Recently Balnei & Colina were honoured to take part in Channel 7’s House Rules High Stakes. Balnei & Colina completed Laith & George’s kitchen and laundry renovation in collaboration with the lovely and talented contestants Kimmy & Rhi, and Tamara & Rhys. One of the most common questions we were asked, coming out of the program was “how did that all come together?”  So, we thought we’d give  you a behind the scenes look at the steps involved in a kitchen renovation with helpful tips for you along the way. 

To help make your kitchen renovation process a little smoother, here are Balnei & Colina’s 9 key steps to renovating a kitchen. We hope it provides insight on what to expect and how best to prepare for your upcoming kitchen renovation, to ensure a smooth kitchen renovation process and the best possible outcome. Enjoy!

Robert Fonti

Director, Balnei & Colina

 

KITCHEN RENOVATION EXPERTISE

Undertaking a kitchen renovation is a complex task with many moving parts. Creating a new kitchen design, including optimising your new kitchen layout, ensuring enough storage, following workflow rules, covering off kitchen ergonomics, maximising space and function, selecting finishes, fixtures, flooring, choosing the right materials for your cabinetry, benchtop, splashback and then there’s appliances, and list still continues; you can quickly become overwhelmed. 

To achieve the best outcome a kitchen renovation is often best left to the experts, like the team at Balnei & Colina renovations. To help ease the stress of a kitchen renovation, read the insights below to gain a better understanding of the steps to renovate a kitchen. 

Balnei & Colina Kitchen Renovation House Rules High Stakes

1. DO YOUR HOMEWORK

One of the most important steps in completing a successful kitchen renovation is planning. The majority of Sydney homeowners might only undertake one or two kitchen renovations in their lifetime so it is important to do your research and plan ahead. 

Make a list of your likes & dislikes, write a wish list for your kitchen renovation, gather inspirational images and note down what your trying to achieve with your kitchen renovation. All are important steps to creating a successful kitchen brief for your kitchen designer, and is a good start for any home renovation project. 

EMPLOY A QUALIFIED KITCHEN CONTRACTOR

A kitchen renovation can be stressful and complicated so it’s vital to employ the right kitchen renovation company, like the team at Balnei & Colina renovations, to bring your kitchen vision to life. Employing a qualified kitchen renovation professional, like Balnei & Colina renovations, who can complete your kitchen project, from concept to completion will ensure a simple and smooth kitchen renovation process. 

Double check your kitchen contractor is qualified to undertake a kitchen renovation. Ask for credentials including licences and mandatory insurances like Home Warranty, Workers’ Comp, Public liability and enquire about warranties and after sales service. 

Engage a kitchen renovation contractor that can provide evidence of successfully completed kitchen renovation projects to high standards, as well as reviews and testimonials from both customers’ and industry peers. All these will ensure you will be happy with the end result, a dream kitchen that’s built to last and enjoy using for years to come.

Image via Pintrest

2. CREATE A KITCHEN DESIGN CONCEPT

Bring you kitchen brief to your kitchen design appointment. Consult with a kitchen design expert like the Balnei & Colina kitchen renovation specialists, who’ll help you refine your kitchen ideas and create a complete kitchen concept to suit your specific requirements and personal taste. 

A good kitchen designer, like the kitchen design team at Balnei & Colina will ensure your new kitchen layout will be optimised for function, ergonomics, as well as incorporating your style preferences. A Balnei & Colina certified kitchen designer, will not only assist with delivering your kitchen aesthetic but can offer sound technical advice. 

During your kitchen design consultation, your kitchen designer will also provide guidance on costing, so as you work through your kitchen design, adjustments can be made to ensure your new kitchen will remain within budget.

At the end of your kitchen design consultation you should have a clear vision for your kitchen renovation project, with everything you need to help set your kitchen renovation plan in motion including, kitchen design concept, quote, and timing.

