Tag: Cabinet maker

Sleek, Beautiful, and Highly Functional — Sandringham Kitchen Renovation
This recently completed Sandringham kitchen renovation transforms a compact second-storey space into a sleek, modern hub designed for both style and functionality. The homeowner’s vision called for a striking Kombu green and stainless steel colour palette, paired with an array of smart kitchen storage solutions, and BoxMakers delivered every detail with precision.
Packed with Storage Solution
Overlooking the scenic suburbs of Sandringham, this modern kitchen combines clever design with practical storage. The base cabinets feature a Kesseboehmer dual-level pull-out set and Tanova Simplex dual pull-out bins, keeping daily essentials organised and easily accessible. Häfele extrusion handles and drawer runners were selected for a clean, professional finish that complements the kitchen’s contemporary look.
A standout feature of this project is the custom fridge-side cabinet, designed to match the height of the fridge enclosure. This tall pantry unit includes a combination of open shelves, mid-size drawers, and large handled drawers — 2 of each — using Harn Ritma drawer kits supplied by Fit NZ. This design allows for multiple storage options in a convenient, central location, perfect for everyday kitchen use.
Colour palette & Design intentions
The kitchen’s Melteca Green Slate Pearl cabinetry is paired with a stainless-steel benchtop from Classic Stainless, measuring 25mm in thickness. Rare in contemporary kitchens, this professional-grade benchtop offers heat resistance, durability, and hygienic performance while adding a sleek, industrial touch that complements the two-tone design.
With its combination of bold colours, intelligent storage solutions, and professional-grade materials, this modern Sandringham kitchen balances aesthetic appeal with unmatched functionality. It’s a space designed for the ambitious household chef — stylish, efficient, and built to last.
Designer: Mona Simathamchai
👉 Get in touch with us today to book your first free consultation.
October 30, 2025
Storage Solutions with BoxMakers
Running out of kitchen space is a familiar feeling for most homeowners: whether it’s crammed cupboards or a crowded benchtop, no one likes to see a kitchen littered with pots, cans, and groceries.
At BoxMakers, we’ve continually stayed on top of every new development in the kitchen storage space. In decades past, solutions such as pull-out pantries were expensive to implement and often featured a tedious amount of custom design work. Nowadays, storage systems can be installed in every corner of your kitchen, with incredible performance and affordability.
Tiered Corner Unit
We all know about awkward kitchen corners and especially how easy it is to get lost in there, knocking down bottles and pans. Thankfully, there are numerous solutions purpose-built for tacking the corner problem. As featured in our Remuera kitchen renovation, tiered corner units can be used to double the amount of practical space, with operation that brings forth everything that’s tucked away. For that, Fit NZ’s Giamo Magic Corner Unit made an appearance.
Pull-out pantry
Full-size pull-out pantries function similarly to a fridge, but feature intricate rail and extension systems that brings everything towards you upon opening. Our Murray’s Bay renovation featured this to address storage concerns. With Kesseböhmer’s Tandem Arena unit, BoxMakers are confident that those storage woes are thoroughly assuaged.
Pull-out Bins
Sight and smell are your worst enemies when it comes to chucking away kitchen waste. Under-bench pull-out bins are perfect for tucking away all those unpleasantries, and they come in all shapes and sizes. BoxMakers have been frequently impressed with Fit NZ’s Tanova series, which we recently used in our Sandringham project.
Under-bench Units
Make every inch count with an under-bench pantry unit. With different sizes to accommodate spices, bottles, and everyday groceries, these convenient units typically come in 1 or 2 tiers. Our Mount Roskill kitchen renovation featured a Sige Infinity Pullout Bottle Rack, supplied by Enko, which was perfect for complementing kitchen storage.
Lazy Susan Corner Unit
Another smart corner addition is the Lazy Susan style of storage units. Also known as carousels, these corner units feature rotational operation to ensure easy access, regardless of where your goods are. Supplied by Häfele, Kesseböhmer’s Revo 90° corner unit is a great example of this, and we recently used in our Mt Roskill project.
Storage solutions aren’t limited to the above either – new innovations are always being developed and BoxMakers are here to make sure that your kitchen has the perfect space-saving solutions tailored just for you.
Designer: Mona Simathamchai
👉 Get in touch with us today to book your first free consultation.
October 24, 2025
Subtle European Influences in a Modern Kitchen Transformation
For this kitchen renovation in Murray’s Bay, the end result is completely unrecognisable! Having inherited mediterranean influences, the home featured several indoor archways in both the kitchen and living spaces, but was long due for an overhaul.
