Your custom kitchen build questions answered
A kitchen is more than just a kitchen. Or at least, it’s more than just a place to cook your food. It’s probably one of the places you’ll spend the most time in your house; it’s a hub for family activity; it’s where warmth seeps under the doors and invites the cold, muddy kids home from soccer practice. Post-shower, of course. The point is, the kitchen is a key part of the home, so when it comes time to build your own custom kitchen, it’s important to get it right.
There’s a lot to consider when it comes time to design your kitchen. Whether you’re starting your entire home from scratch or simply toying with the idea of a kitchen renovation, there is no shortage of custom kitchen ideas to wade through, and no shortage of planning to do before you start to build. Besides, how long should kitchen renovations take in the first place? How much does a custom kitchen cost? How much does a kitchen renovation cost? And while we’re there, what’s the difference?
That’s why we’ve put together a quick guide to all things custom kitchens, so you can be confident going from a to b to your dream kitchen.
What is a custom kitchen?
First things first, let’s talk basics. To put it simply, a custom kitchen is one that has been designed and built to fit your specific needs, wants, and space. This means that you, the homeowner, have complete control over the entire outcome and design of your kitchen, right from the granite counters to the pendant lights to the kitchen island with a secret wine cabinet and backless bar stools. Boujee.
In short, custom kitchens are built to fit your home. With a layout designed specifically for your unique floor plan, you can maximise space and minimise poor designs by tailoring every aspect of your kitchen to your home. For example, if you have an unconventional kitchen layout, you can design your kitchen to fit the space you already have to make the most of every inch. Cabinets are sized and designed to fit your specific kitchen measurements, so you can optimise your kitchen in terms of space and storage.
Whether you’re building your entire home from scratch, looking at a basic kitchen renovation (though basic might be a loose term when it comes to completely rebuilding your kitchen) or knocking out the living room and kitchen all in one go, building your custom kitchen takes time, thought, and careful consideration. But it’s also an incredibly exciting time, and will hopefully leave you with the perfect kitchen to suit you and your family’s needs.
This is your chance to design your kitchen just how you like it - no more wishing the cabinets were bigger, no more cursing the tall pantry shelves that mean you can’t reach right to the back, no more kneeling down to reach to the back of those low cabinets that really should be drawers. Whatever your dream kitchen looks like - your custom design is totally up to you. And your budget, of course.
Benefits of a new custom build kitchen vs a kit set solution
The alternative to building a new custom kitchen, of course, is what you call a ‘kit set’ kitchen, or a ‘flat-pack’ kitchen. The biggest difference is that while a custom kitchen design requires a professional to cater the entire build specifically to your preferences, a kit-set kitchen is more of a DIY option, where you can install pre-designed elements such as cupboards, benchtops, and fixtures yourself.
The biggest perk to a kit set solution is affordability. For those on a tight budget, a kitset kitchen may seem a great option - and though it may be cheaper than a custom build, remember that you pay for quality. And when it comes to your kitchen, nothing is more frustrating than a poor quality design, or poor quality fixtures.
In fact, there are several benefits for going with a custom build option:
Quality, quality, quality.
When it comes down to it, a high-quality kitchen is priceless. And that doesn’t necessarily mean everything needs to be covered in white paint and engineered stone - a high-quality kitchen can be as simple, cost-effective, or extravagant as you like.
It’s simply the quality of the materials and design that make a difference. A custom kitchen will outlast a kit-set instalment every time, typically using better materials that are built specifically for your needs. That means no ill-fitting cabinets, loose hinges, or doors that no longer close two years down the track. And while it might not be as easy to shop for custom kitchens online, the slower process means more thought, consideration, and planning are put into your specific design, for a better outcome all around.
Designed to your specific needs
Need a walk-in pantry that can fit food for a family of seven? A second sink for a little extra help at dishes-time? Is a kitchen island with bar stools a must-have for chats while cooking? Whatever your dream kitchen looks like, with a custom build, you’ve got the freedom to decide exactly what it is you’re wanting. Designed specifically to your needs, wants, and nice-to-haves, a custom build is far more tailored than a kit-set kitchen, planning the entire structure around your ideas.
