Making the decision to renovate your kitchen is a big one. Choosing the right kitchen company for you 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
Both Kitchen Shack and Bunnings specialise in budget- friendly kitchens, although the products and service differs. Kitchen Shack specialises in cost-effective kitchens and laundries like Bunnings, and offers many storage solutions. It targets DIY’ers and renovators looking for easy installation at an affordable price. Bunnings is a major large retailer often dealing with flat-pack, modular kitchens.
Australian Owned and Made
Significantly, Kitchen Shack is both Australian owned and the product is Australian made. From a customer viewpoint, buying Australian product may be associated with a higher quality overall. With Kitchen Shack, it’s manufacturing is Melbourne based which allows for effective quality control and turnaround.
Both Kitchen Shack and Bunnings work primarily with standard sized cabinetry products. This enables pricing to remain lower than companies dealing in custom sizing. Both Kitchen Shack and Bunnings work to standard sizing.
Whilst Kitchen Shack specialises in kitchens, laundries and storage options, and offers a quality range of cabinetry and benchtops, Bunnings 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 larger being 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.
Flat pack is good if you need to load onto a trailer and transport further away – this is where Bunnings is well suited. It may be easier for a DIY’er to install pre-assembled to save time and labour costs, making it cheaper to install overall. It also ensures the quality of installation remains 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 a design and supply company, offering 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 personalised service offered from start to finish in any of Kitchen Shack’s 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. Bunnings offers both in store and in home design services.
Experienced Designer sole point of contact from start to finish
The Kitchen Shack one-on-one personalised, experienced service ensures the customer is receiving not only an a functional kitchen. The designer works in 3D in a collaborative way to ensure that customers are happy with their new kitchen, laundry and storage options. Customers receive attention from the same designer throughout their entire project.
By Kitchen Shack offering an in-store design, the process is made more affordable for the customer. Once the customer proceeds with Kitchen Shack, and they have decided to use a recommended installer then a free check-measure is done onsite. Bunnings offers an in-store design service ($49) and 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 |
| Wide range and flexible standard cabinetry range 200mm to 1200mm Depth 580mm or 445mm |
Standard modular Cabinets 150-900mm Depth 580mm |
| Pre-assembled cabinetry to save time and labour costs | Flat pack |
| Cabinetry edging applied at manufacturing for better sealing and consistency | Cabinetry edges more likely to require onsite modifications |
| Hettich Hardware | Hettich Hardware |
| 10 Year Warranty | 10 Year Warranty |
| Same Designer throughout the project available for assistance 6 days a week | From designer to other team members throughout project |
| Free In-Store Design Service | $49 in-store and $99 in home Design Service |
| Cabinetry $9,000+ pre-assembled cabinetry and benchtops | $9,000+ flat pack cabinetry and benchtops |
| Installation Labour $2,000 – $3,000 | Installation Labour $2,500 to $4,000 |
| Smoother renovation with less onsite assembly, personalised service creating less stress. | Cheaper on raw materials upfront, DIY preference and renovation often taking longer due to assembly. |