Layout
Single-wall kitchens
Everything against one wall — fridge, sink, cooktop in a row.
When it works
Tight footprints, studio apartments, sleep-outs, and rental flats where every other layout costs more than the rent justifies.
When it doesn't
Households of 3+ who actually cook. There's nowhere to be at the same time without bumping elbows.
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 | $7k–$14k | 1–2 |
| Mid-tier reno Full new cabinetry | $18k–$32k | 3–5 |
| Premium full Layout changes, top finishes | $32k–$55k | 5–8 |
Medium
8–14m² · most NZ homes
| Tier | Cost band | Weeks on site |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh Doors, bench, splashback | $9k–$17k | 1–2 |
| Mid-tier reno Full new cabinetry | $22k–$38k | 3–5 |
| Premium full Layout changes, top finishes | $38k–$65k | 5–8 |
Large
>14m² · open-plan extensions
| Tier | Cost band | Weeks on site |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh Doors, bench, splashback | $11k–$21k | 1–2 |
| Mid-tier reno Full new cabinetry | $26k–$45k | 3–5 |
| Premium full Layout changes, top finishes | $45k–$78k | 5–8 |
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 single-wall kitchens
2 of 12 directory renovators list this as a speciality.
Hutt Valley value specialist — fair-priced laminate-and-Formica refresh work that lasts ten years, not two.
Dunedin's value-tier workhorse — kitchens that work for the city's older housing stock.