how to prepare for new kitchen

[SunsetSongster]

I'm a bit in denial about the upheaval but we are getting a new kitchen fitted next month. They will also be replacing the ceiling and removing the wall tiles and floor tiles. We have 2 small DC and I'm not quite sure what the best way to cope is. Should I hire/buy a hotplate or just buy 2 weeks worth of microwave meals? What about the fridge? It's currently free standing and we're keeping it. Should I seal the kitchen off so that it can only be accessed by the back door or is that impractical.

Any survival tips would be appreciated

We went through a major rebuild a couple of years ago, including a new kitchen, We were without a kitchen for about 3 weeks.

I moved the fridge and microwave into the living room. I bought a 2 ring electric hotplate for £25 and it was a godsend. I boxed up most of our kitchen stuff and just kept out 4 plates, 4 mugs etc.

We have a utility room so that meant we could wash up in the sink there. Otherwise it would have been the bath

It was surprisingly ok. I didnt go into the kitchen whilst it was in the process of being ripped out. Its amazing how little you can manage on. We did get through several packets of Uncle Bens microwave rice! I also batch cooked lots of sauces for rice and pasta, and kept them in the feeezer. We survived!

We are coming to the end of ours now.

Try and get out top of your washing before it starts as you don't know how long you will be without (if you don't have utility room).

Set up microwave, toaster, kettle etc in the front room. Get disposable cutlery, plates and cups. Factor in eating out a lot and having things like scrambled egg/beans on toast that can be done in the microwave.

Box everything up early and empty the room. My fitters told me about the woman who left them to it and hadn't emptied a single thing in her kitchen.

We have our fridge freezer in the living room, smaller freezer got defrosted and put in the shed, washing machine stayed in there and they have worked around it.

My children have been told not to go in there and they have stayed away. I would not seal anything off, it may be much easier for them to go in and out the front when they are taking it out.

Be prepared for the amount of mess and dirt everywhere! The downstairs of our entire house is covered in dust. Doesn't help that we have archways and no doors but everything, and I mean everything is covered with a layer of dust, down to all the shoes on the shoe rack in the hallway. If you can get things put away then do. I wish we had known how much dust it creates.

Your suggestion to seal it off is great - If you have a big plastic clear crate type box ( to keep the dust out ) - put a kettle and a few mugs and spoons - a box of tea/jar of coffee and put a pint of milk and some cookies in there each day and let them crack on ! Small induction ring or twin ring electric hot plate is good not just for when the work is ongoing but great for pancake day in the workplace or stir fry in the garden on a warm spring evening !! Enjoy the challenge as you know it will all be worth it in the end !! Great previous suggestions too !!

Nb didn't make that very clear did I - the crate is for the fitters !! To leave in the demolition zone !!! Otherwise constantly going in and out will just let the dust encroach on the rest of the house !!

Mine brought their own kettle and a flask each day. I have let them in early, gone out and come back just before they finish for the day. Much easier to let them get on with it. On days I have been in I took magazines, tablet etc upstairs and laid on my bed chilling out and keeping out of the way and it's slightly less noisier too.