Signs Calling For Renovation
The primary reason for renovation was aging hardware – in both style and performance. It was clear that the walls and floors were in rough shape from decades of use, and the open shelf cupboards were practically bursting at the seams. Citing clutter and wear, the client called for a modern, clean, and practical kitchen. One of the most notable changes required was the removal of the mediterranean brick-style arch that doubled as the kitchen entryway. This provided a seamless connection to the neighbouring room and allowed for an extra end of the kitchen bench to be usable.
Storage-oriented Kitchen
BoxMakers chose to keep the same U-shape layout as it was still a highly efficient way of arranging the kitchen and maximising space. This allowed for the easy connection of new appliances, such as the rangehood and cooktop. We noted that the original kitchen suffered most from a dearth of storage space, which shaped our decision to create a storage-oriented kitchen. This, of course, called for an abundant supply of cabinetry, including numerous floor-to-ceiling units.
The cabinets were MDF, finished in white melamine – a theme that was kept consistent across the entire kitchen. In place of the open cupboards, BoxMakers installed a full-height shelf unit covered by an elegant bifold door solution. Perpendicular to it, the fan favourite Kesseböhmer Tandem pantry unit made an appearance, right beside the fridge. Allowing for a gargantuan level of storage, the unit is complemented by additional cabinets and drawers.
Design and Materials
The benchtop was decided in close collaboration with the owner – Uniquartz’s Calacatta Grigio, a grey-based cut of engineered stone. It features a striking arrangement of stoney colours from marble white to dark slate. The patten is notable for resembling rippling waves against a temperamental backdrop of achromatic lightning – a particularly detailed piece evocative of the stormy Mediterranean Sea, which ties in perfectly with the home’s original style and the iconic Italian Carrara marble from which Calacatta Grigio is inspired by.
In keeping with the clean, modern aesthetic, Mardeco’s extrusion handles were selected, finished in simple white. These allowed for handleless designs across almost the entire kitchen, completing its unobtrusive appearance. Below the bench, Artia supplied the Italian-made Sige pull-out corner unit, while Häfele supplied the Kesseboehmer base pull-out set. For the appliances, the owner chose Asko, another European brand. This extended to the dishwasher, oven, and cooktop.
BoxMakers delivered on a highly capable modern kitchen that featured an incredible variety of storage solutions that is capable of sorting out any level of clutter. In close direction with the owner, we were able to install purpose-built drawers to contain what they wanted, where they wanted. While it may look like a simple modern kitchen at a glance, the renovation is packed with advanced storage solutions throughout, carefully interwoven with European influences.
Designer: Mona Simathamchai
👉 Get in touch with us today to book your first free consultation.
October 23, 2025
What Affects the Cost of a Kitchen Renovation More, Layout or Materials?
Knowing where to invest your kitchen budget can be invaluable to both cost saving and maximising performance. Two of the most significant cost-affecting areas of a kitchen renovation are its layout and materials, but in most residential renovations, it’s the materials that tend to move the price tag more.
So How Does Layout Affect Cost?
Your kitchen’s layout defines the positioning of all your fixtures, furniture, and appliances. It dictates the ebb and flow of your kitchen, making sure that everything you need is placed smartly, efficiently, and conveniently. Typical kitchen layouts include: single wall, galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, peninsula, and island.
The more benchtop area used, the more expensive a kitchen is typically going to be; as it doesn’t simply demand more benchtop material, but also the unit’s cabinetry and hardware.
However, for most home renovations, layout changes alone don’t cause dramatic budget jumps. Many homeowners choose to retain their existing layout, which keeps costs manageable by avoiding plumbing or electrical rework. Even when redesigning the space, the expense of moving services or breaking walls can often be contained compared to what premium materials might cost.
What About Materials?
Here’s where the numbers can really start to climb. Choosing high end materials can make even single wall layouts fetch hefty price tags. The two major areas that can eat up your budget are the benchtop and cabinetry, but smart selection and efficient planning can cut down costs while looking akin to more premium offerings. Elsewhere, the floor, splashback, and accessories can also vary in material price.
Chiefly among renovators’ minds is the kitchen benchtop. Often seen as the centrepiece of one’s kitchen, it comes as no surprise that a hefty amount of the budget is dedicated to the bench. Laminate benchtops are the cheapest and provide excellent value for money. Engineered stone is a popular mid-range choices that may require maintenance. Porcelain and real stone, though undeniably stunning, can easily double or triple the material cost, especially in large kitchens.
