What do I need to consider when doing a kitchen renovation?

Your kitchen is one of the centerpieces of your home. It’s a show piece, a bragging right, and the heart of your ability to entertain. Therefore it stands to reason that you would want the best kitchen that you can afford! We understand this, and are all too familiar with the joy of having a beautiful kitchen that you feel proud of, and enjoy using.

Kitchen renovations can vary widely in cost and extent and a lot of it comes down to your budget, your space, and what you’re hoping to achieve. Remember, for every high-end material or component that you really like, there’s a budget version of it available somewhere.

There are a large number of considerations that go into perfect kitchen renovations, and although we can help you through every part of the process, we can’t make your decisions for you. To assist you with getting your kitchen renovation underway, we’ve come up with this list of important questions to ask yourself to get the most out of your kitchen renovation.

Are you going to be keeping any of your whitegoods?

While renovating your kitchen, specialised nooks and spaces are going to be built for your various whitegoods such as your fridge and dishwasher. While generic-sized spaces can be left for these appliances, it would be much more aesthetically pleasing for purpose-built spaces to be done to your specific appliance dimensions. This is especially important if you’re planning on living in the property for a while, and not just renting it out or selling it. Have a think about your whitegoods, and if you’re going to buy new ones make sure you can come to a decision on what specific units you’re going to put in so that the kitchen spaces are suitable for your new goods.

What sort of workflow do you want while cooking?

This is something that people don’t think about enough during kitchen renovations, but it can definitely affect how you use your kitchen in the future! Putting storage cupboards and drawers in wherever they fit might not be the most efficient use of space once you start using your new kitchen. Sure some spaces can be used for storage of different types of items, but there are certain spaces that only suit specific types of utensils. If you have children, or are of short stature, you might also want to think about having enough storage that you can actually reach.

Are you planning on living here and using the kitchen for a significant number of years?

If you’re going to be using the newly renovated kitchen yourself rather than renting out the home or selling, then it stands to reason that you style the new kitchen to suit your wants and needs. It also means that you’re more likely to take good care of it, since it’s your own kitchen and not a rental.

Are there any special area requests, such as an island bench or a butler’s pantry?

If you’re planning on using your new kitchen yourself, entertain a lot, or you have a lot of empty space that can be utilised better, think about putting in an island bench with bar seating and a sink, or perhaps even a butler’s pantry to utilise as an efficient prep area. When designing your new kitchen, these sorts of special requests will be important so that the space can be used in the best way possible.

Are there any special materials you want to use and feature?

Have you thought about the potential materials you want to use in your kitchen renovation? Kitchens are notorious for discoloration over time due to oils, steam and grime. Glass splashbacks and stone bench tops look great and are easy to clean, or maybe there are speciality tiles that you would like to use. Before you start your renovation, make sure you have all of your special materials or have made contact with the suppliers so you can get them in a timely manner.

What sort of storage space requirements do you have?

If you’ve got a small kitchen you need to make good use of your storage space. You could install hanging rails for pots, utensils or bar glassware. If you’re low on bench space, you could put a purpose-built space for your microwave in an appropriate cupboard or in the pantry. Make sure you know what you want and where you want it before you begin your renovation planning.

Do you have a colour scheme to work with?

Since your kitchen is going to be an important part of your home, you should choose a colour scheme that will go with the rest of your decor and rooms. You probably also don’t want to have to change things like tiles in the near future as this can get expensive, so choose neutral colours that won’t go out of style rather than the current ‘on-trend’ colour that may not age well.

What compromises would you be willing to make if everything you want is out of budget?

As with any renovation, this is the most important question to ask yourself. Things can really add up once you start designing your dream kitchen. You do need to figure out which things are an absolute must, and which things you could compromise on. You can purchase budget versions of many high end products, and some of these things can be pretty good quality too.

If you’ve already had a think about all of these things and you’ve explored all the options, you’re ready to contact us! We’re happy to answer all of the questions that you may have about your upcoming kitchen renovation, and will sit with you to design the perfect space for you. If updating your bathroom is more of a priority, then check out our post on Things to Consider before Renovating your Bathroom here.