kitchen renovation advice

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Hi team. My wife and I just bought a house and our going to redo the kitchen. Just looking for any suggestions/advice based on the photos of the design and old kitchen attached.

If anybody knows some great kitchen installers in Adelaide that manage the whole project, so far we have just gotten a quote from wallspan but its a little pricey.

The splashback will likely be grey subway tiles to go with the counter, or white with dark grey grout. Floors are darker wood laminate, appliances are all stainless steel.

We will also have a breakfast bar setup on the other side of the counter :)

Cheers!

Featured Answer

Vicki B

5 years ago

I think the layout is a great use of the space. It flows, there's room to move and everything is accessible. Think about replacing the cupboard next to the dishwasher with drawers. Drawers give a lot more usable storage area that is easily accessible. You could put in a blind corner cupboard as well (Bunnings have them). Pull out bins under the sink eliminate the need to have a bin in a corner somewhere (Bunnings have those too).

Some open shelving on the wall to the right of the sink near the arch would be handy and would look lovely. It doesn't need to cost a fortune either.

Don't be scared to get quotes. We've just recently had 15 quotes for the kitchen we're renovating and the price varied by $15K. Totally worth the run around to get extra quotes. We also picked up some great tips and advice along the way.

We are paying a builder who does renovations and extensions to do it for us. He can get things so much cheaper at trade price than we could. He is also managing the tiler and painter as he uses guys that work with him all the time. We have decided to get a flat packed kitchen that is pre-cut. The builder is putting it together and making the timber counter tops for us at less than half the price of the kitchen places. We chose the tiles and he ordered them at a better price. Same for the sink, taps, handles etc. We have saved thousands of dollars doing it this way and he manages the entire thing for us.

Added:

I rang the builder. He said that if your budget is really tight, consider getting a Kaboodle kitchen and have a builder install it for you. He recommended not to order the Kaboodle hardware (hinges, drawer runners etc) as it's not the best quality and a builder can order others. The handles would be fine though. It would make it way cheaper for you and you would still get a decent quality kitchen.

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Comments (10)

oklouise
5 years ago
how do you use the current dining area??...my initial reaction would be to move the kitchen into the dining area and make the family room more spacious for a good sized dining table
David Moyle
Original Author
5 years ago
At the moment we use the dining room for meals, and the second family room hasnt got much in it yet (only just moved in 2 weeks ago). We dont really have the budget to be knocking out walls and moving things around etc. we think we want to keep the second family for a kids play area so when we are in the kitchen or out in the undercover entertaining we can watch them (no kids yet but will be in the next few years)
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Like everything , it comes down to budget and 'value for money' -- generally both the cheapest but also the most expensive aren't the best options -- its doing things 'cleverly' . The entrance foyer looks like it may be a bit dark and closed in , but you don't really want to open the wall between it and the kitchen either . Not really in the 'brief' , but I'd look at opening up the doorway into the lounge -- I guess it depends whether you close that door often ? To me , the only way/place to get more room would be 'open' the double doors and however much more you can between the lounge and family room ( before you strike load bearing walls near the wood burner ) , move the dining room to the family room , and then basically do whatever you like with the kitchen , utilising the existing space and the existing dining space . That may work , or maybe you don't want to combine the lounge and family room , in the latter case maybe move the lounge to the existing family room , utilising the window seats and maybe downsize your lounge suite , wall mount a TV , etc . And then use the existing lounge as dining and family area ? None are ideal , but thats my 'off-the-top-of-my-head' thoughts .
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Hi All, I am new to this forum & this is my first home in a month. I am planning to renovate the kitchen after moved in. Please let me know your ideas & expertise how much it cost & what kind of design suits this. (i am on a strict budget), possible DYI(except plumbing & electrical) & if any modification in structure(like if we removing the patio & removing that small piece of wall dividing kitchen) do we need council approvals? please share your thoughts. Main concerns are > Fridge location is not connected to the kitchen > Fridge & laundry in the same room & in the backside entrance. > There is a wall between the kitchen & fridge. > there is a Gap in the Kitchen > cupboard is not fitting when look. Expectation: The fridge & dishwasher should be in the kitchen. Re-alter or install new cabinets required.(L or U share) Is the island is possible? if so will the budget go high. Material for top either stone without resin. Tiles on the wall
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David Moyle
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks vicki! Some valuable advice indeed! So many of the things you suggested we were thinking too so its great to have that confirmation that they are good ideas. The bin, the shelf, drawers and the corner cupboard especially :)

