Designing & Planning your kitchen renovation

You have no doubt heard the saying that the kitchen is the hub of today’s modern home. Thankfully long gone are the days of a compact functional food preparation area with today’s kitchens being one of the places in your home where form and function can combine to make this special place in your home come alive. It’s one thing to dream of a new kitchen but how do you achieve it?

What is the best kitchen design for my home and the way my family lives?

Kitchens come in all shapes and sizes, and what works best for you will depend on a number of factors such as the following:

• How long will you live there and what changes in your household mix/lives will occur during this time?

• What’s your eating style – casual, formal or a mix of both

• Do you entertain a lot?

• How can you best get your kitchen to connect to your outside living areas?

Think about the ways in which you will use your new space, for example, will you entertain guests, will kids want to do their homework here? Our experienced kitchen designers will be able to provide advice and take you from the initial kitchen design concept drawing stages all the way through to the completed kitchen.

What are the best material and appliance options for my kitchen?

In todays world when it comes to materials, and for that matter appliances, there is a great range as to both what you can use and how much you spend. From value-for-money materials and fixtures to make the most of your budget through to the lavish and ultra-fashionable designer products. Working alongside our experienced kitchen designers we can help you find the best options for your kitchen space and budget. 

See the how much will my kitchen cost section on the left for material options and their respective benefits.

What is the best Kitchen Lighting?

Look to firstly maximise natural light with big windows and/or skylights and then compliment this with task lighting, especially around work surfaces, inside pantries or over eating surfaces. Avoid harsh downlighting in task areas and give the room some ambiance with dimmable lights and/or things like under bench/cabinetry lighting.

How long will my kitchen renovation take?

With kitchen renovations there aren’t many trades that are not required. From cabinet makers and flooring experts through to electricians, plumbers, stoppers, painters and possibly tilers getting your kitchen renovation completed requires all these trades to be co-ordinated. 

Not only does our in-house team of builders take care of the building work, which can be minimal in a straight out/in type kitchen renovation through to creating a whole new space, our loyal and regular sub-trades work under our direction/co-ordination to supply a one stop solution.

The actual length of time the kitchen renovation will take can vary significantly based on the amount of building work required and the types of wall and floor finishes you chose but below is an indicative timetable of an average kitchen project.

Importance of kitchen ventilation

It is critical that an effective and efficient kitchen ventilation system is in place. Whilst bench height extractors (pop up or fixed) are available range hoods still make up the vast majority of installations.

This is an area where function should not be sacrificed for form. Whilst there is a wide range of aesthetically pleasing options available make sure these provide the function they are enlisted to do.

Follow the manufacturers recommendations in regard to surface area of effective extraction and note also the recommended height from the steam source to the extraction unit. Small and up out tf the way may look great but is very unlikely to remove the steam and odors generated.

Kitchen range-hoods start at around $250 and rise upwards of $1,200 before escalating further for designer/top end products.

Ready to start the journey to creating the new kitchen / heart of your home – simply complete the enquiry form or call us on 0508 792 992 to have an initial chat and from there an In Home Consultation can be arranged if you would like to proceed further.

Kitchen surfaces - a comprehensive guide

The Price of Kitchen Flooring:

Kitchen Tiles

A hard wearing suface with lot’s of pattern and colour options. Generally the longest installation time of flooring options.

Approx laid price of $150/m2

Vinyl Flooring

Quick installation, significant range, easy cleaning and no maintenance cost makes vinyl flooring a popular choice. Available as a sheet or in plank form with planks format ranging in price from $30/m2 to $90/m2

Approx laid price of $75/m2

Engineered Wood Floor Boards

Wide European design timber flooring. Natural timber look that brings warmth and authenticity to an interior. Made up of three layers of real wood with a strong protective finish. 

Available in plank format from $90/m2 through to $200/m2 plus installation.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring comes in a wide range of quality usually based on the thickness of the laminate and the qualities of the subtrade. Available in a wide range of finishes to emulate wooden flooring through to a tiled look. Usually an interlocked system left to float as opposed to directly fixed to the floor. 

Ranges in price from 20/m2 to over $100/m2 with installation on top (can be self installed).

Bamboo Planks

Strands of natural bamboo woven and pressed into a durable yet stylish flooring option. Bamboo flooring affords fantastic resistance to indentation and is made using fast-growth, renewable bamboo resources. 

Mid range price of $100/m2 plus installation

Cabinetry material options: 

Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF)

MDF is a high-grade composite material made from recycled wood fibers and resin. It’s CNC-milled under high pressure. The dense and heavy product is the most common material option for cabinet makers in NZ. MDF attracts consumers because of its resistance to cracking and peeling — meaning it’s super easy to wrap or paint over and is smoother than plywood. But beware – there are different standards of MDF and at the cheaper end of the cabinetry market you are likely to be looking at lower density MDF and lesser quality edge banding or wrapping leading to a high likelihood of swelling and ultimate failure of the product.

