Making the decision to renovate your kitchen is a big one. Choosing which kitchen company to use is even more important.
Factors such as price, quality, product range and installation are all factors to consider when selecting a kitchen company.
Whilst there are a range of kitchen renovation companies from which to choose, Kitchen Shack and Bunnings are often directly compared when it comes to cost-effective DIY options to save money.
Quality and Price
Even though Kitchen Shack and Bunnings both specialise in budget- friendly kitchens, their service and product assembly differs. Kitchen Shack specialises in cost-effective kitchens and laundries, and offers high- end storage solutions. It targets DIY’ers and renovators looking for fast, easy installation at an affordable price. Bunnings on the other hand, is a major retailer dealing with flat-pack, modular kitchens.
Australian Owned and Made
Significantly, Kitchen Shack is both Australian owned and the product is Australian made. Bunnings uses imported product and then finishes their product locally. From a customer viewpoint, buying Australian product may be associated with a higher quality overall. With Kitchen Shack, its manufacturing is Melbourne based which also allows for more effective quality control and quicker turnaround.
Kitchen Shack and Bunnings are similar in the sense that they both offer cost-effective cabinetry options, but they differ in a number of key points.
Both Kitchen Shack and Bunnings work primarily with standard sized cabinetry products. This enables them to keep their pricing lower than companies dealing in custom sizing. Both Kitchen Shack and Bunnings work to standard sizing, Kitchen Shack offers a wider range of standard sizing when it comes to its cabinetry.
Whilst Kitchen Shack specialises in kitchens, laundries and storage options, and offers a beautiful, quality range of cabinetry and benchtops, Bunnings does also offer an extensive variety of cabinets, benchtops, doors, and other hardware items. Kitchen Shack works primarily to the Melbourne market and within Victoria, whereas Bunnings is Australia and New Zealand wide.
Pre-assembled cabinetry
A key difference between Kitchen Shack and Bunnings cabinetry is that Kitchen Shack cabinetry comes pre-assembled rather than flat-pack.
Not only does this make it easier for a DIY installer to install, but it saves on time and labour, making it cheaper to install overall. It also means that the quality of installation is higher for those who may not be experienced with installation as the cabinetry is already pre-assembled. Note, large pantry units may need to be assembled onsite due to height and weight.
Kitchen Shack is primarily a design and supply company, it also provides experienced recommended installers should the customer wish to employ an installer directly.
Free in-store design service
In terms of service, Kitchen Shack offers customers a free in-store Design and Quote. This is a highly personalised service offered from start to finish in any of Kitchen Shacks five showrooms. After the customer has chosen their finishes in the showroom, one of Kitchen Shack professional and experienced designers creates a highly functional kitchen or laundry to specifically suit the customer’s needs.
Experienced Designer sole point of contact from start to finish
This one-on-one personalised, experienced service guarantees the customer is receiving not only an aesthetically pleasing kitchen but also a highly functional one. The designer works in 3D in a collaborative way to ensure that customers are delighted with their new kitchen, laundry and storage options. Customers receive attention from the same designer throughout their entire project.
By Kitchen Shack offering its initial design consult instore, the process is made more affordable for the customer. Once the customer proceeds with Kitchen Shack, one of the recommended installers does a full check-measure onsite. Bunnings offers an in-store design service ($49) or an in-home design consultation ($99), applicable whether or not the customer proceeds with the renovation.
Please refer to the table below for a summary of the key differences between a Kitchen Shack and a Bunnings Kitchen then book your free in-store design with one of our experienced designers.
| KITCHEN SHACK | BUNNINGS KITCHENS |
| Kitchen Shack | Kaboodle |
| Australian Made and Owned in Melbourne | Imported and local finishing in Australia |
| Wider range and flexibility standard cabinetry range 200mm to 1200mm Depth 580mm or 445mm Tall Pantry height 1920-2305mm | Standard modular Cabinets 150-900mm Depth 580mm Tall Pantry height 2345mm |
| Pre-assembled cabinetry to save time and labour costs | Flat pack – cheaper upfront but overall project with longer install time costs more |
| Cabinetry edging applied under controlled conditions at manufacturing for better sealing and consistency.. | Cabinetry edges more likely to require onsite modifications due to limited range |
| Suspension rail for installation | Directly screws from backboard to wall |
| Hettich Hardware | Hettich Hardware |
| 10 Year Warranty | 10 Year Warranty |
| Same Designer throughout the project available for assistance 6 days a week | Multiple team members throughout project, service often difficult for assistance |
| Free In-Store personalised Design Service | $49-$99 paid Design Service |
| Cabinetry $9,000 – $10,500 quality pre-assembled cabinets and benchtops | $10,000 flat pack cabinetry with laminate benchtops |
| Installation Labour $2,000-$3,000 | $2,500 to $4,000 |
| Smoother, quicker renovation with less onsite assembly with personalised service from start to finish creating a lower stress renovation | Cheaper on raw materials, DIY preference, with increased onsite time and renovation often taking longer and more stressful |