A successful kitchen renovation hinges on clear planning. Rushing into cabinetry choices or layout without a proper brief leads to costly changes later and a result that doesn’t quite fit how you live. We walk every client through the same stages we use on residential projects across Johannesburg and Gauteng—brief, concept, technical design, build, and handover.
Understanding your routine, your style, and your budget up front saves time and stress. Here’s how we structure the process.
Brief and Concept
We start with how you cook, entertain, and use the space. Do you need a coffee station? A place for homework? Extra storage for appliances? How many people typically use the kitchen at once? Those conversations drive layout options and material palettes. We often put together a mood board and a couple of layout sketches so you can react before we lock anything in.
This is also when we agree on scope: full strip-out and redesign, or a refresh of doors, worktops, and hardware. Budget and timeline are discussed openly so we can prioritise and phase if needed.
Technical Design and Build
Once the direction is locked, we move into detailed drawings, cabinet schedules, and electrical and plumbing plans. Everything is specified so that the build phase runs with minimal surprises. We coordinate with your builder or our trusted contractors and keep you updated at each milestone.
Typical timelines range from 8 to 14 weeks depending on scope—strip-out, any structural or services work, installation of cabinetry and worktops, and final finishes. We factor in lead times for imported or custom items so the schedule is realistic from the start.
Handover and Aftercare
Final snagging, care instructions for worktops and cabinetry, and a follow-up visit ensure you enjoy the space for years to come. We leave you with a simple maintenance guide and our contact details so small questions don’t turn into big worries.
A well-planned kitchen renovation is an investment in daily comfort and the value of your home. If you’re thinking about updating your kitchen in 2026, we’d be glad to start with a conversation about your brief and how we can help.
Cost breakdown in ZAR (indicative ranges)
Costs depend on size, structural work, appliances, and finishes. In Gauteng, many mid-to-upper residential kitchens fall roughly between R50 000 and R250 000+ excluding VAT, with larger or highly bespoke projects above that. We issue a detailed quote after a site visit and brief. Budgets typically split across cabinetry and joinery, stone or compact surfaces, appliances, electrical and plumbing, and builder margins. Always hold a contingency for latent defects in older homes—especially in Randburg and Roodepoort stock.
Decisions to lock early
Layout, appliance list, and worktop material should be fixed before plastering finishes—changing them late wastes time and money. Choose a contractor who reads drawings and accepts snag lists; Wito Projects can recommend teams we have worked with or manage the install ourselves.
Common mistakes
Undersizing extraction, forgetting scullery power for kettles and microwaves during outages, and choosing glossy floors that show every pet scratch. Avoid them by walking the brief with both designer and electrician.
Brief-to-handover timeline in practice
Weeks 1–2 cover measured surveys, concept layouts, and appliance shortlists. Weeks 3–5 lock joinery drawings, finishes, and MEP coordination. Strip-out and builders’ work often occupy weeks 4–8 depending on whether walls move. Cabinetry install, stone templating, and final connections typically need another 3–5 weeks, with snagging and cleaning before handover. Delays usually come from late appliance changes, imported handle orders, or discovering damp courses in older Randburg homes—budget a buffer.
How to choose a contractor in Gauteng
Ask for two recent kitchen references in similar suburbs, proof of registration and insurance, and a payment schedule tied to milestones—not large upfront deposits. The best teams ask questions about drawings, flag clashes early, and keep a tidy site. If a quote is dramatically lower than others, check what is excluded—waterproofing, rubble removal, and overtime can erase the saving. Wito Projects can tender alongside your builder or introduce teams we trust; design-build alignment reduces finger-pointing when services don’t line up behind cabinets.
Johannesburg suburbs and stock types
Fourways and Midrand estates often have generous service yards—easier for crane lifts of stone. Sandton apartments need lift bookings and after-hours rules that add programme days. Older Randburg and Roodepoort houses may need asbestos-aware surveys and subfloor levelling before floating floors. Factor those realities into your calendar, not just the pretty render.
Appliances: local warranty and spare parts
We encourage clients to shortlist ovens, fridges, and hobs with strong South African service networks—lead times for imported-only brands can stall handover if a unit arrives faulty. Measure niche heights early; integrated appliances only look seamless when ventilation clearances match the manufacturer’s manual, not a rounded sketch.
Countertops: quartz, granite, and compact surfaces
Quartz remains popular for consistency and low porosity; granite offers natural variation but needs sealing discipline. Compact sintered slabs suit clients who want large spans with minimal joints—ideal for island waterfalls—though fabrication costs can jump. We template only once bases are level; rushing this step creates ugly shadow gaps against splashbacks.
Water, gas, and compliance
Johannesburg municipalities and insurers expect geysers, stopcocks, and gas installations documented clearly on plans. If you are adding a gas hob, allow for certified installers and ventilation calculations—don’t assume your existing extractor copes with a higher-BTU cooktop. Outdoor kitchens on Highveld estates need weatherproof outlets and drainage thought through before pavers go down.
Financing and phasing: if budget is tight, we can phase stone worktops after cabinetry, or prioritise scullery and plumbing before decorative finishes—provided you accept that site access may cost more if trades return twice. Talk openly about cash flow so the programme stays honest.
Next steps: review residential services and renovation & restoration, browse Roodepoort two-tone kitchen, then book a consultation.