Kitchen Renovation

kitchen renovation ideas

How To Find the Best Kitchen Renovation Ideas

How To Find the Best Kitchen Renovation Ideas 

Are you ready for a change and wondering how to find ideas for your kitchen renovations? This blog looks at some of the tools you can use to get inspired, including:

  • The Internet
  • Pinterest
  • Magazines
  • Travel
  • Open Homes
  • Kitchen Showrooms

The Internet

Of course, it goes without saying that the internet will be your first port of call. There is literally no limit to the ideas, designs, creativity, and funky innovations available to be discovered online.

Simply start off with your internet search engine and a few keywords of interest to you, such as “open plan kitchen” or “modern kitchen renovation ideas”, and watch yourself fall down the rabbit hole of infinite possibilities. We expect you’ll resurface. Eventually. 

Pinterest 

Yes – Pinterest does count as the internet. However, as one of the largest visual discovery engines available, it deserves a special mention. The great thing about pinterest is that it sorts images by keyword and category, so there’s no need for you to sift through pages of writing to get to the good stuff. The pictures! As the old adage goes, “a picture says a thousand words.”

Pinterest will also conveniently provide you with recommendations for similar search results that match your current “pins” – AKA things you like. So, if you’re going to town with your searches on kitchen trends and renovation ideas, Pinterest will bring you more and more research material to fuel your design inspiration.  

Magazines

A traditional favourite, magazines are easy to pick up at your local supermarket and convenience stores. From interior design to architecture, you’ll find a wide range of titles that will offer inspiration and ideas for your kitchen renovations.

It’s also a fun and relaxing way to spend an afternoon – flicking through a selection of magazines over a cup of coffee and snacks. You can mark up the pages and pictures of interest, or simply tear them out and create a vision board of ideas to pin up in your kitchen.  

Travel

Travel is a wonderful way to see how interior design differs between cultures and countries, and can plant some great ideas for your home decor. Perhaps you’d like to have your kitchen renovations reflect the beach and surf of Bali, or the bright and vivid colours of Mexico.

You might be amazed at the styles you fall in love with while travelling abroad. The beauty of modern accommodation options like house sitting and AirBnB, is that you get to intimately explore and experience your host’s home. 

Open Homes

Going to open homes can be an interesting, if slightly unconventional way to hawk ideas and do some stealthy kitchen renovation reconnaissance. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy having a nosy and seeing what other people have done in their kitchens?

Why not turn it into a game, and dedicate a weekend to checking out all the open homes in your area? Get into character as a pair of loved-up newlyweds, or a property investor. You can treat yourself to coffee and lunch to debrief and discuss your findings!

Kitchen Showrooms

Kitchen showrooms are a fantastic way to see a wide range of modern kitchen layouts and styles. They conveniently showcase the different styles of kitchen equipment you can choose from, such as ovens, stovetops, cupboards, and lighting. A showroom will also give you a good idea of what materials are available for your kitchen surfaces, including flooring, benchtops, and cabinets. 

Express Kitchens has a dedicated showroom for your convenience, located in Narangba, Brisbane. Stop by anytime to see our quality workmanship and chat to us about ideas for your dream kitchen renovation. 

Come & Visit Our Showroom Today!

FREECALL 1800 675 605  OR CONTACT US ONLINE

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Installing Kitchen Cupboards – DIY or Professionals?

Installing Kitchen Cupboards – DIY or Professionals?

To DIY or to dial a professional? It’s important to consider your options before making your final decision. Installing kitchen cupboards may sound straightforward, but as we’ll discuss below, that’s not necessarily the case! Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of both options to help you decide what’s right for you.

  • The Pros and Cons of Professional Help  
  • The Pros and Cons of Installing Kitchen Cupboards Yourself
  • The Deciding Factor

The Pros and Cons of Professional Help

Pros

For many people, the decision to hire professionals is based in large part on the desire for a hassle-free, quality installation. Basically you want your kitchen back – and in perfect order – as soon as possible!

At Express Kitchens we get this, which is why we offer a streamlined 1 day complete kitchen install for smaller kitchens and laundries. It’s likely, you won’t have to put up with:

  • The inconvenience and cost of staying with family and friends, or renting 
  • The cost of buying meals out for breakfast, lunch and dinner 
  • Renovation dust and mess for days, weeks or even months 

Hiring professionals for installing kitchen cupboards also means you get: 

  • Perfectly aligned, impeccable cabinetry 
  • Any accidents or breakages replaced at no expense
  • A quality and durability guarantee – At Express Kitchens we are pleased to offer a six year guarantee on all workmanship 

Cons 

Of course there can still be downsides…Installing kitchen cupboards takes skill, knowledge and experience. If you hire a ‘professional’ who’s not qualified for the  job, you could end up with more headaches than when you started.

