How to Start a Kitchen Renovation
Wondering where to start when revamping your kitchen? Ask yourself these questions to ensure you plan well
A kitchen renovation can be a big and challenging project, but, done well, it can transform the way you live in your home. The trick to making the renovation of this room a success is clear planning, both in terms of establishing what you want from the space and knowing what to ask your designer. Read the first part of our Kitchen Planning guide to find out where to start and click through for articles covering all aspects of your project.
What do I need to include?
Every kitchen is different and a good design will be tailored to your individual needs and budget. However, there are some elements that all good kitchens have in common, and you may want to consider including the following at the planning stage:
Every kitchen is different and a good design will be tailored to your individual needs and budget. However, there are some elements that all good kitchens have in common, and you may want to consider including the following at the planning stage:
- Storage Start by doing an inventory of all your kitchen kit, as this will dictate the amount of storage you need; don’t forget to think long-term, as you might need extra later. A good tip is to consider opting for drawers rather than cupboards, as these allow much easier access.
- A practical worktop To help you decide which type of worktop to go for, consider exactly how you use your kitchen. Think about how much wear and tear particular areas in your space will get, as this will determine how durable your worktops need to be.
- Efficient appliances The appliances you choose will depend on how you use your kitchen and the size and layout of the room. A useful tip is to be honest about how much use they’ll get before you buy. For example, if you entertain often, a good-quality oven and full-size dishwasher might be a priority, but if your room is small, compact appliances might be a better choice.
- Layered lighting As soon as you’ve planned your kitchen’s layout, think about where you’ll locate the lighting. A useful tip is to complement strategically placed task lights with softer mood lighting to create a layered scheme.
- Good-quality fittings If you’re considering which items to spend more on in your kitchen, it’s worth paying attention to the fittings. A standard cabinet can be lifted by a beautiful handle, while a basic sink can look high-end with the addition of a well-chosen tap.
- A hard-wearing floor Think about how your floor will look with the rest of your scheme, and whether you’ll want to change it in the future. For a timeless look, a classic design such as natural stone tiles will work with most kitchen styles and colours.
- A practical splashback Your choice of splashback material is a great opportunity to add interest and texture to the room. Choose a durable material, but have fun with colour, texture and pattern.
How do I plan my kitchen layout?
When it comes to the layout, there are a few tried-and-tested formats to consider and your kitchen designer will be able to talk you through the pros and cons of each for your space. The main ones are galley, single wall, L-shaped and U-shaped.
A basic understanding of key kitchen dimensions, such as worktop height and appliance width, can be very helpful when planning a layout.
For example, most standard kitchen appliances, such as fridges, ovens and dishwashers, are 60cm x 60cm, and a standard worktop is 60cm deep to account for this. A working island will also have a minimum depth of 60cm.
Using these general dimensions, you can start to work out which type of layout might be possible in your space. You can use them to check if you have room for an island, for example, or to work out if you might need to look for smaller appliances in order to fit in everything you need.
More: How Do I Plan My Kitchen Layout?
When it comes to the layout, there are a few tried-and-tested formats to consider and your kitchen designer will be able to talk you through the pros and cons of each for your space. The main ones are galley, single wall, L-shaped and U-shaped.
A basic understanding of key kitchen dimensions, such as worktop height and appliance width, can be very helpful when planning a layout.
For example, most standard kitchen appliances, such as fridges, ovens and dishwashers, are 60cm x 60cm, and a standard worktop is 60cm deep to account for this. A working island will also have a minimum depth of 60cm.
Using these general dimensions, you can start to work out which type of layout might be possible in your space. You can use them to check if you have room for an island, for example, or to work out if you might need to look for smaller appliances in order to fit in everything you need.
More: How Do I Plan My Kitchen Layout?
How will I heat my kitchen?
A kitchen should be the warm and cosy heart of the home, but with hard surfaces, cold flooring and chilly external walls, it can be difficult to create a feeling of comfort.
There are a few main sources of heat to consider: wall radiators, plinth heaters and underfloor heating. Depending on your home and renovation plans, you may want to install just one or a combination of these sources.
You can also draw more warmth into your kitchen by maximising natural light sources, so make a note to talk to your designer about this in your plan.
After you’ve considered heat sources, make sure the space is properly insulated and draught-proofed to ensure you retain as much of this valuable heat as possible. A good tip is to layer up windows with thick, insulating blinds and curtains, which will also help to visually counterbalance any hard lines.
More: A Beginner’s Guide to Heating a Cold Kitchen on Any Budget
A kitchen should be the warm and cosy heart of the home, but with hard surfaces, cold flooring and chilly external walls, it can be difficult to create a feeling of comfort.
There are a few main sources of heat to consider: wall radiators, plinth heaters and underfloor heating. Depending on your home and renovation plans, you may want to install just one or a combination of these sources.
You can also draw more warmth into your kitchen by maximising natural light sources, so make a note to talk to your designer about this in your plan.
