· Melbourne cabinetry guide
A kitchen renovation is easier to discuss when the cabinetry is planned alongside the way the room is used. The position of appliances, plumbing, power, doors and walkways can matter as much as the number of cupboards. This checklist gives you a practical starting point for a Melbourne kitchen cabinetry conversation.
It does not replace a measured design or a provider's assessment. The existing room and the scope of the renovation determine what can be confirmed.
1. Describe what is not working now
Start with the everyday problem. You may need more drawer storage, a better pantry, a place for small appliances, a clearer food-preparation area or a layout that is easier to move through. Note which parts of the current kitchen must stay and which parts you are considering changing.
Record who uses the room, how often you cook, what needs to be stored on the bench and whether the kitchen connects directly to a dining or living area. These details help a provider discuss the layout in terms of use rather than a generic cabinet count.
2. Record the fixed points and measurements
- Wall lengths, ceiling height, corners and any changes in depth or level.
- Doors, windows, skirting, cornices, vents and openings into adjacent rooms.
- Plumbing points, power points, lighting and other services that affect the plan.
- Existing appliances and the model or dimensions of any appliance you intend to keep or replace.
Photographs and a rough floor plan are useful for an initial conversation, but they do not prove that a layout will fit. A provider may need a site measure or additional details before confirming the design.
3. Decide which appliances drive the layout
List the refrigerator, oven, cooktop, rangehood, dishwasher, microwave and any other appliance that needs a cabinet, panel, shelf or service connection. Note which items are fixed and which are still being chosen. Appliance dimensions, door swings, ventilation requirements and connection points can change the cabinet plan.
If you are keeping an existing appliance, check its model information and allow for the actual clearances specified by the manufacturer. Do not assume a new appliance will use the same opening.
4. Plan storage by task
Group storage around the work you do. Plates and glasses may need to sit near the dishwasher, while pans, chopping boards, food containers and cleaning products may need separate zones. Include the awkward items that usually end up on the floor or bench, because they often reveal where a drawer, tall cupboard or shelf could help.
Think about access as well as capacity. Deep shelves can hold more but may hide items at the back. Drawers can make lower storage easier to see, but their opening path needs to remain clear. A provider can help balance the available space with the hardware and internal layout that suit the brief.
5. Choose finishes and hardware as a complete specification
Collect finish ideas, but keep the specification open until the room and use are understood. Ask about cabinet material, visible panels, edge details, benchtop or work surface, handles, hinges, runners and internal accessories. Consider cleaning, heat, moisture, daylight and the relationship between new finishes and existing floors or walls.
Two quotes are difficult to compare if one includes a different hardware or surface specification. Ask the provider to identify the assumptions and exclusions in writing.
6. Check access and renovation sequencing
Explain whether the home is occupied, whether old cabinetry needs to be removed and how materials can reach the kitchen. Stairs, narrow entries, shared driveways, lift access and apartment building rules can affect delivery and installation planning. If other trades are involved, note which work must happen before cabinets arrive and who is coordinating it.
Timing depends on the final scope, decisions, approvals, manufacturing, delivery and provider capacity. A preferred date is useful information, but it should not be treated as a confirmed installation date until the provider agrees to it.
7. Ask what the quote includes
Before comparing totals, ask about the design and measurement process, demolition or removal, delivery, installation, waste, finishing, service coordination and any work outside the cabinetry. Confirm how variations are approved if a wall, floor, service or appliance differs from the early information.
Melbourne Cabinetry does not represent a cabinetmaking business. A suitable provider confirms the kitchen's measurements, scope, materials, pricing, timing, availability and installation arrangements directly.
See the kitchen cabinetry service, browse Melbourne locations, then share your suburb and renovation brief. For broader budget questions, read what can change a custom cabinetry quote.