KITCHEN RENOS:

THE PROCESS
MODU L E FOU R: PDF SE VE N

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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KITCHEN RENOS:
THE PROCESS PHASE 1
PLAN YOUR
KITCHEN
PHASE 2
FINALISE
YOUR DESIGN
PHASE 3
GET
APPROVAL
PHASE 4
RENOVATE
PHASE 5
STYLE
& ENJOY
MODULE FOUR - PDF SEVEN

Now that you’ve got the knowledge and tools to

design your dream kitchen, it’s time to make it a
reality. It’s true that kitchen renos are one of the
most challenging renos to take on, but they are also
the most satisfying when you see and experience
the amazing results, day in and day out. If you’re
looking to save some money on your new kitchen
(who isn’t?), consider project managing this reno
yourself. This means organising a cabinet maker
(or carpenter), stonemason, painter, tiler, electrician

By Erin and plumber yourself, which will require a lot of

effort (and, let’s be honest, some stress). Even so,
this one decision could save you thousands.
If managing and coordinating the schedules of a lot
of trades doesn’t sound like your cup of rosé, you
could also get your kitchen company, cabinet maker
or builder to lead the process for you. Whichever
option you choose, the steps to transforming
a kitchen are always the same.
IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE, WORKING WELL TOGETHER, TO NAIL A NEW KITCHEN.
4 — THE RENO SCHOOL KITCHEN RENOS: THE PROCESS— 5

PHASE 1: PLAN YOUR KITCHEN 1. R eview the 20 questions (from Topic 1) to help remind you exactly what you need from your
kitchen.

2. G o back to that list of ‘must-haves’ vs. ‘nice-to-haves’ (from Topic 1) so you are clear about
your priorities and non-negotiables.

3. Take another look at your kitchen-specific vision board (from Topics 1 and 3) and add to it,
if necessary.

4. C onfirm the exact location of your future kitchen in your house (from Topic 2).
MODULE FOUR - PDF SEVEN

5. S ketch out some potential layouts (from Topic 2).

6. Select your appliances (from Topic 6). Don’t buy them yet, just decide on the ones you want
so you have their exact dimensions and details.

7. M ake a list of the materials, fixtures and fittings you want to use in your kitchen, including
colours, cabinetry, handles, benchtop, splashback, sink, tap etc. Collect images for each of
them (from Topic 3, 4, 5). These images will form part of the brief to your builder, kitchen
This first phase of a reno can be one of the most intense, but I’ve got good news for you: you’ve company or be used for your own reference if you’re going DIY.
already done a lot of the hard yards on this one (or at least you should have by this point!). So
hopefully, this step should be a case of simply reviewing the thinking you’ve already done to make
sure your choices still feel right to you, and clarifying things a little further.
8. D raw a draft lighting and electrical plan onto your kitchen layout sketch showing downlights,
powerpoints and any pendants (from Module 3, Topic 3).
 6 — THE RENO SCHOOL KITCHEN RENOS: THE PROCESS— 7

PHASE 2: FINALISE YOUR DESIGN

1. D ecide between flat-pack or custom: Even if you have your heart set on a custom kitchen, it
is definitely worth comparing the costs of a flat-pack kitchen (either DIY or one installed by a
Satin carpenter) versus a bespoke kitchen (using a cabinet maker). A professionally installed well-
chosen flat-pack kitchen that’s finished with nice hardware and surrounded by other beautiful
ack Satin touches can look just as good as a custom kitchen. Saving big money in this area could mean
you get to spend more on higher-end appliances or other things on your ‘must-have’ list. If you
go with a flat-pack kitchen, be aware that there are often limitations around layout because
atin you can only partially customise. You will also need to check that everything gets delivered as
per your order. (In our experience there are often bits and pieces missing. #notideal)
MODULE FOUR - PDF SEVEN

2. G et some quotes for your dream kitchen: Look back through Module 2: Topic 3, ‘How to
ck Satin
1.0
Brief Your Dream Team’ as a reminder for how to source accurate quotes. When preparing
the brief for your builder, carpenter or cabinet-maker, remember to include the tasks you’re
planning to organise yourself (e.g. the plumber and painter) so they can exclude those jobs
atin from their quote accordingly. And get more than one quote so you can compare. If you are still
tossing up between flat-pack or custom cabinets, check in on your budget now that you have
quotes and decide which way you want to go.

3. R eview and refine your drawings several times until you are satisfied they are millimetre
perfect. If using a cabinet maker, their final design should also list every fixture and fitting you
intend to use including cabinet colour, door profile, handles, sink, tap, tiles, and benchtop.

4. D iscuss with your carpenter or cabinet-maker who is buying what. Theoretically, it should
be cheaper for you to shop around and purchase sinks, taps, appliances and benchtops
yourself (especially with your exclusive Reno School offers!), but your cabinet-maker might get
some great trade discounts, so talk about this with them first before deciding who buys what.

