Kitchen Design & Renovations

Next up, we will cover an important component that really needs to be addressed early on, if not right from the get go… yep, you guessed it, it is that pesky thing called ‘Budget’. I like to have this discussion early on with clients and be open and honest about what you have to spend or what you think you need to spend. Many clients find it hard to know what a kitchen will cost and that is A ok, because the range is so huge, with so many variables. I guide my clients through this open discussion and we keep coming back to it all the time, so we are in check and tracking on budget for the whole project.⁠

So what are some of the key variables that will vary the reno price so much? ⁠

– Kitchen size is the first one- a small apartment size kitchen is of course going to be easier on the wallet than say a large family kitchen with a 4-metre island bench and a butler’s pantry.⁠

– Another variable is the location in your home- if you are you moving plumbing, adding new windows etc, this will add to the total renovation costs.⁠

– Appliances – this figure alone can really add up so quickly- are you having a double fridge, plumbed for water and ice? Or is your fridge integrated (hidden behind a door) with your cabinetry? Double ovens? Steam Oven? Aga Oven? Induction plate or gas? I can give you a guide of what the average spend is and what percentage that is of a kitchen, but it really can vary so much depending on how you and your family use your kitchen and what brands and design you decide to go with. So yes, a big chunk of moula will go towards your appliances.⁠

– Cabinetry – if you pop in to visit me in my studio, you will see the huge range of selections available to you for your fronts! This decision will largely depend on the look and feel you are going for, but even then, there are ranges within ranges, at varying price points. Laminates, 2pac, thermolaminate and stunning wooden veneers are just some of the options to consider.

– Benchtops – with 10 plus types to consider, the investment here is significant, but in my mind, it is so worth it. Engineered stone, natural stone, concrete, laminates, porcelain & dekton to name a few of the options. They all have their pros and cons- Engineered stone (think caesarstone) is very popular due to is low maintenance and variety of finishes. Their high end range, that replicates the look of natural marbles, are very popular. I’ve got a penchant for natural stone as well, I just really love nature and all natural materials. I love that no 2 pieces of natural stone are the same, which makes your kitchen even more unique. But, they are porous, so they do stain easier, but they age over time and create a beautiful patina, but if you don’t like the natural ageing process, they might not be for you. Most stones are bought by the slab, so we need to maximise every inch of it and minimise any waste, always at the forefront of my mind when designing.

Together, these main budget considerations are added to the design brief to get us closer to a design solution for your kitchen.

We now turn our kitchen focus to aesthetics- that is, how we want our space to look and feel and ignite all the senses. To be fair, this aspect will have already been discussed many times before now and many of you will already have ideas of how your dream kitchen will look and feel. My main reason for leaving it till last to discuss is to emphasise just how important the other components are in design- I believe that functionality and form should be looked at with mutual respect :-)⁠

So just how do you want your kitchen to look and feel? Yep, it’s a tricky question, but more often that not, if we dig a little deeper, we all generally know what we like and don’t like! Do you want a calm, neutral space? Is light, bright and white the look you are drawn to? Are you drawn to cosy spaces that you want to touch, that inject warmth with wood and warmer material tones? Do you love like the idea of contrasting colours- for eg. some dark and light cabinetry? or are you immediately drawn to more organic and natural materials such as wood, concrete, leather and natural stone?

If you are designing your forever home kitchen, it would be amazing to express yourself in your design, some of your personality through some unique details and features. ⁠

When I am working with a client, the process can take many months from the first meeting to completion (pending council permits etc), so I get to know them really well. I always place myself in their shoes- discussing their lifestyle, personality and interests – even their clothing they have on gives me a good insight into what kitchen they may be drawn to. ⁠

Visual examples of what you like are a great starting point- head on over to Pinterest and start a Kitchen board and ‘pin’ away- don’t analyse it too much, if you see a tile you like, pin it. Love that cabinetry? Pin it! Don’t corner yourself into a particular style as such, be open to all types of looks, materials and finishes. Remember, you are creating your unique kitchen, it is going to be like no other! ⁠
I have a range of boards in my Business Pinterest that can guide you too, so take a look at my work and ideas from other designers. After this process, step back and take some notes on what you are seeing and any patterns visible – is there a clear love of benchtops as a feature? Cabinetry as a hero? or even lighting? Are you a handle/hardware lover or not?

This vital stage is a huge part of the design process and together with all the other considerations, the puzzle is about to be put together!

As you can tell from the length of this blog, there’s a lot to know about Kitchens, with literally hundreds of decisions to be made throughout the process. It can be overwhelming and a lot of time needs to be dedicated to getting it right, after all, kitchens are the heart of every home. Time and decision making are the two main reasons I am engaged to assist in designing for clients, here are a few more reasons why it might make sense for you to engage a designer to achieve your dream kitchen:⁠
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+ You will save time- working with a designer ensures you have a plan of attack and schedules of selections that have been narrowed down to just a few of the best for you to select from for your unique design. No need to spend your evenings and weekends’ sourcing materials and fixtures, it will be all done for you, including many amazing selections and suppliers you have never heard about.⁠
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+ You will save money – without a vision or design clarity about your project, chances are you will spend money on the wrong choices or blow the budget on areas that could have been done in a more efficient and price-conscious way. Designers make every budget work hard, they know where to pull back and where to invest wise money. All selections are finalised in the planning stage, which then makes getting quotes a whole lot more accurate. The cabinet maker knows every single measurement and every single detail, as he is able to work off the drawings and documentation we provide, easy peasy. Less hiccups, minimal surprises once the hammer begins.
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+ You will get professional support – we come with a wealth of knowledge and industry experience- you will have a personal guide helping you make all the difficult decisions together and we have your best interests at heart. We will most likely make suggestions that you would have never considered, adding a brand-new perspective to your dream home and what can be achieved. ⁠
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+ Team Hygge – there’s no need to find a cabinet maker, an electrician, plumber, plasterer, carpenter and other experts in the building industry- we have a great team that can complete any project from start to finish. Our design management option also ensures that the process runs smoothly, with a team we trust, from start to completion, a full-service design approach.

I hope that this information has been helpful in uncovering the kitchen design process. Please reach out if you have any questions at all, I would love to help you.

If you are building or renovating this year, we would love to assist you in the design process, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or email with your questions and I would be happy to help.