Flatpack Kitchen Recommendations

[shep]

gday all

I have just put a new kitchen, in all of the quotes i got were around $6500 to $7800 the second most expencive quote was for a flatpack kitchen for $7400 from kitset kitchens.as i just wanted a basic melamine kitchen i thought i would be able to talk the misses into letting me kick the triton out of the shed and get a decent table saw and do it my self. however the boss found a fella working out of his back yard who built our kitchen and instaled it for $3650 he did a better job then any of the bigger fellas. the kitchen we ended up with was bigger with more draws and a bigger pantry then any of the other quotes plus a carbon fiber bench top (7.4mtr of bench top so not a small kitchen) stainless splash back.
mate, shop around because there are a lot of people out there that are good tradesman who aren't out to make millons.
cheers
shep

[RufflyRustic]

I'd love to see some photos of your kitchens, if possible. I'm seriously thinking of getting Mr P&W to cut the ply for me and I'll do the rest. As this is not a task to take lightly, I'm building my skills and tools first, before attempting to remodel the kitchen myself.

Great site links too. - Thanks

RufflyRustic

[Wildman]

I have just put in a flatpack from Pro Cut components in Bayswater (Melbourne) and it was mostly exactly what I wanted and easy to install and adjust. My only issue is that the drawer runners are not very strong, fine for cutlery drawers, but I ordered some pot drawers and have had to fix them twice as they cannot take the load. I am still looking around for heavy duty (60KG+) drawer runners that I can retro fit to the existing drawers. I have also used Novaloc but their cupboard backs are not solid (4mm masonite) and they ship assembled not flatpacked, so make sure you can transport them (they dont deliver).

So my advice is to shop around, make sure you get solid back carcasses and compare the quality of the hinges, drawer runners and legs used as that is where costs are cut. Also the range of handles included in the unit price is generally fairly limited, so make sure you dont get stung by unexpected handle extra costs. Also make sure you are getting high moisture resistance particle board (green stuff) as otherwise they wont last in the kitchen, most of them are, but some dodgey manufacturers are still trying on plain melamine.

Cheers
Ben

[Trav]

Also look at www.kitset.com.au. I didn't use them in the end (we canned the whole kitchen plan and bought a new house), but I was leaning towards them over the others.

Good luck

Trav

[Trav]

There is also a guy here called Arms who runs a flatpack kitchen business. He may also be able to help.

Trav

[KateP]

Many thanks for all your invaluable advice. I'll certainly shop around before making any rash decisions. If anyone knows of any good cabinet makers in the Perth/Fremantle area that would be great. I'm new to the area so don't have anyone who can recommend good local tradesmen.

Cheers

[grinner]

Hi Kate

We are having our new kitchen installed as I type this. We got a quote from Kitset and Ikea and a local cabinet maker. We ended up going with the cabinet maker as he was only a few hundred dollars more expensive than Kitset, and Ikea was maybe $1000 cheaper again.

The advantage I see with the cabinet maker is that he is able to custom make all of the cabinets to fit the space, where as with the flatpacks you have to work to their sizes. Also the he is the one that has to make the kitchen level and straight on my unlevel floor and wonky walls.

Grinner

[vGolfer]

Also look at www.kitset.com.au. I didn't use them in the end (we canned the whole kitchen plan and bought a new house), but I was leaning towards them over the others.

Good luck

Trav

I've taken a look at the Kitset showroom and the kitchens look really tacky IMHO.

[eemgee]

KateP,
Bunnings have a flatpack kitchen that is made in China but looks reasonable,
I decided to make everything myself, although I have yet to do the bench top
which has to have a join which I'm not too keen on tackling.
Still yet to decide on type of doors, but it looks like to be raised panel which I will tackle.

[elcheapo]

I have bought a kitchen from Bunnings. It is called Flatpax and it looks great. With benchop of black granite look a like stuff, high gloss white cupboards and kick board cost less than $2000. Looks terrific, maybe not a real long term kitchen, only time can tell me that!

They have many drill holes already but not all so you need a drill. But the legs are easy adjustable so with a spirit level not too hard to get it all level.

I bought European appliance Ariston who is a company that has tradionally built for other brand names, Blanco I think? but now make their own stuff. So same people making Italian appliance but better price.

I bought double sink, mixer tap for about $300. So far then I have paid just over $4000 for everything including plumber but have no splashback yet. Any suggestions welcome!

Back to platpax kitchens though. You need to measure, double measure then measure again. The distance between wall cabinets and floor cabinets. From wall to wall and everything in between.Leaving enough room for oven to be able to breathe behind (I have the cupboards slightly away from the wall because of this). I almost screwed up but went and imagined myself in the new kitchen and found the fridge was in the way so changes had to be made. You have to put some time into planning, that is probably what kitchen design companies do well and why they charge so much, very critical.

[hotboost]

Ikea sounds the go. We dont have one here in Sa , yet. So I got the local cabinet guy to make some standard carcases and I did the straight easy ones . ie overheads and under sink.

Next time I will do the lot , dust the old triton off as long as you have some one to give you a hand to manage the big sheets . make all you carcases 560 wide for your 600mm benchtops
just cut and screw save yourself a **** load seeing a sheet is about $45.00

and just buy your doors nice to suit once all in place

job done