Stock, Semi-Custom or Custom? How to Choose Your Next Kitchen
There are many ways to get a new kitchen. Here are some examples of each set-up so you know what's included
When it comes to buying a new kitchen, what you choose will largely depend on your budget, style, timing and cooking requirements. And while there are endless styles to choose from, they generally fall into one of three types – stock, where you purchase the components off the shelf; semi-custom, where certain elements can be customised for a unique look; and fully customised, with all the bells and whistles. We have compiled some case studies to give you a broad understanding of the different types and what kind of inclusions come with each. Read on to learn the pros and cons of each, and work out which one is right for you.
What to expect
Following a design consultation and site visit, a ready-to-assemble kitchen from Freedom’s Essential Range can be delivered within 10 days. Prices start just under $5,000 and while this doesn’t include installation, you can assemble and install the kitchen yourself, reducing labour costs.
Plan out your kitchen
Following a design consultation and site visit, a ready-to-assemble kitchen from Freedom’s Essential Range can be delivered within 10 days. Prices start just under $5,000 and while this doesn’t include installation, you can assemble and install the kitchen yourself, reducing labour costs.
Plan out your kitchen
Semi-Custom Kitchens
Semi-custom kitchens provide a larger range of product choices than stock kitchens, and can be tailored to suit your budget, space, style and needs. Products are standardised, but due to subtle variations and endless combinations, the result gives you a personalised feel.
There are two types of semi-custom kitchens: design and supply only, and those that also include installation.
An example: Ikea’s Metod kitchen system is a semi-custom kitchen that uses stock components that customers can buy and take home pieces on the same day. However, there are a variety of options available for each product, including colour, cabinet fronts and handles, and benchtops are available pre-cut or custom-made in stone, laminate or thin-layer wood. As such, the result is as personalised as customers want it to be.
Semi-custom kitchens provide a larger range of product choices than stock kitchens, and can be tailored to suit your budget, space, style and needs. Products are standardised, but due to subtle variations and endless combinations, the result gives you a personalised feel.
There are two types of semi-custom kitchens: design and supply only, and those that also include installation.
An example: Ikea’s Metod kitchen system is a semi-custom kitchen that uses stock components that customers can buy and take home pieces on the same day. However, there are a variety of options available for each product, including colour, cabinet fronts and handles, and benchtops are available pre-cut or custom-made in stone, laminate or thin-layer wood. As such, the result is as personalised as customers want it to be.
What to expect
At Ikea, you can DIY the entire process by measuring up your future kitchen, getting an online quote for all the parts and pieces you’ll need, and going in-store to pick up the ready-to-assemble components on the spot. Or, you can arrange an in-store or in-home planning session to get assistance with the process. Once you’ve brought the parts home, you can install the kitchen yourself or enlist the services of a tradesperson. Ikea kitchens cost from around $4,000, supply only.
At Ikea, you can DIY the entire process by measuring up your future kitchen, getting an online quote for all the parts and pieces you’ll need, and going in-store to pick up the ready-to-assemble components on the spot. Or, you can arrange an in-store or in-home planning session to get assistance with the process. Once you’ve brought the parts home, you can install the kitchen yourself or enlist the services of a tradesperson. Ikea kitchens cost from around $4,000, supply only.
Another example: Freedom Kitchens’ Designer Range is another semi-custom kitchen system with multiple styles on offer, including Scandi-influenced, Shaker and contemporary. It offers luxurious options and additions, such as solid-timber benchtops and tailored storage. Each piece in the range is made to order, rather than held in stock.
Freedom’s Designer Range includes a consultation to discuss the customer’s needs, style, budget and appliance requirements. A kitchen layout is then recommended, as well as a discussion of the latest kitchen trends and materials. The designer then draws up a plan, which, once accepted, is followed by a detailed inspection and final measure of the site, before the kitchen is manufactured locally.
The cost of a semi-custom kitchen comes down to product choice – the amount of product needed and the specific choices you make. Even minor details, such as door handles, can bump the cost up or down significantly.
It’s also important to remember that semi-custom kitchens such as these ones are design and supply only, so you’ll need to organise installation separately, which adds to the cost.
Guide to kitchen benchtops
It’s also important to remember that semi-custom kitchens such as these ones are design and supply only, so you’ll need to organise installation separately, which adds to the cost.
Guide to kitchen benchtops
Another example: Cantilever Interiors is a Melbourne-based kitchen company that designs semi-custom and custom kitchens. They also manufacture the parts and install the kitchens.
You are encouraged to visit their showroom to view the kitchens in-situ in before creating a functional design to suit your budget and needs.
You are encouraged to visit their showroom to view the kitchens in-situ in before creating a functional design to suit your budget and needs.
Cantilever Interiors offers three semi-custom ranges. Each comes with a pre-set selection of colour and material palettes and appliances, however, custom selections can be made in regards to benchtops, accent colours, splashbacks and joinery.
- K1 is a pared-back and streamlined family-friendly kitchen. It comes with laminate benchtops and laminate board cabinetry.
- K2 showcases Cantilever’s craftsmanship with reconstituted stone benchtops and Blackbutt veneer, as well as 2-pack painted cabinetry.
- K3 is a contemporary kitchen with a mid-century modern flavour. It has laminate on plywood cabinetry fronts and cut-out handles.
