I write this article every year, and every year it becomes more daunting to start and successfully complete a kitchen - or even a home - renovation.
In this guide, you’ll learn step-by-step how to avoid the most egregious mistakes and keep your project on track.
From unreliable, dishonest contractors to cutting-edge products that don’t actually work, you’ll learn how to sidestep them all.
Let’s start with failure.
Mine.
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Over the past 10 years, I have been involved in 10 building projects:
The new stores in Framingham, Hanover, and Cape Cod (which just opened last Monday).
The new warehouse and store in Norton, along with the new warehouse and store in Nantucket, opening this April.
Then there was the near roof collapse in Dorchester in 2015, which triggered a $2 million remodel.
At the same time, I remodeled my cherished apartment in 2014 - only to move across the street less than three years later to rehab a burnt-down brownstone.
I wish I could tell you everything went well.
When I followed this methodology, things went smoothly.
When I didn’t, the problems got expensive.
Especially this:
This warehouse was a disaster - over budget and fraught with problems.
It’s the only time in my 39 years at Yale that I ever levied a 93A lawsuit against anyone.
You’re probably thinking, “It’s a warehouse. It must be huge.”
But a warehouse is just a box to put stuff in. It’s not that nuanced.
While I was fighting with the developers, interest rates climbed from 2% to 7%.
You’ll face higher interest rates now too, compared to five years ago.
We’ll talk about how to move decisively yet thoughtfully a bit later.
Of course, it hasn’t all been bad - especially when I stayed disciplined.
In 2004, I was living in Brookline and decided to move to Boston.
At that time, the Brookline market was pretty hot. I decided to swap out the appliances for Fisher & Paykel.
Fisher & Paykel was unique at the time, and I thought it would help sell the unit - which it did.
So here’s a good question to ask before selling your house:
What really adds value at a minimal cost while maximizing resale potential?
Ten years later, a contractor friend convinced me to remodel my Boston apartment.
The results were nice, but I ended up spending a lot of money fixing punch list items to be polite.
We’ll dive deeper into dealing with contractors shortly.
Three years later, I moved again for lifestyle reasons.
We’ll talk about your lifestyle soon and how to build a kitchen that fits how you actually use it.
Once again, I stayed disciplined and ended up with a great place to live.
You’re probably thinking, “I’ll be more fortunate than you.”
Maybe you will.
But in Boston in 2024, three prominent developers collectively lost $15 million when their trusted general contractor filed for Chapter 11.
It could happen to anyone.
That’s why you need a methodology - one I wish I had stuck to last year.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
When you look at those 10 projects, hear about your friends' experiences, or listen to nightmare renovation stories, one theme consistently stands out:
Good contractors lead to good outcomes.
It’s that simple.
Experienced contractors have been through it all and know how to solve similar problems.
But the only way to find the right contractor is by asking quality questions.
You want to understand their experience, their process, and how they follow through. That’s really it.
However, don’t forget to ask for references - not just from customers but also from subcontractors.
Because you need to ensure the general contractor (GC) isn’t cutting corners and consistently pays their bills.
A contractor who churns through suppliers or subcontractors is a red flag. A good one keeps things on track and within budget.
Before you hire, ask the right questions. Here are the top 20 to help you make the best choice:
You’ve picked your general contractor. Fantastic.
However, that's just one piece of the puzzle. A successful renovation isn’t just about who’s in charge. It’s about how the project is managed.
Who will be your Project Manager on your kitchen or home renovation?
This is a critical follow-up. You want someone experienced in handling trades. You do not want someone new or unproven.
Even the best contractor in the world can’t help you if you can’t make decisions.
Take the photo above. Are we going for a classic look or a beach house vibe?
I think back to my own journey- from renovating my penthouse apartment to moving across the street into a garden-level apartment.
From Penthouse to Basement
In my previous place, my kitchen was on the top floor. When I moved into my house, I deliberately placed the kitchen in the basement.
It was a radical change in lifestyle.
Then my daughter was born in 2016. Suddenly, carrying her up to the fifth floor, unloading groceries, and fighting for a parking spot became exhausting.
It was much easier having the kitchen on the first floor.
I could park her on the couch and move the bundles in from there - no more struggling with stairs and logistics.
Not sure about your own lifestyle needs? Ask yourself these key questions:
Unlike in years past, you’re now dealing with higher mortgage rates (trust me, I know this all too well).
Every delay will cost you real money - month after month.
And with potential tariffs on the horizon, supply chain issues could become a serious problem.
If 2020–2022 taught us anything, it’s that supply chain disruptions can halt construction for months.
So let me give you some perspective. In 2018, I renovated my bathroom:
I spent way too much time stressing over tile choices and whether the bathtub matched the sinks.
Seven years later? I don’t even remember why I was so worried.
In fact, I never even used the rainfall showerhead I thought I absolutely needed.
So if supply chain issues arise, be flexible. Find alternative choices you can live with, and you’ll be just fine.
Trust me - you won’t be losing sleep over your second-choice tile a month after moving in.
Oh, and one more thing...
Be wary of the newest, latest, and greatest of anything.
Those mini LED lights I installed next to the showerhead? Revolutionary at the time.
They never worked and had to be replaced.
And back in the 1980s, a new coating was introduced to repel water.
Instead, it absorbed water and caused a whole mess of issues.
