How to Remodel Your Kitchen - Part One

Inheriting an unloved and old-fashioned kitchen may seem a little daunting, but with plenty of forward planning and a little practical knowledge, you can end up with your dream kitchen. Natasha Brinsmead explains how...

Kitchens are now viewed as the most important room in the house. Unfortunately it has not always been this way, which means that if you are renovating an unloved period property, chances are the kitchen will need some work.

Ripping it out and starting again

Once you have planned out your kitchen, unless you are intent on siting it in a new extension, you will probably have to rip out an old one to make way for the new.

This may sound a doddle, but it is actually important to remember that the more careful you are with the removal of the old kitchen, the easier it will be to install the new one.

Don’t feel that everything has to go — there may well be some items worth salvaging. If you are remodelling your kitchen on a budget then it will be worth taking a look at what kind of condition your unit carcasses are in — whilst the unit doors may be in a bad state of repair or not to your taste, you might find that the carcasses can be reused.

Start by removing the wall units. If you take out the base units and worktop first, you will have nothing to rest heavy wall units on while you work. When removing wall units, first remove all internal shelves as they can fall out when you are taking them down. Each unit will probably be attached to the one next to it either by wood screws, interconnectors or bolts. Older units tend to be attached to the wall by long screws, whereas more modern ones are usually connected by an adjustable hook and wall bracket system.

ABOVE: Think about clever ways to incorporate more storage to keep worktops clutter free, such as this roller door unit from William Ball

Before removing the sink, make sure you can turn the water off. The main stopcock, usually located under the sink, controls the cold water, whilst the hot water should be switched off using the hot water valve, often found in the airing cupboard with a big red handle. Turn on the taps and wait for the water to stop — the hot tap can take up to 10 minutes to drain. It is a good idea to keep a couple of push-fit stop-ends close by in order to cap the pipes and stop the water flowing out. You will then need to undo the waste pipe. This is easily done by turning the upper plastic collar anti-clockwise and placing a bucket underneath to catch any dirty water.

Next, remove worktops, being careful not to damage any pipes that run under, behind or through them in the process.

Removing base units is a similar process to taking out wall units. Remove doors first, then unscrew the plinth. Remove all fixings, then simply pull the base units out. Take extra care when removing the sink unit as there will be many pipes that you won’t want to damage.

Chipping off tiles should be easy using a club hammer and bolster. Turn the power off as you may be working close to sockets, and always wear safety goggles and gloves.

Old vinyl can be taken up easily using a stripping knife. If it resists, try using heat gun to soften the glue. Floor tiles can be tricky to get up, but using an SDS drill should do the trick.

ABOVE: Island units work really well in open plan layouts, acting both as a room divider and as an informal eating area

Designing a new layout

Whether you choose to use an architect, kitchen designer or do it yourself, good planning and consideration of how your kitchen will be used is vital in ensuring that the rest of the process runs smoothly.

Now that you have your blank canvas, start with the basics. Every kitchen needs a cooker, fridge freezer and sink. Start with these items, and add other features around them.

Gauge early on how much storage space you will need, basing your conclusion on the size of your household, how much kitchen equipment you own, whether you want to keep your worktops clear and minimalist or are happy to have appliances on view, how often you cook and shop and what type of food you will need to store: lots of dry and canned goods, or mainly fresh and frozen foods that will not be kept in cupboards.

You will also need to take into account what activities will take place here. Are you happy to use the kitchen as a room in which to store, prepare and cook food, or would you like it to double up as a room in which you can sit and eat? Would you be satisfied with a breakfast bar or island unit with stools, or would a fullsize table for family gatherings be better? Finally, will your kitchen be open plan?

Assess the dimensions of the room and then make a wish-list — in order of priority. Does a built-in coffee machine really come before that extra wall unit?

ABOVE: Decide early on whether you would prefer a fitted kitchen, or an unfitted design like this one. Traditional kitchens work well with unfitted furniture

Read part two for advice on heating and ventilation, electrics, plumbing and pipework...

Read part three for advice on designing kitchens and remodelling a small kitchen...

Further reading:

• A Guide to Kitchens
• Range Cookers in the Sustainable Home
• A Buyer's Guide to Cooker Hoods