The idea of a kitchen renovation can be daunting.
I think it’s because it’s true that kitchens sell houses. It’s the heart of the home. You want it done right. You want it practical. Beautiful. You want it to have enough storage, enough bench space, enough light. You want it to function exactly right, enable you to entertain, have kids up at the bench ‘helping’, but we also don’t want it to cost very much or interrupt our lives for too long.
We sure are asking a lot of one space. So it’s easy to see why renovating or building a kitchen can be intimidating.
But it doesn’t have to be.
We’ve designed and built 8 kitchens ourselves so far, and helped with the design of lots more. And we love it.
Because done correctly, a well-designed kitchen makes a home and literally changes the way you live. It allows you to be organised, social, motivated to cook.
I know. I speak from experience. I’ve lived in and with some horrible kitchens. Less than 1sqm of bench space, carpet underfoot, nowhere for the kids to eat. I’ve disappeared into a closed-off, walled-in area to make a guest a coffee. Had too many take-out dinners because cooking without a fan-forced oven is hard work. Not invited people over because there’s no where for them to sit.
Then we’ve gotten around to the kitchen renovation and everything changes. Sounds dramatic but these things can translate into actual health; feelings of calm and structure, happiness.
It’s important. And it may be time to stop putting it off.
Here’s our top tips for how to plan and complete your kitchen renovation on a budget.
1. Plan it right, plan it once.
Even if you think you know what you want it’s still so valuable to get advice from people you know that have done it. What do they like about their kitchen? What do they wish they had done differently? Do you have someone you could give your plan to to get their advice?
We all see different things and that one conversation could stop you making a huge mistake! Back in 2011 when we owner built our first house, I showed the plans to my housemate. She took one look at it and said, you realise you’ve got less than a metre between your benches!? This was between two walls, imagine if I’d never showed her!
If you don’t have anyone to give you good advice, hire someone. The planning stage really is that important. But please do your research before you do. I recently looked at our friends’ kitchen plan that was done by an interior designer at $100 an hour and it didn’t have an oven! I kid you not. Another case and point for us deciding to offer consultations at a low cost!
2. Get at least 3 quotes
Thousands of dollars of disparity can exist between joiners, all using the same product. Just because you’ve heard the place is the cheapest for someone, doesn’t mean they will be for you. Specific joiners get specific products cheaper because they buy in bulk or plug one brand over another. Take the time and make the appointment with at least three joiners.
And if they charge you for a quote or don’t get back to you within a couple of weeks max, ditch them.
3. Consider IKEA
If IKEA’s range of colours and profiles fall within the vision of your job, consider it. They have an excellent, free in store or online design service and the quality is surprisingly great. In our experience, they come in at about a quarter of the cost, which is hard to ignore. We have started using their cabinetry and then spend the money on stone benchtops and other custom elements like panelling, timber shelving and handles.
However, this option might not be for you if you’re not handy at all or don’t have the time or stamina to get the often tedious and confusing work done to install it properly. It also may not be your best option if you’ve got a particularly tricky space to work with or your kitchen is going wall-to-wall and the sizes don’t work (but we use open shelving to circumnavigate this!).
4. Don’t be afraid to move the position of your kitchen.
Especially if you have a timber floor, moving plumbing isn’t always as expensive as you’ve heard. If moving your kitchen significantly increases the flow and liveability of your home, do it. And the extra benefit is that you can keep your old one in tact and functional while you build your new one.
And as always:
5. Shop around.
There are budget friendly, quality alternatives for sinks, taps, shelving, even appliances! Just because you’ve heard it’s the best brand or the big chain store has a huge advertising budget doesn’t mean it’s a must-have.
If you need help planning your renovation, get in touch. We’re a budget-friendly design and consultation service that will get your reno off to the right start!
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