Giving your kitchen a facelift
It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home and that kitchens sell houses, but even great kitchens eventually age and need an update. That’s where the idea of a kitchen facelift comes in. Rather than building from scratch, homeowners can revive their existing kitchen, keeping what works and updating the parts that don’t, or that need modernising.
Chris Hook, owner of JDS Handyman, which has recently rebranded as Oakmont Kitchens, specialises in kitchen facelifts and recently completed one in an old house in Kensington, Johannesburg. While he originally started the business to offer handyman services, his shopfitting experience and knack for kitchen design mean that most of his current projects are kitchen renovations (although he offers new builds and other more traditional handyman work too). He says word-of-mouth and good reviews on Google mean that he tends to get referred for kitchen projects, which he enjoys.
We asked Chris for his tips on kitchen facelifts, and this is his advice:
Start with functionality
“Whether you’re doing a kitchen facelift or a complete renovation, you need to start with the understanding that every kitchen should prioritise accessibility and have a particular flow to it,” Chris says. “That makes it comfortable to use. The first thing to look out for is things that are in the space that shouldn’t be and things that should be in the space that aren’t.”
For example, in the Kensington kitchen, there was an enormous corner pantry that took up a lot of space but had extremely narrow, short shelves inside that weren’t very useful. “We removed that and replaced it with a moveable kitchen island, which means you have a counter where you need it when you need it, and you can entertain in the kitchen,” he says. “For example, if you have guests over, you can move the island so you can interact with people without having your back to them.”
He also removed a microwave cupboard that took up space and blocked sunlight into the kitchen. “We always try to combine what will look good with what will make for a user-friendly kitchen and accommodate the users’ needs,” he says.
Look at what can be repurposed
Chris says that homeowners might be able to reuse parts of their existing kitchen, such as the cabinetry carcasses, provided that they have been well looked after. “With PG Bison products, we know they are consistently manufactured and the quality standard is good, so we can often use existing carcasses,” he says. “Of course, with any product, proper care and maintenance is important.”
He stresses that he (and other contractors) can’t create a high-quality kitchen renovation with damaged products. An example Chris gives is water damage due to poor sealing, which is often a problem around sinks.
Thankfully, he says, modern installation techniques help prevent certain types of damage. For example, while carcasses used to be mounted directly onto kitchen floors, installers now use adjustable plastic legs with a kicker plate to hide them, which raises the carcasses off the floor. This means that there is less risk of damage if any plumbing issues result in flooding.
Chris suggests implementing a home kitchen maintenance schedule to check edging, seals and so on at least once a year to keep your kitchen in tip-top condition.
Consider various countertop options
Chris says his clients think the only way to achieve modern, glamourous countertops is by choosing a stone or composite product but many are surprised when he shows them samples from the PG Bison Formica LifeSeal Worktops range.
“I’m a big advocate of the Formica LifeSeal Worktops,” he says. “The Malbacco design, for example, looks exactly like a real stone counter.”
Aside from being a more cost-effective option than natural stone, Formica LifeSeal Worktops are also easily accessible and offer consistent colours and designs. Plus, many carpenters and kitchen manufacturers are able to fit and install them, rather than having to find a specialist contractor who works with stone products.
Colour should be informed by context
According to Chris, there’s room to have fun with colour in your kitchen and it’s an easy way to give the space a facelift, but it’s important to consider the rest of your home when making colour choices.
For example, the old Kensington home had pressed ceilings and warm wooden floors. In this space, a sleek, all-white gloss kitchen would have been jarring.
The owners opted for Caraz and gold hardware, which complemented the existing look and feel of the house while adding a more modern element to it and brightening the space.
Be open to input
Often, homeowners have a clear idea of what they want in their head, but it’s not always the most practical or user-friendly idea, says Chris. “We don’t want clients to regret the way they have spent their money a few months down the line. We want to create kitchens that they love, and when they have guests, the reaction should be, “Wow! Who did your kitchen?”. We avoid things like doors opening into other doors or having tripping hazards or uncomfortable workflows if the client is willing to listen to our advice.
Choose your contractor wisely
“These days, it’s very easy for someone to pull an image off the internet and try to pass it off as their own,” says Chris. “Be meticulous in vetting contractors. Make sure you ask to see some of their work and contact their references.”
He says that signs of a good contractor are investing in the right tools to do the job; good reviews; and a proven track record. While a deposit may be required, Chris says homeowners should be cautious about paying a high percentage of the cost upfront and be wary of prices that seem too good to be true as they generally are.
