If you’ve ever been curious about using custom joinery in your kitchen or laundry renovation, read on. We have picked the brains of seasoned renovator Kirrily Baty and why she opted for custom joinery over flat-pack.
Photography Mark Zeidler
Everyone has that friend or family member that helps them out with their reno. And for me that person is Kirrily. When I first started renovating – it was Kirrily that hooked me up with tradies she recommended and even her husband completed our bathroom and laundry demolition! She was also the person to tell me about JMK Joinery – local cabinetmakers on the northside of Brisbane who ended up doing my laundry cabinetry and guest bedroom custom study nook desk and open shelves. I asked Kirrily why she opted for custom joinery over flat pack and here’s what she said.
Tell us why you opted for custom joinery instead of flat pack for your home?
We have installed flat pack kitchens in previous renovation projects and achieved great results. However, being our own home, we felt high-end, custom joinery was the only option for this renovation.
The kitchen was an irregular size so going custom enabled us to have the joinery (i.e. cupboards and drawers) built perfectly to fit the space. This meant we didn’t have to use false panels to fill gaps, as is often the case with flat pack kitchens. We also wanted a bulkhead for a seamless look. This again required the help of a professional because we have a sloping ceiling. In addition, we both worked full time whilst undertaking the renovation, so custom joinery meant we saved a lot of time.
Another reason we opted for custom joinery was because we wanted to use the existing joinery carcass in our laundry which was in perfect condition. JMK Joinery was able to replace the doors and bulkhead to the exact measurements of the previous joinery, which is something we could not have achieved with a flat pack.
Have you used flat pack before and if so how do you think it compares to custom joinery?
Yes, we have used flat pack previously, but only in small and not overly complex projects. From our experience the quality was really good for the price. For example, the drawers were soft closing and the finishes were better than we expected. We did need to use false panels where drawers or cupboards wouldn’t fit, so we didn’t necessarily achieve the same high-end, custom result.
Joiners are experts at what they do so they can also make suggestions, give advice and come up with good ideas for a space. JMK Joinery found with our design we had additional space under our benchtop. So, they created a large hidden cupboard for extra storage. This expertise is something you miss out on with the flat pack option.
It’s probably worth noting, we found the installation process, from ordering, to assembling the individual components, to installing the joinery, really time consuming with flat pack kitchens. On top of this we had to manage and coordinate our own trades. In our opinion there’s no comparison between custom joinery and flat packs if you have a reasonable budget, especially if you are working to deadlines.
Did JMK Joinery take care of everything for you including stone install and mirrored splash back and if so what did you like about that kind of service?
Yes, JMK Joinery took care of everything. In addition to ordering, coordinating and arranging the installation of the stone benchtop and mirrored splash back, they organised the plumber and electrician.
That kind of service was a god send. Not only did we save time, it meant our benchtop and mirror were sized and installed perfectly. The quote we received for our kitchen and laundry also covered everything. We knew the costs up front and there were no nasty surprises at the end.
What colour is your cabinetry in the kitchen and laundry?
Our kitchen and laundry are both Dulux Vivid White. Our benchtop is Smartstone Statuario Venato.