The kitchen is the heart of the home

Getting off to a good start on your kitchen renovation is all about understanding the stages involved in the process. But before you start planning the process, allow yourself some time to let your imagination run wild.

Give yourself time to search for inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram, take ideas from your friends' kitchens, and make vision boards and wish lists. Soon enough, it'll be time to sort through your ideas and prioritise your wishes into ‘must have’ and ‘nice to have’ items. Then, it will be time to start thinking about your budget.

Avoid disappointment with your kitchen renovation by assessing your wishes and needs, then determine what you can actually afford. If you take the time to consider your budget and prioritise your desires accordingly, you'll thank yourself later. And that brings us to the next point.

Plan your budget in detail to avoid nasty surprises and keep on schedule. You undoubtedly know the saying ‘time is money’. When it comes to a kitchen renovation, this is also true. Delays can cause costs to skyrocket on a project like this.

When you plan your budget, capture as many costs as possible to ensure you don't run out of money before the project is complete. If you hire contractors, carefully plan the project together and set a definite timeline. This will help you avoid maxing out your budget and hold your contractors accountable for delivering their part of the project on time.

Big projects like kitchen renovations require a timeline so they don’t drag out interminably. Consider dividing your project into phases, then make a spreadsheet on your computer. Share it with your contractor to align your expectations. Let them weigh-in and adjust accordingly.

Remember to plan the demolition when you're doing a kitchen renovation. Demolition is a big undertaking that requires a lot of planning, from who should undertake the demolition to waste disposal.

The next step is to start rebuilding your kitchen. If you've torn out everything, the process includes installing doors and windows. It will also include critical work behind walls, below floors, and above ceilings: plumbing, electrical, heating, air, and insulation. Then comes finishing walls, flooring and paint, installing cabinets and other fixtures, and adding new appliances. Finally, it will be time to add in the details and finishes.

When planning your kitchen renovation, look up - that's right, look up. One of the most impactful kitchen renovation ideas begins with roof windows and ends with a kitchen flooded with daylight!

We tend only to look around the room when we think about ways to improve our kitchens. We see all the outdated appliances, the countertops that don't match, and the lack of space for our cabinets and counters. Often, we forget to plan for more daylight. But we're here to tell you that you’re missing out!

Roof windows will flood your kitchen with natural light, which will maximise the space and give it a bright and modern feel. The added daylight will make you see your home in a whole new light and instantly make it feel more welcoming.

Here are three reasons to consider incorporating roof windows in your kitchen renovation project.

1. Save space: When you install roof windows in your kitchen, you can free up cabinet space where you'd generally put vertical windows.

2. Ventilation: Kitchens tend to generate smells, humidity, and fine particles. VELUX solar-powered and electric roof windows are perfect for airing out your kitchen and quickly eliminating smoke and cooking odours.

3. Better lighting: Natural light positively affects our health, well-being, and productivity. Daylight will make your time in the kitchen even more joyful.

Sometimes a roof window solution can be hard to imagine in your home without some sort of visual inspiration. That's why we've gathered some beautiful stories so you can start picturing the impact VELUX roof windows will have on your kitchen.