🖼️
The project:
This was our largest and most challenging renovation project to date! We gutted a kitchen / dining / living area which was filled with unusable, disconnected spaces. Our aim was to make the kitchen larger and more family-friendly, whilst re-connecting it to the other elements within the room. Please note that any structural, plumbing or electrical works were undertaken by qualified professionals.
- Materials:
There were endless trips to Bunnings for little bits and pieces along the way in our renovations, but these are the main purchases below. If you have any questions about specific parts of this journey, please ask and it will surely job my memory to add more!
Kaboodle cabinetry & hardware upgrades:
Kaboodle Cabinetry
Hettich Soft Close Hinges
Hettich Soft Close Drawer Runners
Paint:
Wall paint, tinted to 'Princess Bling'
Ceiling paint, tinted to 'Princess Bling'
Skirting boards:
140mm Lambs Tongue Skirting Boards
Caulks, sealants, glue and filler:
Selleys Caulk
Selleys Off-White Sealant
Selleys Clear Sealant
Liquid Nails
Crack Filler
Concrete for slab repairs:
Westbuild Structural Concrete
Cornice cement for making good of any rough walls from the demolition of the previous spaces:
Gyprock Cement
Kitchen tap
Mondella Kitchen Tap
- Tools:
Because we have are seasoned renovators, we have built up a large tool collection over the years. These are the ones that we have and did use. You don't have to go to the expense of buying these particular ones - you could hire, borrow from family / friends, or get budget alternatives. We also had a lot of work to do, so for a standard kitchen renovation, you'd probably just need a couple.
Ryobi Jigsaw for cutting holes in cabinetry
Ryobi Tile & Masonry Saw for chasing out the slab for new electrical cabling
Makita Drop Saw for skirting board cuts, with or without mitred edges
Makita Plunge Saw for straight cuts of timber
Makita Plunge Router for more precision cuts in cabinetry for cabling / pipework
Makita Hammer Drill & Impact Driver for demolition and installation of cabinetry
Chisels - excellent for tile removal!
Hammer - you need a hammer as a staple tool! If in doubt, give it a clout! 😝
- Step 1:
This is what the original space looked like - 60m2 of disconnected areas. The kitchen was squished into a little corner, leaving the rest of the space awkward and dark.
We jumped onto the Kaboodle design planner and spent weeks fine-tuning the design and how we wanted our space to function and be used, based on our family's needs. These were our final plans!
- Step 2:
Now that the design was locked in, let the demolition commence! However, it wasn't as easy as beginning to just smash things up. The wall separating the kitchen was structural, so this was assessed by a structural engineer and information provided on how to proceed. In this case, we needed a new 7m steel beam placing in the roof. This was done by a builder.
We demolished the L-shaped part of the kitchen prior to the builder coming in. Once the kitchen had been removed, the plumber and electrician came to disconnect the power (dishwasher connection) and the water pipework that was running through the nib wall. The electrician also needed to disconnect the power in the structural wall (for the fridge). The pantry was part of the structural wall, so we had to lose that straightaway!
- Step 3:
Next, the build of the new kitchen / dining / living space! This was the most challenging part as we were still living and trying to use the space as a family, and this room is the centre of the house, connecting everywhere else. It became much worse with the chaos, before it got better.
We ripped up the old floor and then screeded the concrete slab, ready for the new flooring going down. Our poor sparky traipsed back and forth roughing in new electrics, re-connecting and disconnecting our oven in a couple of locations, so that we could still cook. He also disconnected an old extractor and installed new downlight and a ceiling fan. We survived on a portable cooktop for far too long! New appliances were being delivered that we weren't ready for - just the ongoing joy of a large-scale reno! 🤣
- Step 4:
But then we turned a corner. The kitchen all of a sudden started coming together!
The bench tops that we had ordered ended up being delayed by 3 months due to manufacturing issues, so we had to improvise using offcuts. It was creative but ingenious! The years-in-the-making renovation was coming to the pointy end after such a long time of dedicating all of our spare time to it!
- Step 5:
The final result. ♥️ Almost. We are just waiting for a final made-to-measure cupboard to arrive, to go above the fridge and then the bulkhead above the cabinetry to be installed. But seeing as though we're 95% done, I feel it qualifies to share with you all now! 😂 Remember that initial Kaboodle plan I showed you? I think that we nailed it. 👌
Seeing how the space looks now and how we all use it daily, makes all of the sweat, bloods and tears worthwhile! Would I do it again? Uhmmmm…. the main bathroom needs doing next! 🙈
