Domzhiznthe kitchen, where the home lives: a guide to setting up and caring for it

An independent guide to setting up, renovating and caring for the kitchen. We do not sell furniture or appliances, do not carry out work and are not connected with the previous site on this domain. Leave gas, electrical work and water connections to professionals.

Planning

Planning the work

Renovating a kitchen is harder than renovating any other room: water, electricity, ventilation and sometimes gas all meet here, and the family still needs to eat every day. A mistake in the order of work is costly: a new countertop has to come off for a forgotten outlet, and fresh tile has to be broken for a pipe. Here we lay out a calm sequence, from measuring to checking the finished kitchen.

First the dusty work and whatever hides inside the walls, then the things your hands will touch.

— Food for thought

How this section works: we describe the general order of a kitchen renovation without sizes, calculations or prices. Check requirements for specific furniture and appliances in the manufacturers' instructions, and ask your building management about remodeling.

Stages of a kitchen renovation

  1. Measuring

    Measure the walls, openings and projections, and mark the windows, doors, radiators, the vent opening and the water and gas lines. This sheet becomes the basis for every decision that follows.

  2. Work zone layout

    Sketch the path your food takes: storage, sink, cooking. You need clear stretches of countertop between them, and the walkway should not cut across the work line.

  3. Lighting and outlets early

    Decide where the under-cabinet lighting, the light over the table and the outlets for appliances will go while the walls are still open. Hand the plan to your electrician.

  4. Plumbing, electrical and gas: for professionals

    Moving the sink and connecting water is done by a plumber, wiring by an electrician, and anything involving gas by the gas service or a certified specialist.

  5. Order of work

    Messy work comes before the cabinets go in: wiring, pipes, leveling walls and floor, tile. Cabinets and appliances are installed in an almost finished kitchen.

  6. Final check

    Inspect each stage while hidden work is still visible. In the finished kitchen, open every door and drawer, turn on the water and appliances and look at the seams in good light.

Measuring in general terms

Start with a freehand sketch and write every measurement on it, working your way along the walls in one direction. Measure every projection, boxed-in pipe and alcove separately: in a kitchen, these are what most often break up a neat row of cabinets.

Walls in older homes are rarely straight, so check them with a level and compare measurements near the floor and higher up. Mark where pipes and ventilation run, which way the door and window open and where the window sash over the future sink will swing.

If the cabinets are made to order, the installer will take the final measurements anyway. Your own are there to show you in advance what fits and to help you speak the same language.

Working with tradespeople

Put agreements in writing: the scope of work, the stages, how each one will be checked and who is responsible for hauling away debris. The more detailed your plan, the fewer misunderstandings.

Photograph the pipes and wiring before they disappear behind tile and cabinets. The pictures will come in handy when you need to hang a shelf or find where the line to the range hood runs.

Start any remodeling only after you have found out the approval process from your building management or a specialist.

How not to forget the small things

  • An outlet for the kettle and small appliances where you actually use them, not where it is easiest to run the cable.
  • Separate lighting over the countertop and over the dining table.
  • Room for the trash can and recycling next to the sink.
  • Access to shutoff valves and meters after the cabinets are installed.
  • Where dishes will dry and cutting boards will stand.
  • Wall anchoring for tall cabinets and pantry units.
  • Where to cook and wash dishes while the renovation is underway.
  • How-to

    How to renew the sealant around the sink, adjust cabinet doors and clean the grease filter of the range hood.

  • Tools

    What to keep on hand for measuring, small repairs and kitchen care: from a tape measure and level to soft cloths.

  • Ideas

    Ideas for different kitchens: small, open to the living room, in an older home, with a window by the sink and with a dining table.

What we rely on

  • Instructions from furniture, appliance and material manufacturers
  • Building management rules and local remodeling regulations
  • Domzhizn editorial materials

Domzhizn advice is written in general terms and based on the instructions of furniture, appliance and material manufacturers and on widely accepted kitchen safety rules. Check the manual for how to clean a specific surface or service an appliance, ask your building management about remodeling, and leave gas, electrical work and water connections to professionals.