Thinking about renovating your kitchen? You’re in good company. The kitchen is consistently the most renovated room in Australian homes — and for good reason. A well-planned kitchen renovation can transform your daily life, boost your home’s value, and make cooking actually enjoyable.
But here’s the thing: the difference between a renovation that goes smoothly and one that blows the budget usually comes down to planning. The more thought you put in before a single tile is laid, the better the outcome.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through every step of planning a kitchen renovation in Melbourne — from setting your brief to signing off on the final build.
Step 1: Get Clear on Why You’re Renovating
Before you dive into Pinterest boards and tile samples, take a moment to ask yourself what you actually need from your new kitchen. Are you cooking for a growing family and desperately need more bench space? Is the layout awkward and you want it to flow better? Or are you preparing to sell and want something that appeals to buyers?
Your ‘why’ will shape every decision that follows — from how much you spend to which features you prioritise. Write it down. It’ll keep you grounded when you’re standing in a showroom being tempted by a $4,000 rangehood.
Step 2: Set Realistic Budget
Kitchen renovations in Melbourne typically range from $20,000 for a modest refresh to $80,000+ for a full custom transformation. Most mid-range renovations land between $25,000 and $45,000.
A good rule of thumb: spend no more than 5–10% of your home’s value on a kitchen renovation if you want a solid return on investment. That said, if you’re planning to stay for 10+ years, spending a bit more for a kitchen you truly love makes perfect sense.
Set your budget early, add a 10–15% contingency buffer, and be honest with yourself about what you can afford. Your renovator will thank you — and so will your bank account.
| 💡 Budget Tip Always hold back a 10–15% contingency fund. Unexpected costs — like old plumbing that needs updating or waterproofing issues under old tiles — are common and rarely cheap. |
Step 3: Assess Existing Kitchen
Walk through your current kitchen and take stock of what’s working and what isn’t.
Consider –
- Layout — does the flow make sense for how you cook?
- Storage – do you have enough, and is it in the right spots?
- Bench space – is there enough for meal prep?
- Lighting – is it adequate, especially over the cooktop and sink?
- Appliances – what’s staying, what’s going?
Take photos and measurements. You’ll refer to these constantly throughout the process.
Step 4: Choose Your Layout
The layout is the most important functional decision in a kitchen renovation. The most common options are:
Galley Kitchen
Two parallel runs of cabinetry facing each other. Excellent for compact spaces and surprisingly efficient for cooking. Works beautifully in terrace homes across Richmond and Fitzroy.
L-Shaped Kitchen
Cabinetry along two adjoining walls. Great for open-plan living as it creates a natural corner for the work triangle (sink, cooktop, fridge).
U-Shaped Kitchen
Three walls of cabinetry. Maximum storage and bench space — ideal for keen cooks. Needs a larger footprint to avoid feeling cramped.
Island Kitchen
An L or U-shape with a freestanding island bench. The most social kitchen layout — great for families and entertainers. Factor in at least 900mm of clearance around the island.
Step 5: Decide What You’re Keeping vs Replacing
Not everything needs to be replaced. Keeping your existing layout (plumbing and electrical in the same positions) is one of the most effective ways to manage costs. If your cabinets are solid, you might only need new doors and benchtops.
However, if your layout isn’t working, moving plumbing or walls may be worth the added cost in the long run.
Step 6: Choose your style and materials
This is where the fun begins! Gather inspiration from Houzz, Pinterest, and Instagram. Save images that speak to you — not just individual elements, but whole kitchens you love. You’ll start to notice patterns in what appeals to you.
Key decisions include:
- Cabinet style: shaker, flat panel, or handleless
- Benchtop material: stone, laminate, timber, or porcelain
- Splashback: tile, glass, or stone
- Flooring: timber, porcelain tile, or vinyl plank
- Hardware: handles, tapware, and sink style
Stick to a consistent palette. Three materials materials maximum for a cohesive look.
Step 7: Get Plans Drawn Up
Once you have a clear idea of your layout and style, it’s time to get professional plans drawn. Your kitchen designer or renovator can create detailed drawings that show cabinetry, appliance positions, electrical points, and plumbing locations.
These drawings are essential for getting accurate quotes and for council approval if you’re doing structural work.
