3 Key Questions to Ask Before Renovating Your Kitchen

Many of the clients we speak with at Archant have decided that 2023 is the ideal year to renovate their kitchens. With the current state of the real estate market, an increasing number of people are choosing to simply update their space as opposed to buying a new home.

Yet, this decision is not an easy one. Renovating a kitchen is a big task. There are many components to doing it well. And if you're not well-prepared, the whole project can get rather overwhelming.

In our showrooms across New Zealand, we talk with people every day who are interested in refreshing their kitchens but aren’t sure where to start. We've accrued some key information that will be helpful to you in your kitchen renovation. These are steps that you can take right now in the early planning stages of your project.

By spending a bit of time thinking through these questions now, the whole process will be much smoother. It can also prevent you from making some of the common mistakes that we've seen far too often. Organisation is a key part of any successful project. With that, here are three of the most important questions you can ask before renovating your kitchen.

1) How Do You Envision a Successful Kitchen Renovation?

Can you picture what your ideal kitchen will look like once it's completed? Is this a complete overhaul, or perhaps just a simple refresh? Maybe you have a porcelain benchtop and island in mind. Perhaps you want to redo your floor with large format tile or maybe timber. What about cabinetry? Can you describe what you need as far as ample storage and pantry space?

Other essential components include sinks, taps, cabinet handles, hardware, and of course, colour palettes. It's here, in these early stages, that we set the tone for the rest of the project. This is a great time to make a mood board featuring all the different ideas that you're interested in.

Whether you're looking on Pinterest or on our Archant website at the various projects we've completed around New Zealand, there is no shortage of inspiration on the web today. As you start to narrow down your ideal picture of a great renovation, it will also shape how your budget needs to look. Of course, everyone's idea of a perfect kitchen will be different, so make sure you factor in how you and your family will use the space.

3 Key Questions to Ask Before Renovating Your Kitchen

2) What is Your Ideal Budget for Kitchen Renovations?

With a more complete vision of how your project should look, you'll be able to start setting the parameters of your renovation budget. Part of this cost will be dependent on the actual size and scope of the renovation. Is it a complete overhaul or a quick refresh? Will this project be something that you're going to live with for a long time, or are you planning to rent or sell this space soon?

Then you’ll want to factor in the overall cost of the home and take a percentage of that to pull aside for your remodeling costs. Most design experts recommend setting aside approximately 10% of the home value for kitchen renovations. By following this suggested guideline, you can prevent over capitalisation.

Many clients find that having a ‘good, better, best’ budget in mind is a helpful way to explore all of the potential possibilities without limiting themselves. This gives you the chance to shop comparatively and review various materials, price points, and products.

If the budget figures you come up with seem frightening at first, try to put them into perspective. Kitchen renovations add great value to a home as it is considered one of the most important rooms in the entire house, and the place where families spend a large majority of their time. Investing in creating the kitchen of your dreams now will pay dividends for years to come.

3 Key Questions to Ask Before Renovating Your Kitchen

3) What Experts Can You Enlist to Support the Success of this Project?

If you are a handy person, there may be aspects of the kitchen redesign which you can handle yourself. This will be a cost-saving approach. Yet, with a kitchen project of a large scope, there will be many aspects where you need the help of an expert. Whether it's the plumbing, benchtop design, cabinetry, or flooring. Some parts of a kitchen remodel are simply too big to handle yourself. This is where having professional support can become invaluable. Not only will you receive expert guidance, but it will also help speed up the process and in turn save you time and money.

The team at Archant has worked with customers all over New Zealand on kitchen renovations both big and small. We understand all the nuances that go into creating great design. Whether you're looking to create a modern kitchen that boasts high-end appeal, or you want something more traditional, we have the tools and resources to help you achieve it.

Building a relationship with your local Archant showroom can go a long way in bringing your project to life. Stop by to ask some of the questions you've been pondering. Grab a couple of samples for our various stone surfaces. Look around the showroom, touch some of the materials, and check out the new innovative products we offer. Gain inspiration with fresh ideas and think about how they can be used to move your project forward in spectacular fashion. Having a trusted resource to go to when you need it most can make all the difference.

3 Key Questions to Ask Before Renovating Your Kitchen

Get Your Copy of Our New Catalogue Today

We know you’re excited to see the latest design products, including decorative surfaces, kitchenware, and beyond. With each page of our new catalogue, we’re ushering in the next chapter of great design.

Best of all, this beautifully illustrated book is free and available now. Be inspired by real-world project images while reviewing the essential product specs. Organise your upcoming design plans with detailed info including measurements, colour options, finishes, and more. This densely packed catalogue is sure to bring your design vision one step closer to reality. We can’t wait to see what you create with it.

Get your copy here.

3 Key Questions to Ask Before Renovating Your Kitchen