Category: cabinet story

The centrepiece of our BoxMakers stall at the Auckland Home Show is designed to cater to everyday New Zealand homeowners. The aim is to showcase a kitchen that strikes a delicate balance between aesthetics, affordability, and practicality, with features that can benefit the modern New Zealand lifestyle.

Our Home Show display was inspired by the idea of a crafting a space that acted not simply as a kitchen, but as a common space for everyday activities. Its range of purpose extends outside that of a highly capably cooking space, but as a place to gather with limitless possibilities for activities. We took inspiration from the flexibility of open-plan layouts, aiming to create a space that was not only practical for general use, but also aesthetically adaptable – pleasing in a diverse range of home environments.

Sustainable production techniques and enhanced element resistance made MDF our material of choice in balancing compatibility and longevity, not to mention its diverse propensity for finishes.

We chose a deep walnut colour, which carries a timeless essence that stays relevant even as trends come and go, combining functionality with a refined visual presence. Our goal was to represent top-tier balance that is in line with everyday New Zealand considerations.

The kitchen island is a core component of completing this communal area, acting as a second hub for the home – with room to eat, play, and dream. Finished in a refreshing white, the island provides a crisp and welcoming contrast against the deep wood cabinetry. The colours are incredibly accommodating, and are easy to compliment a wealth of home aesthetics.

BoxMakers’ has meticulously put together this kitchen with the goal of embodying our core values: balancing aesthetics with practicality, durability, and affordability. We wanted to create a multifunctional kitchen that New Zealanders can be proud to own, with endless potential for growth.

Designer: Mona Simathamchai

Installing cabinetry is more than just adding pretty shelves and drawers to a home. On top of having a deft pair of hands, technical knowledge and component awareness is required to make both the operation and alignment not just smooth – but just right.

Why It Matters

Proper cabinet alignment is imperative to achieving a uniform, flush look that allows the unit to stand out because of its cohesiveness as a whole, rather than jutting doors and crooked panels. Improper alignment can cause door sag, mismatched handle positioning, and a shelving arrangement that simply… looks off. It’s not just an aesthetic issue either: substandard work can lead to excessive wear on the hinges and drawer runners, resulting in noise, stiffness in operation, and undue stress on the cabinet frame.

Our Process

Applying our team’s storied experience, we are able to deliver a comprehensive service that covers not only design, but also the expert installation of kitchens, cabinets, and much more. We start with meticulous measurement of the site – including wall dimensions, curvature, and anomalies. Our use of laser measures and levels allow for incredible accuracy when planning for what goes where. Our design team takes these measurements and plans out a solution using modelling software. This facilitates our selection of the optimal material thickness, frame arrangement, and unit positioning to maximise space efficiency.

Work in Action

For one of our cabinetry jobs in Remuera, we applied our handcrafted process to deliver a set of stunning and matching cabinets. After a highly involved measurement and design stage, we began work on the physical cabinets. Making them to our exact requirements – from dimensions, to materials, to hinge holes, we were able to deliver cabinets that were compatible with our desired handles, hinges, and latching system.

Delicate care was taken during this process, such as ensuring consistent hinge recesses and level installation, as well as avoiding excess screw tension – this was to curb any potential droopiness or misalignment. Handles were installed flush and level with each other, and symmetrically when required. In the end, we delivered a stylish and sophisticated finished product.

In creating flush sets of cabinets, proper proactive measurement is key to saving considerable stress in the future. DIY projects may benefit from shims and filler panels, but the biggest selling point of custom cabinetry is that the work is destined for your home – and yours alone.

One of the most prominent design trends that have emerged from the past decade is the embrace of nature’s very own palette. Being even more relevant in New Zealand, the appeal of a naturally themed home has been embraced by many – with homeowners seeking a return to the very style perfected by Mother Nature herself.

The palette itself is a soft mixture of earthy browns and gentle sand, accessorised largely with natural greens, evoking a brisk walk along one of New Zealand’s myriad natural trails. Among its many selling points is the ability to bring nature indoors – with one of the trend’s primary traits being an abundance of potted plants and indoor flora – Plant-lovers rejoice! Previously, biophilic design was practically limited to commercial buildings and large spaces, but emerging trends have fostered more variety in home-cultivation.

A carefully curated experience can bring back the best that nature has to offer. Natural incense, earthy tones, and extensive exposure to air can breathe new life into your home. If you’re really feeling ambitious, water features and indoor gardens can contribute to a multi-sensory approach. As a highly complementary colour, natural green pairs perfectly with woven browns and pale tan for an old-fashioned look, or with stone grey and marble white for a modern take.

With the increasing relevance of sustainability over the past two decades, combined with broadening ecological awareness and the work-from-home era, many homeowners found that bringing nature to their house was one way to get the best of both worlds. Pinterest’s 2022 trend report noted significant interest in biophilic design, with more users yearning for therapeutically conductive homes. Taking a break amidst nature is one of humanity’s timeless escapes, but with increasing urban sprawl and transportation woes, it comes as no surprise that many have opted to bring nature to themselves, instead of the other way around.

