Step 1. Plan & Design
Step 1. Plan & Design
managing your renovation
Think about what aspects of your renovation you want to do yourself (D.I.Y.) and what you want to outsource to a cabinet maker for a full custom kitchen. You can
D.I.Y. most, some or none of the process, depending on your budget, time and skill level.
Here are some pros and cons of each process:
D.I.Y. pros – you’ll save money and feel a great sense of achievement at the end.
D.I.Y. cons – you’ll be learning along the way and there can be the odd hiccup. You’ll need some time and patience to navigate through the process.
Cabinet maker pros – your chosen provider should handle the entire process for you, simple!
Cabinet maker cons – can be expensive and you have less control over the process.
Or, you could get the best of both worlds. For example, you could measure and design your kitchen but outsource the rest. Keep in mind that you’ll still need to
project manage your tradespeople but you’ll save money and feel great pride and satisfaction in your new kitchen.
Remember, you’ll always need licenced professionals for any gas, plumbing and electrical works.
budget
Let’s get down to business. It’s vital that you understand your spending capabilities prior to undertaking your kitchen project, so you can budget accordingly.
This table is designed to give you an overview of where your budget will be used in the kitchen renovation process. It gives you the opportunity to prepare your cost allocation and establish where you might be able to save some money. Remember to keep a portion of your budget aside for any unforeseen costs or circumstances.
A fully installed kitchen can cost anywhere from $5,000 right up to $90,000 if your budget allows. On average, a completed Australian kitchen will cost approximately $25,000.
Generally speaking, flatpack and DIY kitchens are on the lower end of the cost scale but this does not mean you have to skimp on style. Visit the Homedec inspiration gallery for some stylish and cost-effective kitchen ideas.
Once you know your spending limit, you’ll need to do your own research and get your own quotes. Keep in mind that you may not need to budget for all of the items in the table as they may not be applicable to your build.
Above all else, remember that renovating your kitchen is an investment in your home, re-sell value and lifestyle.
kitchen products - knowing what’s out there and how to choose
A kitchen is a sizeable investment of both your time and money so you’ll want to be prepared. Do your research across different retailers to get an understanding of the most common kitchen products. Then, you can start to formulate what matters most to you.
cabinets
Find cabinets certified with the AFRDI tick, the AS/NZ gold standard for furniture construction, safety and strength. It is a good idea to ensure your cabinets have a solid back construction for a sturdy and durable frame. Look out for cabinets with pre-drilled holes to make life easier when assembling and, of course, make
sure you’re getting the best warranty available. Some clever kitchen companies even offer customisable options on modular flatpack systems. This can help you
achieve the perfect fit for your kitchen space and can be a more affordable solution than a full custom kitchen.
benchtops
Benchtops range considerably in price depending on the material, look and texture. If you’re looking for a versatile, economical option, there’s plenty of realistic stone lookalikes on the market that are created with laminate or acrylic material. Other options include real timber, polished concrete, granite or porcelain. One of the most popular options is engineered stone, it will add value to your home but can be an expensive outlay.
doors
Different door colours and profiles offer a completely different look and style to your kitchen space. If you’re after a sleek, modern look then choose a flat seamless profile, but if you’re after say a costal or classic style kitchen then choose a profile with subtle detailing to help add texture and character.
Then, you have a choice of door materials. The two most popular options are melamine and vinyl (also known as thermoformed). Melamine provides a true
square edge and is considered to be a durable and cost effective option. Thermoformed doors and panels use a vinyl coating that is heat wrapped around the face of the panel, providing a seamless finish with no exposed corners. Easy to clean and maintain, you can choose between various profile options.
If you’re feeling creative, there’s also paint your own door options which can be a cost effective solution so you can achieve the exact colour you’re after.
hardware
Hinges can be have a big influence on the functionality of your kitchen. Standard hinges are a great choice but other reliable choices such as soft close and push to open hinges might better suit your functionality needs. Soft closing hinges provide a smooth and silent closing option for your doors and cabinets. Push-to-open hinges allow your kitchen to achieve the sleek, ‘handle-less’ look. If you do want handles for your doors, drawers and cabinets, make sure you choose handles that will compliment your colour and style choices throughout your kitchen.
splashbacks
Are available in many forms depending on your preferred style and budget. The most common forms of splashback are tile and glass. Alternative options for your splashback include copper, exposed brick, timber, marble and pressed metal.
planning and timing checklist
Here’s a quick checklist to help you plan your kitchen.
