How (Really) to Achieve a Stress-Free Kitchen Renovation
Make your kitchen the dream space you've always wanted with these expert tips for a smooth renovation project
For many of us, the kitchen is the hub of the home, the place where we spend most of our time. If that’s not the case and you’d like it to be, but you’re not in love with your current kitchen, why not think about transforming it? After all, if you end up spending the majority of your time there, it will be worth it. Here are some simple tips to get you on your way and reduce stress levels when you take the plunge. Hint: it all comes down to advanced organisation and having the right (vetted) team of professionals by your side.
Research a range of kitchens
The choice of where to source your kitchen is a very personal one and a big decision for your home, household, renovation schedule and budget. Assemble an Ideabook on Houzz where you can save images of your favourite kitchens and, using the ‘Ask a Question’ function when you click into an image, get in touch with the designers and/or builders who worked on the projects if you would like further information.
If you have friends or relatives who’ve had work done to their own kitchens, ask them for recommendations. You can also read reviews on Houzz from professionals’ previous clients as well as checking out images of their work.
Meet a few potential kitchen designers or companies that cover both the design and renovation sides. If you already have a kitchen designer, ask them which builders and trades they work well with – rapport on-site is critical. And always trust your instincts – the professional or company you ‘click’ with will most likely be the best fit for you.
The choice of where to source your kitchen is a very personal one and a big decision for your home, household, renovation schedule and budget. Assemble an Ideabook on Houzz where you can save images of your favourite kitchens and, using the ‘Ask a Question’ function when you click into an image, get in touch with the designers and/or builders who worked on the projects if you would like further information.
If you have friends or relatives who’ve had work done to their own kitchens, ask them for recommendations. You can also read reviews on Houzz from professionals’ previous clients as well as checking out images of their work.
Meet a few potential kitchen designers or companies that cover both the design and renovation sides. If you already have a kitchen designer, ask them which builders and trades they work well with – rapport on-site is critical. And always trust your instincts – the professional or company you ‘click’ with will most likely be the best fit for you.
Get the design right
Discuss your ideal kitchen with your chosen kitchen company or designer. Give them your plans and allow them to make suggestions, even if you already have an idea of what you want. They’ll most likely have been in the business for a while, so they’ll probably have some clever ideas you hadn’t considered.
Don’t be afraid to challenge their suggestions, though. Remember, only you know the nuances of your home and preferences. Your designer will probably welcome this input, and enjoy the challenge of finding a solution that works. This is usually when you’ll need to have a good (shared) understanding of your scope of work.
Discuss your ideal kitchen with your chosen kitchen company or designer. Give them your plans and allow them to make suggestions, even if you already have an idea of what you want. They’ll most likely have been in the business for a while, so they’ll probably have some clever ideas you hadn’t considered.
Don’t be afraid to challenge their suggestions, though. Remember, only you know the nuances of your home and preferences. Your designer will probably welcome this input, and enjoy the challenge of finding a solution that works. This is usually when you’ll need to have a good (shared) understanding of your scope of work.
Cost it out
Ask your kitchen designer to cost your design. Request a detailed breakdown, so you can see which items are the most expensive. This will enable you to see where you might need to trim back features to fit within your budget.
Remember, there might be extra costs for removing any machinery, adding electrics, plumbing, tiling, flooring and painting. Your designer should list all of these on a spreadsheet and get quotes for everything, including materials. And it pays to ask what’s not included – an exclusions list is often more revealing than the inclusions schedule.
It’s worth asking your designer if they use Houzz Pro, as this will make it easier for them to share every detail with you via a client dashboard. Houzz Pro software also has handy visualisation tools that let you ‘see’ what your design will look like and includes features that let you accept or decline product proposals, view and pay invoices, plus much more.
Ask your kitchen designer to cost your design. Request a detailed breakdown, so you can see which items are the most expensive. This will enable you to see where you might need to trim back features to fit within your budget.
Remember, there might be extra costs for removing any machinery, adding electrics, plumbing, tiling, flooring and painting. Your designer should list all of these on a spreadsheet and get quotes for everything, including materials. And it pays to ask what’s not included – an exclusions list is often more revealing than the inclusions schedule.
It’s worth asking your designer if they use Houzz Pro, as this will make it easier for them to share every detail with you via a client dashboard. Houzz Pro software also has handy visualisation tools that let you ‘see’ what your design will look like and includes features that let you accept or decline product proposals, view and pay invoices, plus much more.
Agree on a schedule
Your kitchen designer should be able to manage the project, but if you’re managing it yourself, you’ll need to set the schedule for the works.
Ask yourself (or your project manager) the following questions:
Your kitchen designer should be able to manage the project, but if you’re managing it yourself, you’ll need to set the schedule for the works.
Ask yourself (or your project manager) the following questions:
- How long will each trade take?