Sources:

https://linkmix.co/42488677

Some may call it gaudy, lurid, or even old-fashioned, but a densely layered home, awash with vibrant colours and contrasts has finally returned to the forefront of design trends. In a 180 degree turn from minimalism, where decorators focused on the tastefulness in subtlety, maximalist design is all about extremes – but it’s not without sense; even in chaos, there is coordination.

The Heart of Maximalism 💗

In a display of vivid yet also deeply personal extravagance, Maximalism is a mesh of bold colours and intricate, eye-catching detail. Maximalism succeeds the restraint demanded by minimalist and modern home styles with an unabashedly loud display of one’s very self. It is a composition of elements that resonate personally to you; one might describe it as your soul expressed in the shape of a home.

The Layers of Maximalism

The most important rule of maximalism isn’t about chucking in everything but the kitchen sink, it’s about expressing one’s self. Built in layers, everything from your floor, wallpaper, and ceiling texture should align with a sense of personalisation. Afterwards, the right furniture is essential to completing the look: whether it’s animal prints or blinding splashes of neon green, finishing your look is paramount. Compliment or contradict your room with curtains, then comes everything else. Paintings, plants, and decorations should adorn your walls and fill your shelves; a manifestation of your mental landscape, be it vivid and bright or messy and raucous.

Maximalism serves as an outlet for channelling your inner creativity and a way to visually express yourself in a unique way for your friends and family. In a time where people have more ways to express themselves than ever, it comes as no surprise that Maximalism has come to bring that personalisation to your own home, and in style.

Primary Source: https://linkmix.co/42142512

Homes are ever-expanding; whether it’s in area, stuff, or family members. Having a home that can grow and evolve alongside you is key to keeping an organised household. When it comes to planning ahead, storage is often overlooked yet nonetheless essential.

Chances are, you’ve swung open a closet to find it stuffed to the brim, in desperate need of organisation and cleaning, or perhaps pulled at a drawer only to find it stiff with an army of junk, vying for space. Storage problems can extend past full drawers and cabinets: with no room for sundries, toys, and appliances, you may find yourself contending with your own possessions for room. Cluttered spaces can increase safety hazards and reduce mobility, while also making it a chore to find what you need.

The best way to prevent a dearth of storage is to choose the right home. This may not be an option for many, but for those who can, a bit of extra planning now can save countless headaches in the future. A good perspective to have when choosing a home is to know not only what your current criteria is, but what your criteria will be in the future. Your belongings will assuredly add up over time, not to mention those of your family’s. Find a home that has the closets, cabinets, and storage rooms that can accommodate your future.

When it comes to reducing clutter, organisation is downright magical. You’d be amazed by how much space is saved when relegating your belongings to appropriate containers, freeing up room for larger appliances while also making items easier to locate. Adding permanent storage is another option: if your home has unused wall space, a sturdy cabinet arrangement can provide much-needed room while also complimenting your home. For your kitchen, you might consider a pull-out pantry.

Storage woes are bound to arise sooner or later. Keeping a proactive eye on what you and your family needs can be beneficial to your space, safety, and wallet.

At the height of its popularity, wallpaper around the world offered an eclectic range of tastes, spanning everything from subtle floral arrangements to brilliant displays of a setting sun. Ubiquitous in homes and wildly polymorphic, the peoples’ love for diversely characterised walls was undeniable. Having faded into obscurity for the better half of a century, wallpaper has returned to roll back the years.

Trending Once Again: Why?

After being phased out for simple paint and the collective yearn for a more modern aesthetic, wallpaper fell out of favour of homeowners and designers around the world. In the late 2010s, however, this all changed, with young homeowners now acting as the driving force behind a reignited love for wallpaper. This can be attributed largely to the high amount of personalisation afforded by the abundance of designs available, as well as rising interior trends such maximalism, which places rich colours and extravagant patterns as its focal point. The spotlight, however, seemingly has not yet reached the difficulties in maintenance, humidity, and removal.

Is it Suitable for New Zealand homes?

Wallpaper’s mortal enemy, humidity, can pose a significant challenge in application and maintenance. While New Zealand humidity is not considered extreme, it can certainly be an annoyance in more coastal regions. Moisture and mould buildup can cause peeling and hygiene issues, especially around the seams. We all know New Zealand weather to be wildly fickle, but it has the benefit of avoiding extremes in temperature. With advances in humidity-resistant wallpaper and room ventilation, enjoying a freshly decorated wall should be available to every New Zealander (so long as you avoid the kitchen and bathrooms).

With personalisation being a key trend of the modern age, designing your home to be just for you is more relevant than ever. It can liven up your space and compliment your design language.

