July 2026 · 5 min read
The kitchen is usually the single biggest-ticket renovation in a home, and the one buyers and tenants notice first. Here's a realistic guide to what's involved and where the budget actually goes.
A full kitchen renovation typically includes new cabinetry, benchtops, splashback tiling, and coordinating plumbing and electrical work for appliances, sinks and lighting. Managed as one job, this avoids the common problem of a cabinetmaker, electrician and plumber all waiting on each other with no one actually coordinating the schedule.
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Flatpack cabinetry is more affordable and can still look sharp with a good benchtop and hardware. Custom cabinetry costs more but fits awkward spaces exactly and can include features flatpack ranges don't offer. For a rental or investment property, flatpack is usually the better return on the money spent.
Benchtops and splashbacks tend to have an outsized visual impact relative to their cost, they're the surfaces buyers and tenants actually touch and photograph. Good lighting and updated hardware (handles, tapware) can also lift the feel of a kitchen without a full cabinetry replacement, if the existing cabinets are still structurally sound.
It depends on whether the layout changes, the cabinetry type chosen, and appliance and benchtop selections. We quote on-site so the figure matches your actual kitchen.
Most full kitchen renovations take a few weeks, longer if cabinetry is custom-made or the layout is changing significantly.
Like-for-like kitchen renovations generally don't need council approval, though plumbing and electrical work must be done by licensed trades, which we coordinate as part of the job.
Benchtops, splashbacks, and updated hardware tend to have a strong visual impact relative to their cost, especially if existing cabinetry is still sound.