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Kitchen Renovations

The kitchen isn't called the heart of the home for no reason. It's a space we navigate towards multiple times a day to share memories, laughter, and good food. And for this reason, it needs to be functional and beautiful. But if your kitchen feels cramped or outdated, it can have severe effects on your household's mojo!

As kiwis, DIY is in our DNA. But there are definitely times when it's more appropriate to enlist the help of a professional - and a kitchen renovation is one of them. At MasterCraft, we've completed hundreds of renovations, so you can rest assured that we can transform your kitchen into something magical.

Here, we offer helpful insights and resources to reduce that overwhelming feeling, everything from selecting a kitchen designer and figuring out budgets and timeframes to preparing your design brief.

Before we get started, feel free to check out our free renovation guide!

Choosing a Kitchen Designer

No matter how big or small, any kitchen renovation requires specialist expertise. Enlisting the help of a kitchen designer will not only assure that your renovation is finished on time and budget but that it also looks fantastic.

Our designers have experience planning and organising all kitchen renovations, including design, project management, building, cabinet making, electricity and plumbing.

With this expertise, our Kitchen Designers can turn your dream kitchen into a reality.

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Why Hire a Kitchen Designer?

The plethora of decisions that need to be made can be overwhelming – even for seasoned renovators. That's where a kitchen designer offers you a sigh of relief. A good Kitchen Designer will confidently guide you through the entire process and remove much of the complexity, so you can focus on the fun stuff, like whether you're choosing blue or burgundy tiles!

What's more, hiring a kitchen designer does not take away from your creative expression or freedom. Instead, a kitchen designer makes your vision happen. Their experience, training, product knowledge, and innovative ideas can be the difference between a good renovation and a great one.

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How to find a great kitchen designer?

You're going to be extremely close with your kitchen designer for the duration of your project, so it's essential to choose someone you get along with! Every designer you meet will have specific expertise and interests that can enhance your own project.

Be sure to converse with different kitchen designers and ask about their previous projects - we are confident you will find a designer that is right for you within your local Mastercraft showroom.

When it comes to finding a Kitchen Designer that suits your situation best - there are a few things to consider:

Personality. You're going to be spending a lot of time together!

Locality. Although it may be tempting to look for someone flashy in a different city, having someone local will be necessary for logistics (like onsite consults, measuring, and knowing what's available). Also, you will be popping in for a few design discussions.

Experience. You will need someone who has designed a wide range of kitchens and knows the tricks of the trade. This is particularly important when you have a gnarly project or something particularly technical or off-the-beaten-track.

Unique interest/expertise. Designers often have a particular area of interest (e.g. architectural or Cape Cod). So, if you have a specific style in mind, ask for someone with experience in that area – you won't regret it.

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Should I go with an In-house or Independent Kitchen Designer?

The first thing that needs to be said is that either way, a good designer will be working on getting you the best result they can with your budget. Whether you choose an in-house or independent kitchen designer, you can rest assured they will have kitchen inspiration oozing out of their pores and the capability to create a beautifully functional space that you are likely to LOVE.

Check out our designers

How Much Does a Kitchen Renovation Cost?

The cost of your individual project will depend on the size, scope, and materials used. In this section, we detail a bit more about what you can expect when budgeting, and for some extra help, check out our Kitchen Renovation Guide – a comprehensive resource we developed to help with this process.

Assess why you're renovating:

In a forever home, you will put a kitchen that represents your personality, preferences and how you want to live. This will significantly influence your budget, design, and functional choices. However, if you are renovating to sell, it will be essential to ensure your choices have a broader market appeal.

The ugly truth:

Some costly parts of a kitchen renovation simply cannot be avoided e.g. wall removal, new windows, electrical rewiring, replacing or relocating plumbing and any related council approvals. So before diving headfirst into any renovation, it's essential to understand exactly what your space needs and allow a bit of flexibility in your budget.

Itemise and prioritise:

Appliances are something you need to factor in early here, and it's important not to purchase these until your design is finalised! Start researching and comparing across a range of sellers. This piece of the budget is fairly easy to start with, and then you can work on the rest of your list.

To wrap up:

With everything in mind, it's important not to blow your budget. Plan and try as much as possible to stick with the plan. Tap into your kitchen designer's expertise to find clever ways to achieve your desired aesthetic in a budget-friendly way.

Top tip: Having a good project manager who keeps everything moving and on time is a great way to keep your renovation to budget!

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What do I need for a design brief?

Before you get in touch with a Kitchen Designer, it's important to have a design brief ready - we need to know what we're working with! Try to include:

Key Measurements:

These don't need to be exact, but having floor plans with current and planned layouts is the starting point, and rough sketches are fine.

Household Interests:

The size of your household and your lifestyle priorities are critical considerations to achieve a great outcome. Whether you enjoy cooking alone or entertaining guests, your household hobbies will determine your final kitchen result.

Your Aesthetic:

When it comes to getting your ideas across, it can really help to create a mood board. Check out our gallery, featured kitchens and walk-through videos to kick-start your inspiration!! You can piece together your favourite looks and appliances, from which your Kitchen Designer can develop a clearer picture of your dream renovation.

How long does it take to Renovate a Kitchen?

The length of your renovation is tied up in multiple factors, including size and scope, building work, trades' timelines, council approvals, and material availability. But each renovation is unique, the best way to find out the

Our Renovation Guide provides some rough guidelines to help you plan, including the framework and timeline of the typical kitchen renovation. This step-by-step guide has helpful information about what to expect when renovating, the different roles and responsibilities, and so much more. So check it out!

Get the guide

Summary

We hope you are now inspired and armed with enough information to know where to start your NZ kitchen renovation. It's a considerable task navigating everything from finding a kitchen designer to managing timelines and budgets, so we hope this has helped and that you have discovered some kitchen inspiration along the way.

Feel free to stalk our gallery and social media pages for more kitchen inspiration, and do make use of our renovation guide. When you are ready to start your kitchen renovation, reach out to your local Mastercraft showroom - we would be thrilled to be part of your journey.

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