I’ve been a remodeler in the Geneva, IL, area for almost 25 years, proudly serving the north shore as well, and one question that comes up again and again for folks considering a kitchen renovation is, “Should we remodel the bathroom at the same time as the kitchen?”
I almost always answer yes, and it’s not because I want to encourage clients to tackle a larger project just for its own sake.
Sure, adding a bathroom renovation to your kitchen remodel increases the immediate cost and ramps up the inconvenience factor in the short term, but let me explain why the benefits of combining kitchen and bath remodeling far outweigh the drawbacks for most people.
If you’re skeptical and are thinking, “Why would I want to take on another project when I just want a new kitchen?” I understand. But consider these 6 reasons first before jumping to a decision, especially if you want to turn your kitchen and bath dreams into reality.
Of course, adding a bathroom remodel to your kitchen remodel project will come with a bigger price tag than if you just did the kitchen. But the total cost of doing both the kitchen and the bathroom separately at different times would be much higher than if you did them both as a single, well-coordinated job managed by a professional team.
Now, not everyone needs a bathroom update. Perhaps you’ve renovated your powder room in the last few years, or it’s older but the materials are of high quality and you love the layout just the way it is.
Then, by all means, stop reading here.
But if, like many people, your bathroom is looking a bit dated and is starting to wear out, then consider how much money you could save by tackling both projects at once.
You benefit from economies of scale by combining two or more smaller remodeling projects. Consider that your kitchen and bath contain plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets and fixtures, drywall, cabinets, and tiles. When you combine kitchen and bath remodeling into one project, then the individual subcontractors can work on both spaces at the same time, ultimately costing you less money than if they were to make a series of separate visits under separate contracts.
Many kitchen remodels go well beyond simply replacing all the cabinets and surfaces. If you are contemplating major layout changes, such as moving walls or opening up your main floor to create an open floor plan, your designer will have much more flexibility if you are willing to explore the possibility of relocating your powder room as part of the project. Experienced designers can provide expert guidance to ensure the best possible layout for both kitchen and bathroom spaces. Keep in mind that permits are required for any kitchen or bathroom project involving structural changes or moving plumbing or electrical systems Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.
Reconfiguring a main floor that is poorly laid out and turning it into your dream space can have tremendous benefits to your lifestyle and enjoyment of your home.
We’ve all been in homes that have a disjointed feel, where each room just seems disconnected and unlike all the others in terms of style and materials. Different rooms have different flooring, different trim, different paint colors, and fixtures that are clearly from different eras.
One of the secrets to creating a home that feels put together is to design each area in harmony with the others.
Often, when homeowners opt to update one room at a time over many years, they end up with a series of different styles that don’t mesh well.
On the other hand, choosing a skilled designer or quality design-build firm to redesign multiple rooms at once, while tying them into the look of the rest of your home, helps ensure a cohesive design and the feeling that the entire space flows together.
Since kitchens and baths tend to be the most “designed” rooms of the home and usually have finishes and details that tie them to a particular trend or era (even when you try for a timeless design), it makes sense to redesign both of these rooms at once.
Same designer, the same era, and a unified vision for both. By combining projects, you can achieve functional spaces designed specifically for your lifestyle.
We’ve all heard horror stories about home remodeling projects that have dragged on forever and that completely disrupted the homeowners’ lives.
On the surface, it seems like it would be better to limit the scope to just one room, the kitchen, and leave the bathroom for another time.
But in my experience, you’ll experience far less disruption if you tackle kitchen and bath remodeling at once.
As much as we at HDC try to minimize inconvenience, with dust protection, tidy worksites, and clear communication, remodeling is never truly easy. Our clients often comment on how our staff come to feel almost like family members, but that’s partly because they are there in the home so much.
Think of it this way: Combining a kitchen and bath overhaul means you have roughly half the occasions where workers are in your home, half the meetings with your designer, and half the days when a portion of your home is inaccessible.
At the risk of casting the remodeling process in a negative light, I’ll say that most homeowners, even when they are more than satisfied with the process, are happy to see it come to an end and are not usually eager to start it again right away.
As a design-build contractor, I can tell you that a custom remodeling project is worth it in the end, but it does disrupt your life temporarily, and doing it once instead of twice is simply better for most people.
Ordering all your materials at once, from cabinets to tile to countertops, means less waste and fewer delays caused by backorders or material shortages.
Additionally, your designer and local remodeling company can better plan and manage the construction timeline, avoiding the need to set up and tear down workspaces multiple times, which aligns with sustainable practices. This approach can help you finish the remodeling project faster while reducing the overall cost of materials and labor. It also influences the average cost of remodeling a bath or a kitchen.
Likewise, certain materials, like custom-tinted paint, can be ordered once and used in both spaces: the kitchen and the bathroom.
I almost always advise clients to consider a remodeling project not with an eye to their home’s resale value but rather with their family’s enjoyment of their home in mind.
That said, remodeling both your kitchen and bathroom at the same time can significantly boost the overall value of your home. Since kitchens and bathrooms are the two areas that prospective buyers focus on the most, remodeling both at once may help maximize your financial return on investment. Homes with updated, cohesive spaces tend to sell faster and for higher prices than homes with piecemeal renovations. By remodeling both the kitchen and bathroom, you’ll create a more appealing home for future buyers, making it easier to sell when the time comes.
Additionally, if your bathroom is due for an update and you’re considering selling within the next few years, why not combine both remodeling projects now and enjoy the upgraded spaces yourself? There’s no reason to wait on the bathroom and renovate it only for future buyers when you can benefit from the improvements in the meantime.
