For this exciting BoxMakers kitchen renovation in Sandringham, our team were called to transform a decades-old space into something modern and fresh. Notably unique about this project is the client’s special vision for their kitchen – with every material, colour, and fixture meticulously curated to bring their idea to life.
BoxMakers are always excited to carry out passion projects, and this one is no different. We know the importance of personally-chosen components as they can mean more than just a colour; it is a unique expression of personality and serves as an extension of one’s character. When the owner’s original kitchen was faced with aging joinery and loss of function, BoxMakers were called upon to carry out their fresh and original vision.
The highlight of this new kitchen is the colour scheme, with the cabinetry featuring Melteca’s Green Slate Pearl. It is an elegant hybrid of naturality and modernity – blending the best of both worlds in a revisionist-retro theme. This is exemplified by the plan for a stainless-steel benchtop – a staple of the late 20th century, now revived with modern features and design sensibilities. The stainless-steel theme extends to the Mercer Pressato sink and the Westinghouse fridge, the latter of which sits side by side a full-height pantry unit.
Häfele’s Luxe extrusion handles were also hand-picked by the owner. Their hidden nature allows the green of the cabinetry to be presented with a flush and uniform view. Also present is the Kesseboehmer pull-out set, perfect for oils and bottles. Fit’s drawer kits and pull-out bin were chosen for their smoothness of operation and quality materials.
So how is this project coming along? BoxMakers have recently finished the cabinetry fit-out and have prepared the benchtop template. Our next step is installing the sleek stainless-steel benchtop. We are excited to see this verdant kitchen to completion and can’t wait to see the finished job!
Known for its value and flexibility, plywood serves as the backbone for many homes – being a prime candidate for framing, sheathing, and subflooring. With many of its residential applications being tucked away within the structure of your home, Plywood is a veritable unsung hero of residential builds.
So what gives plywood its signature versatility? Typical plywood panels are made from numerous layers of softwood veneer, bonded together by a resin adhesive. And what counts as softwood? In a nutshell, softwood comes from trees that grow lighter and more flexible wood. Such trees include pine, spruce, and fir. This is a deliberate choice aimed at providing the finished product with the pliability to bend when met with force instead of snapping or breaking.
To help its stability, the softwood veneer sheets alternate grain directions each layer in a process called cross-lamination. This combination of softwood, adhesive, and technique create a flexible product fit for a broad range of uses. Plywood isn’t all-powerful, however; water-resistant finishes or chemical treatments are required for it to possess capable moisture resistance. Without it, water can seep into the layers and can cause bloating or decay.
What are its use cases? In New Zealand, plywood plays a major role in structural home elements like wall sheathing and as a flooring substrate, but it also has applications in furniture, wardrobes, and cabinetry. For use cases such as these, the desired composition changes from softwood to hardwood. Often made from hardwood trees such as birch, oak, and maple, this premium form of plywood is used for tables, shelves, and joinery work. As the name suggests, hardwood is denser, tougher, and comes with a more premium appearance (and price tag). While softwood works behind the scenes, hardwood takes the spotlight, being a quality choice for furniture.
To sum it up, softwood plywood possesses an excellent strength-to-weight ratio and is great for structural elements, while hardwood plywood is a durable and aesthetically pleasing solution for joinery that can serve as a premium alternative to MDF.
One of our recent projects in Cockle Bay, this shiny new kitchen was designed around a central white motif in keeping consistency with the rest of the home. This snowy design language extends to almost every corner of the positively glowing kitchen. Designed and crafted by the BoxMakers team, this cooking space exudes confidence and personality.
Aside from the colour uniformity, the Cockle Bay project also features a focus on clean lines and space-efficiency. The island runs parallel to the perfectly flush handleless designs of the main benchtop. This level design extends to the overhead cabinets, whose hidden handles and integrated rangehood provides a sleek, minimalist look. The cabinetry body is made from Prime Panels’ Melamine Embossed MDF range, while the face panels feature Decorpanel’s Matte Snow White.
The benchtop is 30mm Uniquartz Engineered Stone, finished in Plain White, and the splashback features a delicate arrangement of subway tiles that sport a glossy and grooved texture – built around a modest sliding window. Aesthetically, it adds character and depth to the kitchen while practically, it provides both natural light and ventilation, dispersing cooking smoke and odours. Underlining the overhead cabinets is a subtle stretch of iLLUMAX’s LED lighting, which comes in a warm 3000K temperature.
