How to plan your kitchen renovation

Renovating a kitchen is a big job – in terms of both cost and scale. The most important part of any kitchen renovation project is planning. Before you hire a contractor and start knocking down walls, have a look at our guide to planning your kitchen remodel.

Set a budget

Big renovation projects often end up taking a lot more time and money than you plan for. It’s a good idea to set a moderate budget just below your maximum to ensure you’ve got some wiggle room in case your project runs over. An extra 15% should be enough to cover unplanned expenses and prevent you from ending up with an unfinished kitchen.

Research

Decide on a kitchen design style you like before visiting kitchen showrooms and hardware or building supply stores. Make use of design magazines and websites to help you settle on the finished look you would like to achieve. Start a Pinterest inspiration board to save your ideas and to show your contractor your design choices. 

Think quality, not quantity

It might be tempting to take your renovation on yourself, but it’s important to remember that fitting a kitchen is a complex task. While it might initially be more expensive to hire skilled kitchen renovation specialists, having to fix up shoddy work will set you back a whole lot more in the long term. The same goes for materials. Always buy the best you can afford to ensure that your kitchen has a longer lifespan. If you’ve got great materials and good quality workmanship, it’s likely that you’ll never have to repeat the renovation process again.

Go for form and function

Go with reliable, quality basics that look good and do the job you need. An integrated coffee maker might be nice, but what happens if it stops working? And how will it affect your electricity bill? Think about the appliances you use on a daily basis and stick with those, the rest are likely unnecessary gimmicks.

Think about your kitchen layout

Spend some time thinking about how you use your kitchen. Maybe even take some notes while you’re cooking. This will help you to identify your priorities for your new space. Think about the layout of your room, how many people work in the kitchen at the same time, whether you have enough storage space and the functions your kitchen serves on a daily basis. An experienced kitchen renovation contractor can help you make sure that your kitchen is laid out to suit your needs. 

Get some help

Find an experienced contractor and sit down with them to discuss your kitchen project. Ask friends and neighbours who have done renovations if you can have a look at their kitchens, and whether they have any kitchen renovation specialists they’d recommend. A contractor can help you to figure out whether your plan for your space will put it to its best use for you. They can also help you to manage the people who will work on your renovation site and ensure you don’t end up being charged for things you don’t want or need.

Start renovating

Once you know your budget, your requirements and your contractor, you can set the date and start your renovation. Remember to stick to your plan and, most of all, enjoy your exciting journey to a new kitchen.

Speak to Select-a-Kitchen about your kitchen renovation today. We can assist you from idea to implementation. Call us today on 021 554 5290 or email us at info@select-a-kitchen.co.za