line items, scope decisions, and budget traps that national averages never capture. 22 min read

Hire Your Team How Do Contractor Payment Schedules Work? Explained A contractor payment schedule spells out how much you pay and when, usually a deposit, progress payments tied to stages of work, and a final payment at completion. 19 min read Hire Your Team How Do I Get Accurate Contractor Quotes for a Renovation? Explained Accurate contractor quotes depend on giving every contractor the same written scope of work, then checking each quote against that scope before comparing quotes to each other. 13 min read Hire Your Team How Does the Design-Build Process Work? Explained The design-build process moves in stages, a typically complimentary, first meeting and ballpark, a paid design agreement, design reviews that narrow the estimate, then a construction contract, rather than one number up front. 16 min read Hire Your Team How Much Does a Kitchen Designer Cost? Explained A kitchen designer may cost a few hundred dollars for a consultation or several thousand dollars or more for a design package, depending on the scope and level of support. 11 min read Hire Your Team What Are Contractor Red Flags? Explained 12 min read

Select + Specify Do You Need Makeup Air for a Range Hood? Explained Makeup air replaces the air your range hood exhausts outside, and whether you need a dedicated system depends on hood capacity, fuel-burning equipment, house conditions and the code that applies to your project. 12 min read Select + Specify What is a Renovation Allowance? Explained A renovation allowance is a placeholder dollar amount in a contractor’s proposal for something you haven’t selected yet. 9 min read Select + Specify What Is Layered Lighting? Ambient, Task, and Accent Lighting Explained Layered lighting combines general light, focused task light, and accent light so a room works for everyday activities and feels comfortable at different times of day. 11 min read Select + Specify What Size Range Hood Do You Need? Explained Choose a range hood at least as wide as your cooking surface, with enough depth and airflow to capture cooking fumes, installed at the manufacturer’s required height and vented outdoors whenever possible. 11 min read Select + Specify What’s the Difference Between Quartz, Granite, and Marble Countertops? Explained Quartz is manufactured (man-made) and low-maintenance, granite is a natural stone and heat-tolerant, and marble is a beautiful natural stone but scratches, stains, and etches more easily. 13 min read Select + Specify What’s the Difference Between Stock, Semi-Custom, and Custom Cabinets? Explained Stock, semi-custom, and custom cabinets differ in how much you can change sizes, finishes, and details, not in a guaranteed level of quality 16 min read Select + Specify When Should I Order Materials for a Renovation? Explained Learn when to order cabinets, appliances, tile, plumbing fixtures, countertops, and other renovation materials to avoid costly project delays. 9 min read

Run the Build Can I Fire a Contractor Mid-Project? Explained You can fire a contractor mid-project, but you should first review your contract, understand what may still be owed, document the work, and find out what happens to the permit before anyone new takes over. 8 min read Run the Build Do I Need a Permit for My Renovation? Explained Most renovations that change structure, electrical, plumbing, or HVAC need a permit. Rules vary by town, so confirm with your local building department first. 11 min read Run the Build How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take? Explained A full kitchen remodel usually takes about 6 to 12 weeks of active construction, but the whole project, from design through the final punch list, often takes several months. 8 min read Run the Build What Is a Change Order? Explained A change order is a signed amendment to your renovation or remodel contract that changes the scope, price, or schedule after the contract is signed. 12 min read

Close It Out What Is a Punch List? Explained A punch list is the written list of unfinished or incorrect items that must be fixed before a renovation is considered complete and final payment is made. 18 min read