5. H old off on purchasing most items until you have received the necessary approvals for your
reno (see Phase 3 on the next page) – just in case you need to change your design. But if
you’re on a tight timeline and want to get going as soon as you receive approvals, you might
E DETAILS DISHWASHER FISHER PAYKEL - DD60SI7 have to take a punt and order some products before you get approval as some items may
FISHER PAYKEL - OM36NDXB1 SINK CLARK PRISM PPR10B have 12-week lead-times, especially if they’re a little bit fancy.
FISHER PAYKEL - CI302DTB3 MICROWAVE N/A
FISHER PAYKEL - DE6060G1 FRIDGE FISHER & PAYKEL - RB60V18
FISHER PAYKEL - WH7560P2 OTHER: NO
Title: Date: Scale: Job #:

Kitchen 23/06/17 1 : 15 #1178 Lower Portland Kit

Client Approval: Page:

Please Ensure these drawings are checked and understood, By 1 of 9

signing these plans as approved you are accepting the design,
Sheet:
8 — THE RENO SCHOOL KITCHEN RENOS: THE PROCESS— 9

PHASE 3: GET APPROVAL

1. Your new kitchen plans may require approval. Review option (a) and (b) below to determine
which one applies to you. If you’re outside of Australia, check what your local area development
regulations require.

a. If you are renovating JUST YOUR KITCHEN (nothing else in the home), it is likely you
will still have to seek approval via a CDC or DA. Revisit Module 1: Topic 6, ‘From Vision
to Approval’ to remind yourself of this process. If you’re doing a straight replacement
of old for new, with no changes to walls or plumbing services, then you may be able to
proceed under exempt development. If, however, you intend to move your plumbing or
MODULE FOUR - PDF SEVEN

walls, or widen door openings, you will likely require a CDC. And if you also intend to
cut-out a piece of your external wall to create a window splashback (which could impact
the neighbours) this may require a DA.

b. 
If you’re renovating more than your kitchen , (perhaps a whole home reno), then you
will be submitting a CDC or DA anyway, in which case your kitchen plans will simply
form part of this submission. No separate submissions or approvals will be required for
your kitchen.

2. Once you have approval, order the remaining fixtures, fittings, tiles, benchtops, appliances
and any other items that have not yet been ordered.
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PHASE 4: RENOVATE!
1. Organise for your plumber and electrician to ‘cap-off’ (i.e. turn off) all the pipes and electricals
before the renovation begins.

2. Demo the old. Depending on the magnitude of your kitchen reno, you will likely need to
demolish parts or all of your existing kitchen and the adjoining areas. Before doing this, you
must have the material behind your walls tested by a qualified professional to determine if
there is any asbestos present. If there is, it will need to be removed by a licensed asbestos
removalist (which should only take 1–2 days) before work can continue. If you’re on a tight
timeline, feel free to get the walls tested before you have approval. For more information, visit
www.asbestosawareness.com.au
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Tip: IF YOUR OLD KITCHEN (I.E. CABINETRY, APPLIANCES AND

BENCHTOPS) ARE IN AN ACCEPTABLE CONDITION, TRY SELLING
IT ONLINE. NOT ONLY IS THIS A MORE SUSTAINABLE OPTION
THAN TAKING IT TO THE DUMP, YOU’LL ALSO MAKE MONEY FROM
THE SALE AND SAVE MONEY BY NOT HAVING TO DISPOSE OF IT
YOURSELF. YOUR DEMOLITION COSTS MIGHT BE A FRACTION
HIGHER IF YOU HAVE TO CAREFULLY REMOVE THE CABINETRY
RATHER THAN USE A SLEDGEHAMMER, BUT IT’S DEFINITELY WORTH
CONSIDERING. YOU COULD EVEN ADVERTISE THE KITCHEN AS
‘REMOVE YOURSELF’, SO THE NEW BUYER HAS TO PULL IT APART
AT THEIR COST. THAT’S WHAT LANA DID WITH HER OLD KITCHEN.

3. Organise for your plumber and electrician to rough-in the water, power, lighting and gas (if
needed) according to the drawings you signed off on with your cabinet maker or as per your
flat-pack design.

