Kitchen Refurbishment and Renovation in London

Planning the layout

Getting the kitchen layout right before you buy anything

The layout decides how the kitchen feels every day, so settle it before choosing doors or worktops. The classic guide is the work triangle: the distance between the sink, the hob and the fridge. Keep each side of it roughly between 1.2 and 2.7 metres and avoid walking routes cutting through it. In a small London kitchen you will not always achieve the textbook shape, but the principle still helps you spot a bad plan.

Think about how you actually cook. A household that prepares meals together needs two clear working zones and a wide aisle, while one person cooking alone is better served by a compact run. Allow around 1 metre between facing units, and more where a dishwasher or oven door opens into the walkway. Moving the sink or hob changes pipework, drainage and electrics, so a layout change is the point where a kitchen refurbishment becomes a bigger job. Our kitchen cost calculator shows how that affects the budget.

Worktops compared

Choosing a worktop: quartz, granite, laminate, timber and more

Worktops take the most wear, so compare materials on upkeep as well as looks. Quartz is engineered, non-porous and needs no sealing, which is why it is so popular, though it can be damaged by very hot pans. Granite handles heat well but needs periodic sealing. Solid timber is warm and can be sanded and re-oiled, but does not like standing water near the sink. Laminate is the lightest on budget and has improved a great deal, though cuts and swelling at joints are hard to repair.

Also weigh up the practicalities. Stone and quartz are heavy and are cut to a template taken after the units are fitted, so allow time between the template visit and installation. Sink and hob cut-outs are made at that stage, so decide the model first. Thickness, edge profile and upstand height all change the look. If you are only refreshing an existing kitchen, our worktop replacement and door refresh option can freshen it without a full strip-out.

Hob and extraction

Appliances and ventilation: induction or gas, ducted or recirculating

Induction hobs heat the pan directly, are quick and easy to clean, and need a suitable electrical supply, often a new dedicated circuit, which must be installed and tested to BS 7671 and, as a new circuit, notified under Part P of the Building Regulations. They only work with magnetic pans. Gas hobs suit people who like visible flame and cook with any cookware, but need a gas connection made by a Gas Safe registered engineer. You can check any engineer on the Gas Safe Register. Swapping from gas to induction usually means a Gas Safe registered engineer disconnecting and safely capping the gas supply, plus new electrics.

Extraction is just as important. A ducted extractor vents moisture, grease and smells outside through a wall or roof and is the more effective choice. A recirculating hood filters air and returns it to the room, which can suit flats where ducting is impractical, but it does not remove moisture, does not count as extract ventilation under Part F of the Building Regulations, and its filters need regular replacing. Ducting needs a clear route, a suitable outlet and enough power, so plan it before units are ordered. Where Building Regulations apply, such as a new or relocated kitchen, extraction to outside should be at least 30 litres per second from a cooker hood or 60 litres per second from a fan elsewhere in the kitchen. If there is an open-flued boiler or gas fire in the room, a powerful extractor can pull fumes back inside, so a Gas Safe registered engineer should carry out a spillage test after fitting. We can also plumb in dishwashers, washing machines and boiling-water taps as part of the same job, fitted to the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999.

Open-plan kitchens

Knock-through and open-plan kitchens: what to expect

Removing a wall between a kitchen and dining room or reception is a popular way to transform a London home. If the wall is load-bearing, a structural engineer calculates a steel beam or similar support, and the work needs Building Regulations approval from building control, either the local authority or a registered building control approver. If the beam bears on or cuts into a wall shared with a neighbour, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 requires written notice to the adjoining owner at least two months before that work starts. Supports are put in first, then the wall is taken out, with dust protection and a clear plan for making good plaster, flooring and ceilings afterwards.

An open-plan space changes more than the layout. Fire safety, ventilation and extraction need rethinking because cooking smells and steam now reach the whole room. In a house with a floor more than 4.5 metres above ground level, such as one with a loft conversion, opening the kitchen onto the hall or stairs can remove the protected escape route, so building control will expect an alternative fire-safety solution. Many leases require the freeholder's written consent before structural alterations, so check your lease before work is booked. If the building is listed, internal changes such as removing a wall or chimney breast usually need listed building consent, and carrying out works without it is a criminal offence. Raise this early. For larger changes to the shape of a house, see our house extension page.

Living through it

How to prepare for a kitchen refurbishment and live through it

1. 1

   Set up a temporary kitchen

   Use a spare room with a kettle, microwave, toaster and a washing-up bowl. Plan simple meals for the weeks without a hob.

2. 2

   Clear the room and protect the house

   Empty cupboards, move small items and agree the route workers use so floors and hallways can be covered.

3. 3

   Confirm deliveries

   Check units, worktops and appliances arrive before the fit starts. A missing item can stall the whole schedule.

4. 4

   Plan for noise and shut-offs

   Water, gas or electricity may be off for short periods. Tell neighbours in flats about any noisy days.

5. 5

   Keep rented properties compliant

   Landlords in England still need an annual gas safety check with a copy of the record given to tenants within 28 days, an electrical inspection and test (EICR) at least every five years, a smoke alarm on every storey and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance other than a gas cooker. Ask us about gas safety certificates.

6. 6

   Walk through before sign-off

   Check doors, drawers, taps and appliances together, then book a visit or contact us for a survey and written estimate.