What Joinery should I use to do my new kitchen?

I realise that this is an older post but I wanted to relay my experiences for anyone who is still looking for kitchen renovation recommendations.
I recently had a complete kitchen renovation. After “shopping” around, I decided to go with a smaller company as I felt that with the larger companies I was just an “address” not a real person who had ideas of my own. I went with Brad from Purr-fect Kitchens 0409986436. Brad provided me with a free quote as well as giving me some good design ideas to visually maximise my kitchen and also improve its serviceability. From some photos cut from magazines, etc. he was able to incorporate my ideas into a beautiful kitchen with made to measure cabinets, some glass, stone bench tops and glass splash backs. His quality to detail is exceptional, good time frame and good price, though I will state he is not the cheapest.
I could not be happier with the end result and highly recommend him for any kitchen and cabinetry needs including laundry renovations and wardrobe installations.

Do NOT use Prestige Kitchens Wollongong Street Fyshwick (or their Sydney owners – Prestige Australia). Worst renovation experience of my life. Ended up sacking them. Then they had the hide to claim I breached contract and tried to charge me the total kitchen contract value, despite me not having a kitchen, eight months after they ripped the old one out. The little they did was cr@p quality, the manager had no clue about design or project management and his arrogance was breathtaking. I believe he’s been sacked now, but too little too late.

I know of at least two other people in the same boat.

Having said that, Ambience Kitchens repaired the damage Prestige did and finished the job in record tiome and very well. Mick Jopritsma is the owner and is a great bloke.

bugmenot said :

For us, with Benchmarc being over budget… It was their quote that was over budget by $9K. This was around 50% over their allocated budget.

The budget was stipulated to them probably 3 or 4 times. Their design was different to others though, but it was obvious that they did not want the job.

In fact, on our first visit to them, he very proudly stated that most of the kitchens they do were $30Kish and over. That’s all fine and good, but if you can’t work to a budget, then it’s meaningless at the end of the day.

I guess he was politely trying to tell you that he wasn’t interested on the job after hearing your estimated budget. Based on what we’re reading here you still insisted on seeking a quote and, it seems, by doing so you finally got the hint.

I dare say if he was more blunt the ultimate outcome would have been the same, only you would have been more offended.

Like any industries there are a variety of suppliers out there catering to a number of budgets. Some will charge a premium over others and customers are free to judge if they consider there is value in any such premium.

I would recommend crown kitchens and joinery.

With my first house I got the kitchen through them and could not have been happier.

They stuck to the budget i set and were professional in every aspect, from the design through to the installation.

I am currently getting the kitchen done in my new house and they were able to give me some great ideas I had not even thought about.

I would highly recommend them to anyone who needs a kitchen or any joinery needs.

I have recommended them to my friends, family and co-workers and about 8 others I know of have gone with them and could not be happier with their work either.

Well, given we are still having issues with our joiner, I have decided to name them here.

Prestige Joinery in Fyshwick.

They have been on site numerous times and still we do not have a completed kitchen. It has been over 2 months since the first day of installation began.

We have been recommending people avoid them now. At this point, I am not even certain that we are ever going to have a completed kitchen from them. Fortunately, we have withheld the last payment until completion (as stated in the contract). Doesn’t mean that they haven’t had the nerve to ask for it though!

The thing for us is that they came recommended from friends…

Anybody see Grand Designs on ABC last night?
That was a well built kitchen.

That’s a bit clearer bugmenot, at first it seemed as though you had been hit with a large bill you did not expect.

I will say that they came highly recommended and I was very happy with their work. The pricing was a bit of a shock at first being greater than some other quotes but the quality of their work combined with the recommendations sold us. They did make it clear that if we wanted a cheap kitchen we should go elsewhere. Having suffered a cheaply built kitchen previously I can say that you do indeed get what you pay for and I’m very happy with the end result.

wood

For us, with Benchmarc being over budget… It was their quote that was over budget by $9K. This was around 50% over their allocated budget.

The budget was stipulated to them probably 3 or 4 times. Their design was different to others though, but it was obvious that they did not want the job.

In fact, on our first visit to them, he very proudly stated that most of the kitchens they do were $30Kish and over. That’s all fine and good, but if you can’t work to a budget, then it’s meaningless at the end of the day.

Hi Paperboy

The quote from the flashy showroom was fro $13500 with a free dishwasher if I signed the same day (not an attraction really since I didn’t plan on a dishwasher). The same kitchen came in at just on $10000 from Kitchens Direct.