6 minute read 
Sep 2nd, 2021 A kitchen refurbishment can be time-consuming and costly at the best of times, but if you don’t plan your refurbishment carefully, your dream project runs the risk of turning into a kitchen nightmare. Bad kitchen designs can be a major problem and can end up devaluing your home.
What’s cooking?
As the old saying goes, if you fail to prepare, you’re preparing to fail, and this is very much the case with a kitchen refurbishment, whether you’re planning to do the work yourself or bringing in the pros. In this article, Granite and TREND Transformations takes you through the ten commandments of what to do – and what not to do – when embarking on a kitchen refurbishment:
1) Take cover
First things first – depending on the scope of your refurbishment, there’s a chance there’ll be many things going on, including banging, drilling, and relocating items. If you’re hiring a builder or contractor to complete the work for you, check to see what kind of insurance they hold. Next, it’s a good idea to reach out to your home insurance provider to give them a heads up about your project and ensure that you’re fully covered. With the best will in the world, accidents do happen, and nothing will dampen your refurbishment project quicker than a costly leak or flood during the work.
2) Banking on great results
Refurbishing your kitchen is an investment that will add value to your property. However, be wary of letting the costs spiral out of control as this may result in the kitchen remaining unfinished for some time. Make a comprehensive list of all of the costs involved and then set a budget for your project. It’s also a good idea to add a small ‘cushion’ into your budget for any unexpected expenses. Setting a budget and sticking to it will help you make sure that the project is affordable and that you’ll be able to complete it within your desired timeframe.
3) Taking the floor
There’s no denying it – a kitchen redo can be a messy business, particularly when there may be workmen traipsing in and out during the day. As well as protecting the kitchen flooring (if this isn’t being replaced), you should also safeguard flooring in hallways and other rooms that may see increased foot traffic. If it’s not practical to remove carpets or floor coverings, then try using self-adhesive carpet protection. It is affordable, widely available and will help to ensure that you don’t have to add new carpets to your refurbishment budget.
4) Keeping the home fires burning
Once you have a start date for your refurbishment project, it’s essential to think about how your family will function while the work is taking place. Think about setting up a temporary mini-kitchen elsewhere in the house and equip it with the essentials that your family will need for day-to-day life while the work is going on. At Granite and TREND Transformations, we can minimise the time your kitchen is out of action. With the convenience offered via our products, such as our ‘top-that-fits-on-top’ overlay worktops and replacement doors, we can provide a quick turnaround service for your kitchen refurbishment, with installations often completed in as little as a day. Furthermore, with no demolition, any mess is significantly reduced, and we’ll even take your old products away.
5) Let there be light
One of the most common oversights when refurbishing a kitchen is a failure to install enough lighting – an error that can lead to more expense further down the line. When planning your kitchen refurbishment project, it’s vital that you consider how the changes may affect the amount of light in the room. Spotlighting, accent lighting and overheads can all play a significant role in the overall effect of the new kitchen. While considering your lighting options, it’s also a good idea to invest in lighting that uses long-lasting LED bulbs for cost and efficiency benefits.
6) Kitchen success – by design
Failing to plan the layout of your kitchen could cause irritation in your day-to-day life and lead you to fall out of love with your new kitchen. Think about the following to help avoid that:
- Make sure that you leave enough space to walk between units and that there won’t be awkward handles and other items that may impede movement.
- Where possible, position the oven, sink and fridge in a triangular shape, as this is the most efficient shape for working.
- Include storage space for rubbish, recycling bins and cleaning materials to avoid clutter in your new kitchen.
- Choose your appliances first, and then build your design around these.
- Make sure that you have sufficient work surface
- Ensure that you have enough power sockets for your needs – where necessary, these can be installed inside shelf units or underneath work surfaces.
- Plan designated spaces for all items you regularly use, including cookery books, pots, pans, and utensils.
Try using our innovative 3D kitchen planner to help design the layout of your new room.
7) Staying on top of your game
Another of the common kitchen design mistakes made by homeowners is the choice of material for their worktops. For example, solid granite is a popular option but can be expensive. Furthermore, while it may look stunning at first, it can quickly fade or become dull through exposure to sunlight and artificial lighting, leaving you disheartened.
More and more homeowners are discovering a great alternative in the form of our etherium® By E-Stone surfaces. Combining the beauty of quartz, granite and recycled glass, they are durable yet super slim worktops. Practical and convenient, our etherium® By E-Stone surfaces even fit over your existing worktops, cutting down on time, mess, and hassle. Available in a range of beautiful designs, these innovative worktops are the perfect solution for those looking for stylish and durable worktops for their kitchen refurbishment project. As a bonus, unlike granite work surfaces, our surfaces never need to be sealed and feature built-in, Microban® antimicrobial protection for hygienic surfaces 24/7.
8) Space, the final frontier
If you’re lucky enough to have a spacious, airy kitchen, then you have a little more wiggle room when it comes to colour. However, if you have a galley or smaller kitchen, it’s a good idea to create the illusion of space as much as possible. Experts advise small kitchen owners to go with light, neutral shades for their kitchen units to avoid making the area look smaller and darker than it is.
9) An open-door policy
If you are picking out new units, it’s time to get the tape measure out again, as another one of the big kitchen design mistakes frequently made is a failure to measure cabinet doors correctly. Don’t forget to visualise them being opened too. This process is vital to avoid door overlap or scraping when opening and closing, which will quickly make the doors look scruffy.
To make the process simpler, why not consider keeping your current units and just replacing the doors? As well as being more cost-effective, it is also better for the environment. Furthermore, with Granite and TREND Transformation managing the whole process end-to-end, it is one less thing for you to worry about.
10) Taking it easy
When finalising your kitchen refurbishment design, don’t go back to arranging everything in the same place as before. A refurbishment is your opportunity to not only make your kitchen look great but also to design your space for optimum efficiency. Think about what you do in your kitchen and how you do it, and then rearrange accordingly. For example, why not place cutlery drawers directly above the dishwasher for putting away convenience or create a revolving spice rack above your stove. The exciting thing about redesigning your kitchen is that you have a chance to make life easier for yourself as well as enjoying your new look room.
Conclusion
Refurbishing your kitchen is a significant task, taking the time to properly plan the project, work on your design and shop around for the best deal is key to ensuring your refurbishment goes without a hitch. While the traditional approach to renovations can leave you without a functional kitchen or bathroom for weeks, Granite and TREND Transformations offer little-to-no demolition with our ‘top that fits on top’ installation solution. This means your project can be completed in a very short space of time, resulting in less stress for you, and a kitchen that will bring you joy for many years to come.
If you’d like to discuss your kitchen refurbishment or makeover with our expert designers, please give our team a call.
