Kitchen Renovations Brisbane

Kitchen Renovations

The kitchen is the heart of the house. Here the whole family gets together for food, entertainment, homework and paperwork, so it is important to make it comfortable for the whole family. Smart cupboards, spacious work surfaces, practical layout, smart equipment and storage: make functionality your goal. Here’s a recipe to help you create an ultra-functional kitchen that combines practicality with good taste.

Optimise your space

To optimise the space in your kitchen, plan it so that several family members can use the kitchen at the same time. There is currently a tendency to install workstations or zones following the natural sequence in which each zone is equipped for a specific task.
A cooking zone that includes a work surface for cooking and using different dishes. This zone should be located next to the sink for washing food and next to the cooking hob. This is also the most practical area for a second sink if you plan to use it. There are also knife drawers, plates, bowls and small kitchen utensils. If you are planning to install a meat block or a compact refrigerator for your frequently used ingredients, the cooking area is the ideal place.

A cleaning and storage area that includes a main sink and dishwasher, a storage area for dishes and kitchen utensils, and a cabinet for cleaning products. Don’t forget the space for litter bins, the waste bin and the compostable waste bin.

A cooking area around the cooker, oven and microwave. The surrounding worktops must be made of heat-resistant materials, such as tiles or stone, suitable for hot meals. Make sure kitchen utensils and equipment, spices and seasonings are kept handy.

Any other place that makes everyday life easier: a study corner with a loading station, computer, file system, telephone, laptop, etc. Or how about a bakery area with a stone table, a corner equipped with a bar where your guests can enjoy a drink before dinner or dinner? It’s all about you and your way of life.

Come up with a budget before doing a kitchen renovation

When planning a new kitchen, be realistic about the cost. Major renovation projects often take longer and more money than anticipated, so it’s a good idea to strive for a conservative budget below your maximum budget to provide extra funds in case your project runs out. A good rule of thumb is to add 10 to 20 percent more for unplanned costs. The more financial cushion you have, the better. You don’t want to be petty with extra credit in the middle of a project or, worse still, get half-finished in the kitchen because you have no money.

Do your research

Visit kitchen halls and home shops to find out the value of goods and then find out what you need and what you can afford. Taking a tour of the surrounding houses is a great way to contact other owners and observe their kitchen layout and renovations.

Consider all thoese “hidden” expenses

Remember to consider labour and material costs as well as taxes and any transport or shipping costs that may arise. They can add up very quickly, so it is important to consider them when establishing a budget. Also think about whether there are any measures you would like to take yourself. Even performing just a few tasks can save you a significant amount of money.

Aim for great quality

Always buy the highest quality materials you can. When it comes to renovating your kitchen, you want high-quality functional items for your own use as well as for potential resale. High quality cabinets, countertops and appliances will also last much longer, so let’s hope you never have to repeat the repair process while living at home.

Think about studying used materials – you can often afford better things than your retail budget allows. For example, try profiling or painting old cupboards bought from a company that sells recycled building materials. You can also find high quality items online for sale by individual retailers.

Evaluate your needs in relation to your wishes.

Be practical and don’t buy things you don’t need. It may be tempting to buy all kinds of fashionable gadgets and household appliances, but it’s best to opt for a solid foundation you know you’ll use. Remember that with every new appliance comes a slightly higher utility bill. They also increase your care responsibilities and require time and money for maintenance.

Is a kitchen renovation a good investment?

For potential buyers, the kitchen is a room that can make or break a sale. A modernized and attractive kitchen can make your home irresistible. Kitchen upgrades continue to gain popularity. For one reason, they often give a huge boost to the resale of your home. In 2020, a $66,000 kitchen renovation paid an average of 62% of the cost of selling the house. For less than $22,000, the rebuilt kitchen paid an average of 80%.

Smaller renovations can have a higher return on investment, as they are generally intended to solve functional problems. They are often designed in more universal styles. More expensive projects tend to give preference to personal style and aesthetics. While potential buyers are concerned that plumbing and appliances will work, most will not need a highly ornamented kitchen.

If your goal is to sell your home immediately, it is best to design a kitchen that suits you. In the end, your kitchen is more than just an investment. It is where you provide and take care of your family. In the kitchen, you entertain friends and guests. It is the residential and breathing centre of your home where you think, socialise and relax.

If you have lived in your home for many years, then choose what you want and enjoy. The Intellect Kitchen and Kitchen study showed that 40% of homeowners say they would like to spend more money on renovating their kitchen. Their biggest regret is that they have not added more organisational features.

How can you save money on a kitchen renovation?

In general, all “wear and tear and replacement” projects are more expensive than projects that retain most materials. A notable example of this is kitchen cabinets. New kitchen cabinets can be very expensive, especially if you need custom made products to fit your space. Fortunately, there are ways to upgrade existing cabinets that are both environmentally friendly (because old cabinets don’t go to waste) and price sensitive.

Painting: Painting kitchen cabinets is a classic way of renovating them. The process of sanding, priming and painting can take a long time, depending on the number of cabinets. But it is simple enough for beginners to achieve good results.

Replacement: More expensive than painting, the replacement veneer adds new veneer to the outside of cabinets and completely replaces drawer doors and facades. This is difficult to do on its own, as it requires tools and knowledge that most DIY people do not have. But it’s still cheaper than buying more and more cupboards and will completely change the look of your kitchen.

New Attachments: In addition to finishing the cabinet, think about upgrading your attachments. Sometimes modern handles are all you need to make existing displays feel brand new.

Shelving: Instead of buying new cupboards or remodelling old ones, think about installing open shelves. Shelves are cheap and you can easily combine them with your kitchen style, making you feel almost like a commercial kitchen.

Upgrade your appliances

In the past, during the reconstruction of the kitchen, many household appliances were sent to the dump. Fortunately, this old way of thinking is already getting out of control, as the municipalities have imposed restrictions on sending appliances directly to the dump.

Information on kitchen appliance repairs is now easily available. And there is a thriving market for spare parts for online services. This allows many homeowners to repair their appliances instead of paying a professional or spending money on something new.

Do your own work

Do-it-yourself projects allow you to pay for materials while reducing labour costs to zero. Some rehabilitation projects, which require beginners to intermediate DIY knowledge, include:

– interior painting
– tiling
– installation of floor coverings
– replacement of sockets and lights
– suspension drywall
– installation of skirting boards and other finishes

Bunnings, Mitre10 and any outdoor stores often have classes and demonstrations on common domestic projects. In addition, hardware shop staff can usually give advice on products and projects. Better yet, these educational resources are often provided free of charge. If that’s not your cup of tea, talk to a professional.

Do your tasks in the right order

It is a common mistake that I see, and can cost money and time in your project. And worse, it can limit your options, especially when it comes to gender selection.

Usually, first you show everything to the floor and then you make a reverse copy… from walk to walk. So you install the floor, then the cupboards, then the countertops, then the inverted frames and finally the plastering and painting. When you skip steps, things don’t come out either, and they have to be redone. It costs extra money and extra time.

A very common mistake we see is when people can’t afford to do the whole kitchen at once, so they do it piece by piece. It’s OK… while doing it in the right order and planning ahead. The problem is that there is often not enough room for hard wood or tile flooring. Plan ahead. If you do, add plywood under the cupboards so that when you add the flooring, everything is aligned correctly.