How to Properly Research a Kitchen Renovation
Kitchens tend to be everyones’ favourite room in the house to renovate. It’s a big job, but the most exciting room in the house to design. No matter how long you’ve been considering your kitchen renovation, researching properly is crucial to achieving the kitchen you’ll love. Here’s what you should consider before you choose your new kitchen joinery and design features.
Determine your budget
Similar to spending on a holiday, It’s very easy to quickly overspend on your kitchen renovation. The first decision you should make is how much you can spend on this project. It’s always a great idea to put away 10-20% of your budget for unforeseen expenses.
Once you’ve decided on a reasonable amount for your budget, you can then assess what avenues you can and can’t explore. Having a solid budget you need to stick to will mean you’re less likely to blow it out in areas where you could get away with spending less, like on small finishes. You can also then seek kitchen design help, and be presented with options within your budget.
Having a budget will also be helpful down the road if you find it hard to make decisions between kitchen joinery options.
Consider time
While you’re researching and planning your kitchen renovation don’t forget that you’ll need to consider how long you’ll be renovating.
- Will this kitchen renovation affect your living situation?
- Do you have any holidays away that you’ll need to postpone?
- How long will it take to clear everything outside of the current kitchen space?
- How long will you be without a kitchen?
- Is there anything that will enable you to get the project completed faster?
- Are the services you require available in your area or will you need to outsource some of the renovations?
- Are you able to strictly project manage this kitchen renovation to ensure there aren’t delays?
- Do you require structural changes? If so, will that take a long time?
Are any of these considerations going to set you back? If so it might be worth postponing until the timing is right. Kitchen remodeling is not something you can rush.
Consider space and materials
Once you have a printed floor plan you can give thought to what your possibilities are and start approaching external kitchen designers. Is your ideal kitchen design possible in your area or will you need to remove a wall or two to make extra space?
The materials you choose to use should have a good shelf life upwards of ten years. Some materials that are durable range from; timber, bamboo, glass, stone and wood.
You’ll also need to consider what finishes you can use to ensure that the materials can stand the test of time against wear and tear.
DIY or outsourced?
As fun as it might look on the tv shows, DIY-ing the kitchen can be daunting, and difficult if you’re not a professional tradesperson. Consider whether you can do any of the following:
- Tiling
- Plumbing
- Plastering
- Filing
- Painting
- Electricity work
- Floor covering
- Carpentry
Is there anyone you know in the industry who can help you with these projects? If not, it’s time to research which contractors you’ll be hiring to do the job and to project manage timelines and the workers’ productivity.
Make a mood board
This is the fun part but don’t underestimate how long this research can take.
Kitchen design ideas are everywhere on the internet, use Instagram and Pinterest to create your own inspirational albums and follow accounts you like the look of.
Still looking for renovation tips? Our exclusive Kitchen Design eBook covers everything from how to decide a layout to trending colour schemes. Download it now!
If you need expert advice for your home renovation, at Apollo Kitchens, we’re here to help you. Reach out to us today for a free consultation.