We’ve also given you a rough indication of the time you should allocate to each step so you can plan around your end goal. For example, do you want to complete your renovation by a certain month or in time for a special event? Planning ahead will make your renovation as smooth as possible but our best
advice is to plan for the unexpected. Sometimes life can throw you some curveballs so factor in some extra time so you’re not too stressed!
- measure your kitchen – 1 day
- collect inspiration once you understand the size of your space – 1-3 days
- work out your budget and get some quotes – 4 weeks
- sort out your appliances – up to 4 weeks
- complete your design – 1-2 weeks
- get it delivered – average 4 weeks (every supplier will be different)
- work out how you’ll live without your kitchen
- organise a skip bin – 1 day
- remove your old kitchen – 1-3 days
- install your new kitchen – up to 2 weeks
- invite your family and friends over to show off your handywork and enjoy your brand new kitchen!
approximate time from start to completion – 12 weeks.
measuring up your kitchen
The first step to planning your new kitchen is understanding the space you have to work with, so you can maximise every nook and cranny! Here is your guide on how to accurately measure your kitchen space, as well as some top tips to help you along the way.
double check
Ever heard of the saying, measure twice and cut once? That applies here too. We always recommend measuring your kitchen space twice over, just in case you missed something.
rely on good tools
Your tape measure will be your trusty friend for measuring your kitchen space. Make sure you own a good tape measure that’s free from kinks and bends.
Manual tape measures will do the trick, but for keen DIY’ers digital measuring tools are a great alternative.
record your specs
It sounds obvious but make sure you accurately record your measurements. A scrap piece of paper will work, or, if you have access to a printer, you can download and print our grid sheet here. It will assist you to record and layout your kitchen measurements more accurately.
be accurate
Remember, you don’t have to measure your benchtops or cabinets that are currently installed. These will eventually be replaced and potentially moved to a
different position depending on your new layout. As such, just stay focused on the kitchen space itself and measuring the items listed on the next page.
keep it consistent
Write down your dimensions in one type of metric. Millimetres is the best option to be consistent with all trade and hardware products.
architraves
Always measure to the outside of the architraves as they need to be taken into account. Architraves are the frames around your doorways and windows.
know your appliances
Whether you’re getting new appliances or using your existing ones, make sure you have your appliance dimensions handy (heights, widths and depths). Better
yet, ‘take note of appliance model numbers’, which will be helpful when you’re designing your new layout. It’s important to consult your appliance manufacturer’s specifications to ensure adequate clearances are allowed between cabinets and appliances.
take photos
If you’re seeking advice from a professional, have some photos of your existing kitchen handy. This will give context and clarity on the space and reveal if any
further measurements are required.
measure the correct height
Measure roughly 200mm off the ground for base cabinets and approximately 1,500mm off the ground for wall cabinets. For benchtops, measure around 900mm off the ground.
check for square
Always measure along the wall but then take another measurement 600mm off the wall to allow for measurement changes if your walls are out of square.
If your walls are not square, add wall panels or re-plaster to bring them to square.
measurements you’ll need
- floor to the ceiling/bulkhead _________ mm
- floor to window height _________ mm
- any wall lengths, e.g. wall to wall, wall to window, wall to door (record all) _________ mm
- *waste service points: wall waste pipe (WWP) to floor _________ mm, OR
floor waste pipe (FWP) to wall _________ mm - height from floor to incoming water source (usually located inside your sink cabinet) _________ mm
- mark all windows with a ‘W’ (measure to the outside of the architrave)
- mark all doorways with a ‘D’ or ‘SD’ (measure to the outside of the architrave)
- mark the location of any service points if you can see them (sometimes they’re not accessible).
- mark any light switches/power points with an ‘LS’ or ‘PP’
- mark any gas service points with a ‘G’
- mark any other permanent fixtures such as balustrades, beams, pillars, low ceiling
*Your waste service point is normally a 50mm PVC pipe that carries waste
water out from your kitchen sink. A waste service point will flow through
either the floor or the wall. If your waste pipe is installed on the wall you’ll
simply need to measure the distance from the floor to the pipe in the wall.
But if it flows through the floor, look inside the sink cabinet, and measure
from the middle of the pipe to the wall. Remember, you’ll always need
licenced professionals for any gas, plumbing and electrical works.
floor plan sample
note: the ‘c’ symbol (with a cross through the middle), means that the measurement is taken from the centre point.
designing your kitchen
No idea about kitchen styles or design? Don’t fancy yourself an
interior designer? Don’t stress, here’s some top tips to help you
find a style that will suit both you and your home.
Most kitchen retailers and local cabinet makers offer online, in-store or in-home design consultations. If you go for an online or in-store consultation you’ll probably need to bring your measurements to the consult, whereas a ‘measure-up’ is usually included as part of the in-home consultation process. Regardless, your provider will consult with you on your style preferences and can complete the design on your behalf.
