You may have decided that 2022 is the year to give your kitchen a full makeover, especially if you’ve been looking online at some of the amazing designs that have been done by other people and want that for your home.
The kitchen really is the ‘hub of the home’ so you want to ensure you get it right! Also, a good kitchen renovation can add thousands to the value of your property. But where do you start? In this article we will provide a guide on what to consider and when.
Stages to take when planning your kitchen renovation
There are a few stages to consider when planning your renovation as a new kitchen can be a fairly big job, but also hopefully enjoyable.
- Begin with a ‘wish list’ – what style and colours do you like? The internet and places like Pinterest and Instagram are always useful to give you inspiration. Establish the features you’d like eg. an island, plenty of cupboard space, stone worktops, appliances you’ll need and the general style of kitchen you’re going for.
- Do you need an architect or structural engineer? – for bigger, more complex kitchen renovations you may need to bring in additional expertise, especially if you’ll be knocking down walls.
- Find a kitchen fitter – ideally get a referral from someone who has used one before and go and check out their work. If not, have a look online and at review websites such as Checkatrade or TrustATrader to ensure their work is of a high quality. Get quotes from 2 or 3 fitters.
- Choose your kitchen unit supplier – there are a number of main retailers to have a look at, but also look at independent companies who make bespoke kitchens. It’s worth weighing up the costs for both options.
- Have your space measured by a professional – this may be by the kitchen fitter, unit supplier or both!
- Have a budget for the project – you’ll need to consider all the costs such as the fitting cost, units themselves, appliances, bespoke worktops, plumbing and electrical costs, flooring and decorating to name a few. Creating a budget should avoid you getting any nasty surprises.
- Once you have a start date in place, you’ll need to pack up your kitchen and store it appropriately. Prepare for a fair bit of mess!
When to pick your kitchen worktop supplier
Choosing your kitchen worktop supplier is an important element of the planning stage and we’d recommend getting it booked in as early as possible. You may find that some worktop suppliers have certain lead times for particular product types so you don’t want to let this side hold back the project.
Remember! You can choose any worktop supplier for your kitchen worktop. You are the client so you shouldn’t be constrained to order your worktop through the supplier of the kitchen or your fitter. You will find that highstreet kitchen retailers will put huge markups on worktops and it’s never something they supply. By simply asking them to take it off the final design may save you hundreds, if not thousands of pounds.
The important thing is to pick a worktop company that has the stone type and finish you want and who offers you the best possible service and quality.
At Eaton Stonemasons we do everything from design, manufacturing and installation and we work closely with your kitchen fitter to ensure we all work in sync so you don’t have to worry about anything apart from choosing the perfect worktop!
Choosing the right kitchen worktop
In our opinion, one of the key elements of any kitchen renovation is the choice of worktop! This can really ‘make a kitchen’.
First up is choosing the right type of stone for your kitchen. This all depends on personal preferences, how you’re going to use the surface and your budget. At Eaton Stonemasons we offer custom worktops in granite, quartz, marble and sintered stone.
We have various articles in our blog section to help you choose which worktop is the best for you:
Quartz vs Granite – which should I choose?
The benefits of using stone for your bespoke kitchen worktop
Whether your new kitchen is modern, traditional, trend-led or any other style, we can help create you a bespoke stone kitchen worktop to suit any kitchen design.
The first step in choosing your new stone kitchen worktop is to visit our showroom in Wareham. Alternatively we can post you samples. The next phase would be for us to arrange a home visit where we would create a bespoke template for your custom stone worktop.
How long will it take?
This really can depend on the kitchen fitter you are working with, delivery timeframes for your units, worktop and appliances and if there is any structural work that needs to be done. Typically this can be anything from 1-5 weeks.
If you’re replacing your existing kitchen with the same layout and position of appliances, with no need for a new floor or decorating, then it can be relatively quick and closer to 1 week.
On the opposite end, if your kitchen is part of a new extension, with all new electrics, plumbing, flooring and decorating, then it can take several weeks.
How much will it cost?
The average kitchen renovation in the UK costs between £10,000 – £25,000 (according to the 2017 Kitchen Trends Report from Houzz). However some projects can run over £50,000. But it’s all about keeping a close eye on costs and to ensure you’re happy with this before commencing the work. We would suggest allowing a 10% contingency for any possible unforeseen costs.
When choosing your kitchen worktop from Eaton Stonemasons we would provide you with a full quote before placing your order.
Contact us
Get in touch with our experienced team on 01929 550653 to discuss your bespoke kitchen worktop requirements. We will explain the whole process and arrange for you to visit our showroom to look at a full range of samples we have available for customers to view. Our showroom in Wareham is open Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm.