Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Aug 31, 2009 3:48 pm Hi - we have just purchased our first property a unit in Sydney. We settle in about 5 weeks and need to get a lot of work done but have a very small budget. The units were built in the 70's and we have the original interior. So first is a new Kitchen we also want to knock a larger hole in the wall between the kitchen and living room. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Any recommendations about where to start? Do we get a builder in first or will a kitchen installer be able to do the whole job? We only have about $8k for the whole job (but it is a very small kitchen!) including new appliances and a hot water system. Ive attached pics - we were thinking about an Ikea kitchen but not sure if that is the cheapest way to go? Any advice much appreciated Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Advice on inexpensive Kitchens NSW 2Sep 02, 2009 3:03 pm hi baydudette You've got some nice bare bones there to start working with! I love those glass doors opening out onto the balcony. If you want to go knocking holes in the wall, probably the first thing you need to do is to talk to a builder/engineer (have you got a mate in the building industry?) and get them to look in your roof & check that the wall isn't load bearing (so that when you get the hole put in the wall, the roof doesnt fall down). If the wall ISN'T load bearing, you can pretty much do what you'd like, but if it IS, it might restrict where & how big of a hole you can put in the wall... After you've checked that out, there are HEAPS of places to get kitchens - depending on where in NSW you live...?? check Ikea's prices carefully - they are really cheap for some things but other items can get pretty pricey, and you often have to add on lots of little extras (did you include the doors, hinges, etc, and does it cost extra for the colour / finish you like?) Another option to save some $$ if you dont want to change the shape & layout of the kitchen to much is to try one of those companies where they can makeover your exising kitchen by putting a new surface over existing benchtops & replacing the cupboard doors (not the whole cupboard carcass) if the inside of the cupboard is still in good shape... (not sure what condidtion a 70's kitchen will be in now - guess it depends on what it was made from originally?) Hope that helps! **edit: i just realised that it's a unit - can you get up into your ceiling space?? I've never looked... If not, they should be abot to work out if the wall is load-bearing by looking at the plans and the roofline. We officially own some dirt!! and a little grass... Re: Advice on inexpensive Kitchens NSW 3Sep 02, 2009 5:29 pm If you're handy of have mates who are, I'd look at DIY/flatpack kitchens. THere are quite a few on the net : http://www.stratakitchens.com.au/plan http://www.flatpackitchens.com.au/ Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Advice on inexpensive Kitchens NSW 4Sep 02, 2009 5:59 pm Hi a-minnie thanks for that we will get a builder in to look at the wall - we think it is load bearing from the plans we have seen so that might limit us a bit. Southies thanks for the links - apparently my husbands has a friends whose father is a chippie so we might be OK with a flatpak - but he lives a fair way away from our unit so I suppose it depends on how much we can 'persuade' him to help. Re: Advice on inexpensive Kitchens NSW 5Sep 02, 2009 9:49 pm I'm putting in a custom made flat pack and from all the people we have spoken to who have done the DIY, it apparently is not too hard. I've heard it take from a few hrs to a few days, depending on the skill level of the handy man but even if, at worst it took a few days the thousands in savings is worth it. Put some beers on and invite your mates! Laminex and bunnings also do flat packs. "is it exempt or do I need to get permission from council" Call your Council and ask them 1 1514 Versaloc is a mortarless besser block system that still needs a properly engineered footing. If you just do a 400x200 footing it will fail in time. At 17m long you need it… 1 15278 In NSW the maximum deposit for building work is 5% until the builder provides HBCF insurance 1 4787 |