Step 8: Step What Approvals You Need
Most kitchen renovations in Melbourne don’t require council permits. However, if you’re moving walls, changing the roofline, or doing significant structural work, you may need a building permit.
Your renovator will be able to advise you on what’s needed — but it’s worth asking upfront so there are no surprises.
Step 9: Get Quotes & Choose Your Renovator
Get at least 2–3 detailed quotes. Be wary of quotes that are dramatically lower than the others — this often means something has been left out.
When comparing quotes, look at:
- What’s included (and what isn’t)
- Timeframes and project management approach
- References and portfolio of past work
- Whether they use licensed trades for electrical and plumbing
A good renovator will ask you lots of questions, be transparent about costs, and communicate clearly throughout the process.
Step 10: Lock In Your Timeline
Kitchen renovations typically take 3–6 weeks from demolition to completion, depending on the scope. Allow additional time for:
- Lead times on cabinetry (often 6-10 weeks from order)
- Benchtop templating and fabrication (2-3 weeks)
- Appliance delivery
- Council approvals if required
Plan your temporary kitchen setup in advance — you’ll need a kettle, microwave, and somewhere to wash up. A laundry sink is your best friend during a kitchen reno!
You’re Ready To Begin
With a clear brief, a realistic budget, and the right team in place, your kitchen renovation is set up for success. The planning phase takes time, but every hour you put into it pays dividends when the build begins.
Ready to start planning your kitchen renovation? We’d love to help. Contact our team for a free, no-obligation consultation.
- WeDo are registered builders with 25+ years experience.
- All projects are managed by a dedicated project team.
- All projects are provided on a HIA building contact and include home warranty insurance where applicable.
Chat to us about your project.
Embarking on a kitchen renovation is an exciting journey that can significantly enhance the aesthetics, functionality and value of your home. To ensure a smooth and successful project, it’s crucial to follow a well-organized plan.
In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the essential steps of renovating your kitchen, from measuring the space to the finishing touches.
Measure Your Space:
The first step in any successful kitchen renovation is accurate measurements. Measure the entire kitchen area including the ceiling height, and any features or obstacles such as window and door sizes and their distance from walls and floors.
Measure the distance of sinks and appliances from their closest wall. This will allow the designer to know where the existing plumbing and electrical points are.
This information will serve as the foundation for your design and help you make informed decisions throughout the renovation process.
Design Your Kitchen:
Once you have precise measurements, it’s time to bring your dream kitchen to life. Collaborate with a skilled kitchen designer to create a layout that maximises space, functionality, and aesthetic appeal.
Consider factors such as traffic flow, storage needs, and your personal style. A well-thought-out design is the key to a kitchen that not only looks great but also works seamlessly for your daily needs.
Order Your Kitchen:
After finalising the design, it’s time to order the necessary materials and components. Work with reputable suppliers to ensure the quality of your cabinets, countertops, appliances, and other fixtures.
Timely ordering is crucial to avoid unnecessary delays in your renovation timeline.
Find an Installer:
Once your materials are ready, it’s time to find a skilled installer. Obtain quotes from experienced professionals who can handle the installation of your new kitchen efficiently. Confirm if the installer will also manage the demolition and disposal of your existing kitchen.
Review the installation proposal in detail to ensure everything you have planned is included. Verbal conversations don’t always end up in the final proposal, ensure anything discussed is itemised in the proposal. This will help in avoiding disappointment and potential variations.
If this is sounding like too much, and you want some professional help to manage your renovation Speak to the WeDo team.
Demolition and Disposal:
If your installer doesn’t manage the demolition, find a reliable demolition specialist who will remove and recycle materials while disposing what isn’t recyclable.
Where walls are being removed to create a more open the space, ensure the building structure has been inspected by a builder or engineer to ensure the walls are non structural.
Clear communication is key to ensure a smooth transition from the old to the new.
Discuss and put in writing which items are to be retained and where you want them placed after the demolition. This will ensure the items you want kept aren’t swept away with the demolition.
Proper disposal of debris is essential for a clean and safe worksite.
Carpentry
A carpenter may be required if you are planning to construct new walls, close or open doorways, change windows or make good where walls have been removed.
Plumbing and Electrical
Hire licensed plumbers and electricians to quote on disconnecting for demolition, roughing in new works, and fitting off.
