There are two moments in life when a human being seriously tests their ability to keep calm:
- doing your tax return
- renovating the kitchen.
Because yes, you might be a zen professional, a fan of “take it philosophically,” someone who meditates precariously on an organic linen cushion... but as soon as you enter the “new kitchen” chapter, you discover that life is also made of unexpected events, quotes that rise more than panettone at Christmas, plumbers who tell you “tomorrow,” and that typical anxiety of oh God, did I choose the right countertop or will it look like a giant cutting board?
Breathe: in this article I’ll explain how to renovate your kitchen without losing your patience (and without burning your wallet), with practical advice, professional tips, and a healthy dose of therapeutic irony.
1. Ideas first, then work (because improvising is dangerous, especially in the kitchen)
The first mistake is thinking: “Oh well, it’s just a kitchen, how complicated can it be?”.
Short answer: very.
A kitchen is a crossroads of systems, millimetric measurements, delicate materials, smart appliances that often aren’t… in short, lots of things that can go wrong.
- The golden rule is just one:
Plan everything in advance. Everything. Absolutely everything.
What do you need to decide at the planning stage?
- where the pipes will go (not where you’d like them to go)
- where to put sockets and switches (not “here is more or less fine”)
- the distribution of the furniture
- the type of lighting
- the practicality of the spaces, not just the aesthetics
- materials that withstand your real life (not the catalog one)
Because if you need a plumber to redo the bathroom, to redo the kitchen you also need a bit of preventive psychotherapy.
2. Ergonomics: the science that saves your back and your patience
Many design the kitchen thinking about the color of the doors. Few think about their backs, knees, and daily use.
Remember the work triangle rule:
Fridge – Sink – Hob, a logical arrangement that reduces unnecessary running around.
Other useful tips for your back (and mental health):
Don’t put wall units too high “because it looks nice”: you’ll end up stretching every time you look for the salt.
Prefer deep drawers: when you look for a pot in a cupboard, you automatically become an archaeologist.
Raised dishwasher? Yes, please: it’s an upgrade your body will love more than a new mattress.
3. Materials: beautiful yes, but also smart
The marble countertop is wonderful… until you realize it absorbs stains like an emotional sponge.
Laminate is cheap, yes… but not exactly a warrior against water and bumps.
Porcelain stoneware, however, is like Superman disguised as a worktop.
Here’s the (serious and proven) truth:
Porcelain stoneware and quartz → durable, beautiful, modern.
Steel → professional, impeccable, but requires constant wiping to avoid fingerprints.
Wood → warm and spectacular, but needs pampering. A lot. Maybe too much.
Laminate → good for tight budgets, as long as it’s quality and well installed.
The choice of materials determines:
- durability
- maintenance
- cost
- mental health for the next 10 years
Choose wisely.
4. Lighting: the real queen of the kitchen
Imagine cooking with the wrong light:
– Shadows over the pot
– Yellow bulbs that make every dish look hospital-like
– Cold lights that turn the kitchen into a surgical clinic
The perfect light doesn’t exist, but the perfect light for your kitchen does.
Professional tip:
- LED lights at 3000–4000K temperature
- direct lighting on the worktop
- indirect lights to create atmosphere
- under-cabinet LEDs to avoid the “black hole” effect
If you want to renovate well, think about the light. Always. It’s the “Instagram filter” that makes any kitchen look good.
5. Systems: spend today so you don’t cry tomorrow
Systems are like mysterious characters in movies: you don’t see them, but if something goes wrong, they ruin the scene.
During renovation consider:
- new pipes (if the old ones saw the ‘82 World Cup, it’s time to let them go)
- new sockets (lots of them)
- dedicated lines for oven and hob
- preparation for an extractor hood with external vent
- smart systems for intelligent consumption
Saving on systems is like saving on a parachute: not a good plan.
6. Budget: how to avoid turning it into a horror movie
There are three types of quotes:
- the one that seems reasonable
- the one “oh God, are we buying a kitchen or an apartment?”
- the one that at the end of the work always ends up higher than expected
The truth is this:
Set aside at least 15–20% extra budget for unexpected events.
They will happen. Always.
To avoid disasters:
- choose the right company
- make a written contract
- ask for a detailed bill of quantities
- beware of offers that are “too good” (they’re like complicated relationships: they promise at first, then you regret it)
7. Choosing the company: the factor that decides everything
The client dreams of the kitchen, the technician designs it, but the right team makes it happen.
When choosing who will do the work, consider:
- expertise
- portfolio
- punctuality
- reviews
- listening skills
- willingness to support you at every stage, from survey to delivery
A good company tells you what can be done.
A bad one always says yes… and then you find out nothing could actually be done.
8. The work phase: the moment when you’ll need faith (in yourself and the professionals)
Skirting boards that don’t match, pipes that weren’t supposed to be there, a cabinet that doesn’t fit by a centimeter: it happens to everyone.
Golden rule:
Don’t stress. Ask. Demand. Check. But don’t panic.
Serious professionals always solve everything.
9. The final satisfaction: when you look at your new kitchen and think “I did it”
And that moment when:
- you open the drawers just for the pleasure of opening them
- you clean the countertop just to see it shine
- you check the lights as if you’re lighting up a theater stage
It’s proof that yes, renovating the kitchen is hard work, but it’s totally worth it.
And above all:
the stress passes, but the new kitchen stays for years.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, treat it as it deserves
The perfect renovation doesn’t exist, but there are smart choices that make everything easier.
With good planning, the right materials, a competent team, and a bit of irony to survive the work, you can get a kitchen you’ll love every day.
And if you want to avoid mistakes, delays, waste, nerves, and diplomatic incidents…
Gruppo Impianti Ristrutturazioni is here for that.
We help you choose, design, install and above all… renovate without losing your patience.