Works cited:

• The Resurgence of Wallpaper: A Modern Comeback – Decoration Love

• The Once-Popular Wallpaper Trend That’s Making A Comeback With A More Modern Look

Rethinking the TV Wall in a Renovation

In most renovations, the TV wall ends up as an afterthought. A screen, a tangle of wires, and maybe a floating shelf. But when we were asked to design this 4.3-metre-long cabinet, we saw an opportunity to create something far more considered, a piece that anchors the room, balances form and function, and quietly elevates the everyday.

The Cabinet That Does It All

The idea was to create a feature wall that didn’t shout. Horizontal lines draw the eye across the room, making the space feel wider and calmer. Integrated lighting interacts with the surface throughout the day, creating movement and warmth. With no handles and barely visible joins, the shelving appears seamless, a quiet, intentional rhythm that holds both books and screen without either dominating.

Designed for Daily Life

We set the TV height precisely to match seated eye level from the sofa, an ergonomic detail that makes a surprising difference. The bookshelves soften the visual presence of the screen and turn the wall into more than just a place for tech. It becomes part of how the family lives, reads, and relaxes.

Material That Tells a Story

To edge the cabinet, we used recycled native New Zealand timber, chosen for its character, sustainability, and connection to place. It gives the piece warmth and story without demanding attention. Combined with invisible joinery and a matte finish, the cabinet feels built in, not added on.

A Renovator’s Perspective

If you’re renovating, this kind of detail matters. Planning cabinetry early allows you to consider sightlines, storage types, lighting effects, and proportions. A well-designed TV wall won’t just hold your screen — it shapes how you feel in the room.

Planning a renovation? We design and build integrated cabinetry that transforms spaces from cluttered to considered.

Book a free design consult here.

Sleek and elegant, the porcelain benchtop has seen a dramatic uplift in popularity as of late. Having a slab of smooth porcelain adorn your kitchen brings an air of polish and purity, and it comes as no surprise that it has upheaved engineered stone in trendiness.

Why the Porcelain Shift?

In 2024, Australia became the first country in the world to ban engineered stone due to concerns surrounding silica dust exposure among workers. Because of this, preferences have skewed towards alternative materials, such as porcelain and acrylic. In an article by Metropol, over 40% of kitchen designers in New Zealand cited porcelain as their benchtop material of choice, being durable, low-maintenance, and flexible with design choices. In addition, clients are shifting towards lighter, more natural tones, which porcelain easily compliments, elevating a kitchen to be both timeless and modern.

What does Porcelain Offer?

Porcelain is the most performant among benchtop materials, being heat-resistant, hygienic, and strong in the face of UV – which means it won’t fade or yellow over time. Unlike concrete and timber, porcelain is non-porous, which means it won’t absorb liquid or house germs. Being all-capable, however, also comes with a bigger price tag. Typically seen among the high-end of benchtop materials, porcelain can cost 30% more than engineered stone.

Porcelain benchtops serve as a rare example of being highly effective in both form and function. With the potential to last a lifetime, porcelain serves as a prime material choice if it’s within your budget.

Sources:

Kitchens channel soft neutral tones – Metropol

Kitchen Benchtop Costs in NZ: Granite, Laminate, Porcelain & More – Little Giant Interiors

When outfitting your kitchen with a suite of new and shiny equipment, the choice between flat-pack or custom cabinets can be especially tough. The opportunity for renovation doesn’t come often, and you’re deciding on what you’ll be swinging open for the foreseeable future.

Price: In preparing for a renovation, you’ve probably spied some of these modestly-priced cabinets in home improvement stores, weighing the savings against a set of custom cabinets, and that much is undeniable; flat-pack units are produced with the goal of providing serviceable, low-cost units. Additionally, more cost can be saved if you choose to fit the unit yourself, saving yourself valuable installation fees. Custom cabinetry, on the other hand, is pricier, with installation included as part of the service but can very well be worth it.

Quality: In comparing quality between ready-to-assemble cabinets versus a custom job, it comes as no surprise that the latter scores a decisive victory. Flat-packs are reliable for the most part, but are commonly manufactured with materials such as particle board, which is vulnerable to moisture and can prove difficult to repair. With custom cabinetry, you’ll often see premium wood and long-lasting materials. The premium you pay for custom includes the service and expertise of professionals, ensuring perfect installation and compatibility, in contrast to flat-packs; where further work is required if the dimensions or accommodations are off.

Identity: Flat-pack cabinets are designed to accommodate a wide variety of homes, offering a degree of versatility, but this also means they aren’t perfect for any one in particular. Catering to a broad variety of homeowners comes with compromises in identity. Custom cabinet services consider your kitchen as a whole, and tailor their work to you and your home specifically, providing a solution that compliments and elevates your kitchen, while also contributing to your home’s value.

If you’re handy with a toolbox, flat-packs can give you a set of new cabinets the same day you get home from the shop. There’s no doubt that the savings and convenience can be highly appealing, but when it comes to kitchen cabinetry, you certainly get what you pay for. It all comes down to your budget and vision for your kitchen.

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