Cabinetry also has the potential to quickly drive up costs. Here, materials typically come in the form of the core material and the finish. For the core, MDF strikes a good balance between durability, price, and finish variety. At the high-end, real wood is a pricey yet premium option. For the finish, melamine is affordable with a good range of aesthetics. A shift from white melamine to real wood veneer, for example, can dramatically elevate the look and the cost.
The splashback also has a diverse number of options, with tile being the cheapest yet perhaps the most versatile. Even within tile options, price can still vary drastically depending on material. Glass, stainless steel, and engineered stone are all valid mid-range choices. Porcelain makes another appearance as an expensive choice here. Elsewhere, the little things such as handle materials and cabinet systems can slowly add to the price.
The Verdict
While layout changes certainly impact cost, particularly if you’re knocking down walls or moving plumbing. In most residential kitchen renovations, it’s the materials that make the bigger difference.
A change from laminate to porcelain, or from melamine to real timber veneer, can easily outweigh the expense of reworking your layout. That said, the final cost always depends on your project’s scale, style, and priorities.
The best approach? Start with a clear vision of what matters most, functionality, finishes, or both, and plan your renovation around that balance.
👉 Get in touch with us today to book your first free consultation.
October 22, 2025
Saving Your Kitchen with Smart Storage
Nobody enjoys seeing bottles, boxes, and pans taking up precious benchtop space. A crowded kitchen isn’t just a practical nuisance – it can also be embarrassing when hosting guests. If you’ve fallen victim to loss of space – fear not! In 2025, it’s easier than ever to find advanced, yet affordable solutions to tackle clutter and tidy your kitchen to make it good as new.
Good Storage Planning
Over time, you may have experienced seeing less of your benchtop and more of your sundry kitchen goods. Gradual mess can become the bane of a kitchen’s existence, but kitchen planning and storage solutions can handily remedy that. Cabinet tech has been one of those silent innovators that have evolved quicker than people may realise. It used to be that going custom was the only way to get pull-out pantries, hidden bins, and intricate corner systems. Today, these capable kitchen add-ons are available from numerous retail and hardware stores, thanks to advances in materials, manufacturing, and global supply chains.
Storage Myth?
One of the biggest misconceptions about amassing storage space is that it’s all about having as many cabinets as possible. In truth, it’s all about making the space you have work for you, and using it as efficiently as possible. Now, pull-out pantries, integrated bins, and modular shelving are all easy to obtain and install, providing multiple levels, divisions, and angles of access.
Our Smart Storage Partners
BoxMakers have worked with trusted brands such as Häfele, Fit NZ, Blum, Enko, and more to deliver high quality kitchen solutions that look good, feel good, and have plenty of room for everything. Cabinets and drawers can all be upgraded with smooth operation mechanisms such as soft-close hinges and runners, and modern corner units can feature revolving shelves, multi-level operation, and advanced retraction mechanisms.
Using smart storage isn’t just efficient – it’s trendy. Pulling out your pantry solutions is a fast way to impress guests and retrieve kitchen essentials, all without obscuring your benchtop. You already have the space – now make the most of it.
Resources: https://linkmix.co/45465289
October 17, 2025
A Covert and Minimalist Black Kitchen in Helensville
Nestled away in the sunny Helensville countryside, this tranquil rural home recently saw a brand new BoxMakers kitchen. What was special about this project was its colour palette, which was pure matt black with minimalist style.
Conveniently Located Kitchen
Instead of being part of the main home, this was a unique kitchen tailored to fit a detached workshop. With convenience and versatility in mind, the client wanted an accessible way to prepare meals in the comfort of their own workplace. This meant no more back and forth travel or clashed occupancy of the main kitchen. The main themes of this kitchen were being utilitarian, covert, and minimalist. BoxMakers knew the assignment well, and aimed to strike a balance between professionalism and elegance, all while adhering to the surrounding purpose and themes.
Distinct Colour Theme
The owner wanted black to be the central colour of the kitchen, and BoxMaker delivered. With 16mm MDF as the core material, all of the bench cabinets were finished in Black Pearl melamine by Melteca – a midnight finish that strikingly swallows light, yet glistens under the right conditions. This clandestine cabinet collection contained a carefully curated composition of drawers, providing a striking resemblance to tool storage units, in running with the utility-centric theme.
