Kitchen Hacks: How to Customise a Flatpack
Trying to create your dream kitchen on a tight budget can be a nightmare for some, but here are some tips to make the process a bit easier
Simon Farrell-Green
23 April 2016
When it came to replacing our kitchen last year, the options were stark. Living in a country that (sigh) lacks Ikea, we had to choose between a custom-built kitchen that would chew through a big chunk of our renovation budget, and an off-the-shelf kitchen from our local big-box hardware store.
Neither was particularly attractive. The former wasn’t affordable – and would have been overkill for a little house in a ‘gentrifying’ suburb – and the latter felt pointless, since the last owners had installed exactly that. We briefly contemplated moving the existing cabinetry to the new kitchen and buying new bits where needed, but that also felt a bit cheap.
Neither was particularly attractive. The former wasn’t affordable – and would have been overkill for a little house in a ‘gentrifying’ suburb – and the latter felt pointless, since the last owners had installed exactly that. We briefly contemplated moving the existing cabinetry to the new kitchen and buying new bits where needed, but that also felt a bit cheap.
Eventually we realised there was a middle ground: customise a flatpack kitchen from PlaceMakers.
It wasn’t easy. Sitting in the hardware shop, explaining to the kitchen lady what we were trying to achieve – we wanted the really nice pantry with the self-closing drawers, and we wanted all drawers and we wanted it to reach the ceiling – took time and it still cost more than we wanted to spend, mostly because of that custom cupboard with the sliding blue doors you can see here.
But we got there. And it cost a lot less than you’d think.
It wasn’t easy. Sitting in the hardware shop, explaining to the kitchen lady what we were trying to achieve – we wanted the really nice pantry with the self-closing drawers, and we wanted all drawers and we wanted it to reach the ceiling – took time and it still cost more than we wanted to spend, mostly because of that custom cupboard with the sliding blue doors you can see here.
But we got there. And it cost a lot less than you’d think.
Think hard about dimensions
The reason cabinetry can be expensive in renovations is that old houses have funny dimensions. Flatpack cabinetry generally comes in modules – 300 millimetres to 900 millimetres is standard. Which means you need a bench, say, that is 2.4 metres long, with units underneath.
Altering the standard dimensions is either impossible or expensive – so try to work with standard lengths. Otherwise, get creative and talk to your builder about cutting standard cupboards to fit odd sizes. (It’s still cheaper, but only just.)
The reason cabinetry can be expensive in renovations is that old houses have funny dimensions. Flatpack cabinetry generally comes in modules – 300 millimetres to 900 millimetres is standard. Which means you need a bench, say, that is 2.4 metres long, with units underneath.
Altering the standard dimensions is either impossible or expensive – so try to work with standard lengths. Otherwise, get creative and talk to your builder about cutting standard cupboards to fit odd sizes. (It’s still cheaper, but only just.)
Stick to the basics
Choose cabinets in white, black or grey. Some flatpacks do fancy finishes. If you can afford them, great – but if you’re using laminate (as we did), stick to a solid, classic colour.
Please – I implore you – don’t go with that faux wood cabinetry. It doesn’t look like wood and it doesn’t feel like wood – because it isn’t wood. White laminate, however, is white laminate. It looks great and it wears well – and it’s cheap enough that you can replace it down the track once the toddlers have had their fun with it.
Choosing the right finish for new kitchen cabinets
Choose cabinets in white, black or grey. Some flatpacks do fancy finishes. If you can afford them, great – but if you’re using laminate (as we did), stick to a solid, classic colour.
Please – I implore you – don’t go with that faux wood cabinetry. It doesn’t look like wood and it doesn’t feel like wood – because it isn’t wood. White laminate, however, is white laminate. It looks great and it wears well – and it’s cheap enough that you can replace it down the track once the toddlers have had their fun with it.
Choosing the right finish for new kitchen cabinets
Build a custom base
Our builder turned some old plywood cabinetry we pulled out of the bathroom – long story – into a solid wooden base, which allowed us to recess the toe-kicks by 200 millimetres and fix the cabinetry to the wall.