We are also looking into kaboodle etc and hiring a builder but we are very time poor as both work full time and have busy lives :( just not sure if it will be too much of a strain on us doing a lot of the work
Vicki B
5 years ago
Once we hired the builder, he did all the running around for quotes etc for us. We just chose what we liked.
PRO
3DA Design Drafting and 3D Visuals
5 years ago
Am I the only one who actually like that curved breakfast corner of yours? Its actually looking really cool. Maybe try to keep that bit or enhance it?
David Moyle thanked 3DA Design Drafting and 3D Visuals
Lyn Huppatz
5 years ago
3DA Design. Agree. Kitchen looks fine. Maybe live with it for a bit ( 2 weeks isn't very long) Save some more then get what you want. Having just bought the house there are probably lots of things you'd like to do. Prioritize then gradually put your spin on the house. Looks like a lovely house btw.
David Moyle thanked Lyn Huppatz
Claire Plush
5 years ago
We live in Glenelg & used wallspan in August - We are still waiting on the splashback to go in. We had a lot problems with then. I wish I had done my research well and look around.

I used them for the cupboards, cabinet installer (the company they used were great - getting back to do my laundry) bench top & splashback.

I have found a few places in Adelaide that do cut offs stone bench tops (depending how much you need) & if you go to them directly you have more choice of colour. If you want (cost more then tiling) go to them too. I YouTube tiling and did myself. Are electrician we have used for years and he put us on to a good plumber.
David Moyle thanked Claire Plush
David Moyle
Original Author
5 years ago
3da design are you saying you like that it has curved edges or that it extends into the kitchen with the corner breakfast bar bit? dont mind the curves, we might look at that. its just that by putting a corner to extend into the kitchen there it makes it feel so cramped and since its opposite the fridge spot it would also make it impossible to get past when the fridge door is open (the fridge doesnt currently fit in the fridge spot since fridges were much smaller in the 90s!)

the main reason we need to do it asap is we are looking to start a family soon and definitely dont want to be renovating with a baby, and also the lack of storage and fridge not fitting is driving us insane already (and lack of dishwasher haha)

Claire - so the wallspan cabinets turned out well? we are just getting laminate benchtop and tiled splashback so hoping this would save many difficulties and delays that seem to arise with stone benchtop and glass splashback. getting a quote from a couple other full kitchen design companies this weekend and also just a kitchen cabinet maker as well.

Nearly everyone i have talked to has said the only problems with wallspan they had (if any) were the delays with stone benchtops and glass splashbacks - those that got laminate and tiles said it all went super smooth. Which is great because that fits our budget too if we do end up going that route
Claire Plush
5 years ago
I also used the timber bench top on my island and it was installed the same day as the cabinets. The cupboard are really good and I love the drawers on each side of my oven. The guy who did it has his own company on the side - I am using him to do my laundry cabinets (cutting out the middle man) wallspan was only good for the design of my kitchen!
Cabinet maker/installer Jared - elite constructions & inferior 048880738.
Electrician - Darryl 0404424033
Plumber - Josh 0426914880
Beaumont tiles clearance outlet for tiles they also have a list of tilers.
I used Sam 0422591932

I too wanted my kitchen before the baby arrived. If you are looking to save money. Hire a skip (easyskip was the cheapest) and pull out the old kitchen yourself or try to sell it on gumtree! Google how to tile yourself - it saved me over 3grand for my floor. I only got Sam to do my marble tiled wall. After watching him I wish I had done it myself and would of saved another $500!

kitchen renovation advice

Vicki B

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oklouise

David Moyle
Original Author

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David Moyle
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Vicki B

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Lyn Huppatz

Claire Plush

David Moyle
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Claire Plush

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kitchen renovation advice

Vicki B

Comments (10)

oklouise

David MoyleOriginal Author

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David MoyleOriginal Author

Vicki B

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Lyn Huppatz

Claire Plush

David MoyleOriginal Author

Claire Plush

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David Moyle
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David Moyle
Original Author

David Moyle
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