That’s why it’s important to look around for a trusted kitchen installation specialist, rather than choosing ‘that guy with the crazy cheap quote’!

Even when you do hire a quality professional kitchen installer there’s still one drawback and it is of course: 

  • Cost – yes you’ll be paying for a professional’s time so it’ll likely cost you more than a DIY job, unless you botch the DIY job of course!

The Pros and Cons of Installing Kitchen Cupboards Yourself

The biggest reason homeowners opt to DIY is to save money. As we mentioned above, installing kitchen cupboards yourself CAN save you money, so long as you get the job done right.

Let’s take a look at a few of the other positives of DIY:

Pros

  • Sense of satisfaction – There’s nothing quite like the buzz of stepping back and admiring your own handiwork! That’s if you have done an okay job.
  • Transferable skills – While your goal might simply be to install kitchen cupboards; it’s likely you’ll learn new skills in the process which you can then use in your next project
  • Fixability – Installing kitchen cupboards yourself helps you understand their workings. If ever your cupboards need repair, your prior experience means you’re well placed to do them yourself

Looking for a DIY solution for your kitchen cupboards? Check out our 100% Australian-made range.

Cons 

Of course DIY has its shortcomings, if it didn’t, would anyone watch The Block?! You can encounter problems like:  

Safety risks – There’s always the chance you’ll hammer your thumb instead of the nail, but more importantly, removing and installing kitchen cupboards yourself could expose you to harmful substances like asbestos.

Relationship breakdowns – According to a survey by Houzz, 12% of couples consider divorce when renovating. Renovating, especially a vital part of the house like the kitchen, can place a lot of stress on people and on their relationships especially when things don’t go right.

Budget blowouts – Yes, doing it yourself SHOULD save you money but if you order over-priced cabinetry in the wrong size, or have to reorder parts due to damage and need to buy numerous tools to get the job done, it can end up costing you more than engaging a professional!

A second-rate end result –  Sometimes that task that looks super easy on YouTube can be a nightmare in real life. If you don’t have the experience and skill you could end up with a wonky cabinet install that actually detracts from your kitchen. 

The Deciding Factor!

At the end of the day, your decision will likely come down to these two critical factors… your level of experience and belief… or, in other words, whether or not you believe you have the skills to pull off the job. And, your willingness to endure the extra hassle!

To help you out we’ve put together a summary of the key skills you’ll need to possess: 

  • Measuring and Design Skills – You need to be confident in taking precise measurements so your cabinetry will fit seamlessly together and mould around existing appliances. It also helps to have a good sense of design; s the style of cabinetry appropriate for the space? Will the cabinetry layout boost the functionality of your kitchen?
  • Assemblage Know-how – If you struggle to assemble flat pack furniture, then assembling kitchen cabinetry may not be for you!
  • Installation Skills –  Installing kitchen cupboards requires knowledge and skill and tasks need to be done in the right order. Did you know for instance that you can actually split your cabinets if you fail to pre-drill holes? You can also risk damage to your walls if you overload a wall that lacks the structural strength to support the weight

Save Hassle with Express Kitchen

FREECALL 1800 675 605  OR CONTACT US ONLINE

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Need New Kitchen Cabinets? Go Local!

Need New Kitchen Cabinets? Go Local!

So you’re looking for new kitchen cabinets, but unsure how to go about sourcing them; should you go local or opt for an imported product? From our point of view, using a local cabinet maker is a no-brainer. Let’s take a look at why: 

  • Making Cabinets Locally Equals Quality Assured 
  • Buying Local Offers a Host of Other Benefits
  • Buying Local Doesn’t Mean Buying Expensive!

Making Cabinets Locally Equals Quality Assured

Australian made products have a reputation for quality around the world. This is because manufacturers in Australia must abide by strict standards and regulations which extend to sourcing high quality materials and parts. Australian-made products also generally come with warranties and/or manufacturer’s guarantees.

