Kitchen Renovation Checklist – the Ultimate Guide

Let’s help you get started on this exciting journey filled with creativity and possibility!  With the right colours, materials, cabinets and appliances, you can turn this space into a stunning and functional kitchen that adds immense value to your home. First, there are a few things to consider – planning and attention to detail in the early stages will ensure everything comes together to realise your dream.

1. Set Specific Goals

Why are we renovating? 

• The kitchen is tired and outdated
• Appliances need replacing
• Lay-out is wrong
• Not enough bench space
• Not enough storage
• Looking to sell the property

There is often a compromise in a design process, so set priorities.  Perhaps consider if you could change only 3 things in your current kitchen, what would they be?  For example:

• A bigger pantry
• An island bench
• More bench space
• More drawers
• Better use of corner spaces 

2. Set a Realistic Budget

Start by determining what you can comfortably spend on your kitchen renovation.  This should include a clear understanding of the costs for materials, labour, appliances, and a contingency for any unexpected expenses that may arise.  At Markel Design, we will guide you with reasonable estimates for all aspects of the project before you commit.  

Allocate funds by dividing the budget into categories such as:

• Appliances
• Cabinetry
• Benchtops
• Splashbacks
• Trades (including, if necessary, painting, structural, caulking, cleaning)
• Flooring
• Lighting

For more detailed insights, understand the true cost of a kitchen renovation in our dedicated guide.

3. Research and Collaborate with Your Designer

Gather inspiration by getting ideas from magazines, websites, and social-media platforms like Instagram or Pinterest.  Collect images of kitchens that resonate with your style.  Consider how the style you’re choosing will sit with the rest of your home.  Work with your designer to create a detailed plan that meets your aesthetic and functional needs.  At Markel Design, we will be there to help you navigate every step, from choosing materials, colours, textures, and appliances to finalising layouts, ensuring a seamless process.

4. Engage Professionals

Select a reputable design company with a strong track record to ensure the success of your kitchen renovation.

Professionals like Markel Design bring years of experience and qualified expertise to guarantee high-quality results.

When choosing a company to project manage your renovation, make sure they are insured and come highly recommended by previous clients.  At Markel Design, along with our fully-qualified builder, we offer a fully project-managed service, meaning we handle every detail for you from start to finish.

5. Plan the Layout

Over the years the kitchen has evolved to be the main hub of the home.  Gone are the days of a kitchen being within its own room.

In today’s open-plan kitchen, the layout is key to creating a seamless flow between cooking, dining, and living spaces.  At Markel Design, we focus on zones rather than the traditional kitchen triangle, ensuring that areas for cooking, preparing, and socialising are well-defined yet integrated.  Consider how your cooking appliances, storage solutions, ventilation and lighting will work together to create a space that is both functional and inviting.  A well-planned open layout can enhance the usability and enjoyment of your kitchen, making it the focal point of your home.

If your space is limited, implementing small kitchen tips to maximise space and style can make a big difference to your overall layout and functionality.

6. Select Materials and Appliances

With the new kitchen being the centre-piece of your home, consider using high-quality resilient materials that will stay looking good.  Choose easy-to-maintain surfaces for benchtops, cabinets and flooring.  Consider colours and materials that will go beyond being a short-lived trend.

Opt for energy-efficient appliances that meet your needs and complement your kitchen design.  High-quality finishes and appliances can enhance the longevity and functionality of your beautiful new kitchen and substantially improve the value of your home.

When it comes to benchtops, the best materials for your kitchen combine aesthetics with durability and ease of maintenance, making them both stylish and practical.

Mark and Kathryn of Markel Design can assist you in selecting materials and appliances with impartial advice based on years of experience.

7. Focus on Lighting

Lighting is all-important in a kitchen. In your renovation checklist make sure to pick lighting options that boost your kitchen’s functionality and ambience.  Consider maximising natural light by incorporating larger windows or skylights where possible.  You can also combine different types of lighting:

• Task lighting – under-cabinet lights illuminate workspaces like countertops and sinks, eliminating shadows.
• Ambient lighting – downlights or ceiling fixtures provide general illumination.
• Accent lighting – pendant lights over an island or LED strips inside cabinets add visual interest.

8. Project Timeline

A kitchen renovation will be disruptive while in progress.  The more sophisticated and complex the project, the longer it will take, particularly if structural changes are being made.  With a major renovation, you might consider moving out for the duration rather than living in a building site.  For a simpler project, you may consider a temporary kitchen setup.

Pre-planning the project is all-important regardless of the size of the job.  Before committing to the project, make yourself fully aware of when it can start and understand how long it will take with some contingency for delays and unforeseen extra work required.  Remember, in a renovation, no one can see what’s behind the existing kitchen until it’s removed.

A straightforward renovation with minimal changes to the layout should take approximately 5 weeks.  A more complex job will take longer.  Your contractor, in either case ,should provide you with a full schedule of works, detailing the required trades which should all be booked in before commencing.

At Markel Design, we liaise with you so that the start and finish dates are acceptable.  We schedule and meet deliveries of appliances, fixtures, cabinets, benchtops, tiles, etc., to make sure everything is delivered on time to avoid delays in the project.  We also check on each stage of the project and keep you up-to-date along the way.

9. Final Inspection

Now is the time to check that you can use your new kitchen without any issues.

• Check all installations carefully – check cabinet alignment, benchtop joins, caulking
• Check appliance functionality and make sure you have the required handbooks.  Some high-end appliance suppliers will offer instruction demonstrations so that you get the best out of your new oven etc
• Take the time to register your new appliances and have the guarantee certificates
• Test all fixtures (taps, sinks) to ensure proper operation
• Check that your new cabinetry has been cleaned properly before you start moving things back into the new kitchen
• Compliance certificates should be provided by the plumber and electrician

With your dream kitchen now completed, it’s time to start cooking, entertaining and enjoying your home again!  At Markel Design, we always strive for excellence and ensure you’ll love your kitchen for years to come.