The kitchen is the undisputed heart of the home, and one of the most frequented rooms you have. When you decide to renovate this area, there are a lot of things to consider to ensure that it not only looks like your dream kitchen, but also functions at its peak potential. Whether you’re entertaining for friends or cooking up warm meals for the family, your kitchen is a special place that should contain practical features, yet still turn heads.
Finding a Melbourne home renovation builder have become the next best thing for homeowners who want a dynamic change, without having to move to a completely new house. If you are considering hiring a kitchen renovator, or are building your home and kitchen from scratch, there are some things to be aware of before taking the financial plunge.
Let’s delve into 5 things you should think about before beginning your dream kitchen renovation.
- Style and Budget
First things first, figure out your budget. There is no point designing a grand kitchen renovation if you haven’t got enough savings, or can’t secure the finances for it. Once you know your budget, you can begin to plan your desired kitchen style. Whether you’re going for industrial, traditional, modern or eclectic, talk to a professional kitchen renovation builder to discuss how achievable your dream style kitchen is.
Look at ways you can minimise costs, but don’t skimp on quality where necessary. Comparing prices on things like tiling and lighting companies for example, could save you thousands of dollars in the long run, so make sure you do some research into all areas of the build.
- Part or Full Renovation?
You don’t necessarily need to rip out, and replace everything to get the dream kitchen that you desire. To keep your renovation costs down (and stay under budget), consider whether some aspects of your original kitchen can stay. Giving your cabinets a new coat of paint and some stylish new handles, can have the same effect as buying and installing new ones. Assess what features have to be replaced, and what is worth including in the overall renovation.
- Design Practicality
Making your new kitchen more practical and user-friendly is vital. Think about your intentions for the space, and make design choices accordingly. For those who love to entertain, an island bench is a useful inclusion, providing your guests with a focal point for conversing. Island benches are great for bigger families too, as they provide you with additional food preparation and serving space. Remember that ideally you want the main 4 stations of your kitchen to be within close proximity to each other; your sink, cooktop, fridge and bench, so consider your layout carefully.
- Plumbing and Electrical
When planning out where the new sink, dishwasher and oven will go, you have to ensure that the plumbing and electrical lines will be safely accessible to those points. Power sockets on island benches are genius, but is it possible with your current wiring system? Hiring a plumber and an electrician to safely run these lines to your desired points (extra sinks, power points) is a vital step before your flooring is even laid down. This step is probably one of the most important to consider, as any mistakes that need to be rectified during or after the build, will be costly. If you choose the help of a kitchen renovation building company, they can ensure the work is done by licenced professionals, at the best prices.
- Colour scheme and Lighting
Depending on the overall style you’re trying to achieve, colour and lighting choices can change the entire look and feel of your kitchen. For a brighter, contemporary kitchen, light colour schemes would be optimal, whereas if you want a more sleek, modern yet romantic style, the use of darker tones of paint and wood will help create the mood. For the perfect lighting accompaniment browse through kitchen design galleries online for inspiration, or visit your local lighting centre. Remember that lighting should be optimised in key areas such as above the island bench, stove-top and sink.
KITCHEN DREAMS FULFILLED
There are so many details to think about when renovating your kitchen, even down to what coloured appliances will suit your tile selection. Plan and research everything to get exactly what you want, within the limits of your budget. For the best advice, contact a respected home renovation builder, who can take most of the stress out of the planning and construction aspects. Licensed home builders also have trade contacts that will prove handy if you need to outsource labour and materials.
With all these things in mind, you can and will build the kitchen of your dreams, the smart way.