At Express Kitchens our cabinet makers work to exacting Australian standards at our Narangba factory and they don’t cut corners. Every single cabinet we produce comes with a six year workmanship guarantee plus a full manufacturers warranty on externally sourced components. 

Our cabinet makers have been crafting beautiful kitchen and laundry cabinetry for more than 25 years and visitors are always welcome to inspect the quality of our materials and workmanship first-hand at our showroom in Narangba.

Buying Local Offers a Host of Other Benefits 

Supporting your local cabinet maker or other local manufacturers can benefit you and your community in so many other ways. We’ve listed a select few of these benefits below: 

  • Accountability behind the product – If you encounter a problem with a locally made product, it’s often much easier to resolve it. At Express Kitchens, in the unlikely event that your kitchen cabinets suffer from a defect, our cabinet makers and installation team will supply and install replacements right away
  • Availability – When you order a locally manufactured product, you don’t have to factor in extensive overseas shipping delays. At Express Kitchens we simply collect your cabinetry from our warehouse and are ready to go with your one-day kitchen install *Conditions Apply
  • Customer service – Local manufacturers are invested in their community; their reputation, and success relies on keeping local customers happy. This means excellent customer service for you
  • In-depth product knowledge – As a local cabinet maker, we can tell you everything you could ever care to know about our products
  • Money stays in the local economy – According to a recent American Express survey, Australian small business owners estimate they reinvest 42% of their business turnover back into the local community. This is largely through paying wages, supporting local suppliers or donating to local charities and initiatives. 

Buying Local Doesn’t Mean Buying Expensive! 

We’ve had it drilled into us that imported products offer better value for money, but this is often simply not true. Consider the fact that Australian products tend to last longer than cheap imports, because they are made to higher standards using superior materials. Also local manufacturers have developed their own uber-efficient production methods, plus they can offer reduced shipping costs. 

At Express Kitchens all our cabinetry is made using HMR (High Moisture Resistant) board which offers value for money because it lasts! This material is arguably the best material for cabinets which are exposed to moisture; whether that be from steam, spills or washing up water. We are able to keep our prices affordable through our efficient manufacturing processes, which have been streamlined over close to three decades. Our cabinet makers manufacture sleek, minimalist cabinetry in a small range of designs; having a simplified range also helps to keep costs down. 

Wherever you live in the wider Brisbane region, whether it’s Brendale, Capalaba, Carina, Mansfield, Marsden or North Lakes, we can guarantee you’ll find our cabinets affordably priced and beautifully finished. 

Support Your Quality Local Cabinet Maker

FREECALL 1800 675 605  OR CONTACT US ONLINE

 

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Kitchen Renovations

How to Renovate Your Kitchen on a Budget

How to Renovate Your Kitchen on a Budget

Ready to have your dream kitchen installed, but wondering how to do it on a budget? Homeowners are often faced with this tricky question when deciding on DIY vs professional kitchen installers for their kitchen renovation.

This blog looks at some of the costs involved, including:  

  • #1 | Materials
  • #2 | Your Time 
  • #3 | Mistakes!
  • #4 | Kitchen Out-of-Action
  • #5 | Installation Time

#1 | Materials

When it comes to purchasing the necessary materials for your kitchen renovations, are you getting the best prices?

Buying Yourself vs Industry Professional 

If you buy the materials yourself, it’s quite likely that you will be paying a significantly higher amount of money. Industry professionals are able to source materials at a cheaper rate to retail for several reasons, including: 

  • Bulk Purchase | this comes back to economies of scale – professional kitchen installation companies buy a number of materials in bulk, which entitles them to a reduced purchase price
  • Manufacturers | some companies design and manufacture their own cabinetry, which allows them to have greater control over the cost of materials
  • Industry Connections | companies within the industry tend to build up relationships with their suppliers, as they conduct repeat business over time. This means they are able to negotiate better deals when purchasing materials

#2 | Your Time

One thing that people often forget to factor into their DIY kitchen renovations is the cost of their own time. A key question to ask yourself before starting a project is this: Are you a skilled tradesperson?

When the Answer is Yes

Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Will DIY renovations conflict with family and / or work commitments?
  • Have you calculated the cost of your hourly rate and the amount of time you will need to spend on the project?
  • Are you skilled in all of the areas required to complete your kitchen renovations? Depending on the design, this can include skills such as plumbing, building, and electrical
  • Do you hold the necessary qualifications (required by law) to undertake the work?

