Milwaukee/NARI Helps You Get Your Home Ready For The Holidays

The holidays are often a time for family, friends, and food, so naturally, the kitchen becomes the main gathering space during festivities. With so much time spent in the kitchen, it’s important to prepare the space for guests. The Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council, Inc., the area’s leading home improvement and remodeling industry resource for 51 years, offers tips to spruce up and organize the kitchen before hosting a holiday get-together.

Prepare for festivities.
• Get rid of food. Take time to clear out old food from your refrigerator, freezer, cabinets, and pantry. This will ensure that you have ample space for holiday food and leftovers.

• Make sure the oven is ready. It’s important to check that the oven is working properly before its big role in the holidays. Place an oven thermometer on the middle rack and wait for the oven to preheat to ensure the temperature gauge is functioning. Also, take time to read the manual to make sure you’re using the oven to its full potential.

• Organize the cabinets. Arrange pantry items and move the spices and other ingredients you’ll need to the front. Also, note the things that should be picked up from the grocery store before your gathering.

• Stock up on the essentials. Make sure you have everything you need for entertaining––garbage bags, containers for leftovers, dish soap, coffee filters, aluminum foil, and other important materials.

Make minor improvements.
• Reface the cabinets. Before entertaining guests for the holidays, give the kitchen a “facelift” by updating the look of your existing cabinets. It can be a more affordable, less time-consuming process. New cabinet hardware can also improve the space’s look.

• Add lighting. Suspend a chandelier over the table or pendants above the island, or incorporate task lighting throughout the space for chopping and other preparation. Lighting adds style and warmth to the room.

• Replace old appliances. If an appliance isn’t functioning properly, replace it before it’s time to prepare a large holiday meal. Also, consider an appliance with an Energy Star rating to save money on bills.

• Incorporate décor. An area rug, a holiday wreath, curtains, new linens, and other accessories can add a pop of color to the kitchen and make the space more inviting.

Plan now for a future remodel.
November is too late to take on a major remodel before the 2012 holidays, but it’s the perfect time to determine what you want for your kitchen—more room for entertaining, a larger island, additional cabinet space, and other upgrades—to plan for next year’s celebrations.

The ideal time to start a kitchen remodel is in the spring and early summer months to ensure everything is completed before the holidays. It’s important not to rush through the process. Start talking with professional designers and builders now so the project can be ready to start in May, which is known as Home Improvement Month.

The Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council was chartered in July 1961, as a Chapter of the National Home Improvement Council. In May of 1982, the National Home Improvement Council merged with the National Remodelers Association to form NARI – the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

The Council’s goals of encouraging ethical conduct, professionalism, and sound business practices in the remodeling industry have led to the remodeling industry’s growth and made NARI a recognized authority in that industry. With over 800 members, the Milwaukee Chapter is the nation’s largest.

For more information or to receive a free copy of an annual membership roster listing all members alphabetically and by category, and the booklet, “Milwaukee/NARI's Remodeling Guide,” call 414- 771-4071 or visit the Council’s website at www.milwaukeenari.org.