A bespoke kitchen can be within reach and, and more importantly, budget. For years stores such as IKEA and Bunnings have sold off-the-shelf kitchens and laundries.
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Ideal for the home handyperson, cabinets and drawers are flatpacked for easy purchase and delivery and with a few tools in hand put together like a small jigsaw puzzle.
The tricky part was ensuring everything was level and lined up within the existing structure of the room.
With a little nous you could redesign your kitchen sans moving plumbing, which has been a nifty way to get the luxe look for less.
If home handyperson isn’t your style then consider a bespoke kitchen from cabinet makers which will measure and fit to your requirements.
Since branching into kitchen design and cabinetry selection in 2012, The Good Guys have reported a spike in business and is now one of Australia’s fastest growing kitchen companies with showrooms in 30 stores, says Wayne Jennings, group general manager merchandising.
Create your dream kitchen from scratch or update an existing space, and each design can be tailored to your layout and budget.
- Simon Warmington, Bunnings
“(We) offer a simple and affordable way to purchase a new designer kitchen,” Wayne says, adding the business has 70 designers nationally.
To increase brand awareness the business became a sponsor of the hit TV show The Block in early 2014. Since then, the show has boosted the retailer's profile.
“When homeowners are renovating their kitchen they generally require new appliances, cabinetry and assistance in designing their kitchen, so the concept of offering customers everything they needed in one convenient location was a logical extension for us and a strong proposition for our customers," he says.
“Kitchen Week is always the highlight on The Block and we certainly see interest levels and enquiries spike during the airing of the program. The contestants have so many great ideas, and this inspires viewers to think about their own dream kitchen, too.”
Kitchen designer Julie Hanover agrees kitchen planning is big business with Australians reinventing their homes more frequently.
“Kitchens have been said to sell houses, so spending big on a kitchen renovation can be seen as a worthy investment,” Julie says.
As home renovation shows such as The Block and Renovation Rumble push the renovation market, DIY kitchen design services and purchases of appliances are also growing in popularity,
“Interest from customers in the complete kitchen (appliances and cabinetry) continues to surge, especially as awareness of The Good Guys Kitchens offering increases,” Wayne ays. “Awareness has definitely increased as a result of our involvement with The Block."
To capture the renovation market and encourage DIY in the kitchen Bunnings is also making design more attainable for customers with in-house specialists available to advise on product and layout. The business has also introduced a new online 3D design planner so customers can experiment with layout, cabinetry finishes and bench tops to create their dream kitchen.
Kitchens have been said to sell houses, so spending big on a kitchen renovation can be seen as a worthy investment.
- Julie Hanover, kitchen designer
Bunnings spokesman Simon Warmington says the product “has revolutionised DIY kitchen design and renovation”.
“You can use it to create your dream kitchen from scratch or update an existing space, and each design can be tailored to your layout and budget,” Simon says. “The planner can be used to design each of the room, including the shape and size, type of products and colour and materials used. Kitchen designs can be saved for future use and even shared with others.”
The planner was a progression from their flatpack Kaboodle Kitchen range that has proved popular in past years.
While it is good to know what you want and like, working with a professional designer would maximise the result for your budget, Julie says.
“They will be able to provide you with helpful and expert advice on getting the most for your dollar,” she says. “To avoid any changes to your design select quality finishes that look great but won’t date quickly and spend as much as you can afford on durable work surfaces. The cost of quality: priceless.”