One of the highlights of this kitchen is the large pantry unit, built into what was once a storage closet. It comes complete with a set of 90-degree shelves, three drawers, and a small benchtop to mirror the kitchen. It allows for perfectly concealable and convenient food storage while making the most of the room provided.
Häfele, once again, was our choice for the drawer runners. This time however, we sought to include their Cooking Agent base cabinet as its feature-set aligned perfectly with our vision. Their AGO-vario cutlery trays also proved a convenient addition, and their subtle extrusion handles allowed for a uniform, invisible-grip design. Another base cabinet secret was the dual kitchen bin by FIT’s Tanova line. These features combine to make the kitchen appear as clean and simple as possible, while hiding an exceptionally versatile feature-set.
This Cockle Bay project serves as a great example of BoxMakers’ design philosophies in maximising both practicality and aesthetics by applying innovations in materials, fixtures, and techniques.
Our ongoing work at this Mt Albert home is helping bring to life the owner’s visionary passion project. Envisaging a crystal-clear idea of exactly what they wanted for their family, the owner worked closely with BoxMakers to ensure part of the kitchen and cabinetry was how they dreamt it to be.
The core design philosophy behind this project is to create a minimalist, clean, and airy kitchen that feels simply freeing the moment you step in. A simple and light Scandinavian-style kitchen was the goal. The colours were selected to mirror this relieving nature, being a warm beige and gentle white. Melteca’s French Cream was chosen as the primary colour, a decadent tone evocative of elegantly-presented desserts.
Prime Panels’ Embossed White fills out the rest of the scene with hints of levity. Beneath the melamine colours, the cabinetry’s core material is a sturdy MDF – a versatile substrate for hosting such a palette. Uniquartz’s Sparkling White makes an appearance as the benchtop’s finish. The textured grey of the engineered stone strikes a perfect midpoint between the cream and white.
For the handles and drawer features, we found Häfele to hit all the right notes for the owner’s vision. Their intricately engineered drawer runners, sides, and faces made storage both satisfying and accommodating. In keeping with a flush, minimalist design, Häfele’s Luxe series were chosen to serve as hidden extrusion handles, hiding away even the slightest amount of visual clutter. The theme continues with Enko’s Vibo Pull-Out Bottle Organiser, and FIT’s Tanova Dual Pull-Out Bin.
The centrepiece of the cabinetry, however, is the full-height glass display cabinet, right beside the kitchen. It comes complete with a full set of per-shelf LED lighting, primed for figurine display.
BoxMakers’ work continues on another home in the same complex, with much of the same principles carried over, such as a clean, minimalist design, and a feature-set designed to cater to all generations of a growing family. The project’s tenets of simplicity, durability, and versatility can be seen in both lots, but the former is undeniably something special.
What we know as Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF) today originally started as a composition of wood chips. Since then, the modern method involves breaking these chips down and using a defibrator to produce wood fibres. Then, in combination with resins and wax, it is heated and pressed to form flat, flush, and smooth panels – durable enough for an impressive range of purposes such as cabinetry, DIY, and furniture.
So Just What is MDF?
While the composition of MDF includes an ample amount of real wood, the wood in question has been fiberised and melded with water, wax, and resin. MDF boards involve wood chips, which otherwise wouldn’t have been useable like proper cuts of wood. This means an affordable product that is easy to work with, possessing most of the traits of real wood. There are a few key differences, however:
How Strong Is It?
Firstly, the eclectic blend of ingredients means that MDF didn’t form as a natural solid like wood does. Wood comes out as the stronger of the two, making it more suited for heavy loads, as well as woodworking activities. While both are workable with tools and can make excellent pieces of furniture, real wood’s natural composition makes it vastly superior for carving, sculptures, and creating intricate designs. Cutting MDF is prone to sawdust generation, and without a proper finish, it is vulnerable to swelling due to moisture ingress.
What About Looks?
Secondly, the aesthetic appeal of real wood is something undeniable. A staple of modern and traditional designs, the textures and patterns play a crucial role in making homes and furniture feel genuine. Variants like pine, oak, or acacia provide nuanced depth and richness for a variety of settings. MDF, however, boasts an even greater degree of variety. Able to come in subtle melamine, glossy vinyl, or a deceptively realistic wood veneer, MDF offers unmatched versatility in customisation.