Decide whether you want your kitchen to be a social space, a chef’s paradise, or a place that brings the family together, and tailor your design around it. While there is room for a certain degree of flexibility within a kit-set kitchen, a custom kitchen takes that to the next level, making sure every part of your dream kitchen has your stamp on it.
Personalise your cabinet and storage areas
This may be the most underrated perk, because cabinet and storage space is crucial to an easy workflow in the kitchen. Nothing is more frustrating than opening a cabinet door and having a giant steel frypan land on your foot. Sort of ruins the relaxed ambience of a place.
However, with custom kitchen cabinets, you get to dictate how big and how convenient your cabinets are. Build your custom cabinets to fit certain appliances and eliminate clutter, decide whether you want open shelving on those upper cabinets or edgy handles, and plan your kitchen around your daily routines.
How much will a new custom kitchen cost me?
Well, as you’ve probably realised already, the cost of a new custom kitchen varies. A lot. But the beauty of a custom kitchen is that much like you can build your dream kitchen specific to your needs and wants, you can also build your design around your budget. If you’re wanting the full shebang, including an edgy interior designer, tight time frames, and a dining area laced in gold, then your budget is going to look a little bigger.
However, if you’re sitting on a tight budget and aren’t sure if you can afford to spend the local lottery prices on a new kitchen, then rest assured there are also cost-effective options you can work with that don’t mean giving up your subway tile backsplash.
The cost of your custom kitchen will depend on several factors, including layout, how big your kitchen is, what materials you’re wanting to use, what fixtures you’re wanting, and the complexity of the build. Too vague for you? We think so too, and we’d love to help give you more of a ballpark figure. Get in touch with us today and we’ll be happy to chat a little more about your custom build.
Our process
We like to keep things simple, straightforward, and as smooth as possible
Meet the client
This is where we say hello, and get to know a little bit about you, and what your ideas are. Here, you do the talking and we do the listening, as we get to know your needs and wants when it comes to your new kitchen.
Design consultation
Then, we settle into a design consultation, where we cover off different floor plan options, material selections, colour choices, and all the other bits and pieces that will create the custom kitchen of your dreams.
The build
And the rest, as they say, is history. From here it’s the fun part - bringing all your custom choices to life.
Kitchen design ideas
If you haven’t already got a ‘Kitchen Reno’ Pinterest board loaded with inspiration, then get ready for the fun part of planning your kitchen - choosing what elements you need and what features you don’t need but you absolutely want so will likely get them anyway. There is an entire internet-full load of custom kitchen and kitchen renovation ideas floating around, with Pinterest providing an almost-guarantee that you’re bound to find a style you’re at least a little partial to.
Here are a few of our favourite kitchen design ideas:
This dreamy kitchen is actually the humble home of Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher. Tall ceilings, big windows, and solid wood beams make for a stunning ‘renovated barn’ feel. We particularly like the contrast in the colour scheme they have used which creates a natural balance and accentuates the dramatic feel of the room. Textured cabinetry and selected tiles (mosaic and subway) have created another dimension of depth in an area that could have been overwhelmed by height. Our advice - don't be afraid to sample dark colours and textures in your kitchen, the result speaks for itself.
We also love these modern kitchens keeping it simple, stripped back, and clean. A minimalistic design does a lot for a calm, relaxed environment where you can enjoy the simpler things in life without any of the clutter. We particularly like the clean lines and overall minimalist feel to these kitchens. If you are considering selling and want to renovate your kitchen - this is often the best brief to follow.
These rustic, cosy kitchens are making us feel right at home. Bringing a touch of the outdoors inside with their wooden focus, we particularly love the natural elements of these kitchens. Selecting a wooden finish brings the outside in to create endless flow, warmth and depth. Wood also gives you the ability to create a stunning contrast by mixing old with new - think reclaimed benchtops or exposed trusses. The opportunities are endless.