Remodelling Kitchen: Balancing Functionality and Aesthetics

May 22, 2021

By Mrinmoy Dey

The key to a successful remodelling project lies in having a clear plan entailing the extent of renovation required to meet the user requirements keeping in mind the budget constraint.

Creating a dream kitchen is by no means an easy feat. It takes a lot of planning and time to get it right. But then again, over a period of time even the most meticulously designed kitchens tend to be predictable and may not be as efficient as it was at the beginning. This might be due to changes in the way the user uses the kitchens, the family composition or a completely new set of people moving in. In such situations, remodelling the kitchen to suit the user requirements works well.

Extent of remodelling

Deciding when to plan the renovation or how much of a makeover is needed can be tricky. Gauri Shah, Principal Architect, Facilis says, “A kitchen that is used for a period of maybe above 5-7 years should be thought of remodelling. As the requirements, family composition, the way of using, the person using it and lastly the trends do change over a period of this time.”

Swanzal Kak Kapoor, Design Principal, Saka Studio explains the process that goes behind selecting a renovation plan. “We are always conscious of how resources are being consumed in a particular kitchen. We would evaluate the space very carefully to decide the optimum renovation. We do not believe in discarding old things just because they are old. If they are functional, then they are usually refurbished. Usually, it is the structural problems that we try to put right. Things like plumbing issues, seepage, electrical problems are given top priority in renovation projects.”

Photo Credit: HP Lakhani Associates, Hyderabad

Often in renovation projects, clients already have an idea of what they want the end result to be like. However, an architect or designer has to improvise on those briefs and make it not only practical but also better. Gauri explains, “Clients do come with a brief with clarity, as they know exactly what they don’t want according to the previous kitchen that they were using. But many a time they are not aware about the products, finishes, appliances that are available in today’s time. So, I prefer educating the clients by making them visit reputed experience centres of products, finishes and appliances. I insist on choosing the above prior to the starting of my planning/ designing anything because any change in the above may completely change my whole planning. Besides this, the client’s clarity completely transforms into a need and his whole approach towards remodelling changes.”

"We do not believe in discarding old things just because they are old. If they are functional, then they are usually refurbished. Usually, it is the structural problems that we try to put right. Things like plumbing issues, seepage, electrical problems are given top priority in renovation projects."

Swanzal Kak Kapoor

Design Principal

Saka Studio

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Challenges of Remodelling

Remodelling a kitchen is very different from building a new one from scratch. Gauri explains the difference between starting from scratch and remodelling, “Remodelling is generally difficult than ones to be done from scratch. There may be few mistakes related to the levels, right angles, details in civil work, electricals that need to be understood properly and then the solutions have to be thought of. Even if the old work is perfect, retaining a certain percentage and blend in the new work is always challenging. Like maybe the finish of the carpentry work needs to match the kitchen dado (which is been concluded to retain) or maybe an addition of a chimney in the renovation will involve ducting which may not be existing in absence of a chimney, the position of the entry door may not be alterable for a reason that the layout of the rest of the house may not change.”

Swanzal agrees, “In remodelling projects, we have to document the existing kitchen very carefully, pay a lot of attention to all the micro details before coming up with an effective design. Many of our projects involve clients who want a fresh look because they have outgrown their kitchen, then we have to examine the possibilities within the existing framework that can be done.”

Photo Credit: Facilis, Mumbai