Remodel · Premium tier
Remodel: Change the layout, not just the kitchen
A kitchen remodel moves the layout: the sink, waste, range or a wall changes position. In New Zealand that lands in the premium tier of $45,000–90,000 (CheckMyBuilder, July 2026), with plumbing relocation adding $3,000–8,000 and removing a structural wall $5,000–15,000 on top of the kitchen itself.
Not taking payment for this yet. Remodels often involve restricted building work, which must be done or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner. We are not an LBP and we will not pretend otherwise, so Remodel stays on the waitlist until our builder partner is contracted. Send us your kitchen and we will tell you honestly where things stand.
What changes
- A new layout, drawn to scale at the consult
- Sink, waste and appliances relocated by the trades licensed to do it
- An island or peninsula with services run to it
- Structural changes where the design needs them
- Everything in Replace
What stays
- Whatever the design keeps: the point of the consult is deciding that with drawings, not guesses
What is not included
- Design, consent and structural work we cannot contract yet (see below)
- Extensions and new rooms
- Anything requiring a Licensed Building Practitioner until our builder partner is signed
Who this suits
A villa or bungalow where the kitchen is in the wrong room
Opening the kitchen to a living space
Adding an island to a galley
Remodel questions
Why is Remodel on the waitlist?
Because removing or altering a load-bearing wall is restricted building work, and it has to be carried out or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner. We are not one. Until our LBP builder partner is signed we take your details and a brief, and we do not take money.
What does moving the plumbing cost?
Between $3,000 and $8,000 in addition to the kitchen (CheckMyBuilder, July 2026), depending on how far the waste has to travel and what the floor is made of. An authorised plumber does the work.
Will a remodel need consent?
Very often, yes: structural changes and new plumbing runs are the usual triggers. Check canibuildit.govt.nz and your council early, because consent time sits on top of the build programme.
Sources
- CheckMyBuilder, kitchen renovation cost (updated July 2026)
- Superior Renovations, kitchen renovation cost Auckland (2026)
Checked 15 September 2026. We re-check every published figure quarterly.
Want the real number for your kitchen?
$595 buys two layouts drawn to scale and a line-item budget you can price anywhere.
Book a design consult →