Steps for planning a kitchen renovation...

1. Smarter Kitchens 7 Step Process

• Stage 1: Research

Firstly you need to think about how you use your kitchen now and your aspirations for the future. Do you cook to entertain or survive? Also consider your desired appliances. Look at kitchen imagery and identify the look and feel you are after.

• Stage 2: Design Consultation

Book a Detailed one hour in home design consultation with one of our Award Winning Kitchen Designers where your wants and needs will be addressed, your space constraints are determined and your desire for look and feel, together with appliance needs are established. A response to brief with a design concept and a detailed will be provided.

• Stage 3: Building Inspection

On receipt of your deposit, a Comprehensive Building inspection (by your qualified Smarter Kitchens Building Supervisor who will be your point of contact during the renovation) is carried out before any works are started or contracts signed.

• Stage 4: Product and Finishes Selection

Meet at our one stop show room to further refine product selection and design, at this stage we can also schedule a start date taking into account all critical supplier delivery dates to guarantee that once works start there are no hold ups.

• Stage 5: Hand Over

Before works commence a meeting between yourself, your Designer and your Building Supervisor will insure that all details of the renovation and any special considerations you have are discussed and understood in a calm and methodical manner.

• Stage 6: Building works

Once your property has been prepared for building works the construction and installation process will commence. You will be kept up to date on a daily basis on the progress of the four milestone events on your kitchen renovation, Demolition & make ready, Cabinetry installation, Benchtops and appliance commissioning and finally Splashback installation and final fit off.

• Stage 7: Sign Off

You and your supervisor will complete a Smarter Kitchens standard checklist of our building works. This coupled with our seven year guarantee and HIA award winning status can assure you that the pride you have in your new kitchen will last for many years to come.

2. What is your budget for your kitchen renovation?

This is an important consideration. Kitchens are an important part of the home, and a good kitchen renovation can make the difference to a living space. Careful planning of your kitchen renovation can add value to your house that will never be lost.

Kitchen renovations fall into two categories:

• Remodelling

Utilising the existing layout and renewing the fittings, fixtures and tiling. This can be completed for as little as $15,000 if you are very careful with the products you use. Most renovations like this end up costing around $17,000.

• Changing the Layout

The kitchen has become the 'hub' of the home. We spend every morning and every night here so a profesionally designed layout makes everything, from making your morning coffee to preparing a family feast more enjoyable. The way kitchens used to be built, smuggled away at the back of the house, no longer suits the modern family. We now build stages on which to entertian our family and friends. This may mean you would like to rearrange your existing kitchen. 

Changing the layout is easily achieved during the kitchen renovation process but usually costs a bit more due to the extra complexity. These kitchen renovations usually start from $19,000. Solid brick homes, or homes with slab floors tend to cost a little more as there is more work involved for the kitchen renovator regarding electrics, plastering and plumbing.

3. Choosing materials

Choosing the fixtures, fittings and tiles for your kitchen can be quite daunting. Work with someone who has relevant kitchen renovation experience so they can guide you in your choices. Things to consider when choosing fittings: Is this a family room that will require hard working, low maintenance fixtures that can withstand the wear and tear that only a family can deal out, or is it a sleeker architectural look you are after.

Kitchens require a range of materials and, hence choices!

The flooring, cabinetry, benchtops, splashbacks, sink ware, appliances and hardware all contribute to efficacy and good design.

Benchtops
Benchtops are one of the most important considerations when building your new kitchen. They not only to they endure the most punishment (what other part of the house do you spill food on and cut with a knife on a daily basis?) but they can also be a real feature.  

• We have seen a resurgence in the use of laminates and vinyl wraps. They have an impressive range of colours and finishes and are extremely durable, as well as being cost effective.
• Reconstituted Stone is also a very popular choice. Made from crushed quartz and a binding polymer, brands like CeaserStone produce a very high quality product that is quite heat, moisture, impact, scratch and stain resistant not to mention beautiful to look at.

• Stainless steel appeals to those who want a ‘serious’ kitchen. Inspired by commercial kitchens, stainless steel benchtops are tough, hygienic and give you that industrial look.

• Natural stone has a timeless elegance that adds instant sophistication to any kitchen. In a built environment, an organic element like stone can transform any space from cold and detached to inviting and nurturing.

Storage
Efficient and practical storage is no accident in a great kitchen. Storage is carefully planned depending on your space constraints, how you like to cook and even if you are left or right handed!

Kitchen storage has evolved with the way we buy and prepare food. In the past we would buy bulk lots of an item, preserve fruits and vegetables and store lots of food for months. As time has passed we have seen a shift to fresh produce and smaller shopping trips more frequently, with an emphasis on less processed foods which has led to a need for smaller pantrys and larger refrigerator spaces.

We have also seen various wonderful inventions and clever cabinetry allowing access to the dreaded corner cupboard. Letting you have full use of even the trickiest of places.

Splashbacks
Splashbacks have become the fashion item in a designer kitchen. With a massive range of materials and colours, you can really let your personality come through and make a statement of style and practicality.

Although there is a lot of creativity allowed, a splashback is not a decision to be entered into lightly. Recent changes to fire regulations mean that not any old product can be used behind a cooktop, but rest assured that your smarterKITCHENS award wining designer will have excellent knowledge of what you can and cannot use.

4. Timeframes

Most kitchen renovations take 3-4 weeks. Certain things make the process take longer. For example if you have a solid brick home, You want to move any structural emlements or you decide to incorporate custom made wine racks and custom cut natural stone. Your professional kitchen renovator will make this process as easy as possible by outlining usual waiting periods. We want your renovation to go smoothly too! Remember, we finish on a guaranteed date or WE pay YOU $100 a day until the work is at compleation.

5. What to think about when choosing the Builder

Here's a quick checklist to go through when choosing your renovator.

1. Is the renovator a Registered Building Practitioner?
2. Does the renovator have the correct registration to build a kitchen?
3. Does the contract include warranty and insurance details?
4. Do you understand if the price can be varied and how?
5. Is there a start date on the contract and an estimated finish date?

• Registered Builders and Qualified tradespeople

The only time a builder does not have to be qualified or registered is for work valued below $5000. Call 1300 36 03 20 to check if your builder is registered. All Plumbers and Gasfitters and Drainers must be registered with the Plumbing Industry Commission All Electricians must be licensed by the Office of the Chief Electrical Inspector. They should carry cards to verify this while on site. Tilers, painters and plasterers do not require registration.

• Check your builder's references from previous work

Any renovator who has a good track record will be happy to provide references. Find out how long your builder has been in business

• Scope of the kitchen renovation

Make sure that the quote and contract clearly cover the work that is to be carried out. If you have any questions at all then ask for them to be clarified.

6. Lets get started

If you want to find out how we can help with your kitchen design or kitchen renovation then phone 1300 66 28 38 for your FREE in Home Consultation, or Contact Us via our online enquiry form.