Upload a photo of your kitchen to an AI tool and, within seconds, it can give you warm timber cabinetry, a generous island, better lighting and enough storage to hide every appliance you bought during lockdown.

It may look fantastic.

What it cannot tell you with much confidence is whether the wall behind the cabinetry is structural, whether the plumbing can be moved, or whether the whole idea fits the room, the budget or the rules.

It has created an idea.

It has not created a construction plan.

That difference matters, especially now that AI-generated floor plans and renovation images are becoming easier for homeowners to produce.

AI is a handy renovation assistant

There is plenty to like about using AI at the beginning of a project.

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It can help turn “we want the kitchen to work better” into something more useful:

more natural light
better storage
somewhere for the kids to sit
a pantry that does not block the main workspace
a stronger connection to the backyard

It can also help you gather inspiration, compare options, prepare questions and put together a clearer brief before speaking with a designer or builder.

That is a good use of AI.

You do not need it to know everything. You just need it to help you think.

AI can give you three kitchen layouts before breakfast. It still cannot crawl under the house and find out why the floor is sloping.

A convincing image is not always a correct answer

AI is very good at producing things that look plausible.

Unfortunately, houses have an annoying habit of needing to work in real life.

An AI-generated room may contain awkward dimensions. A floor plan may ignore the orientation of the site. Advice about permits or approvals may be incomplete, outdated or wrong for your location.

Renovation decisions also tend to travel in packs. Move a wall and you may affect the structure. Move a bathroom and you may affect drainage. Change a window and you may affect energy performance, privacy, planning requirements or bushfire provisions.

A strange detail in an AI image is easy to overlook. The same detail built into your house may be much less amusing.

What experienced professionals bring

A good architect, building designer, engineer, builder or trade professional does more than produce drawings or install materials.

They understand consequences.

They can inspect the existing building, spot signs of movement or moisture, identify when further investigation is needed and understand how one decision affects everything around it. They also know how to turn an idea into something that can be approved, priced, coordinated and built.

The Australian Building Codes Board explains that the National Construction Code sets minimum requirements for safety, health, accessibility, amenity and sustainability. It also notes that homeowners are not expected to interpret and apply the code themselves and should seek appropriate professional advice.

Most importantly, qualified professionals can inspect the work, coordinate with others and stand behind the advice they provide.

AI cannot attend a site meeting, carry professional insurance or explain to the building surveyor why it thought the waterproofing detail looked close enough.

A simple guide to using AI

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Green light: Let it help

AI is useful for:

exploring styles and materials
describing what you like about inspiration images
creating room-by-room wish lists
developing an early project brief
brainstorming questions for designers and builders
organising notes and priorities
comparing broad design approaches

These are low-risk ways to explore what you want before spending serious time or money.

Amber light: Useful, but check it

Be careful when using AI for:

interpreting quotes
estimating budgets
comparing products and materials
suggesting floor-plan changes
summarising contracts or reports
explaining planning and building terminology
estimating project time frames
answering questions about permits or regulations

The output may be helpful, but it can miss exclusions, misunderstand technical language or apply information from the wrong place.

Use it to prepare questions, not settle the matter.

Red light: Bring in a qualified person

Do not rely on AI alone for:

structural changes
electrical, plumbing or gas work
waterproofing
construction documentation
permit applications
building compliance
fire and life-safety decisions
contracts
inspections and certification
anything that could affect the safety of workers or occupants

Building requirements vary by state, council, site and project type. Check with the relevant authority, building surveyor or qualified professional before work begins. The Australian Building Codes Board provides a useful starting point here: https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/homeowners/getting-help-national-construction-code

The bottom line

AI is brilliant for exploring ideas, getting organised and asking better questions.

Professionals bring judgement, accountability and the useful ability to notice that your dream island bench is sitting directly over a drain.

Use AI to shape the idea.

Use the right people to make sure it stands up.