Want your new kitchen ready by Christmas? July is the perfect time to get started. We talk to Kitchen Studio’s Paul Collins about why now is ideal for planning layouts, gathering quotes, and finalising your appliance wish list — before the timelines tighten…

If you’re dreaming of a brand-new kitchen by summer, winter is the critical time to start. According to Paul Collins from Kitchen Studio, August and September are the months when serious renovators begin their planning — and for good reason.

“If you want your kitchen finished by Christmas, you really need to be starting now,” says Collins. “From first concepts to final installation, the full process typically takes 12 to 16 weeks.”

That timeline includes three to four weeks for design, another three to eight weeks for manufacture, and 3-4 weeks without a functional kitchen (of disruption) while your old kitchen is removed and new cabinetry and benchtops are installed, with usually a few more weeks for all the final finishing touches. Stone benchtops in particular can’t be templated until cabinets are fitted, which adds to the schedule — but improves the final finish dramatically.

Collins encourages clients to come into the process with confidence. “We always say, bring your ideas — even if it’s just what you don’t like about your current kitchen. That can be as useful as a mood board.”

Designers look at how you cook, who uses the space, and what kind of flow and storage will work best — long before colour palettes and cabinet finishes are finalised. “Functionality comes first,” says Collins. “We want people to enjoy using their kitchen as much as they enjoy looking at it.”

So what should homeowners be doing now?

• Start thinking about your layout — are you keeping the footprint or reworking it?
• Create a wish list of appliances — but don’t buy just yet. “Sometimes clients lock in oversized ovens or fridges before we’ve even seen the space, and it can limit the design,” says Collins.
• Get quotes early while trades are still available. “Right now, the market has good capacity, which can in some cases mean shorter wait times, better service, and a smoother project.

The planning phase is also the time to consider whether a scullery or butler’s pantry makes sense. “Sculleries are really popular, but they’re not always the best use of space,” he notes. “If squeezing one in means compromising both areas, it may not be worth it.”

Above all, don’t rush. “Take your time with the design,” Collins advises. “Once drawings are signed off, changes become costly and stressful — but up until that point, we can keep refining things until they’re exactly right.”

With his experienced team, Kitchen Studio can guide homeowners through each phase — from first sketch to final sign-off.

Meet Paul Collins and the Kitchen Studio team at aucklandhomeshow.co.nz