When the Answer is No

If you are brand new to the DIY game, you may want to think about these points before commiting:

  • Do you actually have time to do the renovations?
  • Are you having to learn from scratch as you go?
  • Is it an efficient use of your time?
  • Or, would your time be better spent earning money to pay for a professional kitchen installation?
  • Can you feel confident that you are doing the job right?

#3 | Mistakes!

Mistakes can be extremely costly, stressful, and time-consuming. This is true for both DIY and professionally completed projects. So, what’s the difference in terms of cost to you?

DIY

When a mistake is made, you will have to fix the problem yourself. This means that you cover the cost of repairs from your own pocket, including: new materials, your own time, or even calling in a professional to fix a serious problem. 

Professional

If the job is not done correctly, professionals are obligated by warranty and consumer guarantee to ensure that any mistakes are remedied to your satisfaction, as well as industry standards. This will not cost you anything beyond the original quoted cost of your project. 

The Impact of a Mistake

It’s important to realise that some mistakes can lead to much bigger problems. Imagine this scenario:

During the DIY installation of your kitchen, you have unknowingly made a mistake. You don’t know it yet, but there is now a slow leak in your wall which causes damage to the materials over the years. When you finally become aware of the problem, you are horrified to discover that the inside of your wall is rotten and covered in mould. Unfortunately, this can be a very expensive repair job!

From another angle, it’s possible that even simple mistakes made during DIY renovations can result in the rejection of insurance claims due to the lack of a qualified tradesperson to do the job. Check out this useful article to read “7 things you need to know about insurance when renovating.”

#4 | Kitchen Out-of-Action

When your kitchen is out-of-action for renovations, it can make food preparation very inconvenient and time-consuming. This often leads to:

  • More money spent on “convenient” meal options, such as takeaways and fast food
  • Longer time spent on food prep as you awkwardly navigate a construction zone in your kitchen
  • A cost to your health in the form of poorer food choices (thanks to fast food), as well as the stress and frustration of your kitchen being out-of-order

#5 | Time it Takes to Install

How long does it take to install your new kitchen? If you are a skilled and motivated homeowner with time on your hands, you might be able to get it done in a reasonable short space of time.

However, if you are inexperienced with home renovations, or short on time, your DIY project could potentially drag out for days, weeks, or longer. This can become a source of frustration for you and your family.

A key benefit of professional kitchen renovations and installation is that your qualified tradespeople will get the job done properly and efficiently. This means no stress and hassle for you and your family!

Express Kitchens offer customised kitchen design and renovations with an effortless 1 day installation. Simply head out to work in the morning, and return home at the end of the day to a fully-functioning kitchen that’s ready to roll!

Have Your Dream Kitchen Installed in Just 1 Day! *Conditions Apply

FREECALL 1800 675 605  OR CONTACT US ONLINE

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Is DIY Flat Pack Worth the Trouble?

Is DIY Flat Pack Worth the Trouble? 

Have you previously bought flat pack furniture? Was your end result something like: quirkily slanting bookshelves, or some left-over mystery screws? If so, you’ll want to have a good think about whether purchasing a flat pack kitchen is the way to go for you. Perhaps you’d be better off with a custom built kitchen instead!?

Let’s explore below: 

  • Flat Pack vs Custom Kitchens: What’s the Difference?
  • The Must-have Skills to get Flat Pack Right
  • What Can Go Wrong with Flat Pack Installation? 
  • Want a Custom Kitchen in a Single Day?

Custom vs Flat Pack: What’s the Difference?

In the past, flat pack kitchens were often of very poor quality, but this has largely changed. Nowadays there’s not a lot of difference in quality between a good flat pack and a good custom kitchen. At Express Kitchens we still think custom kitchens are better, but we would say that, we make all our own cabinetry!

The key difference is of course that your custom kitchen will be completely assembled and installed for you while you’ll need to assemble your flat pack kitchen yourself, and then decide whether you are qualified to do the install yourself.

The Must-have Skills to get Flat Pack Right

You’ll find that many flat pack suppliers recommend you hire a carpenter to actually install the kitchen. If you decide to go flat pack to save money, you’ll therefore need to factor in the call-out fees and labour costs associated with hiring a carpenter, plus a plumber and potentially an electrician too.

Determined to go DIY with the installation? It’s worthwhile doing a bit of planning and preparation to make sure you have the adequate tools and knowledge to pull off a flawless job. 