I've outlined why it makes sense to combine bathroom remodeling with kitchen remodeling, but should you consider combining it with other rooms in your home? Absolutely! You'll get some of the same benefits with any "kitchen-plus" renovation: a cohesive design throughout your home and avoiding the disruptions of separate remodels.
Also called a main-floor remodel, this combo is natural, and it is a frequent request from clients. If you are refinishing or replacing the flooring, paint, and other surfaces in the kitchen, it works much better to extend those updates to the adjoining parts of the home. Often, a redesign will call for the opening up of the kitchen, with walls between the kitchen and living areas coming down, making it necessary to renovate the living room in the process.
This is another common request, especially for homes that have a laundry on the main floor. Many of the same benefits of kitchen-plus-bathroom remodeling apply here as well, including combining cabinetry, flooring, countertop, and appliance orders.
Like peanut butter and chocolate, this is another classic combo. Often a small addition is incorporated into it. For instance, a primary suite (bedroom and bathroom) can be added to the main floor of a home as part of a reconfiguration of the kitchen and first floor.
In some homes, the exterior door that gets the most use opens into the kitchen. But people entering the home from the garage or side yard track dirt into the kitchen, and have nowhere to throw their coats and backpacks. Often, we design a small addition or reconfigure the existing layout to allow for a dedicated mudroom off of the kitchen that solves all these problems.
If reading this list, you find yourself thinking that you need all of the above rooms to be remodeled, you may want to talk to your designer about a whole-home remodel. One of our specialties is to completely redesign homes, reconfigure floor plans and completely replace almost every surface. It's a major undertaking, but it allows our clients to stay in the neighborhood they love while enjoying what feels like almost a brand-new home that has been completely custom-designed down to the tiniest detail for the way they want to live.
In this whole-house remodel, a customer wanted to gut their entire home which had little natural light and closed-off spaces. The remodel started by removing the enclosed basement stairs to create a wide-open entryway. The walls between the kitchen and sitting room and between the kitchen and family room were removed to create a much more open and connected floor plan with a wrap-around fireplace. Beyond the kitchen, updates included a new bookcase and wallpaper in the front office, all three bathrooms, new windows, flooring, and exterior paint. The result was amazing! The whole house was bright, open, and elegant.
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Embarking on a kitchen and bath remodeling project involves careful planning, expert coordination, and thoughtful execution to ensure a seamless transformation of your home’s most essential spaces. Here's how you prepare and manage the project so it all goes smoothly.
Before diving into your kitchen or bathroom remodeling project, it’s essential to start with a clear vision for your dream space. Take time to reflect on your lifestyle needs and how you want your new space to function—do you need more storage solutions, a more open layout, or a master bath that is a spa like retreat? Think about a style that perfectly reflects your aesthetics, whether you’re drawn to a modern, contemporary look or something more classic.
A successful remodeling project begins with good design and thoughtful planning. Consider visiting a showroom to explore different materials, fixtures, and design ideas firsthand. This can help you visualize your new kitchen or bathroom and make informed decisions about what will work best in your house. Partnering with a reputable contractor who offers personalized service and a free consultation can make the entire process stress free. Your project manager will guide you through each step, from initial planning to selecting high quality materials, ensuring your new space is both functional and stunning. By investing time in the planning phase, you’ll set the stage for a remodeling project that transforms your home and reflects your unique style.
Managing a remodeling project can feel overwhelming, but with the right team under one roof, the process becomes much more streamlined and efficient. A professional contractor will work closely with you to develop a detailed plan and schedule, outlining all the work to be completed—from installing cabinets and countertops to laying new flooring and handling every detail in between. The goal should be to minimize disruptions.
Having a dedicated team of experts means you don’t have to juggle multiple contractors or worry about coordinating different aspects of the project. Your contractor will oversee all the work, ensuring that each phase of your kitchen or bathroom remodel is completed on time and to the highest standards. Regular updates and clear communication keep you informed and involved, so you always know what’s happening in your home.
By choosing a company that offers top quality remodeling services under one roof, you can trust that your project will be managed professionally from start to finish. This approach not only saves you time and stress but also ensures your new kitchen or bathroom is everything you envisioned—beautiful, functional, and ready for you to enjoy.
When your remodeling project is complete, you deserve to feel confident and satisfied with your new space. A professional contractor will walk you through the finished kitchen or bathroom, making sure every detail meets your expectations and that the project has been completed to the highest standards.
A comprehensive warranty on materials and labor provides peace of mind, protecting your investment and ensuring that any issues are promptly addressed. Your contractor should be available to answer questions and resolve concerns even after the project is finished, so you can enjoy your dream kitchen or bathroom without worry.
Choosing a contractor who stands behind their work means you can look forward to years of enjoyment in your new space. Whether you’ve created a stunning new kitchen, a luxurious master bath, or completed a full bathroom renovation, you’ll know that your remodeling project was handled with professionalism and care—adding value to your home and enhancing your life for years to come.
Every home is unique so every remodeling project must be unique, requiring custom solutions. We pride ourselves on our design-build process, which starts with our in-house designer listening to your needs and working together to design your dream space, within your budget. Part of our remodeling design process is master planning, meaning we work with you to not just plan for your current remodeling needs, but we help you look ahead into the future and make a plan for future updates as well. The construction process includes initial consultation, design and material selection, permitting, demolition, rough-in work, inspections, installation, finishing work, and final walkthrough. We love the challenge of coming up with the perfect plan for remodeling your home, from the kitchen to the bathroom to a whole-home renovation, whether it happens all at once or over time.
To learn more about our remodeling process, home-related tips, trends, and expert advice from HDC staff, subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter, read our blog, check out our growing library of remodeling checklists, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get your own project started, today.