Plywood

Many manufacturers gravitate toward producing plywood cabinets not only because it’s a relatively low-cost material, but also because it’s said to have a higher resistance to moisture and greater stability than MDF. Each board that makes up plywood cabinetry is layered like a sandwich, with thin wood piles glued on top of one another. An exposed plastic laminate, wood veneer or thermofoil coats the outside for added protection.

Particleboard

Particleboard cabinets are maybe the least conventional cabinet-construction method. To create particleboard, wood chips and particles are combined with an adhesive, which is then fused together into the panels. This mixture is the least firm of all the options because it’s basically shards of wood ground up into little pieces, and the only thing truly holding it together is the glue.

Benchtop Options:

Engineered Stone

This is a very popular choice of benchtop material for kitchen renovators. Made using natural aggregates mixed with resins, it comes in a wide range of colours, from bright whites to dark greys. You can choose either a solid colour or have flecks of different-coloured stone through it to add interest. You can get the chunky look but the latest trend is a 20mm thick edge for a cleaner, slimmer line. A big advantage of stone benchtops is that they are very durable and easy to clean. The non-porous surface resists staining, scratching and doesn’t need any ongoing maintenance. Quartz is a common engineered stone benchtop.

Laminate Bechtops

If your kitchen reno is on a tight budget then laminate is your choice, but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on looks. Laminate has the widest range of colours and designs that imitate more expensive materials such as timber, stone and even concrete. That means you can get the look you’re after without the expensive price tag. Laminate is resistant to staining and easy to keep clean but is more susceptible to scratching and scorching so always use a cutting board and be careful with hot pots and pans.

Timber Benchtops

While you may think of timber as being a bit old fashioned, it is definitely making a comeback. You can bring a touch of warmth and character to your kitchen with timber when you’re using colder materials like glass and stainless steel elsewhere in the kitchen. The wide variety of available species means you can go light with the yellowish colours of ash or contrast light-coloured doors with the darker tones of walnut. Timber needs to be coated with either food-safe oil or polyurethane to protect it. Oil needs to be reapplied every year or so to remain effective. While polyurethane lasts longer, recoating involves sanding back the entire benchtop first before applying a new coat.

Solid Surface Benchtops

Solid surface benchtops are an acrylic resin with a filler of alumina. The joins between each piece of benchtop are invisible after installation, so it seems like one big slab of stone. You can also have the sink moulded into the benchtop so there’s nowhere for dirt to collect, making it easier to keep clean. It’s also UV resistant so is the perfect choice for an outdoor kitchen which is so popular these days. Another advantage is that solid surface benchtops can be repaired. Major damage such as heat scorching can be fixed by the manufacturer without the need to replace the whole benchtop.

Stainless Steel Benchtops

A chef's favourite, stainless steel can also be the texture you need to balance your palette. Heat-resistant and hardy, it can be wrapped over worktops and island benches and formed seamlessly into sinks and splashbacks.

Polished Concrete Benchtops

Add raw contrast to timber or glossy joinery by using concrete on benchtops, over a wall as a cool backdrop to open shelves or as an island bench and top in one. Like stone, concrete requires sealing.

Great for outdoor kitchens. 

Marble Benchtops

Marble is a gorgeous, natural stone that is commonly used in kitchens as a benchtop and splashback material. It's a timeless and sophisticated option but it comes at the upper end of the price point and requires a higher level of upkeep. Marble is surprisingly porous and will soak up spills like a sponge, damaging the look of your investment. Whether your marble surfaces are honed or polished, they need to be sealed with a good quality purpose-made sealant before you even begin to think about cooking up a feast. This is a job best done by professionals and should be repeated every few years. 

Granite Benchtops

Granite makes for an exquisite and enduring surface for your kitchen benchtop. However like Marble it comes at the upper end of the price range – it's considered the second most expensive material after marble. On the plus side, there is a stunning variety of styles and colours to choose and it can withstand anything you throw at it. To clean granite, use warm water and soap to help keep its shine.

Porcelain Benchtops

Whilst not widely used yet Porcelain benchtops are growing in popularity thanks to their durability, versatility and affordability. They can withstand high heats, scratches and stains and their low porosity makes them a very hygienic option.

Bamboo Benchtops

A plus for Bamboo is it is an eco-friendly and less expensive benchtop material that can suit any style kitchen from country to contemporary. They're often sealed with oil (which will need to be regularly reapplied) or with polyurethane (which is more resistant to staining). Another plus is that you can repair any damage done by sanding back the benchtop and refinishing it. 

Ultra-compact Surface Benchtop

Ultra-compact surfaces are made of natural materials found in glass, porcelain and quartz, which are put under extreme heat and pressure to create an incredibly durable product. Basically, it uses a high-tech process to copy what Mother Nature does to natural stone over thousands of years, in a much shorter time frame. It's strong, stain resistant, scratch resistant, heat resistant and non-porous, making it a reliable choice for your kitchen countertops.