 

Image via Getty

3. VISIT A KITCHEN DESIGN STUDIO/SHOWROOM

After your initial consult drop into your kitchen contractor’s studio or showroom, like the Balnei & Colina Design Studio at Woollahra Sydney, to view kitchen cabinetry options, and finishes. This includes your kitchen cabinetry, benchtop, splashback and hardware. The visit will also give you an opportunity to see the quality of workmanship first hand and further refine your overall kitchen design scheme to achieve the look and feel your after.

 

Balnei & Colina Kitchen Renovation Sydney

4. ORDER APPLIANCES, FIXTURES & FITTINGS

Now that your kitchen design plan is complete, it’s time to select and purchase your kitchen appliances and fittings. The kitchen appliances and fittings you choose have implications for how your kitchen cabinetry is made, so it’s important to purchase these in line with the kitchen design specifications provided to you by your kitchen designer. This doesn’t mean that if your fallen in love with a particular oven or fridge you can’t have it - you just need to understand that this may mean your kitchen design will need to be altered, and this may impact your kitchen budget delivery timeframe.

It’s important to purchase large ticket items early on in the kitchen renovation planning process, as their can be delays in delivery and even without delays it can take a few weeks for appliances, fixtures or fittings to arrive. Making purchases early in the kitchen renovation process will ensure their are no blow outs to your kitchen renovation timeline. 

 

Sydney Kitchen Renovation by Balnei & Colina

5. KITCHEN CHECK MEASURE

Once you approve your new kitchen design and your kitchen finishes are finalised, fixtures, fittings and kitchen appliances are ordered and your kitchen renovation team will check measure your kitchen space to ensure that your new product is a perfect fit. 

Technical kitchen drawings are completed, including provisions for plumbing, electrical, any structural works and your product placed into manufacture. Allow 4-5 weeks for manufacture of your new kitchen.

Permits and permissions are finalised, trades are scheduled, and timeline issued.

 

Balnei & Colina Kitchen Renovation Sydney

6. KITCHEN DEMOLITION

Next up is preparing your room for your kitchen renovation. Your old kitchen is demolished and  disposed of. It can take 1-2 days for a standard kitchen removal with no structural works required for eg knocking down walls. Rough in of your plumbing and electrical will take place after the removal and disposal of your existing kitchen.

 

Behind the scenes at House Rules High Stakes Kitchen Renovation by Balnei & Colina

7. KITCHEN CONSTRUCTION

When the space is clear and ready, the kitchen carpenters can build the kickboards, position the cabinets and pre-position your appliances. An efficient kitchen renovation company like Balnei & Colina renovations will time everything in the correct order reducing lead times and ensuring your project stays on track for delivery. Allow 2-3 days for the installation phase of your kitchen renovation.

Once the kitchen cabinets are constructed by the kitchen installers, the appliances will be pre-positioned for electrical and plumbing to be re-connected and the benchtop and splashback can be measured and installed. This process can take approximately 7-10 working days. 

Design Tip: Grout used for splashback tiles or  joins in benchtops can take a day or two to dry before use. 

8.  CONNECTION OF KITCHEN SERVICES

Once your benchtop and splashback is fitted, all your kitchen services will be re-connected ready for use. Your kitchen renovation company’s  electrician and plumber will connect appliances, sinks, taps and lighting.

 

Image credit; Architecture Ideas

9. KITCHEN QUALITY CHECK

It’s time for the final handover of your new kitchen. Your kitchen contractor, should complete a walk-though of your completed kitchen renovation including quality check of all doors, drawers, moving parts and accessories, finishes, fittings and ensure all services are in working order. Once complete your new kitchen will be ready to be re-stocked and you can commence cooking!

Need help with an upcoming kitchen renovation? Leave it to the kitchen renovation experts at Balnei & Colina home renovations. 

For more information, feel free to contact a Balnei & Colina kitchen renovation expert on 1300 450 320. You can also send us your kitchen renovation project details via this Contact Us form. 

To stay up to date with the latest kitchen design trends connect with us via Facebook and Instagram or signup to our newsletter.

 

Sydney Kitchen Renovation by Balnei & Colina