What to Know Before Starting a Renovation Project: An Evening with Kitchens By Nick McNally & HOKO Design
Sophie Lyons, Senior Designer
Starting a renovation project is exciting, but there are many decisions to make before work begins. From establishing the initial design direction and understanding budgets to choosing your kitchen, appliances and finishes, getting the right advice early can make a significant difference to the finished project.
In August, we welcomed clients to our Edinburgh kitchen showroom for an evening in collaboration with HOKO Design, exploring what homeowners should know when starting a renovation project.
Why Kitchen and Architectural Design Should Start Together
The event brought together architectural and kitchen design professionals, specialist suppliers and clients who were at the early stages of planning their own renovations, creating an opportunity to ask questions, experience products first-hand and better understand how the different elements of a project come together.
Bringing Kitchen and Architectural Design Together
The evening was opened by Nick McNally, Director of Kitchens By Nick McNally, and architect Danny Campbell, Founder of HOKO Design and judge on BBC Scotland’s Scotland’s Home of the Year, who introduced the event and shared an overview of what guests could expect.
One of the most important considerations when planning a renovation is involving the right professionals at the right stage.
For projects involving architectural changes, extensions or significant interior alterations, decisions about the layout of the home can have a direct impact on the kitchen design and vice versa. Considering these elements together from an early stage can help create a home that feels cohesive and works naturally for the people living in it.
The evening gave clients the opportunity to have these conversations before their projects had progressed too far, helping them explore possibilities and understand some of the decisions that lie ahead.
Expert Insights from Specialist Manufacturers
We were also joined by representatives from several of our trusted suppliers, including BORA, ALKU, Hendel & Hendel and Quooker.
Having product specialists in the showroom gave guests the opportunity to ask questions, compare options and better understand which products might suit their kitchen, lifestyle and wider renovation.
These decisions can influence everything from the kitchen layout to electrical and plumbing requirements, making early conversations particularly valuable.
Experiencing BORA Appliances in Action
The best way to understand an appliance is to see it being used. Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed food prepared by BORA chef Paul Terris in our Edinburgh showroom, experiencing BORA appliances in a real kitchen environment.
Seeing appliances in action brings to life details that specifications alone can't, from how they operate and sound to how naturally they fit into the flow of a kitchen.
Guests could also explore the wider Kitchens By Nick McNally showroom, experience different kitchen displays and materials, and speak directly with the specialists behind the products.
When Should You Start Planning Your Kitchen During a Renovation?
A common misconception is that the kitchen needs to be considered only once the architectural plans are complete.
In reality, bringing your kitchen designer into the renovation process early can be extremely valuable, particularly when you are planning an extension, house renovation or open-plan kitchen and living space.
Early kitchen planning can help inform decisions around room proportions, window and door positions, lighting, plumbing, electrical requirements and how the space will ultimately be used.
You don't need to have every detail decided before speaking to a kitchen designer. In fact, the early stages of a renovation are often one of the best times to begin the conversation.
Planning a Renovation or New Kitchen in Edinburgh?
Our evening with HOKO Design highlighted the value of bringing together the right expertise from the beginning of a project. The earlier those conversations happen, the more opportunity there is to consider the kitchen as part of the wider architecture and design of the home, rather than as a separate element later in the process.
Whether you are considering a new kitchen, home renovation, extension or wider redesign of your property in Edinburgh or the surrounding areas, early conversations can help you understand what is possible, establish priorities and make more informed decisions as your plans develop.
At Kitchens By Nick McNally, we work closely with homeowners, architects, interior designers and other project professionals to create considered kitchens that work with the wider design of the property and, most importantly, the people who live there.
Have a renovation or kitchen project in mind?
If you are at the early stages of planning a project, we would be delighted to hear about it. Get in touch with our Edinburgh studio to arrange an initial conversation and start exploring what could be possible.
