Every spring we get the same call: “we want a new kitchen, but how do we eat while it’s torn up?”
June through August answers itself. The grill, the picnic table, a fridge moved to the basement. Summer takes the worst of the pain off the calendar because you can cook outside without freezing.
If you’re planning a kitchen rebuild this year, this is the month to lock the start date. Cabinet lead times are running 8 to 14 weeks (longer for semi-custom), and counter fabricators are stacking jobs through September. June bookings are still doable; July is getting tight.
A few things we’ve learned over fifty years that homeowners don’t think about until they’re three weeks in.
Move the fridge to the garage or basement before demo and run an extension cord to it. The “we’ll just buy a cooler” plan stops working by week two.
Set up a single induction burner and a kettle somewhere outside the work zone. The laundry room is the usual spot. Grill outside, basics inside, you stay sane.
Wash dishes at the laundry sink, not the bathroom one. Saves your back.
Pick your demo week so the kids have a sleepover destination for at least two nights. The dust phase is the worst of it.
Quick poll for anyone with summer kitchen plans (or thinking about them):
- Going for it, kitchen reno starts this summer
- Next summer, gathering quotes now
- Smaller refresh only (paint, hardware, counters)
- Holding off, too much to chew on
- No kitchen plans, just lurking
If you’re somewhere on that list and want to talk through the call, drop a reply with what’s making you hesitate, or what’s pushing you to go. Helpful posts here earn $RENO toward your tier. The welcome topic explains how the coin works: Welcome to $RENO — Quests, Rewards, Leaderboard