5 Key Kitchen Renovation Tips for Your Next Christchurch Project

1. Consider your future plans

Whether you plan on staying in your Christchurch home for the long haul or selling up in a few years to retire somewhere tropical, having clarity for your future will help your kitchen renovation be more intentional. How? If you want to appeal to a wider pool of home buyers in the future, you may have less freedom in terms of kitchen design, depending on whether or not your personal preferences have mainstream appeal. 

Planning a kitchen renovation for your forever home will require acute attention to detail in regard to your day-to-day living habits, what kind of functional requirements you have, and the overall aesthetic you want to achieve. However, you have carte blanche to make any decisions you want, as you’re designing for your own enjoyment.

2. Define your priorities early

Before falling in love with kitchen design ideas you can’t afford or committing to an unrealistic budget, define your priorities. At Refresh, we categorise renovations as one of two things; design-led or budget-led. 

Design-led: Homeowners who are design-led are set on achieving a certain aesthetic or design style and are willing to invest any amount to make it happen. 

Budget-led: Homeowners who are budget-led want to stick to a hard budget and discuss what kind of things work within their price point. 

There’s no wrong answer, but knowing which renovator you are helps decide how to bring your vision to life while managing expectations – exactly what our 5-step process was designed to do.  

3. DIY vs. professional project management

A common misconception about kitchen renovations is that DIY projects save you money. And, unless you’re a qualified builder backed by a team looking to do pro bono work, that couldn’t be further from the truth. If you have the time, budget, resources, and connections to take on a kitchen renovation by trial and error, then you might have a great time doing it yourself. 

Professional project managers and kitchen designers have the kind of valuable knowledge that only comes with experience. Knowing the ins and outs is a major advantage when it comes to kitchen renovation costs and schedule considerations. Also, professionals already have established relationships with suppliers and contractors that take years to build. You don’t get that with DIY. Not to mention having to deal with local council regulations and building codes. 

When all is said and done, having a professional on your side to cut through the red tape, arrange contractors, and source premium supplies will save you time, money, and stress. 

4. Look at the big picture

Kitchen renovations can either be taken on independently or as part of a whole house makeover. Either way, the big picture must be considered. Homeowners are often so concerned with achieving a certain look that they ignore whether or not it will complement the rest of their interiors. This can result in a space with clashing styles that need to be addressed down the road.

Here’s an example of a kitchen renovation that works beautifully with the rest of the home’s existing interior: New kitchen in Burwood, Christchurch

5. Figure out which contractors you need to work with

What may seem like a small project will most likely still require numerous contractors to be on-site at any given time to get the job done. This Riccarton kitchen renovation was only about 100m² but involved at least eight different types of contractors, including builders, window joiners, plumbers, electricians, painters, flooring specialists, and kitchen joiners. 

We put together this article to help teach you what to look for when hiring contractors for your kitchen renovation. But, beyond finding the right contractors, it’s imperative you organise them systematically to avoid delays. For example, you can’t schedule painters to come before the plastering is finished!

Ready to renovate your kitchen? 

If these kitchen tips have you wanting more advice from an expert get in touch with your local Christchurch Renovation Consultant to learn more and arrange your free consultation!