Below are the key tasks you’ll need to be across to install your own kitchen: 

  • Select the correctly sized and shaped flat pack cabinets to match your space – naturally, this involves taking measurements of the spaces to fill, and matching up measurements with your large appliances and benchtops
  • Assemble the cabinetry
  • Install the cabinetry – note a long list of tools is required for this activivity
  • Cut a hole in the benchtop for the sink
  • Install the sink and connect the plumbing – you’ll need a professional plumber to complete the second half of this step as legally, almost all plumbing tasks must be completed by a qualified professional in Queensland
  • Install the benchtops

What Can Go Wrong With Flat Pack Installation?

As with any DIY project, things can go horribly wrong if you’re not 100% up to the task.

Without the benefit of a kitchen designer creating a custom kitchen, you can end up with problems including: 

  • Cabinetry that doesn’t quite line up – giving your kitchen a wonky feel
  • Overhead and base cabinets that don’t align – again creating an unpleasant aesthetic. This goes back to your design experience and whether you have a good sense of how to ‘balance’ a space
  • Cabinet doors which smack into your dishwasher or fridge
  • The wrong shaped hole for the sink – cutting the perfect hole actually takes a bit of skill!
  • The wall lining where you intended to install cabinets can’t actually support the weight

Want a Custom Kitchen in a Single Day?

In the flat pack vs custom kitchen decision, one point in favour of flat packs would appear to be you can get the job done when you need it. However, flat pack installation can take you a large chunk of time. Depending on your skill level, you may need to allow up to a week, especially if you make any of the mistakes mentioned above and plumbers or carpenters aren’t available when you need them.

At Express Kitchens we can have your new custom kitchen installed in a single day, meaning minimal inconvenience. *Conditions Apply

KEEP IT SIMPLE AND AFFORDABLE

FREECALL 1800 675 605  OR CONTACT US ONLINE

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Want a Functional Kitchen this Year?

Want a Functional Kitchen this Year?

If you’re struggling to prepare meals in your kitchen without going troppo, this may be because your kitchen lacks functionality. One simple way to enhance your kitchen’s functionality and make meal prep easier is to install new custom-designed kitchen cabinets.

In this article we take a look at:

  • Making Meal Prep Easier
  • The Simple Solution; and
  • Custom Kitchen Cabinets Costs

Why Custom Kitchen Cabinets Make Meal Prep Easier 

You might be so used to your dysfunctional kitchen cabinetry, you are no longer aware of the problems it causes you. However, the number, size, shape and placement of your kitchen cabinets can have a big impact on how easy it is to use your kitchen and to prep meals.

Below we’ve listed common problems encountered with kitchen cabinetry. You may recognise some of these from you own kitchen: 

  • Insufficient cabinet storage space – this is a common problem, resulting in cabinets ending up so cluttered that you simply don’t dare enter them. Sure you have a casserole dish but it’s waaaay in back there, jammed behind everything else making a casserole off the menu!
  • Tiny cabinetry – particularly if you have an older kitchen, you may suffer from a surfeit of pokey little cabinets which can’t easily fit larger items like four-slot toasters, large baking dishes, slow cookers etc. This means you’re forced to store these items on your benchtops, clogging up vital food prep space and turning cooking time into a game of Tetris!
  • Insufficient mid-level cabinetry space to store large, heavy items – this means you potentially have to crouch down to extract heavy serving platters, pans, or electrical items or, you’re dealing with the weight of heavy items above shoulder height.
  • Poorly placed kitchen cabinets – if every time your someone is stacking the dishwasher, you can’t access a vital kitchen cabinet, that fits the definition of a poorly placed cabinet! If there aren’t any kitchen cabinets located above and around your main food prep area, so you can easily access common ingredients and frequently used kitchen items, again that’s a sign your cabinets were poorly placed.

The Solution is Simple

Custom kitchen cabinet design and installation can alleviate all the problems listed above, returning your kitchen to functionality and making food prep that much easier.

At Express Kitchens you have access to a free in-home 3-D design session and consult. This session gives you the chance to really think about how to lay-out your cabinets and about what size cabinets will work best in different spaces. Our experienced kitchen designer will also be able to offer you their expert advice, based on how you use your kitchen and the amount of storage space required to meet your needs.

If you need new kitchen cabinets anywhere in Brisbane, or surrounds, we recommend you put thought into the decision and make use of 3D technology, as this can make a big difference to how happy you are with the end result.

