- By Hanover Plumbing
- In Plumbing, Tips
- Tags Kitchen, NZ Homes, Renovations, Tapware
Kitchen Renovation Checklist
One room in the house where you really feel the difference between a great layout and a bad one is the kitchen. Many families spend time in the kitchen at least three times per day – preparing and eating their meals. Most kitchens also double as homework desks, home offices and a catch-all for mail, notices and odds and ends. And this doesn’t even include all of the socialising that takes place there!
Many older homes in New Zealand had smaller kitchens than current designs offer. This explains why so many homeowners take on a kitchen renovation soon after moving in. Older home designs also included more walls and doors, enclosing each room, but people favour the more modern concept of open plan kitchen and living areas. As you start thinking of making changes to your kitchen, here are some items to consider.
Budget
Most of us will have a budget for our renovation. This is important to keep in mind when you are making plans as you don’t want to spend all of the budget on a fancy stove and realise you don’t have enough left to get the gas piped to the kitchen! So start with your budget, even if it’s a rough figure to start with.
Timing
A kitchen renovation is disruptive, even when it happens smoothly. All of those meals, homework assignments and home business tasks likely need to take place elsewhere during the renovation. Take into account the scale of the work being done and ensure that you think about how you’ll manage cooking for the time you are without your appliances. Summer is a great time for a kitchen renovation because you can more easily move some of the cooking to the BBQ. Discuss with your builder whether it’s possible to renovate in phases or if it’s best to do the whole thing at once.
Function
Think carefully about how you currently use the kitchen and what aspects are most challenging to work with. Because it’s likely that you’ll only renovate your kitchen once, keep in mind the future requirements you may have – will people move into or out of your house in the next 5-10 years? Have you always dreamed of learning everything about culinary arts? Are you more of a takeaway cook? Which parts of the function are must-haves for your family? Which parts are less important to you?
The Kitchen Triangle
For most efficient use of space and for ease of use, ensure that the sink, the fridge and the stove are placed near each other. These are the most-used areas when you’re cooking so making them easy to move between is important.
Design
A kitchen design should be both functional and beautiful. However, make sure that you don’t let the beautiful part make the function more difficult. And with your budget in mind, weigh up where it’s most important to spend it. If you are taking out walls to open up the kitchen, remember you might end up with fewer cupboards for storage. Working with a clever builder or kitchen designer will ensure that the design serves your needs.
Scale of Renovation
Are you just looking to do a tidy up and update the tapware? Or are you replacing cabinetry and removing walls? Are you adding a scullery area? The scale will link closely with your budget and the ultimate intent of the kitchen renovation. If you are flipping a home the scale may vary differently to someone building their dream kitchen.
Appliances
Are you getting all new appliances? What type of each are you considering? Will you need to change access points to accommodate them – such as running water to a fridge for the automatic ice-maker, or adding a drain for a new dishwasher?
DIY or Professional
If you are trying to watch the budget carefully, think about whether there are aspects you can do yourself. Make sure you hire professionals for the plumbing and electrical work for sure – and if you are making structural changes. If you are happy with a DIY paint job, or you don’t mind assembling cabinetry, you might be able to chip in here and there with the project.
Flooring & Paint
Identify if you are going to replace the flooring and what products you’ll be using. Have a floorlayer take a look under the existing flooring so that you know whether additional prep is required before you change flooring, i.e. are you running flooring across different areas and are they level?
Lighting & Ventilation
There are lots of great options with kitchen lighting so think about the layout and what types will suit each area. If you don’t have a range hood currently, one should be included in your plans so that you can remove some of the moisture created through cooking.
Storage
It’s a good idea to measure your current storage space and be sure to adjust your new cabinets accordingly. If you can’t fit everything now, either downsize some items or add more storage space. You can make smart use of walls and hanging storage too if you don’t have floor space for more cabinets.
A kitchen renovation is exciting and the results are something that you’ll be enjoying for years to come. So make sure you take the time to plan it. If you need any advice on how to upgrade or change your plumbing in the kitchen, get in touch today!