Materials & Storage Solutions
Häfele’s Luxe handles were chose for their hidden profile design, creating flush and uniform cabinet faces. Mardeco’s 2006 series handle was chosen for the larger cabinet. All of them, of course, came in black. Inside the cabinetry, you can find Häfele’s signature drawer hardware, as well as Enko’s Uni-Bin Soft Close Waste bins for disguising waste.
The focal point of this kitchen is the benchtop. In close collaboration with the owner, we decided on a finish that matched the stealthy aesthetic while weaving in some of the colour of the floor’s dark wood. UniQuartz’s Brown Forest was chosen – streaks of golden-brown woven against a mesmerising obsidian grey backdrop.
Appliances
The client’s fixtures and appliances were meticulously chosen to reflect their vision. Carysil’s Enigma sink was chosen for its true-to-name mysterious yet modern appearance while Casa’s sink mixer made for a perfect minimalist pairing. A compact 2-zone cooktop by Vogue continued the dark, minimalist trend.
Taking in design cues from utility-oriented storage, BoxMakers delivered a highly modern single-benchtop kitchen that is just as capable as it is dark. The room’s warm overhead lights make each cooking session a bold cinematic experience.
Designer: Mona Simathamchai
👉 Get in touch with us today to book your first free consultation.
October 16, 2025
Dos and Don’ts of Cabinet Maintenance
Whether you’ve just finished installing a set of brand-new cabinetry or are looking to maintain longevity for your current set, it’s always better to know best practices for keeping them pristine.
Wet Storage
Don’t: use your cabinets to store dripping wet plates, cloths, or towels. You can’t count on evaporation alone to save your cabinets from waterlogged materials. Drenched cloths can seep water into corners and cracks, bloating and damaging your cabinetry.
Do: wring out and dry your rags before storage. Not only does this make for more pleasant viewing, but it’s a smart practice to ensure ready cloths for next use. More importantly, this prevents moisture ingress into your cabinetry.
Chemicals
Don’t: use harsh chemicals or strong solvents. Chemicals such as bleach or ammonia are dangerous to cabinet finishes, and can take the glisten away from your handles. Ingress can harm the core material as well.
Do: investigate your cabinet. Cabinetry can come in a broad range of materials and finishes. Find out what it’s made of and use their recommended cleaning method. Otherwise, a mild, non-abrasive cleaner will do just fine.
Cleaning
Don’t: use brushes or scrubbers that have thick, abrasive heads. Strong bristles can lead to scratches and damage to the finish, which in turn, acts as a catalyst for moisture damage.
Do: use cloths in a gentle and circular motion. Combined with a gentle cleaning solution, this method should pick up dirt and clean away stains.
Cabinet Liners
Don’t: forego cabinet liners in high-risk areas just because they clash with the look and feel of your kitchen. Scratches and spills that would have otherwise damaged your cabinet can be mitigated with liners.
Do: apply cabinet liners in kitchens and laundry rooms. Wherever you typically find cooking products, chemicals, or sundry objects like stationery, cabinet liners act as an extra layer of defence against unwanted damage.
Hinges
Don’t: neglect your cabinet’s hinges when cleaning. Hinges are a core component of your cabinets and ensure smooth operation.
Do: give your hinges special attention. Instead of wiping them down like you would your cabinet, clean away dust and debris. Check if they need greasing and oil with lubricant if needed.
To clean like a pro, treat each material differently and use gentle solutions that won’t damage the surface. A mild soap and warm water, or a dedicated cabinet cleaning solution is ideal. Knowing your cabinets’ materials and cleaning accordingly can save you a lot of stress and work.
Source:
https://www.thekitchn.com/kitchen-cabinet-cleaning-mistakes-23591076
https://nz.pinterest.com/pin/985231164317580/
October 15, 2025
A Lush Green Sandringham Kitchen Renovation
Major Kitchen Renovation
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.
Unique Colour Palette and Materials
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!
Designer: Mona Simathamchai
👉 Get in touch with us today to book your first free consultation.
October 3, 2025
Cleverly Concealed Kitchen Conveniences
White Motif and Clean Lines
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.
Aesthetic Yet Practical Cooking Area
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.
Storage Highlights
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.
Designer: Mona Simathamchai
👉 Get in touch with us today to book your first free consultation.
September 30, 2025
A Special Scandinavian Kitchen in Mt Albert
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.
Core Philosophy
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.
Palette and Materials
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.
Cohesive Entry Way
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.
Designer: Mona Simathamchai
👉 Get in touch with us today to book your first free consultation.
September 26, 2025