Once you’ve got your new cabinets, there are plenty of fantastic tips online to make the most of the space.

How Much Should Custom Kitchen Cabinets Cost?

Your new custom kitchen cabinets should not cost you an arm and a leg, however prices can vary extensively across the industry.

At Express Kitchens we offer a consistently affordable product for kitchen cabinets throughout Brisbane and the surrounding suburbs.

How do we do this without compromising quality? The answer is efficiency. We’ve developed an incredibly streamlined one-day complete new kitchen install process for smaller / medium style kitchens with a basic layout. If you’re just after new cabinets, it won’t even take us a whole day. Our team works like a well-oiled machine to get your job done effectively, meaning you’re not spending a dollar more than you have to on labour.

BOOK A FREE IN-HOME CONSULT TODAY

FREECALL 1800 675 605  OR CONTACT US ONLINE

 

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Want a New Kitchen that’s Easy to Clean? Find Out How!

Want a New Kitchen that’s Easy to Clean?
Find Out How!

You might love the idea of ornate molded wooden kitchen cabinetry, but will you still love it when it’s time to clean it? If you’re planning a new kitchen, it’s easy to get carried away with the more ‘glamorous’ design components. Sophisticated benchtops, modern cabinetry, feature lighting and sleek new appliances are all fun to think about. However, you’ll also want to consider how easy your kitchen will be to clean. 

Choosing Easy-to-Clean Materials for Your New Kitchen 

It pays to do your homework and research the properties of different material types before making your final decision. This means you’re able to make an informed choice about how much effort it will take to keep your kitchen clean. Let’s explore:

  • Benchtops – smooth surfaces are the easiest to clean. Materials like quartz or laminate, make for smooth benchtops and are very low maintenance as they don’t require sealing. If you’ve got your heart set on tiles for your new kitchen, keep in mind that the larger the tile size, the less grouting you’ll need to scrub.
  • Fridges – stainless steel fridges have a classic look, however, stainless steel surfaces also tend to show fingerprint smears incredibly well when compared with standard painted aluminium, which is the material of choice for lower cost fridges.
  • Cook tops – the glass ceramic blend plates on many modern cooktops provide a smooth, easy-to-clean surface. While older-style burner and coil cooktops have their charm, it’s significantly harder to keep them clean and the process inevitably involves extracting the coils and scrubbing the caps and grates. 

Easy-Clean Colours 

If something doesn’t look dirty it’s unlikely you’ll think of cleaning it as often right? Hence our recommendation to think about the colours you want to use in your new kitchen, as some colours and shades show up dirt and dust like nothing else.

Pure white is considered ultra-high maintenance because every spill and crumb seems to leap out at you like a neon beacon. Black also shows up dust and grease marks incredibly well. The level of sheen on the surface can also affect the visibility of dirty marks.

So what colours are ‘living friendly?’ That would be your mid tones (neither dark nor light). They tend to be far more forgiving of minor scratches, dirt, dust and spills than say a rich dark blue or really pale yellow.

At Express Kitchens our design team can talk you through the ideal colour scheme for your new kitchen – factoring in ease-of-cleaning and the colour palettes of other rooms in your house.

Simple Design Features that Make Cleaning Easy

If you’re planning a new kitchen, simple design choices can save you cleaning time. Here are two of our favourites: 

  • Easy-open handles – if you’ve ever tried to open a kitchen cupboard with knobs when your hands are dirty, it’s likely you’ve managed to spread the mess to the cupboard doors as well as the knobs. Easy-open handles, which you can grip without touching the cupboards, help restrict dirty finger marks to the handles themselves, avoiding mess build-up on cupboard doors
  • Shelving – open plan shelving can look great and has proved a popular trend in recent years, however, kitchen cupboards have had doors for a long time for good reason – they help keep dust and kitchen messes out of your cupboards.  

When you’re planning your new kitchen it’s an opportunity to make your life easier by incorporating easy-clean materials and design elements. We hope this blog will help you on that path. 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY-CLEANING KITCHEN DESIGN

FREECALL 1800 675 605  OR CONTACT US ONLINE

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Is there any Benefit to Visiting Kitchen Showrooms?

Is there any Benefit to
Visiting Kitchen Showrooms?

What if we told you visiting kitchen showrooms in Brisbane can save you time and money and get you the best kitchen. How you ask?