And Cost?
Among both real wood and its wood product alternatives, MDF holds strong in its position as an affordable and reliable material. Its lightweight nature makes it more manoeuvrable than real wood. A proper finish and edge application can mimic real wood quite convincingly. The latter, however, ages better, and is regarded to have better repairability – making real wood quite appealing in the long run.
The modern MDF manufacturing process is able to deliver affordable, quality products with good durability. With a bit of finishing and sealing, it proposes a remarkably competitive solution for cabinetry and furniture – being light and customisable. While it may not come with the authenticity or character of real wood, it comes incredibly close for typical home purposes.
When it comes to kitchen design in New Zealand, the benchtop often becomes the heart of the space. It’s where meals are prepared, family gathers, and friends linger over coffee. More than just a work surface, a benchtop sets the tone for the kitchen’s look and feel.
Engineered stone benchtops continue to be one of the most popular choices for Kiwi homeowners thanks to their durability, low maintenance, and range of stunning finishes. But within this category, there are plenty of design directions you can take. Here are five engineered stone benchtop trends shaping kitchens across NZ right now:
1. Veined Patterns
The marble-look trend is here to stay. Engineered stone with soft or bold veining offers all the elegance of natural marble without the upkeep. It’s an ideal choice for New Zealand families who want luxury but also need practicality. Whether paired with classic white cabinetry or darker tones, veined surfaces add depth and character that feel timeless.
2. Matte & Honed Finishes
For years, polished high-gloss stone was the go-to. Now, Kiwi homeowners are gravitating toward honed or matte finishes. These surfaces have a softer, more natural texture, reducing glare from sunlight (especially in bright, north-facing Auckland kitchens). The look is contemporary, understated, and pairs beautifully with timber accents.
3. Neutral & Earthy Tones
In line with the wider movement towards calming, nature-inspired interiors, more neutral and earthy engineered stone benchtop colours are being chosen. Warm greys, taupes, and beiges create a softer backdrop that feels inviting and versatile. These tones work particularly well in open-plan NZ homes, where the kitchen flows seamlessly into living and dining areas.
4. Extra-Thin Profiles
Minimalist design has been steadily gaining traction in New Zealand, and benchtops are following suit. Slim profiles, often between 12–20mm, create a sleek, contemporary look that suits European-inspired or modern Kiwi homes. Thinner benchtops are especially effective on kitchen islands, giving them a refined edge that still feels robust.
5. Waterfall Islands
Few design features make as strong a statement as a waterfall island. By continuing the stone down the sides, the kitchen island becomes a true centrepiece. In NZ homes, where the island often doubles as a dining or entertaining hub, this detail makes the space feel cohesive and luxurious. Waterfall islands also highlight the natural beauty of veined engineered stone, turning the benchtop into a feature in its own right.
Engineered stone benchtops in NZ kitchens offer the perfect balance of performance and beauty, which is why they remain a top choice for both new builds and renovations. From timeless veined patterns to modern thin profiles, today’s trends allow you to create a kitchen that’s both practical and striking.
At Boxmakers, we design and build kitchens tailored to the way New Zealanders live, combining craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and quality materials.
If you’re considering a kitchen renovation or new build in Auckland, our team can help you explore the right benchtop choice for your home.
In 2024, we designed a kitchen and wardrobe solution for a new townhouse development in Hobsonville. Given the brand-new nature of the home and surrounding buildings, BoxMakers aimed to deliver a kitchen that not only matched its contemporary counterparts, but exceeded them in terms of performance and efficiency.
Housed on the second floor, we aimed to design and deliver a kitchen that had the key themes of modernity, subtlety, and capacity. With two tall vertical windows on either side of the kitchen, each cooking session is accompanied by tranquil views overlooking the neighbourhood.
The kitchen’s primary colour is white, in matching with the interior colour scheme. For the cabinets, we chose a core material of MDF, finished in embossed Prime White by New Zealand’s Prime Panels – a durable and versatile choice. Keeping with the theme of modernity and efficiency, we have selected a range of handles and fixtures that reflect the progressive nature of this home. Mardeco’s Aseda 4024 handles complete the base cabinets. Their Satin Chrome finish effortlessly complements the white surroundings. The overhead cabinets sport a handleless design, which allow for a uniform display of the face panels’ colour.