Tip: DON’T CHANGE YOUR MIND AFTER THIS STAGE AS IT WILL COST
YOU MONEY AND PRECIOUS TIME TO MOVE FIXTURES AND
FITTINGS AROUND.
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4. If you’ve decided to go with a bulkhead, now might be the time to get it built. Check with your
builder or kitchen company as some prefer the bulkhead built before cabinetry install and
others prefer it to be done after.
5. Book a plasterer or use your carpenter to patch existing walls or install new wall linings
using Gyprock, or you could try Scyon Axon cladding like we used in The River Shack kitchen.
Any wall behind the sink or dishwasher needs to have a water-resistant lining, like Villaboard.
6. Paint all the walls before the cabinetry goes in as this provides easier access for your painter
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and also helps to protect the cabinets from paint splatter.
Tip: ANY NEW WALLS HIDDEN BEHIND CABINETRY ONLY NEED A BASE
COAT BECAUSE THEY WON’T BE VISIBLE.
7. If you’re installing new flooring, ask your cabinet-maker, carpenter and flooring company if
it should go in before or after the cabinetry. There isn’t one rule here – it all depends on the
type of flooring going down and your cabinet-maker’s preference. We’ve done it both ways. In
Lana’s kitchen, the cabinetry went in first, followed by the engineered timber flooring and then
the kickboards. But at The River Shack and in Bonnie’s new kitchen, we installed the flooring
before the cabinetry.
8. Have your cabinets and handles installed. If you’re using a flat-pack, this can be done by
a carpenter or handyman.
KITCHEN RENOS: THE PROCESS— 13
9. After flooring and cabinetry go in, it’s time to bring in your stonemason to measure up the
stone for the benchtop (and possibly splashback). He should already have the slabs in his
possession, he just needs to measure up where he’s going to make all his cuts and he can
only do this once the cabinetry is in. His measurements must be exact. If you’re planning to
have a waterfall edge (where the stone runs down to the floor), the flooring must be in before
your stonemason can take his measurements to ensure the best finish. If you’re installing
timber benchtops, discuss this with your carpenter. If you’re installing a laminate benchtop,
work directly with the laminate company.
10. Install the benchtops. The installer will also cut and install your sink and cut-out for the
cooktop if needed.
11. C all in your tiler to tile the splashback. If you want a stone splashback, your stonemason will
install this at the same time as the countertop.
12. A sk your plumber and electrician to return to fit out (A.K.A. install) the tapware, connect all
the appliances and hang the pendant lights above the island.
13. T he cabinet-maker will return to install the kickboards and attend to any final adjustments
that need to be made now that the benchtops and appliances are in.
Tip: BEFORE YOUR CABINET-MAKER RETURNS, MAKE SURE YOU’VE
TESTED EACH AND EVERY DRAWER AND SHELF TO ENSURE THEY
ARE WORKING EXACTLY AS YOU WANT THEM TO. IF THEY AREN’T,
THIS IS THE TIME TO ASK FOR ANY TWEAKS OR REPAIRS TO
BE MADE.
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PHASE 5: STYLE & ENJOY

1. Ask your plumber and electrician for
certificates certifying their work and then
file these safely away with any warranties and
instruction booklets that came with your new
appliances.

2. Time for your new kitchen to have its first

clean. I’d recommend you bring in professional
cleaners for this as they know how best to
remove all the various types of construction
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mess, but you’re welcome to give it a go

yourself to save some money.

3. S tyle your kitchen using Bon’s excellent tips to

be shared with you in the next topic.

4. Enjoy your new kitchen every single day!

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Let’s recap! What’s Next ?

9 ways to style a magazine-worthy kitchen
BY NOW YOU SHOULD HAVE... MODULE 4 - TOPIC 8

Just because it’s a kitchen doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be styled with the same
passion you would dedicate to a lounge room. And trust me when I say that

1.
kitchens need styling! With all those hard surfaces and monochromatic colours,
A L I S T O F YO U R K I TC H E N P R I O R I T I E S F RO M
often it’s the styling that softens the space and transforms it into a magazine-
TOPIC 1
MODULE FOUR - PDF SEVEN

worthy kitchen in the blink of an eye.

2. S K E TC H E S O F YO U P OT E N T I A L K I TC H E N
L AY O U T F R O M T O P I C 2 Bonnie, Erin + Lana x
3.
A B E T T E R U N D E R S TA N D I N G O F W H AT Y O U W A N T
YO U R K I TC H E N TO LO O K L I K E F R O M TO P I C 3

4.
C L A R I T Y O N H O W TO C H O O S E YO U C H O O S E YO U R
BENCHTOPS & SPLASHBACKS FROM TOPIC 4

5.
A N I D E A O F W H I C H S I N K A N D TA P W I L L S U I T Y O U
BEST FROM TOPIC 5

6. ALL OUR TIPS ON WHICH APPLIANCES TO

PICK FROM TOPIC 6

7.
A P RO C E S S YO U C A N FO L LOW TO M A N AG E
YO U R K I TC H E N R E N O F R O M TO P I C 7

8. C O N F I D E N C E TO S T Y L E YO U R OW N
MAGAZINE-WORTHY KITCHEN FROM TOPIC 8
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