After you’ve considered heat sources, make sure the space is properly insulated and draught-proofed to ensure you retain as much of this valuable heat as possible. A good tip is to layer up windows with thick, insulating blinds and curtains, which will also help to visually counterbalance any hard lines.
More: A Beginner’s Guide to Heating a Cold Kitchen on Any Budget
Do I need Planning Permission?
If you’re having building work done as part of your renovation, you may need to apply for Planning Permission, or your works may fall under Permitted Development (PD), depending on the size and scope of the extension.
As a general rule, in order to fall within Permitted Development regulations, extensions, including previous ones, and other buildings must not exceed 50% of the total area of land around the original house, and a single-storey side extension must not be wider than half the width of the original house and the height no more than four metres.
The rules are complex, so you will need to call on professional advice from the outset to help you navigate these procedures. Seek the advice of an architect who’s used to residential work; he or she will be able to give you specific advice and more detail.
You will also need to consider Building Regulations. These differ from Planning Permission in that they cover the structural and safety aspects of any renovation work. For example, choosing to convert your kitchen to an open-plan layout can raise a number of Building Regulations issues, largely around fire safety.
It’s important for your architect to consult with Building Control sooner rather than later to ensure your design is achievable.
More: Can I Extend My House or Loft Without Planning Permission?
8 Key Open-plan Building Regulations Questions to Ask
If you’re having building work done as part of your renovation, you may need to apply for Planning Permission, or your works may fall under Permitted Development (PD), depending on the size and scope of the extension.
As a general rule, in order to fall within Permitted Development regulations, extensions, including previous ones, and other buildings must not exceed 50% of the total area of land around the original house, and a single-storey side extension must not be wider than half the width of the original house and the height no more than four metres.
The rules are complex, so you will need to call on professional advice from the outset to help you navigate these procedures. Seek the advice of an architect who’s used to residential work; he or she will be able to give you specific advice and more detail.
You will also need to consider Building Regulations. These differ from Planning Permission in that they cover the structural and safety aspects of any renovation work. For example, choosing to convert your kitchen to an open-plan layout can raise a number of Building Regulations issues, largely around fire safety.
It’s important for your architect to consult with Building Control sooner rather than later to ensure your design is achievable.
More: Can I Extend My House or Loft Without Planning Permission?
8 Key Open-plan Building Regulations Questions to Ask
How do I decide on a style?
Whether you’re doing a quick kitchen makeover or a complete redesign, gathering together inspirational images in a Houzz Ideabook is a handy way to develop and understand your own personal style. It’s also a useful communication tool for designers and suppliers working on your project.
It’s worth bearing in mind, however, that any design you fall in love with will need to be adapted to work in your own space, so try to keep an open mind and write down exactly which elements of a particular design appeal to you the most.
Do you love the layout of the cabinets, or is it the worktop material that’s caught your eye? A kitchen professional will then be better placed to help you narrow down your own style.
One tip is to be careful about introducing too many on-trend looks in a big way, as you could quickly tire of them. A better idea is to select a more timeless design, then accessorise with the latest lighting and on-trend handles, say, as these are cost-effective and relatively easy to change.
More: How to Curate Ideas for Your Kitchen Project
Whether you’re doing a quick kitchen makeover or a complete redesign, gathering together inspirational images in a Houzz Ideabook is a handy way to develop and understand your own personal style. It’s also a useful communication tool for designers and suppliers working on your project.
It’s worth bearing in mind, however, that any design you fall in love with will need to be adapted to work in your own space, so try to keep an open mind and write down exactly which elements of a particular design appeal to you the most.
Do you love the layout of the cabinets, or is it the worktop material that’s caught your eye? A kitchen professional will then be better placed to help you narrow down your own style.
One tip is to be careful about introducing too many on-trend looks in a big way, as you could quickly tire of them. A better idea is to select a more timeless design, then accessorise with the latest lighting and on-trend handles, say, as these are cost-effective and relatively easy to change.
More: How to Curate Ideas for Your Kitchen Project
What colour should I choose?
Whether you pick an elegant neutral, a rich dark tone or a zingy shade, the colour you choose will have an effect on the look and feel of the whole room and could be the keystone of your entire kitchen design.
Colour can be introduced to your kitchen in several ways, but the largest block of colour will usually be the units, so it’s worth giving this choice careful consideration.
As well as personal preference, you’ll also need to take into account the direction your room faces, as this will affect the way colours are perceived. North-facing kitchens, for example, will have reflected rather than direct natural light, so using cooler colours can work better at keeping the space feeling brighter, while warmer tones will have a soft, gentle quality.
South-facing kitchens, in contrast, will receive direct light, so stronger, brighter colours will look vibrant here. If you love reds and oranges, these can work well in a south-facing space. A sunny room can also handle darker colours well, because the light is so intense.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, start by saving your favourite kitchen colour photos into a Houzz Ideabook and ask a professional to help guide you through the best options for your space.
More: What Colour Should I Paint My Kitchen Cabinets?
