Planning a Kitchen Renovation: Layout, Services and Lead Times

A kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house and one of the most technically demanding. Layout, services, ventilation and storage all need to work together, and many of the decisions need to be made well before the first cabinet is fitted.

Start with the layout

Think about how the room is used. Where do you prep, cook, wash up and store food? Position of the sink, hob and fridge, space to open doors and the flow between them all affect how the kitchen feels in daily use. If walls are moving or the kitchen is opening into another room, structural input is needed first.

Plan the services

• Electrics: socket positions, lighting circuits and appliance supplies

• Plumbing: sink, dishwasher and washing machine connections and waste routes

• Gas: if you are cooking with gas, work must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer

• Extraction: where the hood vents and how air is replaced

New circuits and certain electrical work must meet the electrical safety requirements of the Building Regulations and be carried out or certified by a suitably qualified electrician.

Allow for lead times

Bespoke cabinetry, worktops and appliances often take weeks to arrive, and stone or solid surfaces are usually templated only once the units are fitted. A realistic programme ties site work to confirmed delivery dates rather than hoping everything arrives on time.

A sensible order of work

• Strip out the old kitchen and make good the structure

• First fix electrics and plumbing

• Plaster, prepare the floor and decorate where practical

• Fit units, then worktops once templated

• Second fix, splashbacks, final connections and snagging

Budget with a contingency

Older homes can hide surprises behind walls and under floors. Keeping a contingency in the budget avoids pressure on finish choices if something unexpected turns up.

Our kitchen and bathroom renovation service covers design coordination, installation and finishing.

Thinking about a project in London? Get in touch with Tota Design & Build to talk it through.