A realistic guide from someone who’s done a few!
“How much should we expect to spend?”
If you’re planning a new kitchen, one of the first things you’ll want to know is how long it’s all going to take. And like most things in renovation, the honest answer is: it depends.
But vague answers aren’t very helpful, so here’s a realistic breakdown of what’s actually involved and how long each stage tends to take in practice.
From first conversation to finished kitchen: the full picture
From the point you first get in touch with a designer to the day your new kitchen is complete, most projects take somewhere between three and six months in total.
That probably sounds longer than you expected. But most of that time isn’t building work. It’s planning, decision-making, and lead times. The actual installation is usually the shortest part.
Here’s how it typically breaks down.
Stage 1: Design and planning (1–2 weeks)
This is where we work out what you actually want. I’ll come to your home, we’ll talk through how you use your kitchen, what’s not working about the current one, and what your priorities are: storage, flow, appliances, style.
From there, I’ll aim to have your design back to you within a week. Sometimes it’s two, depending on the complexity of the project. There may be a few minor tweaks after that, but anything more significant is usually sorted once you’ve decided you’d like to go ahead. That way we’re not spending time refining a design before you’re ready to commit.
Stage 2: Ordering and lead times (6–10 weeks)
Once you’re happy with the design and you’ve confirmed the order, the kitchen goes into production. For most kitchens, you’re typically looking at six to ten weeks from order to delivery.
It’s worth knowing that painted in-frame kitchens tend to sit at the longer end of that range. They’re more complex to manufacture, so they take a little more time. If that’s the style you’re drawn to, it’s worth factoring in from the start.
This is also a good time to get your trades booked in: builder, electrician, plumber. The good ones get busy fast. I can recommend people I work with regularly if you need them.
Stage 3: Preparation and removal (1–2 weeks, sometimes more)
Before the new kitchen goes in, the old one needs to come out. This stage also covers any preparation work your project needs: knocking through a wall, moving a doorway, re-plastering. For most projects this takes one to two weeks, but if there’s significant structural work involved it can be longer.
It’s worth factoring that in early rather than being surprised by it later.
Stage 4: Installation and worktops (roughly 2 weeks)
The kitchen itself is typically fitted within a week. At the end of that week, the stone fabricator comes out to template your worktops: they take precise measurements so your quartz can be cut to exactly the right size.
From templating, you’re then looking at around ten working days before the worktops are fitted. So if they template on a Thursday, the worktops will usually be in the following Tuesday fortnight. It’s a specific process and it’s worth knowing about in advance so it doesn’t feel like an unexpected wait when you’re nearly there.
Stage 5: Snagging and finishing (a few days)
Once everything is in, there’s usually a short snagging phase: small adjustments, finishing touches, making sure everything works as it should. This rarely takes long, but it’s an important part of getting things properly finished.
So what’s the shortest it could be?
If you make decisions quickly, your chosen trades are available, and there are no structural complications, a kitchen renovation could realistically be completed in around three months from first contact to finished kitchen.
But I’d always plan for four to five months if you want to feel relaxed about it rather than rushed.
When should you start the process?
A lot of my clients come to me in January or February hoping to have a new kitchen by Easter. That’s possible, but tight. If you want to avoid feeling under pressure, starting the conversation three to four months before you’d ideally like to be done is sensible.
If you’ve got a specific date in mind: a house move, a big family event, a summer you’d actually like to enjoy your kitchen in, tell me that upfront. It helps me plan the project around what matters to you.
If you’re starting to think about timelines and want to understand what a project like yours might involve, a free home consultation is the best place to start. No commitment, no pressure, just a proper conversation about what’s realistic for your home.
👉 Book a free design appointment
Have a good week!
Vicky
