Tips for planning your kitchen remodel – the big picture

This blog post is the first in a series which will cover the groundwork of planning a kitchen remodel. Topics include:
• The big picture
• How do I use a mood board to plan my kitchen renovation?
• The finer details

Renovating a kitchen can be a daunting task, but it can also be extremely rewarding. A kitchen renovation can add value to your home, increase efficiency, and make cooking and entertaining more enjoyable.

Here are some steps to follow when embarking on a kitchen renovation project:

Work out what your overall vision is for your kitchen. Vision covers style, colours and functionality in a general sense. For many these are the very reasons they want to update their kitchen – they feel their old kitchen is outdated, has a dowdy colour scheme, and many of the cupboards are hard to access. Having a fresh new look and better functionality ensures cooking is a dream rather than a drag.

1. Style hunting

What style will your kitchen be? A timeless classic, contemporary, or avant-garde? Have a look through our gallery to see what sort of style suits you. You don’t need to know the name of the style to know what you like.

• Find pictures of kitchens that you love – collect images that show what you like in terms of:

  • Colours

  • Door profiles

  • Appliance placement

  • Appliance style

  • Flooring

Try to nail down a style and colour scheme that you would like to aim for. Don’t despair if this is difficult, your designer will look over your inspiration images and help you. Mood boards can greatly assist in this process and our next blog post will explain how to use mood boards to direct your vision and keep you within the boundaries of that vision.

2. Become a kitchen analyst

The way you use your kitchen may be very different to the way another person uses their kitchen. Work out what you want from your kitchen by looking at kitchens in use and discussing with friends how they use theirs.

• Consider the layout of your current kitchen and home. What aspects work well, and what aspects are lacking? Does the orientation/placement of your kitchen work in your home? Does it need to be altered?

• What things do you love about friends’ kitchens or kitchens you have seen elsewhere?

• Would you like to have seating within your kitchen – perhaps at the island bench?

• Lighting – consider your present lighting scheme and whether this works well for the room.

3. Financial considerations

Budget can be one of the hardest things to settle on when planning a kitchen remodel. It is very different to buying a car where apples can be compared with apples. Kitchens vary widely in design, quality and style each of which in turn affects the price.

• Consider budget – are you going for a basic, mid-range or high-end kitchen renovation?

• Must haves, would like to have and first to be dropped if need be.

• If you want to have walls removed, ensure you know whether they are load-bearing or not. There will be a huge difference in the price.

4. Find a reputable cabinet maker

Do your research online to get a sense of what others have appreciated about their cabinet maker. How many years of experience does the company have? Is it likely they can honour their warranties?

We highly recommend getting three quotes from cabinet makers that offer kitchen renovations in the same quality range. For instance, if you are comparing a quote from a modular kitchen company with a quote from a custom kitchen manufacturer then there will be a big difference in price and design.

Renovating a kitchen can be a time-consuming and costly process, but the end result can be well worth it. With careful planning, research, and attention to detail, you can create a kitchen that meets your needs, makes cooking a pleasure, and enhances your home.

Our showrooms re-open on the 3rd of January 2023 – come in to experience our quality.