A kitchen renovation is one of the most significant investments you'll make in your home — and one of the most disruptive if it's not planned properly. Getting the sequence right, knowing where to spend and where to save, and understanding what's involved from a building perspective will save you money, stress, and a lot of time eating takeaways.

Start With the Layout

Before you look at a single cabinet door or worktop sample, think about the layout. The layout determines everything — where the services go, how much space you have, and how the kitchen functions day to day.

Common kitchen layouts:

• Galley — two parallel runs of units. Efficient use of space, good workflow. Best for narrow kitchens
• L-shape — two runs at 90 degrees. Flexible and works in most spaces
• U-shape — three runs forming a U. Maximum storage and worktop space
• Island — central unit providing extra worktop, storage, and often seating. Needs good circulation space around it — minimum 900mm either side

If you're considering removing a wall to open the kitchen to a dining or living area, this is the time to plan it. A structural engineer needs to be involved, and the work needs to happen before any new kitchen is installed.

Where to Spend Your Budget

Spend more on:

• Worktops — this is what you touch and look at every day. Solid quartz or granite will outlast the cabinets
• Sink and tap — cheap taps wear out quickly and leak; a quality tap will last 20+ years
• Appliances — particularly the oven, hob, and extractor. These affect how you cook every day
• Cabinet carcasses — the box inside the door. Solid carcasses from reputable suppliers last far longer than flat-pack alternatives

Where you can be more flexible:

• Cabinet doors — doors can be replaced without replacing the carcass. Some people refresh the look after 10 years with new doors only
• Handles — a relatively cheap way to change the look

The Order of Works — Why Sequence Matters

A kitchen renovation involves multiple trades, and they need to work in the right order. Getting this wrong causes delay, rework, and additional cost.

• Strip-out — remove existing kitchen, flooring, and any walls being demolished
• Structural work — RSJ installation if walls are being removed
• First fix electrics — new circuits, socket positions, lighting circuits run before walls are plastered
• First fix plumbing — waste and supply pipes run to new positions
• Plastering — walls made good, new surfaces skimmed
• Second fix — kitchen units installed, appliances fitted
• Second fix electrics — sockets, switches, and lighting completed
• Second fix plumbing — sink, dishwasher, and washing machine connected
• Tiling — splashbacks and floor
• Decorating — final paint, finishing touches

Integrated Appliances

Integrated appliances (fridge, dishwasher, freezer) are built behind cabinet doors so they blend with the kitchen. They cost more than freestanding equivalents but give a cleaner look. Plan for them from the outset — the cabinets need to be specified accordingly, and the electrical and plumbing connections need to be in the right positions.

Lighting

Kitchen lighting is often underthought. Good kitchen lighting combines:

• Ambient lighting — general ceiling light for the whole room
• Task lighting — under-cabinet LEDs lighting the worktop directly
• Feature lighting — pendants over an island or dining area

All lighting positions need to be planned and first-fix wiring installed before plastering. Adding lighting after is significantly more disruptive.

Wittick Building Tip: At Wittick Building, we manage the full kitchen renovation from strip-out to final decoration, coordinating all trades so you don't have to. We'll also advise on layout and sequence from the outset.