Alternatively, you can completely design your new kitchen yourself. There’s a number of clever online design programs that can help you layout your new
kitchen from the comfort of your own home, in your own time. These programs can also be a great way to instantaneously play with colour and design to see what style you like best. Unless you’re a seasoned renovator, we recommend getting your design checked by a kitchen expert before you place your order.
style
get inspired
Start collecting inspiration – look at magazines, websites, Pinterest, Instagram and go into stores to checkout kitchen displays. Get familiar with popular kitchen styles like country, modern, industrial and scandi - there’s plenty out there!
be cohesive
When forming your style preferences consider how the kitchen style will work with the décor around the rest of your home. A simple way to achieve a designer look is to integrate a cohesive theme throughout your home. This can be as simple as using the same door profile or handles for cabinetry in your kitchen, laundry, bathroom and living space. It’s also a good idea to consider the era
of your home and match accordingly.
functionality
make your kitchen work for you
Start writing a kitchen wish list and consider the functionality of your kitchen. Are you an avid entertainer? Perhaps a big island bench will act as a central meeting point. Are you a budding chef? Maybe you need two ovens. Do you have small children? Consider soft-close door hinges.
storage
Most people want to maximise storage so here’s some tips to get the most out of your space.
- Use as much wireware as you can, it’s a great way to organise and create extra space.
- Use the full height of your kitchen space by stacking cabinetry.
- Waste bins will conceal clutter and odours.
- Minimise filler panels by being clever with your design or opting for flatpack kitchen companies that offer customisable cabinets.
check your property’s structure
If you’re considering moving your kitchen to a different room, knocking down walls or moving appliances to improve the functionality, always identify the
structural status of your property. Does your house have timber stumps or a concrete slab? Solid brick walls or timber stud walls? Which walls are load bearing?
should you customise?
Consider the size of your kitchen space, if you’re using a modular, flatpack system you’ll need to fit standard size cabinets into your given space. It’s common to use filler panels to fill gaps in your design but they can be a waste of space detracting from the overall look of the kitchen. Luckily, there’s some clever kitchen companies out there that offer customisable options on modular systems.
understand the working triangle
This is the distance between your cooktop, fridge and sink. The most effective workspaces allow 1200mm between each of these stations to minimise movement in the kitchen. Common layouts include a U-shape, L-shape, straight line, island or galley kitchen.
U-shape kitchen
The U-shape is most commonly suited to larger kitchen spaces and is the perfect layout for families who spend lots of time in the kitchen.
L-shape kitchen
The L-shape kitchen suits open plan living areas, smaller areas and long
rooms. It also enables you to move freely between the various areas within the kitchen and gives you ample benchtop working space.
L-shape island kitchen
An island in this format is most suited to larger, more spacious kitchens.
Additional cabinets and benchtop workspaces also makes this kitchen family friendly and an entertainers paradise.
straight line kitchen
The straight line kitchen is ideal for small and narrow areas, but can also comfortably accommodate larger kitchens. It’s a simple kitchen design and is often the most inexpensive.
galley kitchen
The galley kitchen is a functional kitchen design that allows you to reach all areas of the kitchen with minimal walking distance. A galley kitchen is contemporary and the choice of many chefs.
appliances
check your specs
Carefully review the specifications of your chosen appliances. All appliances must be installed according to their manufacturer’s instructions. Different appliances have separate requirements for things such as clearances and safety regulations. So, you’ll need to consider these space, placement and safety requirements whilst you’re designing your new kitchen.
compliance
Research any relevant builders codes or appliance standards that you’ll need to be compliant with. Most appliances available in major retailers will meet Australian standards but it is important to check. Builders standards can change with time and vary between Australian states, so check with your relevant builder’s authority.
end panels
Remember to use end panels either side of appliance cabinets and at the end of a run of cabinetry to hide exposed carcasses.
clearance space
Don’t forget to leave a minimum of 300mm clearance on either side of your cooktop to any pantries or panels. This clearance space is to prevent your end panels burning or developing heat damage over time. It is also important to ensure there is free space on either side of your cooktop for the handles of your pots and pans. You don’t want to burn your hands!
watch your windows
Avoid positioning cooking appliances under windows or near inward opening doors (especially gas units). You could scorch or burn window architraves, or your blinds could catch on fire.
position your appliances
Don’t place your fridge and cooking appliances next to one another to reduce energy consumption on competing hot and cold producing appliances.
important
Do not attempt to undertake gas, plumbing or electrical work yourself. Always hire a licenced professional.