Can I open the kitchen to the living area?

It depends on the partition type. If the wall between kitchen and living is a simple divider, the opening is straightforward. If it is a load-bearing wall, a structural calculation to fit a lintel or beam is needed, plus the corresponding licence.

Which worktop should I choose between granite, quartz or Silestone?

Granite and marble are natural stone (unique appearance, more porous). Silestone is agglomerate quartz (more homogeneous and stain-resistant). Compact porcelain is the most resistant to heat and cuts. The choice depends on intended use, aesthetics and budget.

Central hub of the home

Kitchen renovations: bespoke design integrated with structure and installations

A kitchen renovation combines bespoke cabinetry design with plumbing updates, reinforced electrical wiring and ventilation. Opening the kitchen towards the living area, when feasible, is one of the most requested interventions in Málaga and the Costa del Sol.

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What it involves

More than cabinets and worktop

A kitchen renovation is not just swapping cabinetry: it requires reviewing the electrical installation (modern appliances demand more power and protections), the plumbing (shut-off valves and drainage), the forced ventilation for the hood and, often, redistributing the space.

The kitchen has one of the highest concentrations of installations per square metre in the home: hot and cold water, drainage, gas or induction, reinforced wiring for the oven and large appliances, layered lighting and forced ventilation.

Renovating a kitchen normally means deciding three things in parallel: the layout (island, peninsula, corridor), the finishes (worktop type, cabinetry, appliances) and the level of intervention on the existing installations. The project starts once those three decisions are clear.

Work zones

The five areas that structure the kitchen

A functional kitchen is organised around activity areas connected by the work triangle (washing, cooking, storage). These are the zones around which the layout is designed.

water_drop Washing

Sink, tap, drain-off area and dishwasher connection. Sets the position of the main drain.

local_fire_department Cooking

Induction or gas hob, oven, extractor hood and a wall free of upper cabinets above the fire. Core of the reinforced electrical installation.

kitchen Preparation

Clear worktop between washing and cooking, with sockets and task lighting over the work surface.

inventory_2 Storage

High-capacity tall units, deep drawers under the worktop and optimised corner cabinetry.

kitchen_dining Office / island

Breakfast bar, high counter or island with seating where space allows — the link to the living area.

Materials and options

Worktops: four families and how to choose

The worktop is the surface that takes the most use and abuse in the kitchen. Here we compare the four common families based on how they really behave in a home.

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Natural granite

Best fit

Natural stone with a unique look per slab, very resistant to heat and scratching. A classic choice when you want a one-off piece and long durability.

Worth knowing

It is porous: it needs periodic sealing to resist oil, wine or citrus stains. The vein pattern cannot be matched across sections as with agglomerate materials.

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Agglomerate quartz (Silestone-type)

Best fit

Quartz + resins in agglomerate format. Uniform colour, low porosity and strong stain resistance. A common choice for everyday high-use kitchens.

Worth knowing

Heat resistance is lower than granite or porcelain: a trivet is advised under hot pans. Price per m² is higher than standard granite.

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Large-format porcelain (Dekton and similar)

Best fit

Compact porcelain in large slabs, highly resistant to direct heat, scratching and UV. Allows sink integration and continuity on vertical splashbacks.

Worth knowing

The material is fragile during transport and cutting: specific machinery and experienced fitters are required. A heavy point impact can chip the edge.

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Solid wood (oiled oak)

Best fit

A warm solid-timber worktop with an oiled finish. Fits Scandinavian or rustic kitchens and can be refurbished by sanding and re-oiling.

Worth knowing

It does not tolerate standing water or direct heat shock. It needs annual maintenance with specific oil and is not advised around the sink without reinforced treatment.

Finished kitchens

Materials, light and layout working together

Cabinetry, worktops and lighting are decided before demolition. On site the installation respects the exact dimensions committed in the 3D project.

Critical installations

What we always review before drafting

The kitchen concentrates the highest density of installations per square metre. Before drawing the layout we verify four technical points.

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Electrical load

Consumer unit with dedicated circuit for the oven and hob, super-immunised differential and enough contracted power for modern appliances.

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Downpipe and drain

Routing of the sink and dishwasher drains to the existing downpipe with minimum slope — this constrains where the washing zone can go.

