Renovating A Kitchen In the Right Order
After 15 years experience you get a distinct idea of where kitchen renovations can go wrong as well as where good planning can create amazing spaces that suit your lifestyle but also can be more affordable than you think.
With a new kitchen adding £10,649 on average to the value of a home, there’s no surprise then that the demand for kitchen renovations skyrocketed by 24% during 2021 as kitchen renovations become increasingly worth it. However, where there is the potential for big wins, there’s an equal potential for big losses if a renovation isn’t carried out professionally and in the correct order.
As the saying goes “If you fail to plan then you are planning to fail”.
The order in which you renovate a kitchen can significantly impact the efficiency and success of the project. The amount of steps required will depend on how many elements of your kitchen you are looking to improve or replace.
Rest assured, the list below covers all potential steps you may need to take in your kitchen renovation plan.
Here’s a recommended step-by-step guide for renovating your kitchen in the right order:
Planning & design
Demolition
Electrical & plumbing
Structural changes
HVAC & ventilation
Flooring
Cabinets & countertops
Appliances
Backsplash
Lighting fixtures
Finishing touches
Final inspection
The devil really is in the detail, and with ensuring every necessary step is completed to a high standard in mind, below is a breakdown of each of those steps so you can start creating the perfect kitchen for your home.
1. Planning & design
Arguably the most important step in any kitchen renovation - think of the planning and design phase like building the foundations of a house, when done correctly it can make your entire project more cost-effective and more time efficient.
Equally, if the planning and design are rushed or inaccurate, the whole project can increase beyond 50% in projected cost and take more time than anticipated.
If that has your nerves escalating, then this could be the best and most cost-effective stage to bring in a professional bespoke kitchen designer to ensure your planning and design go smoothly.
Experiment with styles and materials at this stage, a professional kitchen designer will be able to put vision together.
The planning & design process
Start by creating a detailed plan and design for your kitchen renovation. Consider factors such as:
Layout
Style
Budget
Materials
This is the perfect stage to make decisions on major structural and electrical changes such as the relocation of plumbing or electrical points.
2. Demolition
It’s time to remove those creaky cabinets and that cooker with only two fully functioning hobs, it’s demolition time.
Clear out all of the existing kitchen appliances and fixtures that are no longer required. Remove cabinets, appliances, countertops and flooring. Safety and protecting the rest of your home at this stage is absolutely paramount. Take precautions to protect other areas of your home from dust and debris during this phase.
3. Electrical & plumbing
Now that your room is clear of old fixtures, appliances and debris it’s time to start thinking about electricity and water.
If you’re moving or adding electrical outlets, lighting or plumbing fixtures, this is the time to do it. Ensure that all wiring and plumbing work is up to code and completed or atleast checked by a licensed professional.
Taking into consideration the 1.2 million people who sustain electrical accident-related injuries every year, any inaccuracies or mistakes in this case lead to dangerous consequences down the line. Take your time and consult the professionals.
4. Structural changes
If your renovation involves structural modifications including adding or removing walls, this is the stage to do it. Remember, removing walls can help make the most of a small kitchen and allows for more modern designs and spaces to take shape.
Again, it’s worth emphasising that working with a professional to ensure safety and total compliance with building codes and regulations is important at this stage.
5. HVAC & ventilation
Now that you’re confident in the structural shape and dimensions of your room, it’s time to start thinking about heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). This stage allows you to create a space that’s not only comfortable but healthy in how it deals with moisture and air quality.
There’s no reason why the ventilation system cannot add to the overall visual and style of your kitchen.
So if your kitchen renovation involves changes to the heating, ventilation or air conditioning systems, then address those at this stage.
6. Flooring
Though this may seem a little later in the order of renovations than you’d expect, by changing the flooring after the electrical, plumbing and structural work is complete you avoid damaging the new flooring during those later stages.
There is a huge range of flooring available to suit all styles, lifestyles and budgets including:
Concrete
Tile
Vinyl
Cork
Wood
Marble
Laminate
Natural stone
Slate
With so many colour options and materials available today, it’s worth looking at some kitchen designs for inspiration.
7. Cabinets & countertops
Talking of materials and colour options, the fun doesn’t stop at flooring. Once your flooring is installed and safe, it’s not time to start adding the cabinets and countertops. At this stage in the order of renovations you’ll start to get a better idea of the overall look and feel of your kitchen.
Depending on your confidence levels, it may be worth having your installations checked by a professional kitchen installer if they’ve been installed yourself. These cabinets need to be capable of holding up to 600 pounds.
8. Appliances
At this stage you’ll know if your flooring, electrics, plumbing and ventilation have been installed properly, it's time for kitchen appliances.
Place and install kitchen appliances and ensure they fit properly and are correctly connected to the electrical and plumbing systems.
There is a plethora of manufacturers available, so take your time and consult your kitchen designer.
These appliances will normally include:
Refrigerator
Oven
Dishwasher
Microwave
Don’t worry about smaller appliances at this stage such as air fryers, blenders and kettles, these can be added tastefully at the finishing touches stage at step 11.
9. Backsplash
You wouldn’t believe the amount of times we’ve seen DIY kitchen renovations forget a backsplash or install one that’s two small. Remember to take your lifestyle and daily needs into consideration at this stage and what your sink area may be used for outside of cooking and washing dishes.
Where to install a backsplash
Install the backsplash behind and around the kitchen and draining board area, in a position that protects the walls from splashes and spills.This is far easier to do once the countertops are installed.
10. Lighting fixtures
Now it’s time to bring out the colours and textures of those stunning cabinets and flooring you installed at earlier stages in the renovation. Whilst doing so, ensure you consider where natural lighting from windows can be complimented.
As always, consider more than just practical overhead lighting and get creative with:
Under-cabinet lights
Pendants
Recessed downlights
Smart lights
Get experimental and test lighting fixtures in different positions before finally installing or hard-wiring.
11. Finish touches
You’re almost there, and by now your kitchen should really be taking shape and becoming the balance of function and beauty that you and your kitchen designer envisaged back at stage 1.
Finishing touches could include:
Installing hardware on cabinets
Painting
Wallpapering
Placing small appliances
Placing decorative ornaments
At this penultimate stage, it’s worth experimenting and being creative with those final features to bring your kitchen to life.
12. Final inspection
You’ve done it! Your kitchen design has come to life and before you have that pure joy of cooking the first meal or hosting your first dinner with friends, it’s time for the final inspection.
Have a final inspection done to ensure everything meets local building codes and safety standards. Feel free to also bring your original kitchen designer in at this stage to make those safety checks - chances are they’ll also want to take some pictures of the finished project.
-
I hope this 12 step guide in renovating a kitchen in the right order has given you some confidence and peace of mind in completing your own kitchen project.
If you’re looking for some kitchen design inspiration or even some ideas for your bedroom or bathroom, be sure to check out our work gallery.
For more tips, tricks and design ideas feel free to visit our kitchen design blog.
Written by Aled Nelmes for Cwtch Haus, kitchen designers in West Wales.
