Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 May 28, 2009 10:03 pm Hi We're about to start renovating our Victorian Terrace. We were looking to spend about $8-$10k on the cabinets for our kitchen (3400mmx2600mm), after visiting a couple of showrooms today and actually being laughed out of one, I am really concerned that this isn't enough. We don't need to buy appliances . . . any suggestions, recommendations? Also, I have been looking at the flat pack kitchens as an alternative, reading through the threads melamine is suggested as the cheapest material, is this a reference to its quality also???? Will the kitchen look cheap? I would really appreciate assistance. Re: Kitchen Reno budget 2May 28, 2009 11:03 pm Hi melbulli, We're just in the process of finishing our Kitchen install at the moment. We went with a flat pack kitchen, though some of the units came pre assembled as they were custom sizes. We spent $3130 on the cabinetry and bench tops for an L-shape design (3296x2536mm) with one wall of overhead cupboards. Here's a link to my thread: http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=18530 I did A LOT of shopping around, we had quotes nudging $9K for the exact same products!! With respect to melamine, this is the standard board used for the carcases (the cabinetry), from then you can select the type of doors you like. Melamine is usually the cheapest option, though I have heard of some doors being made from MDF now also. if you haven't done so already, draw up a plan of your kitchen; send it off to a few places and ask them for a quote. Good luck!! Re: Kitchen Reno budget 3May 28, 2009 11:29 pm Melamine has come a long way from the stigma of cheap white board. Almost all coloured melamine boards are now produced on MRMDF (Moisture Resistant Medium Density Fiber Board) - it is only the internal white carcass boards that are often still made of HMR (High Moisture Resistant Particle Board). Just because it is less expensive does not mean that it has to look cheap - this is an outlook that is propagated by the suppliers of more expensive finishes. I have seen some awesome kitchens made of laminate and colour board; a lot of it can depend on the skill of your designer and cabinetmaker...one thing I have noticed is that people who spend a ship load on their kitchens can sometimes take a lot of effort to make sure that everyone else believes that their own kitchens are inferior due to less expensive finishes. As I have said before, melamine coated board is one of the most appropriate materials for a kitchen - Cheap(ish), Durable and available in many smart looking colours and patterns. Your pricing expectations are viable, but don't go into a show room expecting two pack and granite for that budget. In fact, if you want to spend less (or get more) then forget the show rooms and look for some local cabinet makers...or as suggested if you are up for it you could do worse than consider the unassembled option. Even if you have to get someone to install the kitchen, you can save up to $50 a unit just by doing the assembly yourself - and take it from me, it is not that hard (if you buy a decent product). Cheers, Earl Re: Kitchen Reno budget 4May 29, 2009 9:34 am Our kitchen is L shape - 4m x 3.6m with a 2.3m x 0.9m island bench. Cost for cabinets, benchtops and installation is around $9k Re: Kitchen Reno budget 5May 29, 2009 9:57 am Hi, We did a huge renovation in South East Melbourne in 2007, including gutting and relocating the kitchen. We were organising the kitchen ourselves, but our builder recommended the cabinet maker he usually went through. We weren't sure that this was the way to go, so we shopped around. Our kitchen was medium sized (2.8 x 3.6). I wanted Polytech Group 3 vinyl wrap doors (the most contoured, therefore the most expensive), and a Wilsonart laminate benchtop with a double height bench. The cabinet maker quoted just over $11k, but the kitchen companies we looked into wanted $5k-$7k more for the exact same kitchen. Needless to say, we went with the cabinet maker and were never sorry. The kitchen was gorgeous and he was the most prompt, reliable and efficient tradie I have ever dealt with (and I've dealt with a few). We are now renovating a kitchen in Hobart and I am so sad I can't have him to do it for me!!! I know prices will have gone up in the couple of years since . But the point of this is, as some of the other people have mentioned, it certainly pays to shop around and don't just pay extra for the name, which is what you are effectively doing in some of the hard-sell fancy kitchen showroom places Good luck, I hope it works out for you, MagicJ MagicJ I finally have my own reno thread: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28335 The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue! Re: Kitchen Reno budget 6May 29, 2009 1:36 pm Hi, We are having our kitchen installed on the weekend. we are having a U shape which measure 2820 x 2940 x 2480. We looked into flatpak and was going down that path and was going to cost $4700 with having benchtops postformed and such. Then we went to a local kitchen maker and total cost was $6200 install. now were friends with the guy who installs for this company so he is doing it for us for a slab (Bargain) and so we saved ourselves $880 and I don't have to put it in myself. So I guess what I am saying is check out your local cabinet makers as they might not be as expensive as you think. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no use being a damn fool about it. W.C. Fields Brought Established. Coming back to your old stomping grounds, huh? Renovations on a budget can be quite the journey. It's like giving your house a new lease on life. The twist of not knowing… 1 3457 Hello It is good to have a planned bathroom reno to suit your budget and design, living for 10 years I think you need a bathtub 4 10352 Bought in Nov 21 at the height of the market (classic). Good area, atrocious floor plan. BUT has land out to the left-hand side that we can extend out on (see second… 0 8728 |