It Takes a lot of People Working Well Together To Nail a New Kitchen
It’s true that kitchen renos are one of the most challenging renovations to take on, but they are also the most satisfying when you see and experience the amazing results, day in and day out. If you’re looking to save some money on your new kitchen (who isn’t?), consider project managing this renovation yourself. This means organising a cabinet maker (or carpenter), stonemason, painter, tiler, electrician and plumber yourself, which will require a lot of effort (and, let’s be honest, some stress). Even so, this one decision could save you thousands.
If managing and coordinating the schedules of a lot of trades doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, you could also get your kitchen company, cabinet maker or builder to lead the process for you. Whichever option you choose, the steps to transforming a kitchen are always the same.
1. PLAN YOUR KITCHEN
Write down what you need from your kitchen
Make a list of "must-haves" vs "nice-to haves". So you are clear about priorities and non-negotiable.
Confirm the exact location of your future kitchen in your house
Sketch some potential layouts
Select your appliances. Don't buy them yet, just decide the ones you want so you have their exact dimensions and details.
Make a list of the material, fixtures and fittings you want to use in your kitchen, including colours, cabinetry, handles, benchtop, splashback, sink, tap, etc
Draw a draft lighting and electrical plan onto your kitchen layout sketch showing downlights, powerpoints and any pendants.
TIP: AN INTERIOR DESIGNER CAN HELP YOU WITH FURNISHING AND MATERIAL SELECTION, AS WELL AS CREATING A LIGHTING PLAN. HOME3DINTERIORS CAN ALSO PREPARE REAL 3D IMAGES SHOWCASING YOUR NEW KITCHEN BEFORE YOU BRIEF YOUR BUILDING TEAM, CARPENTER OR CABINET-MAKER. MANY OF OUR CLIENTS UTILISE THESE RENDERS AS A BRIEFING TOOL FOR THEIR BUILDING TEAM.
2. FINALISE YOUR DESIGN
Decide between flat-pack or custom. Even if you have your heart set on a custom kitchen, it is definitely worth comparing the costs of a flat-pack kitchen (either DIY or one installed by a carpenter) versus a bespoke kitchen (using a cabinet maker). A professionally installed well-chosen flat-pack kitchen that’s finished with nice hardware and surrounded by other beautiful touches can look just as good as a custom kitchen. Saving big money in this area could mean you get to spend more on higher-end appliances or other things on your ‘must-have’ list. If you go with a flat-pack kitchen, be aware that there are often limitations around layout because you can only partially customise. You will also need to check that everything gets delivered as per your order. (In our experience there are often bits and pieces missing)
Get some quotes for your dream kitchen. When preparing the brief for your builder, carpenter or cabinet-maker, remember to include the tasks you're planning to organise yourself (e.g. plumber and painter) so they can exclude those jobs from their quote accordingly.
Review and refine your building team's drawings several times until you are satisfied they are millimetre perfect. If using a cabinet maker, their final design should also list every fixture and fitting you intend to use including cabinet colour, door profile, handles, sink, tap, tiles, and benchtops.
Discuss with your carpenter or cabinet-maker who is buying what. Theoretically it should be cheaper for you to shop around, but your cabinet-maker might get some great trade discounts. Talk to them first!
Hold off purchasing most items until you have received the necessary approvals for your reno.
3. RENOVATE!
Organise for your plumber and electrician to ‘cap-off’ (i.e. turn off) all the pipes and electricals before the renovation begins.
Demo the old. Depending on the magnitude of your kitchen reno, you will likely need to demolish parts or all of your existing kitchen and the adjoining areas. Before doing this, you must have the material behind your walls tested by a qualified professional to determine if there is any asbestos present. If there is, it will need to be removed by a licensed asbestos removalist (which should only take 1–2 days) before work can continue. If you’re on a tight timeline, feel free to get the walls tested before you have approval.
TIP: IF YOUR OLD KITCHEN (I.E. CABINETRY, APPLIANCES AND BENCHTOPS) ARE IN AN ACCEPTABLE CONDITION, TRY SELLING IT ONLINE. NOT ONLY IS THIS A MORE SUSTAINABLE OPTION THAN TAKING IT TO THE DUMP, YOU’LL ALSO MAKE MONEY FROM THE SALE AND SAVE MONEY BY NOT HAVING TO DISPOSE OF IT YOURSELF. YOUR DEMOLITION COSTS MIGHT BE A FRACTION HIGHER IF YOU HAVE TO CAREFULLY REMOVE THE CABINETRY RATHER THAN USE A SLEDGEHAMMER, BUT IT’S DEFINITELY WORTH CONSIDERING. YOU COULD EVEN ADVERTISE THE KITCHEN AS ‘REMOVE YOURSELF’, SO THE NEW BUYER HAS TO PULL IT APART AT THEIR COST.
Organise for your plumber and electrician to rough-in the water, power, lighting and gas (if needed) according to the drawings you signed off on with your cabinet maker or as per your flat-pack design.
TIP: DON’T CHANGE YOUR MIND AFTER THIS STAGE AS IT WILL COST YOU MONEY AND PRECIOUS TIME TO MOVE FIXTURES AND FITTINGS AROUND.
If you’ve decided to go with a bulkhead, now might be the time to get it built. Check with your builder or kitchen company as some prefer the bulkhead built before cabinetry install and others prefer it to be done after.
Book a plasterer or use your carpenter to patch existing walls or install new wall linings.
Paint all the walls before the cabinetry goes in as this provides easier access for your painter and also helps to protect the cabinets from paint splatter.
If you’re installing new flooring, ask your cabinet-maker, carpenter and flooring company if it should go in before or after the cabinetry. There isn’t one rule here – it all depends on the type of flooring going down and your cabinet-maker’s preference. We’ve done it both ways.
Have your cabinets and handles installed. If you’re using a flat-pack, this can be done by a carpenter or handyman.
After flooring and cabinetry go in, it’s time to bring in your stonemason to measure up the stone for the benchtop (and possibly splashback). He should already have the slabs in his possession, he just needs to measure up where he’s going to make all his cuts and he can only do this once the cabinetry is in. His measurements must be exact. If you’re planning to have a waterfall edge (where the stone runs down to the floor), the flooring must be in before your stonemason can take his measurements to ensure the best finish. If you’re installing timber benchtops, discuss this with your carpenter. If you’re installing a laminate benchtop, work directly with the laminate company.
Install the benchtops. The installer will also cut and install your sink and cut-out for the cooktop if needed
Call in your tiler to tile the splashback. If you want a stone splashback, your stonemason will install this at the same time as the countertop
Ask your plumber and electrician to return to fit out (A.K.A. install) the tapware, connect all the appliances and hang the pendant lights above the island.
The cabinet-maker will return to install the kickboards and attend to any final adjustments that need to be made now that the benchtops and appliances are in.
TIP: BEFORE YOUR CABINET-MAKER RETURNS, MAKE SURE YOU’VE TESTED EACH AND EVERY DRAWER AND SHELF TO ENSURE THEY ARE WORKING EXACTLY AS YOU WANT THEM TO. IF THEY AREN’T, THIS IS THE TIME TO ASK FOR ANY TWEAKS OR REPAIRS TO BE MADE.
Ask your plumber and electrician for certificates certifying their work and then file these safely away with any warranties and instruction booklets that came with your new appliances.
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