A Kitchen Remodel, The 5 W Approach

Last Updated on February 24, 2022 by Showrooms Online

A Kitchen Remodel, The 5 W Approach

The 5 W approach to planning and project management is well-known. Who, What, Where, When, and Why? ( some add H to include how? ) is a common list of questions to ask as the way to begin planning. Only the order of these questions needs to be questioned.

Who? should not be the first question.

What and Why are the best place to start and in fact, “why” should be asked 5 times before going any further. Do a deep dive into “why” before investing in any renovation project. Everyone has their own reasons for doing a renovation, just be sure you think them through and are committed to your goals.

a kitchen remodel, the 5W approach — Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

How Asking ‘Why’ 5 Times Can Change Your Life

“If you are constantly running into problems maybe it’s because you aren’t actually solving the root of that problem. Many times when a problem arises, we jump to the first thought about why that problem is occurring and then focus on a solution to fix that.”

Ask ‘why’ 5 times to get to the root.

A Story: A Kitchen Remodel, The 5W Approach

Our kitchen renovation dream started because the lighting was poor and the countertops were old and dated.

There are many great-looking countertop materials that are found in all new kitchens. The only con is that all of them are very expensive. However, it does not stop there. The replacement of the counters is relatively easy but the sink (& faucet plus re-plumbing) and the cooktop need to be replaced at the same time.

Now, the big problem is that the new countertops will make the old cabinets (which are pretty good) look pretty bad. The floor does not look all that good either and this modern kitchen does not fit with the adjacent dining room. After only a couple of W’s, the project has passed $50,000 and counting.

We decided to change the lighting for $1500 which gave the whole kitchen a great facelift. Project completed, on time, and way under budget!

As an aside, we went through the same process in the upstairs bathroom. What started as a shower replacement ended up as a complete renovation which passed all of the whys? New walk-in shower, vanity, tiling on walls and floor, toilet, lighting. We bought everything ourselves and acted as our own general contractor. No regrets.

Kitchen design and remodeling is a lot more complicated renovation, short of an extension or a complete deep retrofit. Also, a kitchen renovation is far more disruptive than a basement project or the upgrading of one of your bathrooms. Choose the right contractor for the job.