That’s it, enough is enough! You can’t stand the room’s outmoded decor for another minute and besides, it’s simply no longer functional. You’re going to renovate the kitchen! Did you know that as well as making the room much more enjoyable, kitchen renovations, if carried out properly, can add as much as 10% to the resale value of your home?

A successful kitchen renovation is not simply a matter of selecting the right paint colour or a wallpaper design. Success actually hinges on three factors: planning, quality materials and the installers’ competence. You can choose to go for small modifications to add new life to the room. But if your project is more ambitious, make a list of the elements that need to be modified, making sure to avoid neglecting the smaller details, and prepare a budget that will take into account your budget and renovating needs associated with all of your wishes.

Measure the existing kitchen before drawing the final plan at the store. Print out the Renovating the kitchen planning guide available in PDF format. You can use it to enter your data, calculate the budget and draw your dream kitchen. Remember that it’s less expensive to make your errors on paper than in the actual kitchen.

In an ideal kitchen, room size is of lesser importance. Instead, the key is the efficient use of space. The distance between the three most important elements (the refrigerator, the cooking surface and the sink) mustn’t be too great. Remember the triangle principle whose merits have been praised by kitchen designers for the last fifty years.

Choose a decorating style that reflects your personality and adds a note of warmth to your home. Let various styles such as country, traditional and contemporary kitchens, each with their own particular charms, guide you.

Discussing decoration in the planning stage is a good idea, as the addition of elements that are both functional and decorative will have an impact on your plans. For example, certain appliances and other devices will probably be replaced; the range hood is a good example. If this is so, check to see if an outside ventilation outlet will be needed. Get information on the properties and advantages of different types of counters that are on the market. You’ll need to choose among different cupboard types such as melamine, stratified or wood, prefabricated or tailor made with the trends “du jour” into mind.

For any renovation project, you may need to get a construction permit from your municipality, regardless of whether you’re doing the project yourself or contracting it out. Doing the project yourself will take a lot time, but won’t be as hard on the wallet! Some people prefer to do part of the job themselves and leave the more specialized tasks like plumbing to a professional.

RONA’s step-by-step project guide will help you install pre-moulded counters, the sink and your kitchen cupboards. Also look for installing ceramic floor tiles. Calculate the number of tiles you’ll need with the ceramic tile calculator. According to your budget, keep in mind the questions of durability and maintenance at the moment of purchase. Our experts know the methods to determine the type of lighting that will create the atmosphere you want in your new kitchen! For all questions regarding planning and carrying out your renovations, consult our online experts at any time. Visit our Kitchen Projects section.