One of the most common questions we hear from homeowners at the start of a kitchen project is: how long will this take? It is a completely reasonable thing to want to know, not least because a kitchen renovation typically means living without a functioning kitchen for part of the process and coordinating a significant number of decisions, deliveries and tradespeople. Understanding the timeline from the outset allows you to plan properly and avoid unnecessary stress.
The answer varies depending on the scope of the project, whether structural works are involved, and the lead time on your chosen cabinetry. The following guide covers the key stages and typical timeframes for a kitchen renovation with Ornate Kitchens.
STAGE ONE: DESIGN AND CONSULTATION (4-8 WEEKS)
The first stage of any kitchen project is the design and specification phase. This begins with an initial design consultation, during which your designer will spend time understanding how you use your kitchen, what you want to achieve, and what the constraints of the existing space are. From this, a detailed design is developed, typically using CAD and 3D visualisation tools, which is refined through one or more review meetings until you are entirely happy with the result.
This phase also covers the full specification of materials, worktops, appliances, hardware, flooring and lighting. It is the phase in which the most thinking and decision-making takes place, and it is worth giving it proper time. Rushing through the design phase often results in decisions that need to be reversed later, which is more costly and disruptive than taking a little longer upfront.
STAGE TWO: MANUFACTURING AND LEAD TIME (8-14 WEEKS)
Once the design is signed off and the order is placed, your cabinetry enters production. For a bespoke, hand-painted kitchen, manufacturing lead times are typically between eight and fourteen weeks from order placement to delivery. This is because each kitchen is made specifically to your design, dimensions and specification, rather than being drawn from a stock range.
During this period, any preparatory building works can often be planned and, in some cases, begun. If your project involves removing a wall, creating an extension, or making other structural changes, your project manager at Ornate Kitchens will coordinate these works to align with the expected delivery of your cabinetry.
STAGE THREE: BUILDING AND PREPARATION WORKS (1-4 WEEKS)
If your project involves structural or building works, these are typically carried out in the weeks before cabinetry installation begins. This might include removing a load-bearing wall, building a single-storey extension, re-routing plumbing and drainage, installing new electrical circuits, or altering the floor finish. The duration depends entirely on the scope.
For a straightforward kitchen replacement in an existing footprint with no structural changes, this stage may be very short, limited to removing the existing kitchen and any necessary first-fix works. For a more complex project involving significant structural work, it may run for several weeks. A full kitchen renovation with an extension can be a substantial build programme in its own right.
STAGE FOUR: INSTALLATION (1-3 WEEKS)
Kitchen installation itself, once all building works are complete and the cabinetry has been delivered, typically takes between one and three weeks depending on the size of the kitchen and the complexity of the installation. This includes fitting all cabinetry, installing worktops, connecting appliances, plumbing in the sink, completing electrical connections to built-in appliances and lighting, and finishing all details including plinths, cornices and decorative elements.
For a bespoke in-frame kitchen, the installation process requires precision and care. Our installation teams are experienced with the specific requirements of hand-painted cabinetry and understand the importance of handling and fitting it to the standard it deserves.
STAGE FIVE: SNAGGING AND AFTERCARE
Once installation is complete, a snagging review is carried out to identify any minor issues that need to be addressed, whether that is a small adjustment to a door, a touch of paint, or a minor plumbing check. This is a normal part of any kitchen project and should be expected. Your project manager will walk through the completed kitchen with you and ensure everything is addressed before the project is formally signed off.
Beyond installation, Ornate Kitchens provides ongoing aftercare support. If anything requires attention in the weeks or months after your kitchen is in use, we are here to help.
HOW LONG IN TOTAL?
For a typical bespoke kitchen project without major structural works, you should allow between four and six months from the first design consultation to a completed installation. Projects involving significant building works will sit at the longer end of this range or beyond. It is always better to plan for more time than you need and to be pleasantly surprised, rather than to rush a project that deserves careful execution.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long does a bespoke kitchen take from order to installation?
From placing the order, manufacturing lead times for a bespoke hand-painted kitchen are typically eight to fourteen weeks. Combined with the design phase and installation, you should allow four to six months in total for a project without major structural works.
Can I live in my home during a kitchen renovation?
Most homeowners do remain in the property during a kitchen renovation. The period without a functioning kitchen is usually limited to the installation stage, which typically runs one to three weeks. Setting up a temporary kitchen, with a kettle, microwave and fridge in an adjacent room, makes this period much more manageable.
What can cause delays in a kitchen renovation?
The most common causes of delay are late decision-making during the design phase, unforeseen structural issues discovered during building works, and changes to the specification after the order has been placed. Working with an experienced project manager and committing to decisions at the right stage of the process is the best way to keep a project on track.
How disruptive is the installation phase?
Kitchen installation is inherently disruptive. There will be dust, noise and tradespeople in the home throughout the installation period. The disruption is finite and manageable, and a well-run project will minimise the impact on your daily life as much as possible through clear scheduling and communication.
Is it worth doing any building works at the same time as the kitchen?
If you are considering structural changes, an extension, or significant rewiring or plumbing works, doing them at the same time as the kitchen is almost always the most cost-effective and least disruptive approach. Returning for separate phases of building work after the kitchen is installed involves additional cost and disruption that can be avoided with good upfront planning.
