Kitchen Renovation in Victoria

On-site work for a straightforward same-layout kitchen runs 2-4 weeks; layout changes with plumbing, gas, or electrical rework push it to 4-8 weeks. The hidden timeline is before day one: custom cabinetry commonly has 4-10 week manufacturing lead times, so order early and only demolish once delivery is confirmed.

Yes, and it is the single biggest saver. Keeping the sink, stove, and appliance positions avoids rerouting water, waste, gas, and heavy electrical circuits — which means less demolition, fewer trades, and no re-certification of services. Spend the savings on better cabinets and benchtops, which you touch every day.

Flat-pack (IKEA-type) is the budget floor and works well in standard-shaped rooms with a good installer. Semi-custom modular ranges fit most kitchens at mid price. Fully custom joinery costs a large premium and earns it only for awkward spaces, non-standard heights, or specific design goals. The door and drawer hardware quality matters more to daily life than the box construction.

Kitchen companies bundle design, cabinetry, and installation — convenient, mid-to-premium pricing, but their trades coordination varies. A general contractor suits kitchens with structural or layout changes. Buying cabinets yourself and hiring an installer plus plumber and electrician is cheapest but makes you the project manager. Match the model to how much rework your kitchen needs, not to the showroom experience.

The HIA Kitchens and Bathrooms Report 2025 puts the median kitchen at about AUD 35,000, with hipages bracketing budget/cosmetic renovations at $10,000-$22,000 and mid-range at $22,000-$45,000; premium custom kitchens run $45,000-$120,000.

Since the July 2024 prohibition on high-silica engineered stone, quotes typically offer porcelain/sintered surfaces, natural granite, low- or zero-silica engineered products, laminate, and timber. Prices for porcelain and natural stone run at or above old engineered-stone levels, so re-check any pre-ban budget you're working from.