Top Kitchen Renovation Tips

Renovating a kitchen is a big step. Even if you're not renovating the entire thing, and are just sprucing it up, it can still be costly and timely.

The kitchen is really the heart of the home and is an integral part of everyday life, so it makes sense to have a kitchen that's going to meet your needs, and update as you get older. And sometimes, the house you've just bought has an outdated kitchen that is in desperate need of being brought into the 21st century.

So there are a number of things you'll have to take into consideration when planning your kitchen renovation. How many people are going to live there? Can you see yourself using this same space in 10 years time? Do you have enough storage space and are the appliances truly vital to what you need? Is this the best possible use of space?

Planning your dream kitchen can be a big deal, so our first tip is to;

1. study, plan and study some more.

So, ideally, if you're redoing a bunch of rooms all at once and your kitchen just so happens to coincide with that, you should really consider getting an interior designer or architect to help you with this. They do it for a living, and nothing can replace their professional advice.

If you're going this one solo, you're going to have to put in some more work. Take into consideration the questions we asked before, and start doing your research. Think about how the rest of your house is going to look, and what style you'd like eventually. Then, jump on Pinterest and starting putting together a number of inspiration pictures that will help initiate a discussion.

Also, put together a list of all the features that would make up your ideal kitchen. Natural lighting, dual sinks, marble countertops, breakfast bar etc. You get the idea.

This way you can really start to narrow down design looks that are going to match your budget and line up with as much of your ideal kitchen list as possible.

2. Don't move the foundation

For the most part, if you can help it, don't go knocking down walls or moving all the plumbing just for the sake of it. If the kitchen sink can stay where it is, then leave it there. If you don't need to knock down any of the walls, then leave them there too. It's only going to dramatically escalate the cost of your renovation for something that you probably could have gotten away with in the first place.

Obviously, if the design direction means moving your sink from a wall to a nice island bench, or you're knocking down a wall to help open the space up then that's another conversation. You just have to budget in for the added construction work.

3. Budget accordingly and add 10%

If you've read any of our other posts, you already know what we're going to say; Work out what your budget is going to be, and then add an extra 10%. This works as your safety net so when something inevitably goes wrong in your remodel, you have a bit of extra money set aside to finish the job and will help you stress less. Plus, if you happen to finish on budget, you've got a few extra dollars to sink into an awesome coffee machine to top off the kitchen.

Working out your budget beforehand also allows you to have a chat to your cabinet maker or builder to ensure that everything you've envisioned is going to come in on budget before you start.

4. Shop around for a good builder

This is a pretty self-explanatory and one we've covered before. Don't just take your designers word for a builder, or even your mates. Ask all your friends and family, and then have a look at some reviews online like at Yelp, the Yellowpages or even Google. Narrow down a shortlist to about 3 different builders that are up to the high standard you have, and go get some quotes!

Now that you understand those 4 essential steps in nailing your home kitchen renovation, we can talk about what kind of things are going to help make your life so much better in there.

So, what should go into your new kitchen?

First, you need to consider not only space but a sense of traffic flow as well. try and think about how someone might move around in your kitchen. If you can put in some kind of island bench, then that will greatly dictate the flow. Also, consider how you'll be using the kitchen; Fridge > Sink > prep area > stove > more prep area.

Consider also whether you need all the latest gizmos and gadgets when budgeting. Is it important your fridge has a wine cooler and spits out ice or can you keep some ice in the freezer? Do you need a built-in coffee machine or would a kettle do? Is the 6-burner stove necessary when you've always survived with 4? Every time you go up a nicety, it's going to affect your budget that could be put towards nicer finishes like a marble benchtop or matte finish cupboards.

Overall, there are hundreds of different types and styles, and your kitchen remodel is going to be a very personal experience, so make sure you plan for the future.

If you're looking for a building inspection before you buy your home, or as part of a remodel, call our friendly staff on 1300 657 546 or book online today.