Tag: Modern kitchen

Plentiful Pantry Storage in Avondale kitchen renovation
One of our more recent projects, this Kitchen renovation in Avondale called for an extensive facelift, including brand new custom cabinets, kitchen fixtures, and a slew of storage additions.
Overview
This renovation was performed primarily to tackle the shortage of space in the original kitchen which resulted in a cramped layout with no room for appliances. This spurred the need for new cabinetry units, especially across the kitchen overhead.
Cabinet details
Our cabinetmaking team carefully selected embossed melamine for the new units, settling on Prime Panels’ Prime White for the colour, a clear choice to compliment the walls. Installation called for the removal of a tall double-door cabinet that took up far more storage space than it provided. This freed up room for the new benchtop to continue around the corner, granting valuable oven-space.
The renewed space also opened up room for a collection of overhead and bench unit cabinets, making storage and accessibility far more accommodating than before.
Above the new Bosch cooktop, a hidden rangehood is accommodated by the overhead cabinetry, significantly reducing visual clutter while also contributing to the sleek, featureful nature of the kitchen.
Smart Storage Solutions
That’s not the only hidden feature either – a pull-out Kesseböhmer pantry is built into the bench cabinetry, and dual Tanova soft close bins are tucked away down beside the kitchen sink. Behind the kitchen corner, dual pull-out shelves by Artia allow for seamless kitchenware storage.
On the other side of the doorway is the fridge unit and accommodating cabinetry. The top level features a dual-door cabinet with custom notched shelving for accessible rear access. Beneath it lies a rolling door unit by Sage Doors – also finished in matching white, used to prevent dust accumulation on dormant appliances and dampen visual clutter.
Setting the mood
The benchtop is White Ice Engineered Stone by Uniquartz, which completes the white-themed kitchen. Providing a sleek accent are the Mardeco cabinet handles, finished in Brushed Nickel, with a colour-matching kitchen mixer by Galaxy Homeware.
To top it all off, the overhead cabinets are equipped with undermounted warm LED lighting strips, making for delicate nighttime illumination, and introducing a sunny accent to the cool-white kitchen.
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August 21, 2025
A Stylishly renovated Kitchen Packed With Features
In mid-2025, the BoxMakers team were called to deliver a kitchen and bathroom renovation project in Mount Roskill. On top of delivering custom shelves and cabinetry, the project also called for the installation of a variety of modern kitchen features, such as a rotating corner solution, hidden kitchen bins, and a pullout bottle rack.
Sleek and Subtle Cabinetry
For the kitchen cabinet face panels, the project called for melamine MDF in a white finish. The overhead panels operate on a handleless design, adding a smooth, flush, and contemporary aesthetic to the upper strip of the kitchen. Underneath, the base cabinets feature sleek angular chrome handles which add a clean and contemporary accent to the kitchen.
Featureful Living
Beneath the new 30mm Cararra Gold quartz benchtop, a range of unique kitchen amenities are tucked away. While they may seem like simple cabinets at first glance, the units in fact sport a variety of hidden solutions. The corner unit is a two-tiered revolving carousel featuring ample room for pots, bowls, and trays. Beside the stovetop, a convenient double-bin drawer rests along soft-close slides, providing generous room for waste disposal without the sight and smell. Also present is a pullout bottle rack, which adds liberal storage for cooking ingredients without having to walk across the room.
An Enhanced Bathroom Experience
As with the kitchen work, BoxMakers also performed significant work on the bathroom, replacing the tile shower base, shower glass, and handling tile installation across multiple rooms. In addition to this, we also undertook electrical, carpentry, and plumbing work. A range of new fittings were also installed, such as toilets, bathtubs, and vanities, their selection carefully curated by the owner. The backlit LED mirrors provided a futuristic touch to the vanities. These renewed bathrooms sported superior watertightness, functionality, and overall polish.
We are proud to have finished work on a highly capable kitchen and bathroom renovation to create something that is more than what meets the eye. The refreshing aesthetics and featureful inclusions are sure to carry this home well into the future.
Planning a renovation? We design and build integrated cabinetry that transforms spaces from cluttered to considered.

Book a free design consult here.
August 14, 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.
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July 2, 2025
An Achromatic Open plan U-shaped 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.
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June 25, 2025