DIY kitchen makeover

[SOLOCHICK]

I've already started my kitchen renno by pulling down some old cabinets and had a plasterer in to repair the gyprock. Had professionally installed stainless steel rangehood, skylight and white granite benchtops, but that's where the professional services budget has run out. the rest is up to me.

My kitchen cabinets are in excellent condition, they are grey, so are the floor and wall tiles (why someone would have ever chosen such a boring colour eludes me). What I was thinking was just getting a kitchen company to do new doors and draw faces, pull off the old ones and replace.

Has anyone ever done this and if so, what did you do about the cabinet sides and fronts, plus the wall oven cabinetry?

Did you buy laminex cut to size or did you cut it yourself and how.
Plus as a complete amateur, do you recommend attempting to retile myself?

and one more... can you lay floating timber floors over tiles?

[antman]

hi,

My inlaws went through the process of trying to get new doors and draw fronts but most companies seemed to want to sell you the whole lot. My inlaws were very persistant and ended up with what they wanted but the whole process took way longer than it should have.

I'm not trying to be a wet blanket but just be aware that this might happen and stick to your guns! Sounds like it will look great when finished!

Have fun!
Anthony

[Sturdee]

In Melbourne there is a kitchen company that specialises in only supplying new doors and drawer fronts and leaves the cabinets in place. They also supply new sides and kickboards . So it might take a while to find one in Sydney but it can be done.

Regards,

Peter.

[re do 4 u]

i just finished fitting a new kitchen. i bought it in kit form from a company called A-PLAN in sydney. they were really helpfull and i guess they would make up doors and drawer fronts to your sizes, just try them and other diy places for a quote. they have different materials for different prices, so i guess it depends on what you want.
as for tiling, i shopped around for the best price and found a place that was more than half the price of the others. ( C.T.M campbelltown) so the money i saved on the tiles will pay for the tiler.
walls are ok to try for a first timer if the walls are straight and square, the hardest parts are cutting a straight line and getting the whole job spaced evenly. i would start with a smaller job like a coffee table just for practice, it takes some practice but it's not rocket science. the tile shop can answer any questions you might have and they can hire you the right tools, which can make all the difference. the best way to learn is to have a go!!

good luck..

[George]

My recent experience revealed that many small kitchen makers and kitchen makeover companies don't make there own doors. They get them made to measure by specialists who have all the gear to do vinyl wrap or whatever.

I recently re-did my kitchen doors, drawer fronts, breakfast bar front and visible cabinet sides with vinyl wrap panels. They are made to measure with plenty of colours, finishes and routing profiles to choose from.

This was in Canberra but I'm sure there are similar companies elsewhere. Laminex Industries definitely do made to measue panels and doors. Also check out Parbury for example http://www.parbury.com.au/

George

[SOLOCHICK]

Wow, thanks everyone for the replies.
I can't believe this site, it's great how everyone helps each other out.

Re d 4 u, thanks for the tip re A Plan, I discovered them myself a few days ago. Will give them a try.

Feeling less despondent about taking on this job as an unskilled female.

Thanks guys.

[Andrew_K]

Originally posted by Sturdee
In Melbourne there is a kitchen company that specialises in only supplying new doors and drawer fronts and leaves the cabinets in place. They also supply new sides and kickboards . So it might take a while to find one in Sydney but it can be done.

Regards,

Peter.

Hi Peter,
I was just wondering if you had the details of the Melbourne based kitchen company that specialises in new kitchen cabinet doors. Im also located in Melbourne and am looking at replacing my kitchen doors. Does anyone know roughly how much i can expect to pay per laminate kitchen door (for an average size kitchen door 40cm width x 70cm height)
Thanks a lot.

Andy

[Theva]

Solo,

Try TESROL at Wetherillpark (96045600). They make doors from the cheepst to good quality soild timber.

We had a look at their Tassi blackwood doors, impressive.

Hope this is of some use.

Regards,

Theva

[DaveInOz]

Solochick,

If it is only the color that sucks, then why not paint them?
You can make the colours and effects as funky as you like and it is as cheap as chips.
I've painted laminex doors befor using ESP surface prep to get the paint to stick, looked great, but I sold the house soon after so no comment re longevity

[Andrew_K]

Originally posted by Sturdee
In Melbourne there is a kitchen company that specialises in only supplying new doors and drawer fronts and leaves the cabinets in place. They also supply new sides and kickboards . So it might take a while to find one in Sydney but it can be done.

Regards,

Peter.

Hi,
I was just wondering if anyone had the details of the Melbourne based kitchen company that specialises in new kitchen cabinet doors. Im also located in Melbourne and am looking at replacing my kitchen doors. Does anyone know roughly how much i can expect to pay per laminate kitchen door (for an average size kitchen door 40cm width x 70cm height)
Thanks a lot.

Andy

[Sturdee]

Andy,


The one I referred to used to advertise on 3AW during Neil Mitchell's morning show and were called " Kitchen Facelifts" . They are at 84 Highbury Rd, Burwood and their website is www.kitchenfacelifts.com.au and no doubt there are others as well.

This one advertised that rather than replacing a complete kitchen they would do a make over by replacing benchtops and door and drawer fronts. I have never used them so I can not recommend them. I hope this helps.

Peter.

[seriph1]

wilson and bradley may be able to advise too regarding door makers

cheers

[seriph1]

My kitchen cabinets are in excellent condition, they are grey, so are the floor and wall tiles (why someone would have ever chosen such a boring colour eludes me).


Know what you mean - how about removing every "xth" tile and replacing them with a contrasting colour that helps the grey look "right"? perhaps an olive or navy...or even gloss burgundy?

ALternativley wall tiles can be painted with the right product, in virtually any colour

[GCP310]

fyi, The average lifespan of the typical HMR particleboard/Laminate kitchen produced by large scale kitchen companies is now 7.5 years.

Having said that, DONT just replace the top and doors thinking you can get away cheap, when for a few bucks more you can replace the kicks and white carcase cupboards too.

Take it from a tradesman in the business, replace the lot, even if its a flatpack kitchen, you will be rewarded with a top class finish and all your door gaps will be nice and even, the drawers slide nicely opposed to old rusty hinges, jambing drawers and stained and water damaged carcases.

If your in QLD, try companies like readycut,HPP and cabinets online for cut to size kitchens.

[Guy]

Try the Plyboard Distributor in Dandenong, they do produce some doors them selves but most are bought in, they also do a number of flatpack kitchen kits, benchtops etc