Most kitchen budgets are not blown by one big decision. They are eroded by a dozen small ones made too late, when the units are already on site and changing your mind costs a restocking fee and a fortnight.
Lock the layout before anything is ordered
The single most expensive change in any kitchen is moving the sink, the hob, or the waste run after the first fix has been done. Walk the layout on the floor with masking tape, stand where you would stand, and open imaginary doors. An hour of this saves thousands.
Spend where your hands land
Nobody touches the inside of a wall unit twenty times a day, but everybody touches the drawer runners, the tap, and the worktop by the sink. Put the money into the things you feel, and be honest about the things you only see.
Order long-lead items first
Stone worktops, made-to-measure cabinetry, and certain appliances have lead times measured in weeks. Getting those on order early keeps the trades moving in sequence rather than standing around waiting for a delivery.
Keep a real contingency
Ten percent is the number we suggest to every client. Old houses hide surprises behind plasterboard, and a contingency turns a stressful discovery into a routine one.
