Smith & Sons Home Renovation ServicesKitchen Renovations

Most of us can conjure up happy memories of family and friends gathered in the kitchen. The old adage of it being the heart of the home still rings true.

Chatting over coffee at the kitchen bench, small kids standing on a step to help stir the cake batter, big kids running through in search of a snack, Dad carving a Sunday roast—our memories will be uniquely our own and we’re fortunate to live in a time where we have the opportunity to make our kitchens just as unique by designing and building for the way our families function.

As the heart of the home, kitchens receive a huge amount of wear and tear. Nowadays thoughtful selection of finishes and materials works wonders to increase the longevity of a kitchen but for those of us living in a kitchen that’s seen a decade or two it may well be time for a renovation. Functionality, practicality and modern design aside, kitchens often set the personality and style of a home and these can change dramatically over time.

A kitchen renovation can take a number of forms. You might only require refacing of cupboards and drawers, some new handles and an updated benchtop. Alternatively, you may desire an overhaul of the kitchen layout to facilitate ease of use and increased storage space. Your kitchen can even be relocated within your home to improve the functionality of the floorplan. Whatever you choose, it’s important that both you and your builder are clear on the existing conditions of your kitchen. It may be quick and inexpensive to opt for the new cupboard doors and handles but putting a Band-aid over more serious structural issues such as sagging cabinetry, rotting melamine shelves or leaking grout work can be costly down the track. It is always best to do the job right the first time.

There are two primary elements to kitchen design.

  1. Functionality:Even on those days when we’re not rushing to make dinner, or pack the school lunches while we wrangle the kids during breakfast, having a well-thought-out kitchen plan makes life stress free. An easily accessible place for everything and a layout that allows effortless movement through the kitchen is an underappreciated joy. Careful consideration of the placement of the fridge, stove top, sink, and storage will make your new kitchen that much safer and more pleasant to work in. It will also make your kitchen more inviting to guests—sharing tea and biscuits, or a glass of wine and a cheese platter at the kitchen bench while you whip up a gourmet meal is a simple pleasure.
  2. Style: In addition to being functional your kitchen should reflect your home’s style; in fact the selection of finishes in the kitchen often influences the styling of the rest of the home. Country, contemporary, industrial, glam—whichever style you prefer, you’ll be faced with a plethora of selections to be made in regard to cabinetry, handles, benchtops, splashback, appliances. Take the time to build a mood board or collect Pinterest images to ensure that your kitchen reflects your family’s style and won’t date quickly.

Smith & Sons teams are full of practical tips and style ideas to help you create your dream kitchen—it is wholly within your reach.

Be inspired by some of our kitchen renovations in the gallery below.

Recent ProjectsKitchen Renovations

Kitchen Renovation – Rockingham

Kitchens
5 Photos

Kitchen with Butlers Pantry

Kitchens
3 Photos

Kitchen with Butlers Pantry

Kitchens
7 Photos

Kitchen Renovation

Kitchens
8 Photos

Kitchen Renovation

Kitchens
10 Photos

Kitchen Renovation

Kitchens
4 Photos

Kitchen Renovation

Kitchens
12 Photos

Kitchen Renovation

Kitchens
13 Photos

Modern Traditional Home Renovation – Kitchen

Kitchens
7 Photos
View More
  • How Much Does a Kitchen Renovation Cost?

    Thinking about renovating your kitchen? Before you begin collecting colour samples or start planning your workflow triangle, one of your first thoughts might be, how much will it cost? Well, it depends. It depends on what you’re starting with and what type of kitchen you have in mind.

    The kitchen is the most renovated room in the house but because the humble kitchen includes so many different elements, no two renovations are the same. It’s quite possible to give your kitchen a fresh new face by preserving the layout and focusing on aesthetic changes. Updating the door and drawer faces, replacing handles, and installing a new splashback could do the trick. Depending on the size of the kitchen this type of renovation is likely to be under $10,000.

    On the other hand, electing to go for a full renovation which optimises the kitchen’s layout, increases the footprint, and incorporates stone benchtops and high-end appliances can push you toward the $50,000 mark and beyond. For most renovations, though, the final cost lies somewhere in between.

    A great deal goes into a kitchen renovation and each decision you make will impact the final cost. So, with so much to think about, how can you keep costs down?

    It helps to develop a list of must haves. What are the elements you most want to include in your new kitchen? Is storage space a big priority, a functional layout, impactful finishes? Once you have some non-negotiable features in mind you’ll be able to see where money can be saved on the aspects that are less of a priority for you.

    If the layout of your existing kitchen is already practical, you’ll save a lot of cash by keeping the appliances in the same position. Relocating plumbing or gas fixtures is a significant expense.

    Costs can be kept down by retaining the existing cabinetry carcasses where possible—the colour, finish and profile combinations for new doors and drawers are almost endless. It may even be possible to have your existing faces repaired and sprayed with a 2pac coating rather than purchasing new ones.

    As you’d expect, the materials, fixtures, finishes and appliances you select will influence the bottom line. Is it important to go for a luxury brand dishwasher when it’s hidden behind the island bench or would the money saved be better spent on your splashback material? Would you appreciate the practical utility of task lighting more than an uber-pricey pendant light? Money can be saved all over the place by shopping around and comparing brands and styles—tapware, handles, and tile choice all offer the opportunity to hold on to your hard-earned cash.

    The cost of labour is unavoidable but by planning carefully, the amount of time that trades need to put into your renovation can be minimised.

    Having a loosely defined budget in mind is important from the get-go but the best way to fine-tune it before you begin your renovation is to have an open, up-front conversation with your builder. They’ll be able to offer advice on the best ways to save money and give you an accurate picture of just what you’ll be able to achieve with your budget.