Kitchen renovations - what should you consider?

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1. Your renovation goals

It’s important to start with listing out what you would like to achieve from your kitchen renovation.

• Do you want to replace outdated cabinets?
• Do you want to change the location of the kitchen and start again?
• Are you wanting more storage space?
• Do you want more natural light?
• Do you want more bench space for food preparation?

The list is endless…

Setting clear objectives and numbering them in order of priority is a great start.

2. Budget

Kitchens are the most expensive room in the home to renovate.

According to the 2016/17 HIA Kitchen and Bathrooms survey, the average cost of a complete kitchen renovation in 2016 was on average $20,411.

Working out your priorities in the kitchen can help forecast a budget for renovation. For example, if you love to cook then you may opt for higher end appliances such as Miele and standard cabinetry. If it’s all about the look of the kitchen for you, then put your money into high end cabinetry and fittings.

Often, kitchens are placed into three categories – budget, standard and premium. Thinking about this and the type of kitchen that suits your home will help with your budget.

Budget: $10,000 – $20,000

If you have a budget up to about $20,000 then you would be looking at making simple additions to the kitchen such as new cupboard knobs, lighting or splashbacks. You could also consider a DIY kitchen from IKEA or Bunnings.

Standard: $20,000 – $45,000

For a standard kitchen renovation, you can upgrade your kitchen and make some changes to the kitchen’s shell structure, such as new flooring, replacing a window or relocating lighting. However, this price point assumes that the major features of the kitchen will stay in place and the floor plan will not change dramatically.

Premium: $35,000 – $75,000+

3. A larger scale renovation may include a new layout of the kitchen space or addition of walls leading to adjacent spaces.

“A premium kitchen renovation could involve relocation of the kitchen, removal of major walls, installing high end European appliances, auto-opening drawers, heated flooring, hot water taps or installing new windows. For this type of renovation, you’d need to budget between $40,000 – $70,000 plus.”

The design and style that work for you and the space

Think about how your family uses the kitchen on a daily basis. This will help you design a kitchen space that suits your needs.

For example, does your family like to sit around the bench doing homework and eating? Then designing an island bench with plenty of space and seating should be the priority.

Carefully planning the layout and design should be the priority. Think about the following:

• The height of the appliances
• Width of walkways – don’t make them too narrow once doors are open
• Adequate bench space for preparation
• Adequate storage space
• A place to sit and eat
• Integration with other rooms in the house
• Orientation of sunlight
• Your view from the workspace