Kitchen Design: The right (and wrong) way to renovate your kitchen

The benefits of engaging an interior designer before your builder

Builders are essential. They bring your renovation to life, and I love working side by side with some of the best in the business. But calling them before you have a clear interior design direction is a bit like jumping in the car for a road trip with no map, no snacks, and no idea where you’re going.

Imagine the following conversation as a designer that I’m having with a friend.

Friend: “We’re finally renovating the kitchen! Builder’s locked in to start next month.”
Me: “That’s exciting! So… have you sorted a design, floor plan, and selected your finishes?”
Friend: “Not really. I just said I want an island, more storage, and a better pantry.”
Me: “Okay... and how did they price the job?”
Friend: “They gave me a quote with a budget for appliances and finishes.”
Me: “Have you picked your tapware, benchtop, or appliances yet?”
Friend: “Nope, I’ll just choose as I go.”

If this is sounding a little too close to home, don’t worry, you're not alone. But if you're planning to renovate your kitchen, there’s a better and less stressful way to go about it with a better outcome.

A kitchen designed for a French Australian family ‘A French Affair’

Why your kitchen is (arguably) the most important room in the house

The kitchen is one of the hardest-working rooms in the home. It's where meals happen, conversations unfold, school lunches are made, wine is poured, and memories are made. It deserves more than guesswork and last-minute decisions. And while builders are experts in construction, they’re not trained to translate your lifestyle into a cohesive, functional, and beautiful space. That’s why design should come first.

Before you even think about getting quotes or talking timelines, you need clarity on a few key things, and a designer makes this process seamless:

• Why are you renovating?

• What isn’t working in your current space?

• How do you want your kitchen to feel and function?

• What is your budget?

• Who will be using the kitchen?

Designed for long lunches and family get togethers, this kitchen in our French Affair project was created with our clients’ love of cooking and entertaining at its heart. Photography John Downs

What happens when design comes last?

The conceptual and design stages of a kitchen should be thorough. Here’s where it gets tricky when you skip the design phase:

• Disjointed style - Your kitchen ends up feeling generic or, worse, totally disconnected from the rest of your home.

• Inefficient layout - You’re left with wasted space, awkward storage, or a layout that doesn’t match how your family lives.

• Budget blowouts - Surprise! The builder’s “estimate” didn’t include your dream benchtop or that amazing integrated fridge.

• Decision fatigue - Pinterest boards galore, Instagram saved folders, and yet, total overwhelm. What actually works together?

• Missing personality - You end up with a white-on-white space that feels fine but not fabulous. Not you.

• Spending more, loving it less - Often, people spend just as much as they would have if they hired a designer but don’t get the quality or cohesiveness they hoped for.

• Regret - that the space doesn’t feel like you. Or that it’s already dated before you've finished unpacking your platters. Or you wanted a particular look, like a modern kitchen design, and you’re left with something flat and lifeless.

A 3D visual of our French Affair kitchen helping our clients see the design come to life before the build begins.

A better way: The kitchen renovation process that works

Here’s how a design-led renovation flows and how I work as a designer to make your kitchen and design dreams a reality:

1. The Deep Dive Consultation
We start by understanding your lifestyle, aesthetic, household needs, and budget. I’ll ask the right questions to peel back the layers and unlock a vision that’s tailored to how you live.

2. Site Visit & Space Planning
We measure up, assess flow and functionality, and rethink layout options to suit the way your family uses the space every day. This is important whether you envisage a large or small kitchen design.

3. Selections + Concept Design
From cabinetry colours to tapware, benchtops to splashbacks, we’ll guide you through the maze of decisions, so everything feels cohesive, high quality and you.

4. Visualising the Design
Moodboards, samples, and 3D drawings bring your new kitchen design ideas to life before a single tile is laid. We even go showroom hopping together to help make selections.

Materials board for our Colour Crush kitchen - clearly communicating the design direction and specifications before the build begins

5. Detailed Drawings for Your Builder
You’ll get clear, builder-ready documentation including floor plans, elevations, and finish schedules so your builder can price accurately and build with confidence.

6. Design Support During the Build
We stay involved throughout construction, checking in on-site to make sure the vision is carried through right down to the grout colour.

Case Study: Our Colour Crush kitchen

When Clare relocated from Sydney to Brisbane, she bought an apartment with great bones and a lovely outlook but it felt sterile and soulless. She craved warmth and femininity and wanted to make this place a home.

Starting with a strong design vision, we created a character-filled kitchen with green cabinetry, a transformed walk-in pantry, and improved layout flow. Hydrangea wallpaper (her favourite flower) added softness, while the adjoining spaces echoed the same palette in soft pinks, blues, and lilacs for a seamless, joyful feel.

Our Colour Crush Kitchen designed with Clare in mind

By working with a designer, Clare has a new kitchen she loves. Together we:

• Created a meaningful space that reflects her personality.

• Functionality is key. Everything in Clare’s kitchen has a place because we delved into what she has, how she cooks and how she wanted to use the space day to day.

• Developed a palette of interesting and practical finishes and colours that will be loved for years to come.

• Created a space that flowed seamlessly into adjoining rooms.

• Avoided disasters!

 To read more about Clare’s beautiful home, you can take a tour of our Colour Crush project here.

Whether you’re about to undertake a kitchen renovation or a whole home refresh, working with a designer before taking the leap into the world of building equips you with the confidence that you’re heading towards your dream home.

As an interior designer in Brisbane, I’m ready to help with your project near or far, big or small. Book a Design Discovery Call or explore our Services today.