Realistic remodeling

Q: We've been saving for three years and finally have enough to remodel our kitchen, but my contractor says it will take two to three months! I went from very excited to feeling a little let down. I watch all the design shows on TV, and they get major remodels finished in just a couple of days. Some even get it done while you're at dinner. What is a realistic time frame?

- DeannaA: I also love watching design shows! And, having been on HGTV, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, the Hallmark Channel's The Better Show myself, I'll share some inside secrets. Unfortunately, it won't help your time frame get shorter.

Behind the scenes, these shows have a lot of people swarming all over the houses being remodeled. And, they work around the clock. Each person has a carefully orchestrated job, the decisions are made long before work begins, and all the materials are preordered and staged on site. It's quite a production and amazing to be a part of.

On screen, however, you won't see that army. And, through the magic of editing, what might seem to be a couple of days might be two or three weeks. There might even be a few tasks the team finishes after the shooting stops.

In real life, most licensed contractors have a team of just two or three, if that, plus their subcontractors. Add up the labor done by an army in three weeks, and that can easily turn into several months when done by a smaller team. It will help if you're organized and plan ahead with your decisions, however.

And, each project is different. Even if your kitchen remodel is just replacing the cabinets, appliances, finishes and flooring, there could be unknown problems that require fixing or working around.

Living through any remodel, particularly a kitchen, is hard. But patience will pay off when you get your own big reveal.

Jennifer Adams is a designer, author, and TV personality. To contact her:

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Realistic remodeling