Author: vbxmeditor

Waiheke Bathroom Cabinetry – A Blend of Elegance and Luxury

On this Waiheke Island project, we were approached by a client who had a clear and luxurious design vision, but needed a skilled partner to bring it to life. With limited cabinetry suppliers available on the island, they came to us for our expertise and ability to deliver high-end results.

While we were responsible for the cabinetry throughout the home, today we’re highlighting one standout feature: the bathroom cabinetry.

To enhance the space, we manufactured a combination of sleek wooden cabinetry and a striking brass-covered cabinet. The warm wood tones offer a natural, grounded feel, while the brass detailing adds a layer of sophistication and glamour—perfectly complementing the overall design intent.

This space is a testament to how thoughtful material choices and precision craftsmanship can transform even the smallest room into a design statement.

July 16, 2025
Reviving the Cube: Are Glass Blocks Making a Return?

Flashing back to the neon-drenched sidewalks of the 80s, the glass block has seen a resurgence in popularity as of late but the trend hasn’t returned off nostalgia alone. Its recent rise can be attributed to a variety of factors, including cost, performance, and modern aesthetic trends.

In a recent report by Hannah Holland of The Washington Post, glass blocks are found to be cheaper per square foot compared to a traditional glass wall, even accounting for labour and installation. In contrast to glass bricks, blocks have an air pocket in the centre, and thereby don’t incur the costs of being full-glass.

Beauty in Simplicity: While their sight might hearken back to nostalgia-soaked sights of the 1980s or the brutalist designs of the late Soviet Union, recent applications of its feature-set turn the almighty glass block into a tasteful and elegant feature of modern homes. It introduces architectural curiosity while injecting a form of light that evolves throughout the day, complimenting a variety of home palettes and adding a refined touch to your living space.

More than Meets the Eye: Grace and simplicity, however, aren’t its only selling points. The glass block is also highly practical; offering both heat retention and light diffusion, which contributed to its global historical prevalence. The blocks are also translucent, allowing plenty of light through, but preserving your privacy; the value of which can’t be understated in this day and age. In addition, glass blocks offer both fire-separation properties as well as structural resilience. Its blocky nature means that unlike traditional glass walls, they offer superior shock resistance, damage containment, and impact durability.

With the rise of modern trends such as pixel art, perhaps it comes as no surprise that this cubic pastime is shaping back into our lives.

Primary source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2024/06/24/glass-blocks-back-in-style/

July 9, 2025
Must-Have Features for Your Custom Kitchen

Make your kitchen smarter, sleeker, and built for everyday living.

When it comes to designing your dream kitchen, it’s not just about looks — it’s about making it work for you. At BoxMakers, we believe good design should solve problems, simplify daily routines, and spark a little joy every time you open a drawer.

Here are 10 must-have features to consider in your custom kitchen:

1. Soft-Close Drawers and Doors

No more slamming! Soft-close hinges and drawer runners add a premium feel, extend the life of your cabinetry, and keep things calm and quiet — even on busy mornings.

2. Pull-Out Pantry Units

Maximise vertical space and keep everything within reach. Pull-out pantries make spices, cans, and snacks easy to see and access, especially in narrow kitchens.

3. Corner Storage Solutions

Say goodbye to the dark abyss of corner cabinets. Solutions like lazy Susans, magic corners, or corner drawers turn wasted space into storage gold.

4. Hidden Bin or Recycling Station

Keep your kitchen looking clean with pull-out bin drawers that hide rubbish and recycling while keeping them easily accessible where you need them most.

5. Under-Cabinet Lighting

Integrated LED strips under wall cabinets improve visibility while cooking and add an ambient glow in the evenings — practical and beautiful.

6. Built-In Spice Racks or Knife Drawers

Custom inserts for spice jars, knives, and utensils make meal prep faster and safer, while keeping your benchtop clutter-free.

7. Deep Drawers for Pots and Pans

Ditch the old-school base cabinets. Deep drawers glide out effortlessly and let you store heavy cookware without the bending and digging.

8. Appliance Garage

Tuck away your toaster, blender, or coffee machine in a custom-built cabinet with a lift-up or roll-down door — easy to access, easy to hide.

9. Charging Station or Power Drawer

Stay connected with built-in USB ports or concealed power strips in a drawer — perfect for charging phones or powering small appliances without messy cables.

10. Open Shelving for Display and Personality

Balance function with style by adding open shelves for cookbooks, ceramics, or plants — bring warmth and personality into the heart of your home.

July 2, 2025
Classy Kitchen – Greenlane

This kitchen project was proudly designed and manufactured by our BoxMakers team, with a focus on creating a classic design that perfectly complements the warm and inviting ambiance of our client’s cozy home.

We paid close attention to detail, including a custom-designed cover for the dishwasher to ensure a seamless look and a smooth, cohesive user experience. High-quality materials and thoughtful functionality were at the core of our design approach, ensuring the space is not only beautiful but also built to last.

At BoxMakers, we believe in designing spaces that elevate everyday living and this classic yet classy kitchen is a perfect example of that vision brought to life.

June 25, 2025
An Achromatic Kitchen Design

BoxMakers’ work for this unique kitchen makeover in Sunnyhills remains one of our most visually striking transformations. The rift in design style spans close to half a century, creating one of the largest visual upgrades we’ve done. The core themes of this upgrade are minimalism, achromaticity, and tactility.

The original kitchen was designed in a mid-century modern style, with prominent retro influences reminiscent of the 60s and 70s. It came complete with strong orange and brown accents which spanned to the wallpaper, splashbacks, and benchtop. The owner wished for a modern minimalist style for their new kitchen, a stark contrast to the lurid oranges and browns. It wasn’t simply the design that was outdated either; the appliances and furnishings were notably aged, and wouldn’t look out of place in a 70s television show.

With the goal of creating something plain and simple, the owner called upon BoxMakers to deliver a full kitchen renovation. The primary colours were an arresting achromatic black and white – and this extended to all the appliances, furnishings, and fixtures. MDF was chosen for the cabinetry material, coated in Prime White by PrimePanels. This white theme extended to the benchtop, which came in a glossy White Ice by Uniquartz, matching the doors and walls. Everything else, however, came in the colour of night.

The glossy splashback was the most prominent display of contrast in the entire kitchen. Adorned with tactile wavelike grooves, it evoked the sense of swimming in a midnight sea under a moonless sky. Each ridge was carefully contoured to mirror the gentle silence of nighttime waves. Likewise, the pendant light above the peninsula wing is a horizontal bar of pure black, adding to the minimalist goal.

Stefano Orlati was the brand for the cabinet handles. Their Matt Black square pull handles were the perfect choice in both shape and colour. While many minimalist builds opt for hidden or recessed handles, this kitchen’s tactile focus meant that full-grip bars were perfectly suited. The black theme can also be seen in the sink, faucets, and appliances, such as Fisher & Paykel’s Series 5 Cooktop. Häfele’s Comfort II series served as a pull-out unit, tucking away bottles and spices beneath its minimalist exterior.

Every detail was thoughtfully considered by BoxMakers to offer a seamless blend of style and practicality, resulting in a kitchen that is as beautiful as it is efficient.

June 25, 2025