Kitchen Company Recommendations

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Handle9

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#115661 2-Apr-2013 22:51

We're beginning to scope renovating our kitchen. It's an unusually dimensioned space so we will probably be looking at as company that can manufacture custom units, not just off the shelf/flat pack.

Does anyone have any recommendations or definite companies to avoid? We have a realistic budget ($20k ish for a small area) and we don't want a super flash kitchen but equally we want to put our money into good quality kit.

I'm very comfortable project managing the job, and have all my trades sorted, who we have used before, other than kitchen and flooring. There's another thread on flooring up at the moment which I'm following with interest as we are probably going to use laminate flooring.

B1GGLZ

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#792338 3-Apr-2013 13:50

We had our Kitchen done by a reputable company about 4 years ago.
If ever I did it again I would be very careful about how it was done.
i.e. not a turnkey project.
Employ a reputable company to do the cabinetry.
A reputable benchtop company to do the tops.
A reputable glass company for the Splashbacks.
Employ your own Plumber and Sparky.
Doing this can save heaps but you'll have to do some Project Management yourself.
We have found since the job was done we could have got a much better finish and saved a lot of money. Their benchtop joins were barely acceptable (and nowhere near as good as my own DIY job in the Laundry) plus one of their clamps actually fell off and I had to re-attach myself.
Now that we are doing a Bathroom we've found that we can get the job done much cheaper this way. We sourced a very hard to find 1800mm double vanity unity and top in a recent Factory Sale. We are getting a Glass splashback installed much more cheaply from the same company that did the Kitchen by dealing direct with them. Our own Plumber did an excellent installation job at a reasonable price. Haven't needed a Sparky this time but would have used our own if needed.
It appears the Kitchen Companies add their own markups to subcontracting company's charges which I reckon will add around 20% or more to the overall cost.

B1GGLZ

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#792348 3-Apr-2013 13:54

P.S.
Your Kitchen sounds similar to ours which cost a bit over $20k including a new Oven and Induction Cooktop which we sourced from The Appliance Shed at a great price. Reckon we could have done it for $15k if we'd Project Managed the job ourselves.

ToPGuNZ

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#792384 3-Apr-2013 14:17

Hi, we used Elite Kitchens and Cabinets for our new house just over a year ago. We are very pleased with the end result. It was nice to be able to be shown around the factory by the owner and get very good personal service. Cost about $12k plus about $5k appliances http://www.elitekc.co.nz

We also did the splashback through them but did appliances through Harvey Norman and used our own electrical and plumbing.

MikeSkyrme

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#792406 3-Apr-2013 14:35

Hi,

Not sure where in Auckland you are, we are on the Hibiscus Coast and used this company for our kitchen http://www.kitchensbyjp.co.nz/

He arranged worktops, sinks and all kitchen fittings.

We sourced appliances.

We used Oceanside Glass and Glazing, also Hibiscus Coast based, for coloured glass splashbacks.

I can not fault any of the service or installation work.

Michael Skyrme - Instrumentation & Controls

Niel

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#792521 3-Apr-2013 17:08

Personal friend of ours is a perfectionist. He does kitchen cabinets from his home in Beachlands (has a huge shed in his back yard).
Geoff Frazerhurst
Cube Cabinets Limited
12 Third View Ave
Beachlands
Manukau 2018
Ph: (09) 536 5872

We've seen a few splash back jobs by, and will get ours from Deco Glaze in Pakuranga/Howick. They did large mirror inserts for 3 of our bedrooms, where Geoff made wardrobes as per our own design.

GJ Gardner said they cannot cut a splash back along the curve of our extractor hob, Deco said that is what they do as standard. Just waiting for us to finish the graphic design before we get it made.

You can never have enough Volvos!

B1GGLZ

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#792560 3-Apr-2013 17:43

Niel:

We've seen a few splash back jobs by, and will get ours from Deco Glaze in Pakuranga/Howick. They did large mirror inserts for 3 of our bedrooms, where Geoff made wardrobes as per our own design.

+1 for DecoGlaze.
They did our Kitchen splashbacks and will be doing the Bathroom. Recently looked throught their factory.
They do a fantastic job.

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

cldlr76

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#792563 3-Apr-2013 17:47

We used Klassic Kitchens in Glenfield and they were great. Our kitchen area is just over 12sqm and cost about 18K for cabinets, benchtop, sink and installation. All the cupboards and draws (of which there are 16) are soft close and the benchtops are engineered stone. They use resene paints to finish their cabinets so there are wide variety of colours.

They were happy for us to use our own builders, sparkies and plumbers. The designer was great and gave us lots of options for the space that we hadn't considered.

Appliances, splashback, tapware and tradies cost around another 10K and that was with me doing the building, gib, painting and installing the ducting for the rangehood.

nickb800

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#792591 3-Apr-2013 18:29

No Auckland recommendations but generally I would ask to see an example of the plans that they will provide to you of the design (perspective views, plan views, dimensions) before you commit even to designing with them.

More detailed plans give you more confidence that they have understood your ideas and that they haven't cocked up anything basic. Of course if they cock up they do bear the cost of fixing it but thats cold comfort if part of your kitchen doesn't work for weeks while they fix it

bigal_nz

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#792597 3-Apr-2013 18:37

JAG Kitchens are great. The designers hold your hand the whole way. They have a range of top quality to budget applaiances.

Handle9

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#792663 3-Apr-2013 20:42

Thanks everyone. I'm comfortable with running the job and understanding what I'm getting. I work in the construction industry, just not domestic stuff. Just looking for good quality, good value and good service.

We'll buy appliances separately and use my normal trades.

Regs

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Snowflake

#792691 3-Apr-2013 21:13

We used Silverdale kitchens, custom cabinetry to fit shape (200mm variance and all!). They are owned by an extended family member, so some bias there ??

A friend also recommended Moda (titirangi, Mt Wellington), and we felt they were good and good value when we spoke to them.

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Snowflake
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