This turned out to be exorbitantly expensive, but it was worth it: the cabinetry looks like it’s floating. Fancy! (Not our idea, but one we stole from friends who had built a much nicer house than ours.)
Failing that, you could float the whole thing on legs, as with this lovely kitchen that allows the light to bounce underneath. It’ll lift even the most prosaic of flatpacks to a new level.
Our builder turned some old plywood cabinetry we pulled out of the bathroom – long story – into a solid wooden base, which allowed us to recess the toe-kicks by 200 millimetres and fix the cabinetry to the wall.
This turned out to be exorbitantly expensive, but it was worth it: the cabinetry looks like it’s floating. Fancy! (Not our idea, but one we stole from friends who had built a much nicer house than ours.)
Failing that, you could float the whole thing on legs, as with this lovely kitchen that allows the light to bounce underneath. It’ll lift even the most prosaic of flatpacks to a new level.
Invest in hardware …
Most of the time, the reason ‘budget’ kitchens wear out is because they use cheap hardware – flimsy drawer runners, wobbly hinges and substandard handles.
This is kind of understandable if you’re a developer and you just need someone to buy a house. But if you’re planning to live there for a while, you want your kitchen to last. You won’t be able to afford the good stuff with a custom kitchen – but you can with a flatpack, so up-spec the hardware as much as you can.
Our kitchen has Blum soft-closing drawers and all manner of beautifully built hardware, and we found very nice handles from a very-nice-handle shop that cost about $12 each instead of $4. All of which makes a modest little kitchen feel positively luxurious.
Most of the time, the reason ‘budget’ kitchens wear out is because they use cheap hardware – flimsy drawer runners, wobbly hinges and substandard handles.
This is kind of understandable if you’re a developer and you just need someone to buy a house. But if you’re planning to live there for a while, you want your kitchen to last. You won’t be able to afford the good stuff with a custom kitchen – but you can with a flatpack, so up-spec the hardware as much as you can.
Our kitchen has Blum soft-closing drawers and all manner of beautifully built hardware, and we found very nice handles from a very-nice-handle shop that cost about $12 each instead of $4. All of which makes a modest little kitchen feel positively luxurious.
… and don’t buy appliances from the hardware shop
Some things in life are cheap because they are badly made and sometimes this is true of appliances that come with flatpack kitchens. Don’t buy them.
Try to work the budget so you have room for a decent hob, a decent oven and a decent dishwasher – even if those are good-quality secondhand. (We were lucky to inherit our Bosch oven and dishwasher from a family renovation.) You will use your appliances every day, for a long time to come. It’s worth getting good ones.
What to ask before buying kitchen appliances
Some things in life are cheap because they are badly made and sometimes this is true of appliances that come with flatpack kitchens. Don’t buy them.
Try to work the budget so you have room for a decent hob, a decent oven and a decent dishwasher – even if those are good-quality secondhand. (We were lucky to inherit our Bosch oven and dishwasher from a family renovation.) You will use your appliances every day, for a long time to come. It’s worth getting good ones.
What to ask before buying kitchen appliances
Buy the biggest sink you can – and a really good tap
Self-evident, isn’t it?
Self-evident, isn’t it?
Install a great splashback
Everyone tells you not to install a tiled splashback, and they also tell you not to use white grout. They’re wrong. They’re not hard to keep clean, and tiles add a beautiful texture – especially to small, simple kitchens where you don’t have a lot of elements to play with, and you’ve kept it basic with the cabinetry. A relatively small area also doesn’t cost much to tile, and the results are brilliant.
Everyone tells you not to install a tiled splashback, and they also tell you not to use white grout. They’re wrong. They’re not hard to keep clean, and tiles add a beautiful texture – especially to small, simple kitchens where you don’t have a lot of elements to play with, and you’ve kept it basic with the cabinetry. A relatively small area also doesn’t cost much to tile, and the results are brilliant.
