One of the questions I get asked most often when I’m sitting down with a homeowner to discuss their kitchen is surprisingly simple:
“Do we really need a whole new kitchen?”
And quite often, the answer is no.
If you like the layout of your kitchen, the existing cabinets are still in good condition and the appliances and plumbing are where you want them, there may be no reason to start again from scratch.
A kitchen makeover or facelift in Sydney can completely change the look and feel of an existing kitchen without replacing everything.
New cabinet doors, a new kitchen benchtop, updated handles and some clever storage changes can make a kitchen feel like a completely different room.
I’ve seen this happen countless times.
A kitchen that looks tired and dated can suddenly feel bright, modern and considered simply by changing the elements you see and use every day.
What is a kitchen facelift?
A kitchen facelift is essentially about working with what you already have and changing the parts that need updating.
Instead of removing the entire kitchen, we look at what can be kept and what is worth replacing.
That might include:
- New kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts
- New end panels and cabinetry panels
- A new benchtop
- Updated handles and hardware
- Converting cupboards into drawers
- Improving internal storage
- A new splashback
- New appliances, where required
- Small changes that make the kitchen more functional
The result can be a dramatic transformation without the disruption and expense associated with completely rebuilding a kitchen.
Of course, not every kitchen is suitable for a facelift.
Sometimes the cabinetry has reached the end of its life, the layout doesn’t work or the plumbing and electrical services need to move.
In those situations, a full kitchen renovation can make much more sense.
The important thing is working that out before you start pulling things apart.
Kitchen makeover or full renovation – which is right for you?
This is one of the first things I discuss with customers.
If you are happy with the position of your sink, cooktop, oven and fridge and the overall layout works for the way you use the kitchen, keeping those elements where they are can save a considerable amount of time and money.
A kitchen makeover may be worth considering if:
- You like your existing kitchen layout
- Your cabinets are structurally sound
- You have enough storage but don’t necessarily have the right type of storage
- Your kitchen looks dated rather than fundamentally being dysfunctional
- You want to replace old or damaged cabinet doors
- Your benchtop is looking tired
- You want to modernise the kitchen without completely rebuilding it
A full renovation may be more appropriate if the kitchen layout is the main problem, the cabinetry is damaged or poorly constructed, or you want to make significant changes to the size and configuration of the room.
There isn’t a right or wrong answer.
It really comes down to what isn’t working in your kitchen and what you want to achieve.
New kitchen cabinet doors can make a surprising difference
One of the biggest transformations we see is simply replacing old kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts.
The cabinetry itself may still be perfectly usable, but dated doors can make the entire kitchen feel tired.
Changing the doors gives you the opportunity to completely change the style of the room.
You might go from an older timber-look kitchen to a clean contemporary finish, introduce a shaker profile, choose a warmer neutral or add a darker colour to create more contrast.
We work with a range of cabinetry finishes, including products from manufacturers such as Polytec, Laminex and Tesrol, so there are plenty of options when it comes to colour, profile and finish.
And because the doors and panels are made to suit the existing cabinetry, the transformation can be very precise.
For homeowners who like their kitchen layout but simply don’t like the way it looks anymore, replacement kitchen doors can be one of the most effective changes you can make.
A benchtop makeover can change the whole kitchen
The other element that can completely change an existing kitchen is the benchtop.
Your kitchen benchtop takes up a large visual area, so even if you replace the doors, an old or worn surface can make the kitchen still feel dated.
Replacing the benchtop material gives you the opportunity to change the entire direction of the room.
A lighter surface can make a kitchen feel brighter and more open.
A deeper tone can add contrast.
A stone-look finish can give a very different feel from the laminate that was there previously.
And sometimes we can make the benchtop work harder for you.
If there is enough space, we might extend an overhang to create somewhere for a couple of stools and turn part of the kitchen into a more useful breakfast or casual dining area.
It’s often the small changes that make the biggest difference to how a kitchen works day to day.
What about the cupboards that don’t work very well?
This is another area where a kitchen facelift can be worthwhile.
Most of us have that one cupboard.
You know the one.
The dark cupboard at the back where you put something because you don’t know where else to put it and then forget it exists.
Older kitchens often have a lot of cupboard storage but not necessarily very good storage.
Where the existing cabinetry allows, we can convert some cupboards into drawers with full-extension runners.
This can make pots, pans, appliances and other everyday items much easier to access.
We also look at how the kitchen is actually being used.
Where do you prepare food?
Where do you unload the dishwasher?
Where do you keep your rubbish and recycling? Are the things you use every day within easy reach?
These are the practical questions that matter just as much as choosing the colour of the doors.
Read our guide here on kitchen cupboard colour ideas.
You don’t always need to move everything
There is a perception that renovating a kitchen means moving plumbing, electrical points and appliances around.
It doesn’t.
If your existing layout works, keeping your sink, cooktop and other services in their current positions can simplify the project considerably.
That doesn’t mean we won’t suggest a change if we think it will genuinely improve the kitchen.
