Renovating a kitchen or bathroom in Bosnia and Herzegovina: what to decide before the work starts

Kitchens and bathrooms are where a renovation is felt most, both in the budget and in daily life. Water, drainage, electricity, ventilation and fitted furniture all meet in these rooms, so one poor decision early on often means breaking up freshly laid tiles. If you are renovating a flat or house in Sarajevo or elsewhere in Bosnia and Herzegovina, here is what is worth settling before the first tradesperson steps in.

How much does the state of the installations matter before choosing tiles?

In older buildings the installations are often original: old pipes, worn wiring and connections that were never meant for today's appliances. Before deciding on the look, find out what is behind the wall. Ask a tradesperson or designer to assess the plumbing, drainage and electrical lines, and whether they can handle a dishwasher, washing machine, water heater or induction hob.

The most expensive mistake is renovating only the surfaces and leaving the installations as they are. If you are opening a wall or floor anyway, that is usually the cheapest moment to replace pipes and cables too. The extra work then typically costs far less than breaking into a finished kitchen or bathroom later.

How do you lay out a kitchen so it truly works?

A good kitchen starts with how you cook, not with the cabinet fronts. Think about the work triangle: the link between sink, hob and fridge should be short and free of obstacles. Also check:

• where there is enough free worktop beside the hob and beside the sink,
• whether the doors of the fridge, oven and cabinets open without getting in each other's way,
• where small appliances will live so they do not take over the counter,
• how waste and recycling will be handled,
• whether you can have a proper extractor hood vented outside, or a recirculating filter, depending on what the building allows.

Take measurements precisely, including edges, radiators, window sills and ventilation openings. Walls in older buildings are rarely perfectly straight, so it helps to verify dimensions on site rather than relying on drawings alone.

What must a bathroom solve besides looking good?

In the bathroom, the essentials are waterproofing, the slope of the floor towards the drain, and ventilation. Beautiful surfaces do not help if water seeps into the floor structure or moisture lingers in the room. Talk to your contractor about how waterproofing will be done, especially in the shower area and around the bath, and how the room will be ventilated, particularly if it has no window.

Think about usability too: do you want a shower instead of a bath, where does the washing machine go, is there enough storage for towels and toiletries, and is the floor slip-resistant? If older people or small children live in the household, it makes sense to plan solutions now that will still be safe later.

In what order should the work go, and who should be involved?

A dependable sequence looks roughly like this: decisions and measurements first, then demolition and installations, then waterproofing and wall and floor finishes, and only at the end fitted furniture, appliances and details. A made-to-measure kitchen is best confirmed once walls and connections are finished and the dimensions re-checked, and delivery times should be built into the schedule, because they often run longer than promised.

It helps to agree in advance who is responsible for what: plumber, electrician, tiler and joiner must follow one another without waiting. When the work is planned in detail, you are less likely to face rushed decisions halfway through that you regret afterwards. If the work touches load-bearing walls, changes the use of rooms or alters the building's exterior, ask the competent municipality or cantonal authority whether a permit is needed. Rules differ between entities, cantons and municipalities, so for your specific case consult the responsible authority or a lawyer.

What should you prepare before the first conversation with a designer?

Photos of the room from every angle, approximate measurements, a list of appliances you already own or plan to buy, and a short description of how you use the space: who cooks, how often, how many people live there. A few pictures you like, and a few you do not, are useful too, since they show your taste quickly.

If you live abroad, we can go through all of this together by video call, using your photos and measurements taken by someone in the family. If you are thinking about a kitchen or bathroom in Bosnia and Herzegovina, get in touch: we are glad to walk through the scope of work, the order of tasks and the questions worth asking contractors, before anything is demolished.