Add highlights
You’ll have to clad the carcasses with something: they’re designed to be covered up. This is where most flat-pack kitchens give themselves away, thanks to the standard-issue thin melamine panels tacked on the end.
Try cladding them with plywood – even laminated plywood – instead, which is hard-wearing, self-finishing and cheap. (We also replaced the cupboards above the bench with timber.)
Tiles are another great option, as with the bench in this (no doubt more expensive) kitchen by Dorrington Atcheson Architects.
You’ll have to clad the carcasses with something: they’re designed to be covered up. This is where most flat-pack kitchens give themselves away, thanks to the standard-issue thin melamine panels tacked on the end.
Try cladding them with plywood – even laminated plywood – instead, which is hard-wearing, self-finishing and cheap. (We also replaced the cupboards above the bench with timber.)
Tiles are another great option, as with the bench in this (no doubt more expensive) kitchen by Dorrington Atcheson Architects.
Or, for a cheaper option, what about a custom colour? The mauve cupboard doors above the bench here are a genius move.
Colourful ways to make over your kitchen cabinetry
Colourful ways to make over your kitchen cabinetry
Invest in your bench
A wise relative told us that most of the time you notice only the horizontal surfaces – they’re the things you look down at and work on every day.
So if you only do one thing, invest in a great bench. In our case, we used 25 millimetre laminated birch ply, but timber – as seen here – is a lovely, if pricey, touch.
A wise relative told us that most of the time you notice only the horizontal surfaces – they’re the things you look down at and work on every day.
So if you only do one thing, invest in a great bench. In our case, we used 25 millimetre laminated birch ply, but timber – as seen here – is a lovely, if pricey, touch.
Add free-standing furniture
The less cabinetry you buy, the better as far as budget is concerned. Free-standing furniture, such as this vintage shop counter in place of a kitchen island, is a great way of saving dough, especially if you already own the piece.
We reused Lundia shelving to store crockery where our architect had specified some very nice but very expensive custom cabinetry, and it looks great. We’ll build that custom piece though, one day…
TELL US
How did you save money on your kitchen renovation? Tell us about it and share a photo in the Comments section.
MORE
Houzz Tour: A Small Studio Flat Makes the Most of Every Inch of Space
Style Your First-Home Kitchen on a Budget
Where to Spend vs Where to Save on Your Reno
The less cabinetry you buy, the better as far as budget is concerned. Free-standing furniture, such as this vintage shop counter in place of a kitchen island, is a great way of saving dough, especially if you already own the piece.
We reused Lundia shelving to store crockery where our architect had specified some very nice but very expensive custom cabinetry, and it looks great. We’ll build that custom piece though, one day…
TELL US
How did you save money on your kitchen renovation? Tell us about it and share a photo in the Comments section.
MORE
Houzz Tour: A Small Studio Flat Makes the Most of Every Inch of Space
Style Your First-Home Kitchen on a Budget
Where to Spend vs Where to Save on Your Reno
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Flat packs can easily to be transformed into functional storage with some quality pull outs. These are DIY friendly and can be added now or later. The best thing is you're adding quality (stainless steel wire with lifetime warranty against rust) without the cabinet maker's mark up.
Undersink is also another easy transformation.
my husband is not a lover of flat packs & refused to use them in our new kitchen. But after our experience with the Good Guys kitchens where we had them custom make our cabinets & island, with husband to install. We might as well have gone to Bunnings & bought their flat packs. After some angry phone conversations & a complete lack of help on the part of the Kitchen Group we are very happy with the final result with a few alterations here & there which put price up a bit. We learnt a lot and delivery was a headache too, so buy local for a start. We ordered from Queensland delivery had to come from Gosford NSW, then go to Bundall QLD, then back south to Evans Head. They had to pass us on the way. If something was not delivered we had to wait another 4 weeks, very frustrating. After changing our minds a number of times the splashback was tiled by my husband & he did a very good job of it. We went from glass panel, to picture panel, from white subway tiles, original choice to a driftwood look tile & it looks fantastic. Great work by my hubby who is a mechanic by trade & a darn good kitchen installer.