How Should I Decorate a North-facing Room?
How Should I Decorate a South-facing Room?
Whether you pick an elegant neutral, a rich dark tone or a zingy shade, the colour you choose will have an effect on the look and feel of the whole room and could be the keystone of your entire kitchen design.
Colour can be introduced to your kitchen in several ways, but the largest block of colour will usually be the units, so it’s worth giving this choice careful consideration.
As well as personal preference, you’ll also need to take into account the direction your room faces, as this will affect the way colours are perceived. North-facing kitchens, for example, will have reflected rather than direct natural light, so using cooler colours can work better at keeping the space feeling brighter, while warmer tones will have a soft, gentle quality.
South-facing kitchens, in contrast, will receive direct light, so stronger, brighter colours will look vibrant here. If you love reds and oranges, these can work well in a south-facing space. A sunny room can also handle darker colours well, because the light is so intense.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, start by saving your favourite kitchen colour photos into a Houzz Ideabook and ask a professional to help guide you through the best options for your space.
More: What Colour Should I Paint My Kitchen Cabinets?
How Should I Decorate a North-facing Room?
How Should I Decorate a South-facing Room?
How much is it likely to cost?
Costs will vary depending on the size of the project, the type of materials and appliances you choose, and the level of professional help you employ.
Your kitchen designer or interior designer should be able to talk you through this at the planning stage. Make sure you ask them to clarify exactly how they cost a project – and don’t be afraid to ask for a breakdown if something isn’t clear.
To help you get an idea of cost, if you fall in love with a kitchen project on Houzz, you can click through to the project page to see which price bracket it falls into. This will give you a rough idea of how much a similar design could cost you, but this will very much depend on individual factors, so do talk to a kitchen professional for more advice.
More: How Much Does a Bespoke Kitchen Cost?
Costs will vary depending on the size of the project, the type of materials and appliances you choose, and the level of professional help you employ.
Your kitchen designer or interior designer should be able to talk you through this at the planning stage. Make sure you ask them to clarify exactly how they cost a project – and don’t be afraid to ask for a breakdown if something isn’t clear.
To help you get an idea of cost, if you fall in love with a kitchen project on Houzz, you can click through to the project page to see which price bracket it falls into. This will give you a rough idea of how much a similar design could cost you, but this will very much depend on individual factors, so do talk to a kitchen professional for more advice.
More: How Much Does a Bespoke Kitchen Cost?
How do I choose a kitchen professional?
A great kitchen designer will take your ideas for this much-used room and turn them into functional and fabulous reality, but before you can get to the planning stage, you first need to find the right pro for your project.
There are a few rules of thumb to help make this process easier. First, when looking through a designer’s portfolio, keep your eye out for recently completed projects (each project on Houzz has a completed date) to see their most up-to-date work. This will allow you to get a clearer idea of their current style.
As well as aesthetics, try to look for practical elements, too, such as how a designer has utilised space or made the most of an awkward layout. If a pro is used to working with small spaces that are similar to your own, they could be a good fit for your project, for example.
You should also consider the kind of company you’d like to work with to ensure your designer’s principles and approach to design match up with your own. Finally, check their website for independently gathered reviews, or look at their profile on Houzz, where each review is verified.
More: How to Choose a Kitchen Designer
Tell us…
Do you have any other helpful tips for starting a kitchen project? Please share them in the Comments.
A great kitchen designer will take your ideas for this much-used room and turn them into functional and fabulous reality, but before you can get to the planning stage, you first need to find the right pro for your project.
There are a few rules of thumb to help make this process easier. First, when looking through a designer’s portfolio, keep your eye out for recently completed projects (each project on Houzz has a completed date) to see their most up-to-date work. This will allow you to get a clearer idea of their current style.
As well as aesthetics, try to look for practical elements, too, such as how a designer has utilised space or made the most of an awkward layout. If a pro is used to working with small spaces that are similar to your own, they could be a good fit for your project, for example.
You should also consider the kind of company you’d like to work with to ensure your designer’s principles and approach to design match up with your own. Finally, check their website for independently gathered reviews, or look at their profile on Houzz, where each review is verified.
More: How to Choose a Kitchen Designer
Tell us…
Do you have any other helpful tips for starting a kitchen project? Please share them in the Comments.
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Before you contact a professional, it’s important to establish how you’d like your kitchen to function.
Start by writing your mission statement for the new space and ask yourself questions such as, “Do I love to cook or is it a necessary chore?” and “Will we want to eat in here?” By considering these big questions before you start making smaller decisions, you should be able to pin down exactly what you want from your ideal space.
Try to build a wish list of what the room needs to do and the contents it requires in order to function. This process will also help you to answer a lot of questions as you go along, as you’ll know from the beginning what you’re aiming for.
Once you’ve defined and described the main theme of your new kitchen, it’s time to work out those non-negotiable items that are top of your wish list. You might not be able to get all of these, but it’s worth setting out your dream features early on. Finally, you’ll also need to ask yourself what your real budget is.