Twelve steps, in the order they actually depend on each other

Kitchen projects rarely go wrong because of a single bad decision. They go wrong when a decision is made out of order. This is the sequence and what each stage locks in.

Sequence

From first walk-through to final adjustment

Durations are intentionally omitted. Scope, lead times, discovered conditions, and inspection scheduling vary too much for a published timeline to be honest.

01
Walk-through and problem statement
We look at the room together and write down what is actually wrong: storage, light, circulation, condition, or appearance. This single page shapes every decision that follows.
02
Measurement and existing conditions
The room is measured, including ceiling height, window and door positions, and where walls run out of square. Visible services and any signs of past water damage are noted.
03
Layout drawings and zone plan
One or more layouts are drawn against the zone plan, with clearances checked at appliance doors and walkways. This is the cheapest stage to change your mind.
04
Selections locked
Cabinet configuration, appliance models, surface materials, tile, flooring, tap, sink, and lighting are confirmed. Appliance dimensions in particular must be final before cabinetry is ordered.
05
Demolition and protection
The work area is separated from the rest of the home, existing units are removed, and the true condition of walls, floor, and services becomes visible. Findings here occasionally adjust the plan.
06
Rough-in
Plumbing, electrical, and ventilation work is carried out by qualified trades while surfaces are open, including under-cabinet lighting supply and any moved outlets. Where permits apply, inspection happens at this stage.
07
Substrate and wall preparation
Walls are patched and made flat, floors are levelled where needed, and surfaces are prepared so cabinets and tile sit correctly.
08
Cabinet installation
Boxes are set, levelled, shimmed, and secured; fillers are cut at out-of-square walls; doors and drawers are hung and initially adjusted.
09
Countertop template and fabrication
The fabricator measures the installed cabinets, confirms cut-outs and edge profile, then produces the tops off site. This is the natural pause in the schedule.
10
Countertop install, sink and appliances
Tops are set and sealed, the sink and tap are connected, and appliances are placed and connected by the appropriate trades.
11
Backsplash and flooring
Tile is laid from the finished counter line; flooring is completed if it was scheduled to run around rather than under cabinetry.
12
Finishing and walk-through
Hardware is fitted, trim and toe kicks are completed, junctions are sealed, everything is tested in use, and a shared list captures anything left to correct.

What makes a project run smoothly

Selections finalised before demolition rather than during it.
Exact appliance model numbers confirmed early.
A temporary kitchen arrangement agreed before the room goes offline.
One decision-maker, or a clear way to reach agreement quickly.
Agreement on how dust separation and daily clean-up will work.
A shared written list of open items, updated as they are closed.

Honest about the unknowns

Some things genuinely cannot be known until walls and floors are open — substrate condition, previous work behind finishes, and how level the structure really is. The right response is to expect a small allowance for discoveries rather than to promise a fixed outcome. Nothing on this page is a guaranteed schedule or result.

Questions

Process FAQ

— Why is there a pause in the middle of a kitchen project?

Countertops are templated to the room only after cabinets are installed and levelled, then fabricated off site. That gap is a normal part of nearly every kitchen schedule rather than a delay, and planning a temporary kitchen setup around it makes it much easier to live with.

— How long does a kitchen take?

No honest single figure exists, because it depends on scope, product lead times, substrate conditions found during demolition, and inspection scheduling where permits apply. What can be described in advance is the sequence and which steps depend on which.

— Can we live in the house during the work?

Many households do, with a temporary setup elsewhere — a kettle, microwave, and a sink in another room. The dustiest phases are demolition and any substrate work, so it is worth agreeing in advance how the work area is separated from the rest of the home.

— What causes most changes mid-project?

Two things: conditions discovered once walls and floors are opened, and decisions that were left open at the start. The first cannot be eliminated, only anticipated. The second is entirely avoidable by settling selections before demolition begins.

— What happens at the end?

Doors and drawers are adjusted, seals and junctions are checked, appliances are tested in place, and a walk-through captures anything that still needs attention. Cabinet hardware often benefits from a second adjustment a few weeks later once everything has settled into use.

Planning a kitchen project?

Write down your room measurements, what frustrates you about the current layout, and which parts you would keep. Contact details will be added before publication; until then the assistant answers informational questions.

See what to prepare