Read on to find out:

  • The benefits of meeting with kitchen designers face-to-face 
  • Why you need to see products in the flesh 
  • How relying on online shopping can cost you dollars
  • How to prepare before visiting a kitchen showroom 

Free Face-to-face Advice from Experienced Kitchen Designers 

Nothing beats face-to-face interaction to help you make informed decisions. When you search the Internet for kitchen showrooms Brisbane and plan your visit, you’ve created the opportunity to talk one-on-one with experienced kitchen designers. You can pick their brains, and ask as many questions as time permits. This can help you rule out products that may have sounded great, based on your research, but aren’t practical in the flesh. It can also open your eyes to new possibilities as well as exposing you to layouts and designs you may not have considered. The process can save you lots of time compared to trying to find out particular details about each product online, and it can help you design the best kitchen possible.

At Express Kitchens many of our showroom visitors go on to become customers. We think this is partly because their visit gives them the chance to see that we know what we’re talking about and that we offer quality products. Customer visits also help us learn about our customer’s tastes and goals for their new kitchen so we are best equipped to fulfil their vision.  

The Advantages of Seeing Products in the Flesh 

When you visit kitchen showrooms Brisbane, you’ll get an all-encompassing sensory experience. You can open and close cabinet drawers, run your hands across benchtop surfaces, take your shoes off and feel the flooring beneath your feet. This hands-on contact is invaluable. In fact, according to a 2013 study, not being able to touch products is the number one reason consumers list for preferring to shop in traditional stores as opposed to online (Havas Worldwide, 2013).

Visiting a kitchen showroom allows you to see the true colour, size and shape of different products as well as to assess the quality of workmanship and even the sound cupboards make when opened and closed. When you order online and the delivered product is not what you expect, you have to wear the cost and time-loss. Visiting kitchen showrooms in Brisbane can help you save dollars by making sure that when you make your financial investment, you’re buying the ideal product. 

The Extra Costs of Online Shopping vs Visiting Kitchen Showrooms in Brisbane

Did you know that online shopping makes it ridiculously easy to impulse-buy? According to American online retail expert John D. Wells, once we’ve provided an online store with our credit card details and address (proof that we trust the store) this leads us to engage in more impulsive buying behaviour. It doesn’t help that all you have to do is click a mouse (rather than standing in line at a checkout which gives you pause to reflect on what you’re buying).

Now impulse buying is fine, if you’re purchasing $2.50 socks or cheap plastic earrings, but it’s not really how you want to approach shopping for a new kitchen. Your kitchen will last for decades and is a significant investment. The last thing you want to do is waste your money impulse buying items you may not need, or find you don’t really like on further reflection! 

How to Get Ready to Visit Kitchen Showrooms in Brisbane and surrounds 

To get the best out of your visit to kitchen showrooms in Brisbane, there is some prep you can do beforehand like taking measurements of the dimensions of every space in your kitchen. This helps the kitchen designers direct you towards products that will actually fit your space!

Other than that though, that’s what a showroom is for! We invite and welcome you to look around the factory at where your kitchen will be made and see for yourself that we really are 100% Australian owned and made.

TALK FACE-TO-FACE WITH EXPERIENCED KITCHEN DESIGNERS

Visit the Express Kitchens Showroom 
at 8/10 Cerium Street, Narangba Qld 4504
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

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Why Go Local?

Why Buy Local?

If you’re on the search for kitchen cupboards Brisbane, have you thought about sourcing Australian designed and manufactured? These days, it seems like almost everything we buy is manufactured offshore. This may make some merchandise cheaper to come by, yet there are significant benefits to buying local, Australian-made products.

When you spend your hard-earned dollars locally, it supports the wellbeing of both your local and national economy. And, it goes without saying that a healthy economy is beneficial to everybody! Furthermore, when you buy kitchen cupboards Brisbane, factors such as quality of workmanship and customer service can considerably improve when dealing with locally owned and operated businesses.        

Custom Built Kitchen Cupboards Brisbane

When looking to renovate your home, most people have a clear vision of the style and design they want to install. However, finding the products to match this can be difficult. That’s why choosing custom designed and built kitchen cupboards Brisbane is such a convenient solution. If it saves you from endless hours spent scouring through catalogues and stores, that’s definitely a win!

Express Kitchens are a local company offering affordable, custom designed kitchens and installation for the Brisbane region through to Sunshine Coast and surrounds. Another strong reason for buying local is the ability to have face-to-face communication when you engage a product and / or service. We offer free 1 hour consultations, where our designer will pay you a home visit to discuss your unique needs and requirements.