Completing the white theme is the benchtop, which is a slab of 30mm engineered stone by Uniquartz, finished in White Ice. The subtle texture of the glossy benchtop is matched by a softly patterned splashback featuring light streaks of grey, resembling trails of freshly-trodden snow. Above the kitchen island, a double-edged pendant light provides illumination to both the sink and surrounding area.
For the wardrobe, BoxMakers provided an expansive solution that featured triple garment rods alongside a quintuple set of cubbies, two of which feature a drawer design using Häfele’s Alto Soft Close runners. The white MDF mirrors the kitchen finish and provides a robust solution to clothing storage.
BoxMakers are proud to have contributed to this lively Hobsonville neighbourhood with a highly capable kitchen and wardrobe. We delivered on our target themes of modernity, subtlety, and capacity – all in a cool, light package.
Kiwi-owned and operated, Fit are a proud manufacturer of innovative home and kitchen storage solutions. Their own brands, Giamo and Tanova, provide powerful options in both kitchen storage and hidden bins respectively – both of which are incredible in reducing clutter and providing convenience.
Fit’s Giamo range tackles the increasingly relevant problem of kitchen and pantry storage, with units dedicated to food, cookware, and utility storage. BoxMakers have consistently called upon Giamo for intricate and smart pull-out pantries, corner units, and drawer units. Their solutions have helped our kitchens to be incredibly efficient in both physical space and visual clutter. Dedicated in-cabinet units easily sort and conceal bottles, pans, and spices, saving valuable benchtop space.
Fit’s Tanova series provides pull-out bin solutions, an effective way of freeing up kitchen space while also adding convenience. Instead of having a kitchen bin take up valuable corner space, Fit’s Tanova bins sit in an accessible in-bench location. In keeping with our goal of delivering space-efficient kitchens, these pull-out bins provide more movement room but also conceal the sight and smell of kitchen waste.
Fit’s range of products have helped BoxMakers immensely in creating versatile and highly functional kitchens. Their solutions are tailored towards space-saving and convenience, with a range of pull-out solutions, making sure that each of our kitchens is more than meets the eye.
In 2024, our BoxMakers team was called to deliver unique kitchen & wardrobe solutions for six different units in a Highland Park townhouse development. The project called for a range of modular solutions; each tailored for their specific space in every home.
No two homes were exactly the same, and the challenge of tailoring each kitchen exactly was an effort that BoxMakers proudly took on. One consistent element was the colour scheme across the units. Maintaining a glossy white look provided excellent synergy with the white tiled floors. This finish came in the form of Arctic Ice Gloss Plus for the centre residences, and Ultraglaze Alabaster Gloss for the end homes, the latter of which also featured laser-edged sides.
Classic features such as Häfele handles and drawer runners were implemented across the cabinetry for a smooth and modern experience. Many units also featured handleless designs for a highly flush finish that highlighted the glossy polish. The splashbacks featured a subtly-tiled design with graphics reminiscent of wintery trees, while the kitchen pendant lights resembled a collection of linked crystals, quite evocative of glistening icicles. These designs collaborated seamlessly with the frigidly finished cabinets and pale-patterned benchtops to paint a vivid picture of treading through sparkling snow on a sunny winter morning.
Appliance-wise, the kitchens featured a thorough compliment of Bosch devices, such as the ovens, cooktops, rangehoods, and dishwashers. Within the cabinets, you can also find pull-out bins, and easy-access pantries. This equipped each home with a highly-capable roster of tools for any cooking endeavour.
The BoxMakers team also took great care in planning out the wardrobes. Featuring walk-ins and double-doors, we implemented both variety and capability into each and every one of our creations. A consistent element was our box-shelves, which we always came alongside a selection of soft-close drawers. This provided easy storage for folded garments and accessories, and made deciding on your daily attire a breeze. The firm MDF with a white embossed melamine finish made each unit incredibly sturdy and aesthetically-adherent.
BoxMakers have displayed incredible range in providing visually resplendent solutions across a wide range of homes – treating each with special attention and care.
The team at BoxMakers are proud to show the special kitchen we’ve been working on for the Auckland Home Show. With a meticulous amount of hard work, planning, and collaboration, we’ve prepared a display that showcases the very essence of what BoxMakers are all about!
