Your kitchen is a very important space in your home. It’s is so much more than a place where you prepare meals for your family, it truly is the heart of the home. Renovating your kitchen can be one of those things that you know you have to do, but the sheer mountain of construction and design choices can seem overwhelming.

In this month's B&C Journal to make it a little easier, we’re going to breakdown your steps into bite sized, easy to understand pieces. We hope this month's article provides you with a useful planning guide to help prepare you for your next kitchen renovation. 

Robert Fonti, Director, Balnei & Colina

Kitchen Renovation by Balnei & Colina

Kitchen Renovation- The Steps To Follow 

As in almost every project, the key to success is solid preparation and the right helping hands. To make things a little easier to digest, here are some steps to follow before undertaking a kitchen renovation:

 

Kitchen renovation by Balnei & Colina

1. Create A Plan 

Well before you contact any contractor, sit down and consider exactly how you would use your kitchen. Make note of all the changes that would improve its functionality, like increased storage space. Consider incorporating a breakfast bar for casual meals or, for your children, a place to do their homework while you cook dinner. 

Check  the movement flow in your kitchen is comfortable. Ask yourself, Can I move in and out of my kitchen with ease? Is it easy to move between key areas within my kitchen for eg from cooking to food preparation zones? A skilled kitchen designer can provide solutions for any existing issues and and draw your new kitchen to scale so can better visualise what your new kitchen renovation will look like as well as how it will function. Your kitchen renovation specialist will also incorporate clever space saving and organisation ideas you may not have thought of. 

 

Image credit: Felix Frost

2. Styling and Design 

It is important to understand what design style you like. Feel free to do bit of research and explore the latest kitchen design trends. Visit our latest Balnei & Colina blog article which provides a summary of the latest kitchen trends you should know here - Top Kitchen Trends for 2019. The kitchen design team at Balnei & Colina can help guide you on which kitchen design trends will suit you and your family's needs and which trends to incorporate into your kitchen renovation. 

When selecting materials and styling for your kitchen, ensure that these complement the design theme of your home. After all, want your newly renovated kitchen to feel a part of your home. 

Image credit: Chris Warnes Photography

3. Budget Planning 

Deciding a budget is another vital aspect of the planning stage. When it comes to kitchen renovation, it is important to set a budget and stick to it. To ensure your budget doesn’t escalate, start with a list of needs and move upwards from there. For example if your oven is fairly new and doesn’t need updating, keep it and allocate the funds to other areas of your kitchen renovation.

 

Image credit: Minosa Design

4. Getting it Done 

Now it is time to bite the bullet. You want to research and interview your contractors, begin to order your cabinets, appliances, flooring, lighting fixtures, sink, hardware, tiles, baseboards and paint well in advance of the expected completion date for your kitchen renovation. Also, make sure you obtain all of the necessary building permits before commencement! 

Your kitchen designer and kitchen contractors will walk you through the order of your kitchen renovation but the following will help by providing a general guide; 

Kitchen renovation steps

1. Demolition (removing cabinet doors first and ensuring both power and water are off)
2. Review and replace plumbing
3. Updating electrical
4. Hang drywall 
5. Install kitchen flooring and baseboards
6. Install kitchen cabinets
7. Measure, order kitchen countertops and install
8. Install kitchen backsplash
9. Install kitchen appliances, faucet, hardware & new lighting
10. Paint kitchen walls and ceiling

 

Kitchen Renovation by Balnei & Colina

5. Find The Right Kitchen Renovation Professionals 

We won’t sugar coat it, kitchen renovations are complex and ensuring you have the right contractors is absolutely vital. As a company that has been renovating kitchens for over 20 years, Balnei & Colina know exactly what it takes to provide you with the best kitchen renovation solution, from concept, design to construction. 

The team at Balnei & Colina can create a custom design solution for your kitchen that will add value to your home and lifestyle. With increased functionality, aesthetics and built to the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship, you can be sure to enjoy your newly renovated kitchen for years to come. 

We’ll work closely with you, making sure that all your ideas are incorporated into the kitchen design and that solutions meet your needs and fit your budget.

For more information, feel free to contact Balnei & Colina on 1300 450 320. You can also send us your Sydney kitchen renovation project details via this Contact Us form. 

If you’re looking for further inspiration and ideas for your next kitchen renovation, signup to our newsletter or connect with us on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with the latest design trends.