Quality You Can Trust

Express Kitchens is focused on providing products and services that exceed Australian quality standards. Our kitchen cupboards Brisbane and everything else built in our Narangba factory come with a 6 year guarantee. When it comes to manufacture, we choose only high calibre materials to work with, and are confident in the integrity of our workmanship.

As members of the Housing Industry Association of Australia, we’re dedicated to maintaining excellent standards of workmanship. Customers can also enjoy peace of mind in knowing that we hold Queensland Building Construction Commission (QBCC) insurance that covers all work carried out in your home. We take pride in our contribution to the local community, and in delivering superior quality for customer satisfaction.

From Design to Installation – Express Kitchens Has You Covered

From start to finish, Express Kitchens take care of all the details:

  • Consultation: After your in-home design consultation, we use our 3D design technology to create a model of your kitchen renovation.
  • Manufacture: We then build your kitchen cupboards Brisbane and more, in our Narangba factory.
  • Installation: Our team of skilled and efficient tradespeople conduct a speedy 1 day installation for smaller kitchens and laundries. We love providing customers with the experience of ultimate convenience! *Conditions Apply

To get in touch with us about your custom built kitchen cupboards Brisbane or other services, simply phone 1800 675 605, or visit our website for more information.

kitchen cupboards Brisbane
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Modern Kitchen Makeovers

What To Look For When It Comes To Getting Modern Kitchen Makeovers

What To Look For When It Comes
To Getting Modern Kitchen Makeovers

So you’ve just opened your favourite home renovation magazine, and are flicking through the modern kitchen makeovers section for inspiration. Perhaps you’ve been looking at getting your kitchen renovated for some time, but you’re not sure what style or design will best suit your space. Perhaps you have a design in mind, but are not sure what kitchen renovation company to go with.

Whatever the case, we’ve broken down some of the key things to look for when it comes to modern kitchen makeovers, so you can get the dream kitchen you’ve always wanted!

Keep It Consistent

One of the major rules when it comes to modern kitchen makeovers is to keep the design consistent with the rest of your home.

For example, if you’re living in a Queenslander style home with dark wood floorboards, then chances are you’re not going to want to go with a sleek design that won’t suit the look and feel of the rest of your home. You may opt for a modern design still, but one that utilises more natural components, such as natural looking tiles or glass, stone bench tops, stainless steel appliances and cream walls to offset the dark flooring in other parts of the house, as an example.

If your home is spacious and airy, you want your kitchen to feel spacious and airy as well. If your home has a sleek, clean inner-city feel, you’ll want your kitchen to emanate this aesthetic.

All of this is especially important to consider if you plan to sell your home at any point in the future. You want to be sure that the time and money spent on modern kitchen makeovers is going to maximise the value of your property and appeal to potential buyers long-term.

Make Sure It’s Practical

Yes, aesthetic is very important when it comes to modern kitchen makeovers, but so is functional design. In fact, too many people emphasise the aesthetic, and forget about making the kitchen practical!

Remember, the kitchen is the heart of the home. When done right, you can get the best of both worlds; a sleek, modern looking kitchen that has the right aesthetic appeal, and is also completely functional.

We always recommend consulting an expert when it comes to the design and layout for modern kitchen makeovers. Why? Quite simply, an experienced designer can flag potential problem areas you may have overlooked, such as where the fridge is located, the height of the benchtops, where the cabinetry is located, or how ventilation is flowing.

Consult An Expert

With the rising popularity of so many home improvement shows, it’s easy enough to think that you can do your kitchen renovation yourself. While small jobs may be possible, here’s the danger… often, kitchen renovations require licensed experts, such as:

  • Plumbers
  • Electricians
  • Licensed Builders
  • And more

Without the use of licensed, experienced professionals – you risk making major mistakes that could potentially cost you more time and money in fixer uppers long-term.

When you choose an experienced, licensed professional to work with, you know you’re fully covered for workmanship and the various moving parts.

Looking to consult an experienced, professional designer on modern kitchen makeovers? Express Kitchens specialises in transforming Brisbane kitchens from old and outdated, to modern and functional – all done quickly and cost-effectively to ensure you get the modern kitchen makeover you desire. We offer complimentary, no obligation consultations with one of our qualified kitchen designers. To book your Free session, simply submit an enquiry online.

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