All Cantilever Interiors’ semi-custom kitchens include soft-close drawers, swing-out pantries, corner storage systems and pull-out bin organisers. Materials are sourced locally and kitchens hand-built in the Melbourne workshop. “The range is informed by ten years’ experience producing custom-made kitchens and joinery for some of Australia’s most respected architects and developers,” says Travis Dean, director of Cantilever Interiors.
Each kitchen is fully assembled, with appliances, in the Cantilever Interiors workshop, before being delivered and installed. Prices begin from around $15,000, depending on the scope of the project, the amount of customisation and whether you want installation. Lead time is around 4-6 weeks from final measurements.
Custom Kitchens
A custom kitchen allows you to create a design that is perfectly tailored to your individual needs. You can DIY a custom kitchen or work with a kitchen specialist, designer or architect who will design, source and/or manufacture components and arrange installation. Custom kitchens typically cost more than stock and semi-custom designs, but can result in a truly one-off design.
An example: Kitchen specialists, such as SmarterBATHROOMS+, will work hand-in-hand with you to plan and design your perfect kitchen. “Being customised means that the client has control of every tiny detail,” says Claire Foot of SmarterBATHROOMS+.
A custom kitchen allows you to create a design that is perfectly tailored to your individual needs. You can DIY a custom kitchen or work with a kitchen specialist, designer or architect who will design, source and/or manufacture components and arrange installation. Custom kitchens typically cost more than stock and semi-custom designs, but can result in a truly one-off design.
An example: Kitchen specialists, such as SmarterBATHROOMS+, will work hand-in-hand with you to plan and design your perfect kitchen. “Being customised means that the client has control of every tiny detail,” says Claire Foot of SmarterBATHROOMS+.
What to expect
Once a concept is agreed upon, the SmarterBATHTROOMS+ design team will fine tune the details such as ergonomics, internal inserts, materials, colours, cabinetry profiles and handles, before sourcing and/or manufacturing components from a variety of suppliers and producers, and installing or organising installation.
Being customised means that no two projects are ever the same, and costs can vary greatly. However, a kitchen will be designed with the client’s budget in mind, which is established at the beginning of a project.
Browse kitchen specialists
Once a concept is agreed upon, the SmarterBATHTROOMS+ design team will fine tune the details such as ergonomics, internal inserts, materials, colours, cabinetry profiles and handles, before sourcing and/or manufacturing components from a variety of suppliers and producers, and installing or organising installation.
Being customised means that no two projects are ever the same, and costs can vary greatly. However, a kitchen will be designed with the client’s budget in mind, which is established at the beginning of a project.
Browse kitchen specialists
It takes about 3-4 weeks on-site to install a custom kitchen, according to Foot. This includes disconnection of services, demolition of the existing kitchen, relocation of new service requirements and plaster work before the new kitchen cabinetry is installed.
After this, if stone benchtops have been specified, the stone is custom cut and delivered 5-10 days later. Once the stone has been installed, the splashbacks can go in and all services and appliances can be connected. The kitchen is now ready to be painted, caulked and cleaned.
After this, if stone benchtops have been specified, the stone is custom cut and delivered 5-10 days later. Once the stone has been installed, the splashbacks can go in and all services and appliances can be connected. The kitchen is now ready to be painted, caulked and cleaned.
Another example: Space Craft Joinery is a kitchen specialist that not only designs kitchens, but manufactures and installs the components too, wherever possible. It can design a kitchen from scratch or manufacture one based on designs from an architect or interior designer.
Having discussed the space, requirements, budget and style of the desired kitchen with the customer, Space Craft Joinery provides initial sketches that are then developed into layout options, along with possible finishes and materials.
Having discussed the space, requirements, budget and style of the desired kitchen with the customer, Space Craft Joinery provides initial sketches that are then developed into layout options, along with possible finishes and materials.
The kitchen is then remeasured; orders are placed; and joinery crafted (normally a 4- to 6-week process). “We build every job from scratch in our workshop, finally setting it up to make sure the pieces fit before we set foot in your home,” says Nathan Wundersitz of Space Craft Joinery.
Installation of the joinery usually takes between 1-3 days, depending on the complexity. As with all kitchens, stone benchtops require additional time as suppliers need to visit the site to accurately measure the joinery in-situ. It can then take 2-3 weeks for them to cut and install the finished product.
Installation of the joinery usually takes between 1-3 days, depending on the complexity. As with all kitchens, stone benchtops require additional time as suppliers need to visit the site to accurately measure the joinery in-situ. It can then take 2-3 weeks for them to cut and install the finished product.
The cost depends on the size of the space and finishes chosen. “As a very rough guide, our kitchens start at around $20,000 for a mid-sized melamine kitchen with laminate tops and go up to around $60,000 for a large kitchen with 2-pack painted doors and stone tops,” Wunderstiz says. Hardware will also increase the price, and may require additional labour.
Lead times also vary and can be dependent on the time of year. It can take around 8 weeks in winter, and up to 14 weeks in the busy pre-Christmas period.
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Stock kitchens are designed to save you time and money, and are particularly suitable for DIY renovators and builders. They come ready to assemble and generally have shorter lead times than semi-custom and custom-kitchens. Plus they’re considerably less expensive.
Looks-wise, you can expect a more standardised result with stock kitchens. However, there’s still some element of personalisation, with your choice of different colours, laminate finishes and handle styles.
An example: Freedom Kitchens’ new Essential Range of ready-to-assemble kitchens even includes appealing extras such as Caesarstone benchtops, and soft-close doors and drawers.