While material selections for your Chicago kitchen remodel can seem overwhelming, you will have plenty of time to organize the process. Typically, a kitchen remodel commences about two to three months after signing the contract.

Materials selections revolve around:

• Cabinets
• Appliances
• Flooring
• Lighting
• Cabinet/drawer hardware
• Countertops
• Backsplash
• Remaining accessories

This post is a brief outline of how we suggest going through the selection process to keep your finished remodel cohesive. Of course, your Chicago kitchen remodeler will be there whenever you need assistance, or aren't quite sure if Backsplash Idea X really works with Countertop Selection Y. Feel free to Click Here to download our  Materials Selection Guide.

Keep Your Chicago Kitchen Remodel Materials Selections Process Streamlined

The best way to keep the materials selection process streamlined is to tackle one thing at at time. We mentioned that, in most cases, your project won't begin for about 8 to 12 weeks after you sign your contract. This is just enough time to figure out what you want and where.

If you're a meticulous and process-oriented person, you'll stick to our week-by-week schedule of selections. If you're the type that always done everything at the last minute, you'll probably condense our 8 week process and into an "eight-days-a-week" version. Just remember that making last minute decisions can make it harder to keep your final outcome as cohesive as you would like it to be.

Week 1 - Cabinets. Cabinets take up the largest amount of visible square footage so you will want to start there. If you're selecting custom cabinets, you want to give the fabricator time to build them.

Week 2 - Appliances. You need to select appliances early as your new kitchen design revolves around them.  Once appliances are determined, the specifications to those appliances need to be researched to insure proper functionality and ventilation.

Week 3 - Flooring. Often, customers are able to keep their existing flooring. If you're desiring a change, you may want to select your new materials with the cabinets to ensure they complement one another.

Week 4 - Lighting. Don't neglect the importance of a good lighting plan, incorporating both task and mood lighting.

Week 5 - Hardware. It's amazing what an impact hardware selections have. The style you choose can take shaker-style cabinets from modern to traditional.

Week 6 - Countertops. Here's the second area of the kitchen that ups the visual ante so choose wisely. Our materials selection guide includes the names of granite fabricators we recommend in the Chicago area.

Week 7 - Backsplash. The backsplash is the glue that brings all elements together. Place samples against the counters after they're installed, to see if this is the frosting on the cake.

Week 8 - Accessories. Here you get to play with pendants, glass cabinet inserts, window treatments and so on. These are all the little extras that complete your Chicago kitchen remodel.

Working with an experienced kitchen design and build team will make your kitchen remodeling experience as easy and stress-free as possible. Contact Kitchens & Baths Unlimited to schedule a consultation.

Download our "Material Selections Guide" (click on the picture below) to dig deeper into the selections process.