We have some gorgeous properties in our orbit right now and they all come with their own unique charms, but one in particular has everyone saying ‘what a gorgeous kitchen!’ 5 Armour Ave is a home that speaks for itself, but the recently renovated kitchen and dining area is quite something and it got me thinking back to kitchen renovations we’ve embarked on in the past.

Jason and myself have had the opportunity to renovate two kitchens in our time as home owners, one in a previous house and the kitchen in the home we currently live in. Renovating a kitchen is definitely not for the faint of heart, but it’s also one of the best spaces in a property to invest in, not just with resale in mind but because it’s one of the most heavily used spaces in the home.

I’ve seen many kitchens in my time and spoken with sellers all over Wellington who have embarked on their own reno projects. So, today I wanted to compile some of that knowledge, along with my own personal experience to share my top tips for creating your perfect kitchen, regardless of your budget. Of course, I am not a professional, so take this advice with a grain of salt, but maybe it can spark some ideas for you in your own kitchen renovation journey…

Storage, Storage, Storage…

If you’re looking at doing a full reno on your kitchen, you’ve got one shot at making sure you have plenty of storage, and trust me, there’s no such thing as too much! Everyone has different requirements for kitchen storage, making this quite a personal decision, but one that’s definitely worth spending some extra time on.

Whether you’re often reaching for pots and pans or you have a large selection of crockery, making sure you’ve allowed for ample storage for each grouping of items is a must. The placement of said storage is also super important, having cooking oil and oven trays near your stove and plates, bowls, cups and utensils within reach of each other can make such a difference to the functionality of the space.

It may sound a little excessive, but my biggest tip would be to get all of your kitchen related gadgets, crockery and bits and bobs out and really map out how much space each collection of items needs, and where they would be best stored. It’s a daunting task and you’ll have a bit of a mess to clean up later, but it’s well worth it.

It’s All In The Details…

When embarking on a kitchen renovation, it’s no secret that it can be a big undertaking, which can sometimes leave you overlooking small details, especially when it comes to storage. Here are a few of the more niche details that we’ve included in our past and current kitchens that I would highly recommend…

01 - The Oven Tray Cupboard

For a family that doesn’t do a lot of baking, we sure have plenty of oven trays! But, you just never know when one might come in handy, so we made sure to include a specially designed cupboard above our fridge to store these trays properly. As we aren’t reaching for them on a weekly basis, this placement made sense, but if you’re an avid baker or cook, you might want a cupboard like this closer to the oven. But, it’s so handy to have a designated space for trays of all shapes and sizes, so they aren’t sitting stacked up like Jenga inside your oven!

02 - The Oils & Sauces Cupboard

Another little detail that I’m so glad we thought about was including a small pull-out cupboard next to the stove that neatly stores olive oil, soy sauce, sesame oil etc. Having these things right next to the stove has made such a difference when cooking in this kitchen and helps to keep a good flow in the space, especially when multiple people are using it at once. It’s also a great way to utilise an awkwardly small or skinny corner.

03 - The Spice Drawer

In our previous home, we did a full kitchen renovation, actually relocating the kitchen from the back to the front of the house. This meant we were starting from scratch and with quite a big area to work with. Because of this, we had more space to include niche bonus storage like a custom spice drawer. Unfortunately we didn’t have as much space in our current kitchen, so I definitely miss that spice drawer for its very satisfying level of organization.

If you’re someone that does a lot of cooking and you have the space, including a custom spice drawer or shelf placed near your cooktop is such a nice added bonus.

04 - The Knife Drawer

I love the look of an uncluttered bench top (especially if it’s a beautiful material) but that can be easier said than done when actually living in a space, we all have stuff and it has to go somewhere. So, I’m very glad we decided to include custom knife storage in one of the drawers in our current kitchen. Knives are just another thing that can clutter a bench top, and especially if you have young children, they can be a safety hazard to keep out in a knife block. So, this drawer that perfectly fits knives of all shapes and sizes is such a great addition to any kitchen.

05 - Pocket Doors To Store Away Appliances

If you’re someone that has a particularly beautiful coffee machine, blender or toaster, this advice might not apply to you. But, I think we can all agree that most appliances can be a bit of an eyesore, not to mention the space they take up. So, we decided to include some subtle pocket doors on either side of the nook where we store appliances. In all honesty, they’ mostly stay open, but it is nice to have the option of closing these doors and hiding some of those appliances and bits and bobs away. Pocket doors are a great option if you’re working with a relatively small space like we were.

Renovate Smarter Not Harder…

Renovating a kitchen can get very expensive, especially if you’re starting from scratch. So, if you’re working with a tighter budget, it’s important to consider where your money is best spent, especially if you have resale in mind. There are definitely a couple of areas that I think are worth investing in, both for your enjoyment and for future resale…

01 - The Star Of The Show: Bench Tops

The bench top takes up a huge amount of visual space in a kitchen and it’s also a surface that’s heavily used. So, investing in a bench top that’s both aesthetically pleasing and durable is a great place to spend a little extra. Even if you’re not looking to update your kitchen cupboards or hardware, adding a new bench top can make such a huge difference and completely transform the space.

There are so many options out there for all budgets, we splashed out on a piece of stone in our current kitchen, which I adore, and in our previous home we opted for stainless steel bench tops and loved how they looked, plus they’re a breeze to clean!

02 - Replace Existing Handles

The topic of cupboard and drawer handles/knobs have been heavily discussed here on the Journal, but for good reason. Updating your kitchen cupboards and drawers with fresh handles can make a bigger difference than you’d think, and it’s also a great way to add a pop of colour or tie in an existing one, with so many options out there to choose from.

03 - Refresh Your Cupboards With a Splash Of Paint

Whilst I would not recommend a DIY job here (we learnt the hard way), investing in a professional repaint or wrap of your kitchen cupboards is another thing that can make a big difference to the vibe of a kitchen. If your kitchen is of a 90s or early 2000s bright blue, green or even purple (we all got a bit adventurous with paint during this time) this can definitely date a space and also limit your colour palette. A fresh coat of paint can really help take a kitchen from 90s kitsch to modern chic!

There are of course an infinite number of resources out there to assist you on your kitchen renovation journey, but hopefully some of these tips got you thinking. If you’re about to embark on a reno yourself, stay strong-the result will be well worth it!

A Kitchen Speaks a Thousand Words!