https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 20:21:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-through-a-renovation#post-2927871 Tue, 10 Jan 2023 12:32:37 +0000 caitcat 2927871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilary: Thank you so much! Our contractor just made the same sink suggestion (and it even sounded like he might be able to rig something up fairly early on for us, which would be amazing). </p> <p>All of our appliances/new fixtures/etc. are all in already so I'm grateful for that. I'd heard such horror stories of lead times that I ordered them late last spring. I was warned they still might not come in in time, but amazingly they came through a few months early. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-through-a-renovation#post-2927870 Tue, 10 Jan 2023 09:58:39 +0000 hilary 2927870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've done lots of renovations over the years so I have a stack....<br /> -Any chance you and kids can go to your parents house for a long weekend at the messiest/tear down part of the reno? Being able to disappear the kids for that part is extremely helpful.<br /> -If you have a grill, that was critical for us and we're crazy and grill all through the winter.<br /> -Keep your old sink and as soon as possible install it on a sheet of plywood or something so you minimize how long your are kitchen sinkless. Sometimes counter tops take forever and having a janky counter for at least a bit of the kitchen is better than none.<br /> -And kind of joking but not....plan for it take twice as long and be pleasantly surprised if it's closer to what was estimated. Mentally preparing for a longer run really helps my mental state when we encounter set backs rather than being super tied to a specific timeline.<br /> -If possible shop for finishes/appliance that are available. We saved a ton of time by buying what was in stock/readily available rather than picking something very specific and then having to wait forever. (Example is a friend of mine had a fridge they wanted and specifically built cabinetry to fit that fridge.....took 18 months for that specific fridge to come in and it was oddly sized so couldn't easily sub it out.<br /> Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-through-a-renovation#post-2927869 Mon, 09 Jan 2023 15:16:28 +0000 azbaby 2927869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caitcat: Once I could make Salmon,Brocolli,and potatoes I was much happier:). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-through-a-renovation#post-2927868 Mon, 09 Jan 2023 15:01:40 +0000 caitcat 2927868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@azbaby: Yeah, I can definitely see getting tired of take out. We don't do much takeout typically, so I'm kind of excited for it at first...but I'm going to missed home cooked meals. I don't have an instant pot (mainly because of limited space in our current kitchen), but it's been on my "maybe get" list. My sister in law loves her and is always sending me instant pot recipes, so I could see taking this as a chance to try some of the lower prep ones. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-through-a-renovation#post-2927866 Mon, 09 Jan 2023 10:52:41 +0000 azbaby 2927866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have an instant pot and air fryer? We were stuck in a similar position and after about 2 weeks got them and it improved our lives so much.. Take out gets boring quickly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-through-a-renovation#post-2927865 Mon, 09 Jan 2023 09:48:49 +0000 caitcat 2927865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@togetherthroughlife: That's a good point. Might be a time saver! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-through-a-renovation#post-2927863 Mon, 09 Jan 2023 09:02:06 +0000 togetherthroughlife 2927863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Could you find a laundromat close to home instead of going to your parents’ for laundry? You’ll be able to knock out the equivalent of about 6 loads in 1 single load at a laundromat. Much quicker! And not an hour away! :) I agree with you that takeout is gonna be the way to go. Good luck!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-through-a-renovation#post-2927850 Fri, 06 Jan 2023 11:01:54 +0000 caitcat 2927850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm curious if anyone has tips or advice about what worked well (or didn't?) for you to get through a major home renovation with kids. We're starting a big project to expand our kitchen, and move our laundry room and a bathroom later this month and I'm starting to panic about how much this is going to upend my house. I knew it was coming...but now that it's almost here, the reality is setting in. </p> <p>We're going to set up a temporary "kitchen" in our living room with our old fridge, microwave and a toaster oven, crock pot, and maybe an induction burner. I've frozen some easy-to-reheat meals ahead of time, but not much. I'm anticipating eating a lot of takeout or easy to prep/clean up meals. For laundry, I'm hoping we're only out of a functional washer/dryer for a month or so, but I'm planning to go to go to my parents' (about an hour away) a couple times to do laundry in the meantime. I think the whole project will be 8-9 weeks total. </p> <p>I'd love to hear anything that helped you through reno projects. I'm so excited about the project, but dreading getting to the other side of it! </p>