Look at this kitchen. It’s custom and expensive:
Custom cabinets are made-to-order, built in different sizes, finishes, and configurations.
But do you really need to spend $100,000+ on cabinets?
Probably not.
The truth is, most appliances fit standard cabinets - so going fully custom isn’t always necessary.
However, a good designer can customize your space based on how you actually use it, without the premium price tag of full custom cabinetry.
Here are the four levels of cabinets to consider:
Look at this picture. It's a beautiful kitchen...without ventilation.
When you cook on a gas cooktop, it releases toxic gases like nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde.
Without proper ventilation, those pollutants don’t just stay in your kitchen - they linger throughout your home.
I get it - you want to entertain your guests.
But you still need a range hood over your stovetop.
Except, you don’t need a downdraft hood:
They’re weak, inefficient, and won’t actually remove the pollutants from your space (more about downdrafts later). Go for something that actually works.
Instead of placing your stovetop on a kitchen island, consider a sink.
You can install a Galley workstation, for example. It's designed as an entertainment hub to keep your island functional without blocking airflow or ventilation.
We recently did a video with Mark Tobin of Mark Tobin Kitchen Design, where we discussed these layout ideas.
Now, who are you going to believe?
The guy in the suit coat or the much cooler-looking guy on the right?
There are two main approaches to kitchen layout:
Which one works for you? That depends on how you use your kitchen.
Ventilation has never been more important.
Today’s stoves produce 2.5 times more output than when I started at Yale, yet homes are now more energy-efficient, meaning emissions stay trapped inside longer.
And here’s the problem - many common vents, like over-the-range microwaves and ceiling blowers, simply can’t handle modern high-output ranges.
When you cook, you likely use the front burners, which sit 22-23 inches from the wall.
But most over-the-range microwaves are just 16 inches deep, meaning they don’t effectively capture smoke, grease, or harmful gases.
Downdrafts are even worse.
They have just a two-inch slot for a capture area, which isn’t nearly enough for a 60,000-150,000 BTU range.
They force smoke to be pulled downward, working against natural airflow.
No capture, no channel, no exhaust - just lingering pollutants in your home.
Poor ventilation isn’t just about lingering cooking smells. It can prevent you from passing inspection due to inadequate fresh air intake or make-up air.
According to Broan, a leading hood manufacturer, indoor air quality can be up to five times worse than outdoor air.
Cooking releases harmful pollutants like methane, nitrogen oxide, and PM2.5, which accumulate in a poorly ventilated kitchen - especially with high-output burners.
To ventilate effectively, focus on these four key factors:
You have a Wolf range in your brand-new kitchen - now is not the time to learn about the 2007 Massachusetts Make-Up Air Regulations.
Any vent over 400 CFM needs fresh air return.
Here’s why: You fire up that pro range and turn on your 1100 CFM hood. That’s 1,100 cubic feet of air exiting an airtight home - the equivalent of removing the air from a small room.
And if you don’t replace that air?
Your home will “make up” the missing air from your furnace, attic, cellar, or garage—creating an incredibly unhealthy environment.
It’s easy to solve during the planning stage by integrating fresh air return into your HVAC system.
It’s not easy once your kitchen is already finished. At that point, you’ll need to cut an equivalent return vent somewhere in your kitchen - at least 10 feet away and on the other side.
Even if your local regulations don’t require it, plan for Make-Up Air anyway—so you’re breathing cleaner air.
Broan offers a $100 aftermarket smart damper kit and exit cap kit, but you’ll still need to cut a hole and wire the damper so it opens when your hood is on.
I look at this picture and cringe. They’re installed at 84 inches - over 7 feet high.
You’ll be pulling a burning hot pan from over your head. Not smart.
This is a recent trend, but it comes with serious hazards. Stacking wall ovens is dangerous.
I think of my daughter tugging at me while I try to take hot food from above my head.
The most you should stack is a single wall oven, microwave, and warming drawer.
You want to save space, but not at the expense of safety.
Luckily, you have options.
You can make smart use of space - without creating a safety hazard.
Better lighting makes all the difference. Here’s what you need:
Good lighting does more than brighten a room. It adds style and character to your kitchen and bathroom.
Knowing who will repair your appliances should be part of your kitchen renovation plan.
Here is the sad reality: Most of our business is now repair and maintenance. As appliances become "smarter" and more complicated, appliance repair will become more of an issue.
Many manufacturers offer limited repair services, while others provide no repair options at all. The same goes for retailers.
Ninety-five percent of retailers don't employ a single technician.
Investigating who will fix that new steam oven, stove, or coffee maker should be part of your research.
Read reviews of all perspective retailers before you buy from them.
I could say the same about installation and especially delivery.
Service is only marginally worse.
Read More: Why Your New Appliance Will Not Be Repaired
Abraham Lincoln once said, "Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the ax."
Sage advice.
Planning solves all these problems.
Remember, construction should be broken down into four equal parts: design, scheduling, construction, and closeout.
Finding good people at every level and truly taking time to understand your lifestyle will mitigate most of these issues.
Think a bit about how you cook and how you will use the space.
You can plan, but once you start, move decisively.
You can do this, and it can be fun and rewarding as you beam at your new kitchen.
Feeling overwhelmed by appliance choices? Simplify your decision with our free Appliance Buying Guide. Download now and find the perfect appliance stress-free! 🌟