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Smoke outlet

Hood duct to shaft or façade, with sufficient diameter and the shortest possible run.

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Floor level

Check of the step between kitchen and living area if an opening is planned, so it can be resolved with a transition or flush pavement.

Typical scope

What this service includes

Our kitchen intervention rests on five documented elements.

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Bespoke kitchen cabinetry

Design and manufacture of cabinetry adjusted to the available opening, with solutions for columns, corners and unlevelled surfaces.

countertops

Granite, quartz or Silestone worktops

Different material families for different intended uses: natural stone (granite, marble), agglomerate quartz (Silestone) or compact porcelain.

kitchen

Integrated appliances

Hob, oven, microwave, fridge and hood selected together with the cabinetry so they sit integrated.

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Reinforced electrical installation

Dedicated circuit for oven and hob, appropriate differential protections and light points distributed for worktop use.

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Free 3D design

3D visualisation of the project before deciding, included free of charge as stated in our commercial material.

Workflow

How we execute a kitchen renovation

A kitchen renovation follows a chained sequence that respects the dependencies between trades. Each phase closes before the next opens.

description 01
Design and 3D

Layout drawings, selection of cabinetry, finishes and appliances with a 3D render of the project before any material is ordered.
construction 02
Targeted demolition

Controlled removal of existing cabinetry, worktop, wall tiling and, where applicable, the partition between kitchen and living area.
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New installations

New electrical routing with a dedicated circuit for the hob and oven, differentiated protections and plumbing adapted to the new layout.
format_paint 04
Tiling and flooring

Splashback tiling, cladding of free walls and laying of the floor over a levelled surface.
handyman 05
Cabinetry fit-out

Fitting of base units and tall columns, worktop measured in situ, integrated appliances and extractor hood with external outlet.
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Commissioning

Hydraulic connections, appliance testing, perimeter sealing of the worktop and final site cleaning.

Design principle

“A kitchen is measured by what it does every day, not by what it looks like on opening day.”

Design principle

Planning

Decisions to close before the quote

Six decisions are worth closing before asking for a quote. Projects that arrive with these answers in place run with fewer surprises.

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Chosen layout
Decide between corridor, L-shape, U-shape, island or peninsula before ordering bespoke cabinetry, based on the real opening available.
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Storage capacity
Size the tall columns and drawers from the real inventory of utensils, small appliances and bulk food.
countertops
Worktop material
Granite, agglomerate quartz, large-format porcelain or solid wood — each has its recommended use and specific maintenance.
lightbulb
Layered lighting
General ceiling light, functional light under upper cabinets over the worktop and, if there is an island, suspended lighting.
dishwasher
Integrated appliances
Pick the models before the design: they condition cabinetry openings, water supplies and reserved electrical power.
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Living through the works
Realistic planning for the days when the kitchen will be out of service and for the meal logistics during the works.

In depth

Kitchen renovation in Málaga: planning a complete intervention

Renovating a kitchen in Málaga involves far more than swapping cabinetry. It is the room with the highest density of installations per square metre — plumbing, reinforced wiring, smoke outlet and, often, opening onto the living area — so the project has to resolve layout, service connections and finishes at the same time. Our approach starts with a measured survey of the existing opening, verification of downpipes and shafts, review of the existing electrical installation and a 3D layout proposal before any cabinetry is ordered.

The worktop choice is one of the decisions with the biggest impact on both final price and lifespan. Granite is natural stone, heat-resistant but porous and in need of sealing; agglomerate quartz (Silestone-type) offers a homogeneous surface with high stain resistance; large-format porcelain (Dekton and similar) is the most heat-resistant option but requires experienced fitters; solid wood brings warmth but does not tolerate standing water. At reformasmalaga.net we present the four families with their recommended use and maintenance, so the decision fits the way the client actually cooks.

Opening the kitchen onto the living area is one of the most frequent interventions in Costa del Sol homes. Before drafting it, we check whether the affected partition is load-bearing: if so, structural calculation and a lintel or beam on pillars are required, plus the corresponding works licence. If it is not load-bearing, the opening is simpler but still needs prior communication to the town hall. In both cases the project defines how the floor is flushed between the two rooms and how the junction is finished.

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