- What’s the best order for your trades to work on-site?
- Which trades can be overlapped?
- Are there any items that have lengthy order or delivery times?
Add all of this information to a spreadsheet with predicted dates of completion, and agree on it with everyone involved.
Talk to all your suppliers and tradespeople to ensure you know how the project will run. Agree all dates by email or text, so you have written confirmation. Alternatively, hire a project manager to deal with all the details of the renovation for you.
Talk to all your suppliers and tradespeople to ensure you know how the project will run. Agree all dates by email or text, so you have written confirmation. Alternatively, hire a project manager to deal with all the details of the renovation for you.
Stay on the job
If you’re managing the project, once it begins, be sure to engage with all your tradespeople and suppliers. Communication is the key to a smooth-running project.
If anyone’s late or there’s an issue on site, let all the relevant tradespeople know – they will appreciate someone looking after the project. If they arrive on the agreed date and nothing is ready or the site is disorganised, they might be too busy to reschedule.
Browse more beautiful Australian kitchens with mid-tone timber cabinetry
If you’re managing the project, once it begins, be sure to engage with all your tradespeople and suppliers. Communication is the key to a smooth-running project.
If anyone’s late or there’s an issue on site, let all the relevant tradespeople know – they will appreciate someone looking after the project. If they arrive on the agreed date and nothing is ready or the site is disorganised, they might be too busy to reschedule.
Browse more beautiful Australian kitchens with mid-tone timber cabinetry
Protect everything
As most of the products being fitted will be part of the finished scheme, make sure your contractors protect surfaces, fixtures and fittings while the work progresses. Of particular importance are floors, tiles, windows, lights and benchtops. Covering items in dust covers or some old bed sheets often does the job nicely.
As most of the products being fitted will be part of the finished scheme, make sure your contractors protect surfaces, fixtures and fittings while the work progresses. Of particular importance are floors, tiles, windows, lights and benchtops. Covering items in dust covers or some old bed sheets often does the job nicely.
Embrace lists
As you approach the end of your renovation, you’ll find most things are complete, but a lot of small jobs are still left to be finished. This is entirely normal.
Ask your designer to make a list of all of these to-do items, with the name of the relevant tradesperson next to each item, and group all of them together sorted by name. When you or your designer ring each tradesperson, you’ll have a full list of remaining items, so you can agree a date for completion of everything in one go.
As you approach the end of your renovation, you’ll find most things are complete, but a lot of small jobs are still left to be finished. This is entirely normal.
Ask your designer to make a list of all of these to-do items, with the name of the relevant tradesperson next to each item, and group all of them together sorted by name. When you or your designer ring each tradesperson, you’ll have a full list of remaining items, so you can agree a date for completion of everything in one go.
Test fittings and appliances
Check to make sure everything is working properly before you end the project. Inspect the oven, taps, stove, fridge, bins, cabinet carcasses, doors, lights, power points and sockets, range hood, hot-water heater if you’ve had a new one installed, dishwasher and all other appliances to ensure they work properly. File the instructions and warranty documents for each somewhere safe.
Check to make sure everything is working properly before you end the project. Inspect the oven, taps, stove, fridge, bins, cabinet carcasses, doors, lights, power points and sockets, range hood, hot-water heater if you’ve had a new one installed, dishwasher and all other appliances to ensure they work properly. File the instructions and warranty documents for each somewhere safe.
Relax and enjoy
Take a break and enjoy what you’ve created. Have some family or friends over to celebrate. You’ve made it!
Your turn
What’s your best advice for a smooth, stress-free kitchen renovation? Share your tips in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
Wondering which professionals will be best for your kitchen refresh? Find out here with our Renovation Insight: How to Choose a Kitchen Designer
Take a break and enjoy what you’ve created. Have some family or friends over to celebrate. You’ve made it!
Your turn
What’s your best advice for a smooth, stress-free kitchen renovation? Share your tips in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
Wondering which professionals will be best for your kitchen refresh? Find out here with our Renovation Insight: How to Choose a Kitchen Designer
The first thing you need to do is measure your current kitchen (and, if it’s open-plan, your dining space and living area). If you’re shifting its location in your floor plan, measure the space where you’d like to relocate it. Use metric measurements (millimetres for greater accuracy – it’s how architects, designers, builders and trades work) and include all doors, windows, fixed furniture, fuse boxes and the like.
If you’re not adept at using a tape measure, leave this to your kitchen designer – it’s important to get it right. ‘Measure twice, cut once’ is the golden rule and that might often mean getting a second opinion from whoever will be designing or fitting your kitchen.
Whichever designer you go with will likely take their own set of measurements with a more accurate laser measuring tool, but it helps to have a rough set of dimensions to work off before they conduct a measure and site visit.
Updating your kitchen? Find specialised kitchen designers and renovators near you and browse images of their work