Planning for a Kitchen Renovation
Planning a kitchen renovation is exciting, but it can also be daunting.
Here at Ray Munn Kitchens, we do our best to guide you through the process from start to finish to ensure it is as seamless as possible. But knowledge is power, and being well-organised about what to expect and what you can do to help things run smoothly goes a long way.
Here are some things to think over as you embark on this journey.
Your Budget
The first step when planning your kitchen renovation is to think about your budget.
Knowing your financial boundaries is essential for guiding your choices and discussions with your kitchen designer.
Communicating with your designer how much you want to spend on your kitchen helps you maximise your investment. It also helps them ensure you get everything you want at a price you can afford, enabling them to make budget-friendly swaps where necessary and avoid you falling head over heels in love with a kitchen that's not in your budget.
Layout Changes
A new kitchen is a chance to start over, and you want to make sure you do it right to end up with your dream kitchen, not just a new one. Consider whether structural changes to your room, like knocking down a wall, could improve your space and kitchen design or if something as simple as rejigging the layout would make your kitchen more functional.
We can mock up a view of what your space might look like with new layout changes so that you're sure before you take the next steps.
The fun bit
Now it's time to think about what your new kitchen will look like. Spend time browsing the internet for inspiration, whether on Instagram, Pinterest, project pages, or a good old-fashioned home magazine. Note what you like and save pictures; this will help your kitchen designer visualise your ideas.
Write up your kitchen wish list of all the non-negotiable items you need in your kitchen. Then, work on what you'd like to have. This is a great list to have on hand when you sit down with a designer.
You'll be amazed at how much clearer your perfect kitchen is to visualise once you've scrutinised your existing one. So next, make a note of all the things that don't work in your current setup.
Visiting a Showroom
Visiting a kitchen showroom is an essential part of your journey. It's a chance to get a feel for the people you'll be dealing with in the weeks leading up to your kitchen being ready for you to call your own. You can see their products firsthand and get an idea of what things look and feel like. When ready, schedule a design consultation to discuss your ideas in detail.
Get Clued Up on Timeframes
Knowing when the work will start and finish helps you plan accordingly and manage expectations, ensuring that disruptions to your daily life are minimised. Make a note of them on your calendar so everyone in your home knows what to expect.
Prepare for Installation
As your renovation date nears, start by decluttering your current kitchen. Get rid of unused or expired items and set up a temporary kitchen space for preparing simple meals and drinks. This is an ideal time to make use of small kitchen appliances like an air fryer. Plan meals that don't require a fully operational kitchen to make the transition easier. When the renovation is about to begin, pack up your kitchen items and store them safely until the work is finished.
Remember, kitchen renovations will bring a lot of activity into your home, including tools and noise, which can be disruptive. Consider the impact this might have on small children, pets, and anyone working from home during this time.
Preparing properly for a kitchen renovation can remove some of the overwhelm, but with the right team onboard (like us), you'll be kept informed and reassured throughout the whole process, and that show-stopping kitchen at the end of it will be worth it!