The key themes for kitchen are dynamism, naturality, and timelessness.
Starting with the cabinetry and the main body of the kitchen, we chose MDF for the core material, thanks to its durable build and diverse range of possible finishes. Laminex’s Timber Veneer in Mink Shadow was chosen as the primary finish. The rich finish exudes a timeless essence, capable of seamlessly incorporating with a range of layouts and fixtures, whether they’re modern or traditional. We partnered with Laminex and Impey’s for the MDF, melamine, and veneer. Their excellent materials and finishes were imperative to completing our look.
Putting the materials to work, our cabinetry arrangement consists of an enclosed design surrounding the benchtop, stemming from the base cabinets. The Mink Shadow panels box in the main benchtop and rangehood, making for a cosy and sophisticated look. To the left, dual cabinets span the full height of the arrangement, providing an incredible amount of storage. Further left is an incredibly elegant display cabinet, complete with half a dozen shelves and rear LED lighting. Royal Glass graciously sponsored our kitchen with their 4mm toughened panels for the display doors, while Fit NZ supplied the Apex Dark Profile LED lighting.
The cabinet handles are supplied by our friends at ENKO, who also provided our pull-out pantry handle. The primary model used is their Arpa Plate series, by Viefe, finished in Brushed Black. The Art Deco-inspired design compliments the cabinetry with a cool, quasi-retro design.
Our cabinets and drawers wouldn’t be complete with the components that make them run – Häfele were our partners for making sure our work opened and closed as smoothly as possible, with a wide range of push-to-open and soft-close mechanisms, such as the minimalist Nova Pro Scala by Grass. Inside, we collaborated with Blum for the internal drawer systems.
Also in fitting out our cabinets, we’re again pleased to work with Fit for the pantry systems and pull-out bin. Ritma’s Soft Close Pantry System was chosen for two of our internal drawers, bringing generous storage with a gentle touch. The Tanova pull-out bin provides clandestine waste storage without the smell.
We’ve partnered with Stone Space for our benchtops – for both the island and cooktop. The latter features Dekton’s Sirius finish, a dark, textured surface, while the island is finished in Taj Mahal quartzite. While the Sirius subtly blends in amidst the dark cabinets, the vivid Taj Mahal island creates a striking contrast against the rich backdrop. As the island is meant to stand dynamically as a common space – for more than just cooking and dining, the wavy white serves to balance the kitchen aesthetic to be all-purpose. Enhancing the texture’s contours is the fluted panel that wraps around the island. Dezignatek’s Swurves Taranaki was chosen for this, in close collaboration with them – a tactile choice with classical influences.
For our splashback, we chose MosaicFX’s Honed Kit Kat finished in Verde Green. As perhaps the most eye-catching component of our kitchen, we chose this tile selection for its curious verdant touch. The woodland greens blend perfectly against our deeply coloured cabinets, creating a natural aesthetic that evokes imagery of New Zealand’s wildlife. Showerwell are our partners for this beautiful splashback selection. Completing the countertop look is the rangehood, which is wrapped in an elegant enclosure of Bronze Brushed Melamine, in partnership with Impey’s.
We worked with Häfele again for the sink, which is a Subline 400-U Sink, Blanco Silgranit Range, finished in white. Compact, elegant, and geometric, it fits flawlessly into the pale kitchen island. Mico sponsored us when it came to the kitchen tap, which is a Level Mixer by Paffoni, finished in stainless steel.
Panasonic provided us with a quality cooktop, oven, and dishwasher for our kitchen. Featuring incredibly innovative and high-tech solutions, each fixture and appliance brought the best of modern technology to blend with our timeless kitchen. The cooktop is a black-finished touch panel induction unit with a mesmerising flush design, and the oven, likewise in a dark finish, also features a touch-LCD panel, while also providing features such as air-frying, gliding shelves, and pyrolytic cleaning. The dishwasher is also a smart appliance, featuring a versatile touch menu that supports a wealth of cleaning options.
The combination of a timeless, natural aesthetic, with cutting edge appliances and fixtures make this kitchen not only visually refreshing, but a breeze to work with. Providing ample room for cooking, storage, and general family activities, all in a classy, visually striking package, this kitchen dynamically brings the best of form and function together.
