Layout
L-shaped kitchens
Two adjacent runs of bench meeting at a corner.
When it works
Most kiwi family kitchens. Forgiving on awkward room shapes; leaves space for a small dining table.
When it doesn't
Long, narrow rooms — you waste one wall. And the inside-corner cabinet is always a fight.
Cost matrix — 2026 NZD
All-in pricing: demolition, plumbing, electrical, cabinetry, benchtop, splashback, appliances install, painting. Treat them as bands, not quotes.
Compact
<8m² · apartment / sleep-out
| Tier | Cost band | Weeks on site |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh Doors, bench, splashback | $10k–$18k | 2–3 |
| Mid-tier reno Full new cabinetry | $24k–$42k | 4–7 |
| Premium full Layout changes, top finishes | $45k–$75k | 7–11 |
Medium
8–14m² · most NZ homes
| Tier | Cost band | Weeks on site |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh Doors, bench, splashback | $13k–$23k | 2–3 |
| Mid-tier reno Full new cabinetry | $30k–$52k | 4–7 |
| Premium full Layout changes, top finishes | $55k–$95k | 7–11 |
Large
>14m² · open-plan extensions
| Tier | Cost band | Weeks on site |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh Doors, bench, splashback | $16k–$28k | 2–3 |
| Mid-tier reno Full new cabinetry | $36k–$65k | 4–7 |
| Premium full Layout changes, top finishes | $68k–$120k | 7–11 |
Tier breakdown
Cosmetic refresh
Doors, bench, splashback
Cabinet boxes stay. Doors, drawer fronts, benchtop and splashback get replaced. Often new appliances. No structural work, no services changes.
Full scope detail →Mid-tier reno
Full new cabinetry
Full new cabinetry, benchtop, splashback, appliances. Services upgraded as needed. Layout broadly stays the same; walls don't move.
Full scope detail →Premium full
Layout changes, top finishes
Down to the framing. Walls open, services rerouted, structural where needed, top-tier appliances and finishes (engineered stone or solid surface, integrated everything).
Full scope detail →Renovators who specialise in l-shaped kitchens
6 of 12 directory renovators list this as a speciality.
Mid-tier specialist — does refreshes and full renos with the same attention. Excellent for first-time renovators.
Hutt Valley value specialist — fair-priced laminate-and-Formica refresh work that lasts ten years, not two.
Christchurch's volume mid-tier renovator — sharp pricing, predictable lead times, no nonsense.
Hamilton's quiet quality option — small studio, careful work, books out 4 months ahead.
Dunedin's value-tier workhorse — kitchens that work for the city's older housing stock.
Manawatu's straight-shooter — refresh and mid-tier work for sensible Palmerston North families.