How To Plan A Partial Kitchen Renovation?

By on September 7, 2020 in Kitchen Appliances, Kitchen Design with 0 Comments

With a lucky windfall, my husband and I were in a position to finally upgrade our house.  We bought a well established four-bedroom house.  The only downside for me was the kitchen.  It didn’t have enough space to work in and producing a meal or doing any sort of baking which I love to do was pretty stressful.  So I decided to do a partial kitchen renovation.

Partial Kitchen Renovation

How to plan a partial kitchen renovation

One of the most important things to start with is to research a cabinet maker.  Look for one that is reliable and has a good reputation for their work.  Always get two quotes for the work you want to be done.

The subcontractors will be able to advise you on the best designs to suit your requirements.

Consider if you want to replace your existing sink for a new shinier one and maybe add an InSinkErator. They are worth their weight in gold. No messy food scraps to try and get rid of and your kitchen will always be clean.

Maybe your dishwasher is ready for replacement then this is the time to consider what to do about it.

Need a new cooktop? Have you considered having an induction one installed, they are very safe to have with children around and especially for the elderly, as they won’t accidentally burn themselves on them.

Do you have enough drawers? Modern-day kitchens have mainly drawers in their kitchens. Corner cupboards are just so hard to find anything in the back of it so eliminating them and installing drawers is an ideal way to go.

Where to start planning the partial kitchen renovation

I engaged a reputable cabinet making firm. They came and measured the space and offered suggestions to improve my working area. I was very frustrated at the cramped space, also only had two power points in the kitchen.

I was used to six in my previous kitchen so I was spoiled a little.

After accepting their quote for the work, they called in again to double-check my requirements and to measure the kitchen again.

Then I had to think about my appliances. My stovetop was cracked so decided to have it replaced with an Induction cooktop. So off to the local supplier I went and found just the one I wanted, then decided to replace the dishwasher as it was falling apart, so while I was there made a choice for a new one.

As I was getting a new smaller sink, I decided to purchase an InSinkErator to have it installed at the same time. No more messy food scraps for me. All that was required now was a new kitchen tap, once that was bought then I was ready for the cabinetmakers to do their thing.

D day arrived with a flurry of workmen. The electrician disconnected the stovetop and dishwasher from the power outlets and the plumber disconnected the plumbing. Next came the cabinet makers and before I knew it the kitchen was stripped and ready for the install.

Within two hours I had my new kitchen installed and functional. The corner cupboard that I couldn’t get into now had a door from the other side, so that gave me extra space to stash my treasures.

Why get an InSinkErator

To simply enhance your life in and around the kitchen.

Insinkerators

Installing an InSinkErator

What are InSinkErators

An InSinkErator is a device that can be fitted into your sink, usually into the smaller sink if you have a double sink and it will grind and shred up the food waste so that it goes down the waste pipes easier. It will eliminate having to dispose of your food scraps in the bin.

Do they need to be serviced?

The short answer is no. They do not require maintenance.

Where does food waste go?

The waste particles travel down the water outlets into the water treatment plant where it can yield valuable biogas and fertilizer for agriculture.

How do you install one in your kitchen?

Although it is relatively simple to install an InSinkErator, my belief is to leave it to the experts, the plumber. They have all the tools necessary and know all the tricks of the trade.

What can you put down an InSinkErator?

Most foods will be able to be put into the InSinkErator but avoid oils, fats and harsh cleaning products. Avoid all non-food-related items

How do you clean your device?

When using the InSinkErator it’s always a good practice to allow plenty of water to flow through the system, so that there is no build-up of food scraps. If there is a smell try popping a piece of lemon into the device and processing it.

Are there any blades in the InSinkErator?

InSinkErator food waste disposers are perfectly safe and don’t have blades or knives. Instead, lugs are used to throw food waste against a stationary grind ring. The grind ring breaks food waste down into very fine particles, almost liquefying them, so they can flush down your plumbing.

Do I need a special sink to install an InSinkErator?

No. most standard sinks have a 9mm hole that will accommodate the device. You just need to make sure that you have enough room under your sink to fit the unit.

There are several brands on the market and range in price from around $250 to $1400.

If you decide to purchase one then my suggestion is to buy a good quality one.  That will last longer as the cheaper priced ones have a tendency to burn out quickly.

Installing a dishwasher

Most modern homes have a dishwasher installed in the kitchen. They are practical and save time for a busy household. The simple benefit of ridding yourself of washing up by hand is enough incentive to buy a dishwasher.

It’s not an easy decision as to which dishwasher is the right one for your family. Is your budget a primary factor? Do you entertain a lot?

The installation of a dishwasher may seem like a luxury at the beginning but once it’s installed and you are used to it, you will wonder why you never had one installed sooner.

Frigidaire Dishwasher

Frigidaire Dishwasher

What type of dishwasher do you purchase?

There are several types of dishwasher configurations available depending on your needs.

There are free-standing ones for those kitchens that are limited with under bench space, however, they are able to be built in also.

Drawer or compact dishwashers. They are suitable for a smaller household and are able to be built into a drawer or a microwave-size space. Double dishwasher drawers connected to the plumbing under the sink.  which gives you the option to run one or both at the same time.

Benchtop dishwashers, designed to sit on the top of your bench so that there is no need to modify the kitchen. These models are an excellent option if you are renting a place.

Built-in Dishwashers are fitted under the bench. Talk to your cabinet makers and give them your appliance models in the planning part of the partial kitchen renovation.

Changing your cooktop in a partial kitchen renovation

There are many types on the market, gas and electric and they vary in price.

When you have the right cooktop in your kitchen it will increase your enthusiasm for cooking.

It is important to select the right one for your requirements. As you will most likely be using it every day then consider the surface, the aesthetics, the ease of cleaning, the safety of it and compatible cookware.

Induction cooktops

Induction cooktops have become very popular over the last few years. It relies on energy from an electromagnetic field. The heat doesn’t emanate from the cooktop but from the cookware you are using.

You will require ferrous (contains Iron) cookware. Cast iron and steel cookware are acceptable however avoid glass and copper products.

Induction cooking is performed using direct induction heating of cooking vessels. It allows high power and very rapid increases in temperature to be achieved and changes in heat settings are instantaneous

They also have the added a bonus of leaving the cooking surface cool to the touch once the cooking vessel is removed. They are very safe for the elderly and the disabled.

Electric Cook Tops

Electric cooktops are available in solid and ceramic varieties. They are favoured because of their ease of use.

However, they generally take longer to heat up compared to the Induction and Gas models. If you are sticking to a tight budget then an electric cooktop would be ideal for you.

 Gas Cooktops

Gas Cooktops provide rapid powerful heat. Ignition is sometimes a manual procedure that will require you to use a match. There are modern gas cooktops that have electronic ignition, this means you will require both an electrician and a plumber who has a gas fitter’s licence.

Renovating kitchen

That’s as simple as it needs to be, you don’t have to rip your entire kitchen out to renovate it.  You can do a particle kitchen renovation to save some money and time. It is like giving you a new lease on life in your kitchen.

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About the Author

About the Author: Chris Carr is a well-travelled full-time writer. That loves spending time at home or in the garden. Chris regularly writes for several homes, garden and lifestyle blogs. Sharing what the best of what she's learnt along the way. .

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