Mid-range renovation

A moderate budget can mean more possibilities. Think flatpack kitchens with designer upgrades, smart storage and on-trend touches

Flatpack kitchens are the darlings of mid-priced kitchen renovations, and for good reason – you can pick up a goodlooking Ikea kitchen from around $2700 (excluding appliances) and DIY install it in three or four days, provided you have the tools, an extra pair of hands and plenty of stamina.

Flatpacks are also more customisable than you might think; Ikea has over 20 different door options, including one made of recycled PET bottles. You can mix and match different benchtops, sinks, tapware and appliances for a unique look. Optional extras include push-open drawers and integrated appliances. Kaboodle offers melamine doors in a variety of finishes (including textured timber-look and super-matt), benchtops in all sorts of laminates (which look like stone, marble, concrete and timber), and smart storage (such as pull-out wireware systems and corner rotating baskets). You can also tailor the width of selected doors, panels and benchtops to fit your kitchen.

If your cabinetry is in decent condition, but the doors are dated – or if you want to give your off-the-shelf kitchen a designer edge – consider swapping them out. Companies such as Ren Studio make stunning cabinetry and drawer fronts (think VJ and Shaker panelling in plywood and a soft, super-matt finish) and door handles to fit Ikea ‘Metod’ carcasses, giving you a fashionable look for less. Expect to pay between $3500 and $5500 on Ren Studio fronts, or from $1500 for unpainted styles to fit an average-size kitchen.

Alternatively, you can update cupboard doors, benchtops, your island front and shelving with budget-friendly laminate. Laminex comes in a huge range of colours and finishes, including of-the-moment soft pastels and warm woodgrains, starting from around $81 per square metre. It’s incredibly versatile, too: use it to create curves, two-tone inlays or to add a pop of colour inside cupboards or at the back of shelves.

A luxe new island benchtop is guaranteed to lift the look of your cooking space, but it won’t come cheap. Choose from solid timber (from about $600 per square metre), natural stone (from about $650 per square metre), engineered stone (Caesarstone costs from about $450 per square metre) and stainless steel (from about $950 per square metre).

New, energy-efficient appliances are another way to give your kitchen a boost (and save on running costs). “You don’t have to spend a fortune – you’ll find entry-level appliances in contemporary finishes, such as brushed stainless steel, and with impressive functionality. French-door fridges start from around $1200,” says Gary Brown, senior brand manager for home appliances at Harvey Norman. Buy as energy-efficient as you can, he advises: “That 4.5-star appliance will cost less to run over 10 years than the 2.5-star model.”

So, where is it worth spending if you’re watching the budget? Architect Kitty Lee has the final word: “Quality fittings, such as strong and smooth-operating drawer and hinge systems – you’ll appreciate the investment every time you use them.”