For electrical, ensure you have the specifications on your appliances for the electricians to review. Upgraded circuits may be required to support the new appliances.
Its best practice to mark on your plans where you want new single and double power points.
Plumbers will also need the appliances specifications if you have any gas appliances along with sinks and taps etc for them to review.
They will test your water pressure to ensure it meets the standard and if it’s too high may require a pressure limiting value to be installed.
Ensure the plumber and electrician provide a certificate of compliance for their work. This step is required by law and crucial to guarantee the safety and functionality of your new kitchen.
Plastering
If your renovation involves removing a splashback, hire a skilled plasterer to repair / replace any damaged plaster. Splashbacks are glued to the plasterboard behind them and when removed, this damages the plasterboard. In most cases, the plasterboard behind the splashback is cut out and removed.
A smooth and well-prepared surface is essential for the next steps of your renovation.
Splashback Installation
There are lots of options for a splashback but the most common are acrylic, tile and stone / porcelain.
An acrylic splashback is usually installed by the joinery installer once they have completed the cabinetry installation. If your having a acrylic splashback ensure this is included in your joinery installation proposal.
If you’re planning a tile splashback, get quotes from experienced tilers and ensure they have a solid reputation for quality work. The right tiles can add a touch of personality to your space.
A stone or porcelain type splashback is usually installed by the bench top installers post the bench top installation.
Painting
Painting is often an area of the project renovators take on themselves. Choose colours that complement your design and your whole house, and create a cohesive look throughout.
Home Preparation
Prepare your home and the renovation space to sure damage does not occur and the property is kept as clean as possible.
Identify the thoroughfare that the trades will be entering and exiting the property via.
Remove pictures and paintings from walls and furniture from the area to ensure a clear walkway. Materials will be carried in and out of the property, the more space available the easier this will be.
Cover furniture with drop cloths to minimise dust and keep furniture clean. An additional step can be to wall off the renovation area with plastic sheeting to minimise dust moving throughout the home.
Ensure the kitchen cabinets emptied and any appliances removed from the space prior to works commencing.
We recommend using floor coverings to protect your flooring during the renovation. There are different types of floor coverings depending on your floor type, being either hard (tile or timber) or carpet. The floor coverings have an adhesive back to ensure they’re stuck down to the floor ensuring they don’t become a trip hazard.
Scheduling
Scheduling the trades in the correct order is crucial for optimising the efficiency of your kitchen renovation project while minimising delays.
Start by coordinating with your installer to establish a timeline that allows ample time for each trade to complete their work without unnecessary overlap. Consider the number of visits required for each trade and plan accordingly to minimize disruptions while keeping the schedule tight. By strategically sequencing the trades and allowing sufficient time for completion, you can ensure that the project progresses smoothly and stays on track to meet your desired timeframe.
Schedule your trades in advance of the works starting to make sure they are available. Waiting for one trade to finish before scheudling the next can add weeks if not longer to a project.
Effective communication and coordination among all parties involved are key to orchestrating a seamless renovation from start to finish.
If you are living in the property or require a quick turn around, talk to WeDo about our schedules and timelines.
Workmanship
You would expect when hiring professional trades that they are experts and will complete the work to the highest quality.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and if you’re managing the renovation project it will be up to you to quality control the works.
Talk to WeDo about how we project manage and quality control our projects.
Important Legal Considerations
Ensure that all trades involved, especially plumbers and electricians, are licensed and provide certificates of compliance.
If a builder manages the project and the total cost exceeds $10,000 (including GST), insist on a detailed building contract (as required by law).
For projects exceeding $16,000 (including GST) in Victoria, a home warranty insurance policy is mandatory.
Any trade that you employee must hold appropriate and current insurances and policies. If damage occurs to your home, its contents or someone is injured, you want to be sure their insurances and polices cover it and it won’t fall back onto you.
By following these step-by-step guidelines and paying attention to legal considerations, you can navigate your kitchen renovation with confidence.
Alternatively, speak to WeDo and we can take care of the entire process for you.
- WeDo are registered builders with 25+ years experience.
- All projects are managed by a dedicated project team.
- All projects are provided on a HIA building contact and include home warranty insurance where applicable.
Speak to WeDo today about removing the headache by using a trusted and experienced team.
Chat to us about your project.