How long does it take to renovate a kitchen?

If you’re considering a renovation, one of the first questions that naturally comes to mind is: how long does it take to renovate a kitchen?

It’s an important question, and one that deserves a clear, realistic answer. Your kitchen is one of the most used spaces in your home, and understanding the overall timeframe helps you plan with confidence.

Based on our experience delivering custom kitchens across Perth, most projects take around 4-6 months from the initial consultation through to completion. However, this can vary depending on your design, materials, and level of customisation.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through what to expect, why timeframes differ, and how to approach your renovation with clarity.

Summary: Planning a kitchen renovation often begins with one key question: How long does it take to renovate a kitchen? While timelines vary, most custom kitchens unfold over a number of months, allowing each stage to be carefully considered.

At The Maker Designer Kitchens, every kitchen is fully customised; designed around how you want it to look, feel, and function. Rather than prioritising speed, the focus is on creating a space that’s tailored to you and resolved in every detail.

With multiple materials, trades, and processes involved, a well-executed renovation takes time, ensuring your kitchen is not only beautifully finished but built to support the way you live for years to come.

Understanding kitchen renovation timelines

When researching timeframes, it’s easy to focus on installation alone. While this is one of the most visible moments in the renovation, it represents only a small part of the overall journey.

A well-designed kitchen unfolds across several interconnected phases — from planning and design development through to manufacturing and installation — all working together to deliver a space that feels refined and functions seamlessly.

This is why the answer is not always straightforward. A longer timeframe often reflects a more considered, design-led approach.

Why renovation timelines vary

Every renovation is shaped by the home it sits within and the level of detail involved in the design.

Several factors can influence the overall duration:

• Level of customisation: Bespoke cabinetry and tailored layouts require more time than standard solutions.
• Material selections: Stone benchtops and custom finishes involve additional manufacturing and lead times.
• Kitchen size and layout changes: Structural adjustments or larger spaces naturally extend the schedule.
• Trade coordination: Plumbing, electrical, and finishing works must be carefully sequenced, often involving coordination between your builder or trades and the kitchen installation timeline.

Rather than aiming to reduce time, the focus is on allowing each element to be completed properly, resulting in a kitchen that feels cohesive, functional, and built to last.

A realistic kitchen renovation timeline

At The Maker Designer Kitchens, every project follows a structured approach centred around three key stages: Design, Manufacture, and Install. This ensures your kitchen is carefully planned, expertly built, and delivered with precision.

Design: shaping your kitchen from the ground up

The design phase is where your renovation begins — and where the most important decisions are made.

During the initial consultation, we take the time to understand your space, your lifestyle, and how you want your kitchen to function. Once you proceed into design development, your ideas are then translated into detailed plans and refined into a cohesive, functional design.

This phase includes:

• Developing 2D and 3D design drawings
• Selecting cabinetry styles, colours, and finishes
• Finalising hardware and inclusions
• Confirming appliance selections, which the client typically sources
• Providing a formal project quote

Strong planning at this point helps avoid delays later and ensures your design transitions smoothly into manufacture.

It’s also worth noting that design consultations are often booked in advance, so starting early is key.

Manufacture: bringing your design to life

Once your design is finalised and your contract is confirmed, your project moves through site measure before entering production.

At The Maker Designer Kitchens, all cabinetry and stone benchtops are custom-made locally, allowing for precise craftsmanship and a high level of quality control.

During this phase:

• Materials are sourced and prepared
• Cabinetry and stone components are constructed
• Your kitchen is assembled and quality checked before installation

Depending on the design’s scale and complexity, this stage can take several weeks.

Install: delivering your finished kitchen

The final stage is installation, where your kitchen begins to take shape within your home.

Your project is overseen by a dedicated Site Supervisor, who oversees stone and cabinetry installation, and is available to provide guidance around the coordination of your trades to keep everything aligned and progressing as planned.

This stage includes:

• Cabinetry installation
• Stone templating and installation
• Answering questions about the coordination of your arranged team of trades

While cabinetry installation may take only a few days, stone benchtops are installed afterwards, typically around two weeks later. This allows for precise templating once cabinetry is in place, ensuring a more accurate, high-quality result.

Can a kitchen renovation be completed quickly?

It’s not uncommon to see kitchens completed in a matter of days on television, which can create unrealistic expectations.

While this may be possible for simpler, off-the-shelf or flat-pack solutions, it does not reflect the reality of a custom renovation.

Achieving a well-resolved kitchen requires time at each stage, allowing for better design outcomes, precise manufacturing, and a result that feels considered in every detail.

What can impact your renovation timeline?

Even with a clear plan in place, certain factors can influence the duration:

• Custom design features or complex detailing
• Material availability and supplier lead times
• Appliance delivery schedules
• Trade availability and coordination
• Unexpected conditions uncovered during demolition

Working with an experienced team helps anticipate these variables and maintain a steady, well-managed progression throughout the renovation.

Planning your renovation with confidence

A well-planned renovation is always a smoother experience.

If you are preparing to begin your own project, a few considered steps can make a meaningful difference:

Start early

Design consultations are often booked months in advance, particularly for custom kitchens. Beginning early gives you the time to explore ideas, refine your design, and secure your place in the schedule without feeling rushed.

Refine your selections

Researching materials, finishes, and appliances early helps maintain momentum and ensures the design can progress smoothly into manufacture.

Allow time for craftsmanship

Custom kitchens are built with precision and care. Allowing time for this process ensures a more refined and long-lasting result.

Work with an experienced team

Working with a team that oversees the key stages of your kitchen — from design through to installation — helps create a more considered and well-coordinated renovation experience.

The value of an integrated approach

A renovation brings together a range of moving parts, all of which need to align at the right time.

At The Maker Designer Kitchens, our approach centres on three key stages — design, manufacture, and installation. By managing these core elements, we’re able to carry your design intent through each phase, resulting in a more cohesive and well-resolved outcome.

Bringing your renovation together

So, how long does it take to renovate a kitchen?

Each phase in the process is given the time and attention required to ensure a considered, high-quality finish, meaning a bespoke kitchen is typically delivered over a number of months.

At The Maker Designer Kitchens, every project is shaped around how you live, combining thoughtful design with quality craftsmanship to create a space that feels effortless, functional, and truly your own.

If you’re ready to begin your renovation journey, the next step is to book a design consultation with our team. 

Frequently asked questions

How long will I be without a kitchen?

During this time, your existing kitchen is removed by your builder or tradespeople, and your new cabinetry and benchtops are installed. Most homeowners are without a kitchen for around 3–6 weeks, depending on site works and trade scheduling. Planning a simple temporary setup can help make this transition more manageable.

What takes the most time during a kitchen renovation?

Design development and manufacturing are often the longest phases, particularly for custom kitchens. This is where layouts are refined, materials are selected, and your cabinetry is carefully built to suit your space.

Do custom kitchens take longer?

Yes, custom kitchens typically take longer than standard solutions, as every element is designed and built specifically for your home. This allows for a higher level of detail and craftsmanship, resulting in a more cohesive and refined outcome.

When should I start planning?

Ideally, you should begin planning at least 4–6 months before you would like installation to begin. Starting early allows time to secure a design consultation, explore your options, and refine your design without feeling rushed.