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Kitchen renovation advice

Hi Everyone

We're in the process of buying a old weatherboard house. We have never done a renno before, so I am trying to gather information and learn as much as I can about the journey we are about to undertake!

This is the current kitchen and the floor plan, the rooms are small and we would like to open up the kitchen by removing the wall between the dining room and kitchen.

Any advice or ideas on anything would be lovely, I know we will have to get professional help in, but given we have a relatively small budget and there is a lot to do, any tips or hints before we start would be most helpful.

I imagine you will be seeing a lot of me in these forums!! 🙂

Thanks in advance!

Kitchen .jpg

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Jason

Congratulations on the new purchase @Angelina. This must be such an exciting time for you.

I'm sure the ever-helpful Workshop community will be able to provide lots of advice and inspiration for your renovation project.

How much are you planning to do yourselves? Are you going to live in the house while you undertake the work? And are you planning to keep anything from the existing kitchen or completely start again?

Here's some previous Workshop discussions that you might be interested in:

What would you do with this kitchen?

Ideas for kitchen design to renovate an old 70s kitchen

First renovation

Your kitchen design ideas

Welcome to Workshop.

Jason

Isobel

Opening up the kitchen and dining is the right move @Angelina. Hopefully you have room for an island bench and can take advantage of both decks. It is a little unusual to have the kitchen upstairs, but I don't see a way of changing that without huge expense.

Jason

@Angelina,

I should have also directed you to read Belinda Smith's story and top tips for renovators on our blog - https://www.workshop.com.au/t5/Blog/A-lifetime-of-renovating/ba-p/17493

@2Belindas might also like to offer her input into your project.

Are you planning on doing anything else to the property apart from the kitchen and shed renovation?

Jason

BIM_Engineer

Guys before you get all excited about the kitchen colours
@Angelina might wish to check on the wall that's going to be removed in the kitchen to see if it's a Structural Wall

Also check your Balcony/Balustrading hth

RenoQueen

It would be good to know a little more about your tastes and what style you're after. Perhaps some photos of other kitchens you like?

Agree that one thing the house is missing is an outdoor entertaining area that flows into the indoors. But you could sacrifice the back bedrooms on the ground floor and turn that into a family area that then opens up to a back deck.

Angelina

Thanks BIM_Engineer!

Yes totally agree, I would be a bit disappointed if it was and it stopped us from opening up the room, so we'll have to wait and see.

I had a look at the link you attached, thank you, and noticed that it has to do with the type of roof, this is the only photo I have from the inspection, so not sure if you can tell me anymore from that?

If it is a supporting wall, can you take the wall out but leave like a post/pillar at the end? Could that be an option?

Screen Shot 2018-05-12 at 4.07.50 pm.png

BIM_Engineer

@Angelina
Thanks for the photo
Assuming there is a hip roof over the existing FMD Area then the dividing wall which is to be removed is load bearing
The removal of the wall becomes awkward not to mention costly...and requires an expert
The process briefly is
1. Remove a portion of the gyprock adjacent to the wall that is being taken out for access
2.Temporary Prop the ceiling From beneath
3. Temporarily prop the under purlins from within the roof if required
4. Place a new beam within the roof over the wall to be removed
5.Connect ceiling Hangers to the new Timber Beam and ceiling joist halves
6.Rebrace /Fan Strut off the new timber beam to the underpurlins

7. Have Electricals and Plumbing disconnected
7.Once the loads have been taken off the wall and redistributed to the new support beam the wall below can be removed
8. Patch Ceiling & Repaint

As Usual here's a great video by James Mason from our build

Angelina

Super useful to know - thank you!

Its great to have options, don't suppose you have any idea how much this would cost approximately? Like a ball park figure?

ProjectPete

Exciting times @Angelina! Where are you located?
Looks like a great project you've got ahead of you. Plenty to learn, some nice challenges - it'll be an amazing experience for you. Don't underestimate your own capabilities though - even if you haven't done something before, you won't know if you can until you try. Cabinetry, benchtops, tiling, flooring are all pretty straight forward and can save you some serious $$$.
You should start a Pinterest board and share the link here so we can get an idea of your tastes, etc 🙂

ProjectPete

@Angelina Have you thought about whether you'll go for a 900mm oven or two smaller ones? And are you looking at gas/induction stovetop? I think the verdict is still out on these topics.

I'm putting a 900mm built-in oven in my new place with a 900mm induction cooktop. I was sceptical of induction cooktops at first but through many recommendations form friends/colleagues and also using one at a holiday home for a few days I really like it.

Angelina

Thanks RennoQueen!

Sorry for my late reply, we have been crazy busy packing, cleaning and getting ready to move into our new house!

So I have thought about moving the kitchen downstairs and to the back of the house, as I agree it would be better to add a deck onto the back of the house and maybe at some point a pool, this is the back of the house at the moment. We were thinking of getting rid of the water tank (as there is another one at the other end of the house) and taking the deck all along the side of the house to the back. We would then put in some bi-folding doors to open it onto the garden.

In terms of style, I am leaning towards a more rustic, Scandi feel, lots of wood quite basic and very homley. Every house has these high gloss white super modern kitchens, but I just dont think it will suit this house or our style at all. I quite like this Ikea kitchen..... 08-Kitchen-in-Luke-and-Mikahl-Tierneys-Australian-Weatherboard-House-DesignSponge.jpg

adamc

Hi Angelina
We're moving into our first home shortly and have a similar need to push back a wall to expand our kitchen aswell.
Can you advise how you got those floor plans?

Angelina

Hi Adam

The floorplans are just from the RealEstate listing of the house we bought.

Hope that helps!

Angela 🙂

Jason

Thanks for clarifying @Angelina, I'm sure Adam appreciates it.

@adamc, let me extend a very warm welcome to the Workshop community and a big congratulations on your new home. This must be a very exciting time for you. I am looking forward to reading all about your projects and plans, and know that you'll get plenty of helpful advice and inspiration from our community members.

All the best,

Jason

KevinM

Oven size is a hard decision.

It's great to have a big oven for entertaining but then they not only take up more kitchen space but more importantly, take longer to heat up every time you use them. Remember that most barbecues these days double as an oven...

Good luck,

Kev

redracer01

Hello @Angelina,

I sometimes draw in the evening to relax and unwind. Perhaps you'll like my ideas or perhaps you had something else in mind. In any case if I have the time and you would like to see this in another configuration drop me a line. Flatpack systems as usual and of course bamboo benchtops. Hope you enjoy my ideas, please note drawings are not to scale and are for possible ideas only.

Cheers!

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