The busiest room in the house, the kitchen is so much more than a place to cook food; the modern Australian home uses the kitchen as a morning meeting space, and most families eat dinner in the kitchen, rather than the dining room. Sooner or later, the kitchen will fade, and that means it is time to think about a renovation. With that in mind, here are a few tips from kitchen renovators.
- Invest in quality appliances – Let’s face it, the appliances are the heart of any kitchen and whether an oven or a refrigerator, choosing a top brand makes perfect sense. While you are paying a little more, you have the peace of mind knowing that the brand is tried and tested and considering how many years the appliance will work, it is probably cheaper than buying a lesser-known make.
- Seek out a kitchen designer – You only get one chance to design a new kitchen, so you should consult a professional kitchen designer, who can turn your vision into reality. A small space would require careful planning with customised storage, while more space would allow for an island, which is ideal for a family breakfast.
- Quality stone – Marble or granite makes for the ideal stone for kitchen tops, which will last a lifetime. Talk to a kitchen renovator about the best quality stone for worktops, and they can show you the many different finishes that are available from leading stone masons.
- Choosing a contractor – Make sure you can inspect at least one of their previous projects; any decent kitchen renovator would be able to furnish you with many before-and-after images of previous projects, plus you can talk to a few homeowners. They should issue a comprehensive warranty on labour and materials to give the customer peace of mind, plus an all-inclusive quote avoids any nasty surprises at the end of the job.
- Create a budget and stick to it – It is so easy to spend more than you had intended, which is why you should set a budget at the outset and always make sure you do not exceed that amount. Most established kitchen contractors are prepared to work to the client’s budget, and you might want to bring this up at the very outset, so you can both discuss numbers.
- Think storage space – A well-designed kitchen conceals most of the storage, leaving a clean, uncluttered look, which is visually appealing; custom-made timber units are ideal, and any carpenter would be able to knock up a few concealed storage cupboards and shelves. Click here for more storage ideas.
Some people keep putting off the kitchen renovation; the summer is the ideal time of year to carry out such a project, and there are free resources online to help you plan home improvements. Read up on the kitchen design principles and make sure you understand the core concepts before you start the layout.