Everything you need to know before starting a kitchen renovation

Many people consider kitchen renovation to be the most difficult type of work. There is a simple explanation for this statement, because this room should combine cosiness, comfort and functionality. In this case, you should hire the services of professionals who will carry out a high-quality kitchen renovation and help you breathe new life into your home. The modernisation project may seem complicated, but the experts will help you to realise all your ideas.

Preparation for repair work

Any big job starts with planning. Before you start renovating your kitchen, you need to decide on a budget. Experts advise adding up to 15% to the main estimate for so-called unforeseen expenses. During the execution of the order, materials may become more expensive or additional work may be required. You can also divide the budget into several parts: for mandatory work, for new furniture and appliances, for decor, and for secondary needs.

Sometimes family members have different opinions about the final result. For example, someone wants a modern, functional kitchen in a minimalist style, while others prefer old furniture inherited from relatives. To avoid conflicts, you should seek the help of an interior designer. Specialists are able to notice the ‘invisible’ advantages of the premises. For example, you can create separate areas for cooking, relaxation, etc. Designers can make even small rooms comfortable.

Another important step to take is to find a responsible contractor. When choosing a company that provides renovation services, you need to pay attention to the time it has been on the market and whether it has a work permit. It is equally important to look at the portfolio. From the examples of ‘before’ and ‘after’ works, you can understand how creatively the studio implements various projects. It is important to determine the full range of work with the contractor, agree on their cost, and conclude an agreement.

What style of kitchen to choose

People often admit that they spend most of their day in the kitchen. It's not just about cooking. The kitchen is used for family dinners, gatherings with friends, and experimenting with new recipes. Therefore, this place should inspire and create a pleasant mood. For this purpose, you will need to choose the style in which the renovation will be carried out. Let's take a look at the most popular ones.

• Provence. This cosy, warm design is characterised by a lot of wooden elements. Furniture can have an aging effect. Provence has a lot of light elements, natural textures, and soft lines.
• Modern style. It can be confused with minimalism. It is characterised by functionality and practicality. It is dominated by a restrained colour palette. Furniture and additional elements have simple and strict shapes.
• Scandinavian. The key feature of this design is its monochrome colour scheme (mostly light colours are used). The interior is mostly complemented by wooden furniture, and much attention is paid to lighting.
• Neoclassical. It is characterised by expensive materials: mahogany, crystal chandeliers, upholstery made of natural fabrics. In contrast to traditional classics, this style is more restrained, although not without a touch of luxury.
• Loft. The choice of young modern people who value large space and convenience. The design can combine seemingly incompatible things, for example, a combination of rough walls with elegant wooden furniture. Metal accessories are predominant.

In modern kitchen design, styles can mix and match. Therefore, it is important to clearly outline your vision of the redesign to the specialist, and he will tell you how best to implement it.

What not to forget

Sometimes owners focus on the choice of building materials, furniture or decor, but forget to pay attention to other equally important aspects of kitchen modernisation.

• Consideration of the location of the equipment with the electrical wiring diagram so that each device can be easily used.
• Use lighting elements in the work area. LED strips or additional lamps make it much more convenient to cook in the evening.
• Install underfloor heating. Underfloor heating will turn the kitchen into a cosy corner. Such a heating system heats up the room faster.
• Improve ventilation. When making cosmetic repairs, people neglect to replace ventilation. In conditions of high humidity, it is important to establish high-quality air circulation.

The desire to decorate the kitchen can also play a negative role. For example, decorative panels, embossed plaster or white furniture look stylish, but they require more effort to maintain.