New Kitchen & Repaint

Just two weeks before Christmas 2010, we decided to renovate our old kitchen. The old benchtop Formica laminate is peeling and the sink is old with the twin taps, the joints between the tiles at the sink is mouldy etc. The laminate was in 70s colour which i managed to paint over with an off-white colour but it just looks old and tired

After browsing a few kitchen display centres, we decided to settle for a economical upgrade from Zesta kitchen with a Caesar stone benchtops. Many places would not guarateed even starting work before Christmas as their workload is heavy.

The price of the cabinets and benchtop alone is about $10,000. We bought a new cooktop from Martin which he bought on Graysonline auction at 40% of rec. retail.  Most other appliances like the rangehood and the 900wide St George Stainless Steel oven we re-used as they are quite new. Most people will spent an average of $20k for a new kitchen.

What we are pleased was the tight schedule which was met perfectly as it was only about 10 days before Christmas where tradesmen would be extremely busy. We have announced our "open house" where all the church folks are invited for Christmas lunch. No kitchen, no lunch, simple.
We have heard many people telling us of their nightmare experiences when it comes to kitchen renovation in Australia as delays of many days or weeks are very common.
According to schedules, the kitchen guys came on a Thursday, demolish the old kitchen, started assembling the new one, with plumbers and electricians working together. By Friday, the kitchen was almost done, then the stonemason came and cut the stone top on Saturday, unfortunately,they broke a piece and had to rush back to their depot to get a replacement before it closes. The plasterer came even on Sunday morning to finish the bulkhead ceiling when we have to go out for church, we left the house to them and asked them to lock up after they finish.
Then Monday, the tiler came and do the splashback tiling. We decided against installing modern glass splash-back as it will be much dearer and may further delay the finishing date. All in all, the whole work only took from Thursday to Monday and by Tuesday, we are cooking in the new kitchen - this is a fantastic feat in Australia!
All this is able to be done because the kitchen company co-ordinate their own tradesmen like clockwork. We pay a little more for the tradesmen of course as we have no choice and no time in asking 2-3 quotes from the outside. If we were to engage our own tradesmen, there will certainly be delays as many would not even bother to turn-up to give you a quote, let alone turning up on time to do the work!
Many trades are involved in a simple kitchen installation in highly regulated building industry in Australia - eg the disconnection and reconnection of electrical, gas and water etc. need qualified tradesman with certificates. I can do it myself, but the insurance will not cover for it.
Of course, I did some of the handyman stuff like re-installing the rangehood, repainting the ceiling and walls etc.

Jon & Sarah chipped in to buy a new 480littres Samsung Fridge to replace our exceptional small and old fridge which has serve us for the past 20 over years!.


Below are pictures of the finished result.

 Baking Namyu "Red fermented beancurd" Duck in the oven

 New colour scheme