A Complete Guide to Kitchen Renovations in Melbourne
Tips to Prepare for Kitchen Renovations in Melbourne
Kitchens are the heart of the home, but outdated layouts, tired finishes, and inefficient appliances can make them frustrating. Renovating your kitchen is a chance to create a functional, stylish hub that suits your lifestyle.
A well-designed kitchen not only improves daily living but is often the most influential space when it comes to resale value.
Tip #1 — Define Your Vision & Layout
When preparing for your kitchen renovation, think about how you use the kitchen space. Do you cook often? Entertain? Need more bench space? Consider your current pain points (perhaps it’s storage, inefficient appliances, or space to move).
The kitchen work triangle has long been a standard for efficiency, keeping the fridge, cooktop, and sink within easy reach. Today’s kitchens, however, have additional stations like dishwashers and microwaves, and often function as multi-person spaces. So the kitchen work triangle has evolved into more of a “work zone” approach — grouping prep, cooking, cleaning, and storage areas to make the kitchen intuitive and practical for everyone using it. The goal remains the same: reducing wasted steps and creating a kitchen that feels intuitive and practical for everyday life.
Once you’ve considered function, think about the overall look and feel you’re going for. Pinterest is great for collecting inspiration, while Canva lets you annotate and share moodboards with your builder.
If you’re unsure where to start your kitchen renovation, we recommend thinking about areas with large surface areas, such as flooring or benchtops. From there you can choose complementary fixtures, fittings, and smaller areas of finishes.
If you’re still struggling, we work with interior designers who can help manage and curate this with you.
Tip #2 — Lock In Appliances First
Starting with appliance choices is the smartest step, because everything else, cabinetry, layout, even power requirements, flows from there. Ovens, cooktops, fridges, and dishwashers determine your cabinetry, bench sizes, and even your electrical or plumbing requirements for your kitchen renovation.
One thing we always recommend (unless you’re a professional chef or training for Masterchef) is induction cooktops. They are one of the best upgrades you can make. They’re safer, faster, and easier to clean. They boil water in seconds, and auto-reduce heat if it begins to boil over.
For Melbourne kitchen renovations, we recommend checking out E&S for appliances like ovens, cooktops, and whitegoods.
Tip #3 — Select Finishes & Fittings Early
When it comes to cost, TV shows and DIY channels often set unrealistic expectations. The truth is, your finishes and fittings drive a large proportion of the budget. Researching and budgeting these up front is always the smartest first step.
Before you engage with a custom builder for your kitchen renovation, get an idea of the benchtops, cabinetry finishes, splashbacks, and tapware you want to work with. This ensures your builder can give an accurate price and timeline.
For Melbourne kitchen renovations, we recommend visiting:
E&S - for fixtures and fittings.
Bowens - for fittings and finishes.
Perrini Tiles - for tiles.
Beacon Lighting - for a wide range of lighting options.
Beaumont Tiles for tiles, flooring, and bathroomware.
Tip# 4 — Be Realistic About Budget & Trends
If you’re working to a budget, we suggest investing in high-use areas like durable benchtops and cabinetry hardware. Save on non-essentials that can be updated later. Avoid short-lived trends unless they truly fit your long-term vision.
Melbourne Kitchen Renovations That We’re Proud Of
Caulfield
A complex renovation where trades had to work with precision and creative solutions to unique challenges, delivering a sleek, modern kitchen.
Check out their testimonial here.
View the Caulfield project here.
Thornbury
A bold, light-filled kitchen we loved building. Oversized windows brought scale, natural light, and a bold modern feel.
Northcote
An energy-efficient update with beautiful finishes. This light-filled renovation melds heritage charm and modern functionality.
Kitchen Renovations FAQs
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Typically 6–10 weeks, depending on scale and site conditions. Sometimes less, sometimes more.
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Plans, finishes, fixture lists, and a clear vision of your style.
We recommend creating a Pinterest board to save images and Canva for creating annotated, downloadable moodboards.
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Yes — SMD Projects adapt to client preferences.
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Yes — kitchens are one of the most influential spaces for resale.
Get Started on Your Dream Kitchen Today
Still have questions about kitchen renovations? We’d love to help.
Ready to get started on your Melbourne kitchen renovation?