But there is no point moving something simply because you can.
As a designer, my job is to look at the whole picture and work out where your money will make the biggest difference.
Sometimes that means a completely new kitchen.
Sometimes it means new doors, a beautiful new benchtop and better storage.
What does a kitchen makeover cost?
This is probably the question I get asked most.
The honest answer is that there isn’t one price for a kitchen makeover because every kitchen is different.
The cost depends on how much you are changing, the size of the kitchen, the materials and finishes you choose, whether the benchtop is being replaced, how much cabinetry needs modifying and whether plumbing or electrical work is required.
A kitchen facelift can be significantly less involved than a full kitchen renovation, particularly when the existing cabinetry and layout can be retained.
That’s why I prefer to look at the kitchen first rather than give someone a generic price based on a photograph.
Once we understand what you want to change and what can stay, we can work out where the budget is best spent.
How long does a kitchen facelift take?
One of the advantages of a kitchen makeover is that you aren’t necessarily living through a lengthy demolition and rebuild.
If we’re retaining the existing cabinetry and layout, there is generally less work involved than with a complete kitchen renovation.
The exact timeframe depends on the scope of the project, the materials selected and the work required on site.
We plan the different stages carefully because there can still be several moving parts – cabinetry, benchtops, tiling, plumbing, electrical work and installation all need to come together in the right order.
The aim is to keep the disruption to your home as short as reasonably possible.
What I look for when I sit down with a customer
When I meet someone for the first time, I’m not just looking at the colour of their kitchen doors.
I’m interested in how they actually use the room.
I want to know what they like about their existing kitchen, what drives them crazy, where they put things, whether they cook every night or mainly use the kitchen for entertaining and what they wish they had more of.
Sometimes the answer is more drawers.
Sometimes it’s better lighting.
Sometimes the benchtop is the thing they can’t stand looking at anymore.
And sometimes, after talking through everything, we realise that a facelift isn’t the right solution at all and a complete renovation would give them a much better result.
That’s an important part of the design process.
A good kitchen makeover isn’t about changing as much as possible. It’s about changing the right things.
Why choose Shore Renovations for a kitchen makeover?
At Shore Renovations, our approach is based around designing and building kitchens that work for the people who use them.
Our Brookvale factory allows us to manufacture cabinetry components locally, while our design and project teams coordinate the different stages of the project.
For a kitchen makeover, that can be particularly useful because working with an existing kitchen often requires careful measuring, detailed planning and modifications to suit what is already there.
It’s not simply a matter of ordering a standard set of cupboards.
Every kitchen has its quirks.
Walls aren’t always perfectly straight. Older cabinetry isn’t always perfectly square.
Existing spaces can have small differences that aren’t obvious until you start measuring.
That’s where experience matters.
Before and after kitchen makeovers
The easiest way to understand what a kitchen facelift can achieve is to see one.
A dated kitchen with the right underlying layout can sometimes look completely unrecognisable after new cabinet doors, a new benchtop, updated hardware and a few carefully considered changes.
Kitchen Makeover FAQs
1. Can I replace my kitchen cabinet doors without replacing the cabinets?
In many cases, yes.
If the existing cabinetry is structurally sound and suitable for reuse, replacement doors and drawer fronts can transform the appearance of the kitchen without replacing the entire cabinet carcass.
2. Can I change kitchen cupboards into drawers?
Often, yes.
Depending on the existing cabinetry, cupboards can sometimes be converted into drawers with full-extension runners, making the contents much easier to access.
3. Is a kitchen facelift cheaper than a full kitchen renovation?
A kitchen facelift can be less expensive than a full renovation because you may be able to retain the existing cabinetry, layout and services.
The actual cost depends on the materials and changes involved.
4. Can I replace my kitchen benchtop without replacing the cabinets?
In many kitchens, yes.
If the existing cabinetry is suitable to retain, a new benchtop can make a significant visual difference without requiring a complete kitchen rebuild.
5. How do I know whether I need a kitchen makeover or a new kitchen?
Start with the layout and condition of your existing kitchen. If the layout works and the cabinetry is sound, a makeover may be worth considering.
If the layout is fundamentally wrong or the cabinetry needs replacing, a full renovation may be the better option.
6. Do you provide kitchen makeovers in Sydney?
Yes. Shore Renovations works with homeowners across Sydney, including the Northern Beaches, North Shore, Eastern Suburbs and Inner West.
Our showroom and manufacturing facility are located in Brookvale.
Thinking about giving your kitchen a facelift?
If you look at your kitchen and think “I like the layout, I just don’t like the look of the kitchen anymore,” a makeover could be exactly what you need.
New cabinet doors, a fresh benchtop, better storage and a few carefully chosen changes can completely alter the way an existing kitchen looks and works.
The first step is simply to work out what is worth keeping and what needs to change.
That’s where we come in.
If you’d like to explore whether a kitchen makeover or a complete renovation is the better option for your home, contact Shore Renovations’ design team or visit our Brookvale kitchen showroom.
