In short
- Appliances first. They set the openings and cannot be decided later.
- Every decision made before drawings are approved is free; after that it is a change order.
- The electrical rough-in has to happen before cabinetry arrives.
- Countertops are templated after cabinets are installed, not before.
A kitchen project has a natural order, and most of the friction people experience comes from making a decision later than the sequence wants it. This checklist follows that order. Work through it and the project runs considerably more smoothly than most.
Stage 1 — Before the first conversation
Have a rough view on these
- What is wrong with the current kitchen — be specific, not general
- Whether you want the same layout improved, or a different layout
- Roughly what you want to spend, even as a wide range
- Whether there is a date the work has to be finished by, and why
- Whether a contractor, designer or architect is already involved
- Who the decision-makers are, and whether they agree with each other
- Photographs of the room from the doorway, plus each wall
Stage 2 — Before drawings
This is the stage that matters most. Everything decided here is free; everything changed after drawing approval is a change order with a real cost.
Settle these before we draw
- Appliances chosen — model numbers, not categories. Fridge, range or cooktop and oven, dishwasher, microwave, hood
- Confirm appliance availability and lead times, so a back-order does not stall the project
- Sink type and size — a farmhouse sink needs its own cabinet from the outset
- Tap, including whether it needs a hole for a soap dispenser or filtered water
- Countertop material, at least in principle, since it affects the cabinet below
- Whether the existing kitchen is being removed by us, by your contractor, or by you
- Whether any wall is coming out, and whether it is structural — this is your contractor's call
- Whether flooring is being replaced, and whether it goes in before or after cabinetry
- Where you want power: island outlets, inside cabinets, under-cabinet lighting
- Ventilation: ducted or recirculating, and where it can vent to
Stage 3 — At drawing approval
Check the drawings against reality
- Walk the layout in the room with the drawings in hand
- Check every door and drawer can open without hitting another one, or a wall, or the fridge
- Check the dishwasher door does not block the route past it when open
- Check that a person can stand at the sink while another opens the oven
- Confirm the drawer heights suit what you intend to put in them
- Confirm the shelf spacing in the pantry suits your tallest regular item
- Check the hardware sizing against the actual door and drawer widths
- Read the written scope line by line — this is what you are buying
- Confirm what is excluded, in writing, not by assumption
Stage 4 — Before installation day
The week before
- Electrical rough-in complete — outlets, switches, lighting circuits all in place
- Plumbing rough-in complete and in the positions on the drawing
- Any wall or ceiling work finished, dried and painted where it will be behind cabinetry
- Flooring installed if it goes in first
- The room empty, clean, and everything removed from adjacent areas we will pass through
- Condo only: service elevator booked, insurance certificate provided, hours confirmed
- A clear route from the entrance to the kitchen, with anything fragile moved
- Somewhere agreed for packaging and waste
- Confirmed arrangements for pets and for parking
Stage 5 — After installation
The walkthrough
- Open and close every door and drawer yourself
- Check alignment along each run — gaps should be consistent
- Check the scribes where cabinetry meets walls and the ceiling
- Confirm soft-close works on everything it is meant to
- Note anything outstanding in writing, with a date agreed for it
- Book the countertop template — this happens after cabinets are set
- Keep your drawing set and scope document; they are useful if anything needs matching later
About this article
Craft Mill Works
Design and project coordination
Written and reviewed by the Craft Mill Works design team, based on the cabinetry and millwork projects we coordinate across North York and the Greater Toronto Area. [Add a named author and a short professional biography before launch — see README § Adding articles.]
Last reviewed . We review this page when material or supplier conditions change, and update the date only when the content actually changes.