Salt Renovations are one of Canberra’s leading kitchen renovation companies. Photo: Kylie Verdouw
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in any home. It is a hub of activity and focal point for the rest of the house or apartment.
Whether you’re looking to maximise your space for storage, invest in state-of-the-art appliances or give things a more modern look, renovating your kitchen can be one of the best improvements to your home. It can also add value if you plan to sell or lease in future.
Given how important this heart of the home is in our daily lives, choosing a quality, reliable kitchen renovation company to bring your ideas to life might seem daunting. In this article, we’ll outline the most important factors to consider when looking for a local kitchen renovation company, and detail a list of some of Canberra’s best.
What makes a great kitchen renovation company?
Keep an eye out for the following must-have traits when looking for the very best kitchen renovation companies in the nation’s capital:
- Eye for detail. The best kitchen renovation companies don’t cut corners. Instead, they pay attention to every last detail. You don’t want to be left with an uneven surface or a leaky tap.
- Skills and experience. When renovating your kitchen, you want the hard work completed by skilled professionals who have extensive experience working on all kinds of kitchens. Check out your preferred company’s portfolio to see what previous work they has done and whether it meets your expectations.
- Reliable and efficient. If not done right, renovations can be messy and disruptive to daily life. The best kitchen renovation companies in Canberra work to minimise disruption, clean up after themselves and make sure they meet your requirements within a fair timeline.
- Effective communication. Sometimes things don’t go to plan. If something goes wrong, reputable renovators will always communicate this to you properly and offer sound advice to minimise delays.
- Well priced. Kitchens aren’t cheap, and more often than not, you get what you pay for. That said, there is a fair amount of choice out there and ways you can save if your budget is a little tighter than most. Don’t be afraid to shop around for quotes from different companies to compare prices and packages.
The best kitchen renovation companies in Canberra
Riotact’s editorial team has combed through 20 years of on-site comments to compile a list of the most recommended businesses according to you.
To be listed in our Best of Canberra series, each business needs to have consistently received positive feedback on Riotact and maintained a minimum average of 4/5 stars on both Google and Facebook reviews.
Salt Renovations
Salt Renovations effortlessly transforms kitchens into welcoming spaces that are as practical as they are beautiful.
The team of renovation specialists also renovates bathrooms and laundries, and creates stunning interior designs. With more than 50 years of collective experience, they reimagine kitchens to be inviting and functional, adding value to each home they work within.
Salt Renovations’ project manager, operations manager and professional designers make Canberra kitchen renovations as flawless as possible. The unified team follows a five-step process specifically targeted to meet clients' goals.
Each project is managed with great attention to deal, from design through construction and finishing touches. It all starts with a no-obligation, in-home consultation where staff tease out clients' on ideas and discuss potential features.
Salt Renovations incorporates high-quality materials, innovative approaches and new technologies for a smooth, stress-free experience. Kitchen designs include practical considerations to task zones and lifestyle needs, provide extra storage and world-class fittings and finishes.
Clear and detailed quotes give clients peace of mind that projects will be handled efficiently and within budget.
"... the Salt difference showed us what could, and should, be done," Bruce Comber said online.
"Oli visited us in early October and said, 'We can have this done before Christmas', and to our delight, it was, and to a very high standard.
"Salt’s tradies were great; polite, communicative, punctual and their work was of a high standard. They were thorough and left no mess. It is clear that ethical engagement and product is forefront."
Mark Sheppard Bathrooms and Renovations
Homeowners undertaking a kitchen renovation want their vision brought to life by someone they can trust. Mark Sheppard Bathrooms and Renovations (MSBR) is Canberra’s only fixed-price renovator, which means no hidden costs and no surprises.
As 'Canberra’s most trusted partner in redefining the essence of living spaces', MSBR understands the true weight of their mission - to design and deliver renovations that make each home they work on a sanctuary for those living within.
This family business is leading the local renovation industry using an online project management tool to provide daily updates and photos, making each project fully transparent, trackable and shareable. Through the tool clients can also choose, approve and alter their design and products.
Mark Sheppard Bathrooms and Renovations are well equipped to assist with kitchen renovations of any size. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
A dedicated interior designer helps plan each dream space, and will even go shopping with clients to help them pick the perfect products. All tradespeople are fully qualified and the majority are employed directly by MSBR, rather than subcontracted. The company also guarantees its work with an industry-first 20 year waterproofing warranty.
MSBR specialises in quality renovations of kitchens, bathrooms, laundries and full homes. It's an end-to-end service from design to build that has garnered plenty of attention, with clients across Canberra singing the team's praises.
Riotact commenter Paul King says, "Mark and his team were recommended to us by a friend. From start to finish, Mark and his team were professional, courteous and obviously well trained. If they said they were attending on a certain day, you could be guaranteed the team would be on site. Mark would only accept absolute perfection."
Instyle Kitchen Renovations
Locally owned and operated, Instyle Kitchen Renovations has a solid reputation as one of the region's leading design and construction kitchen services. Specialising in kitchen renovations, the business offers end-to-end packages tailored to all budgets, styles and requirements, with a 100 percent guarantee.
These experts maximise kitchen through thoughtful, customised design and building. They also handle sourcing of first-class fixtures, fittings, finishes and other hardware, and have plumbing and electrical covered.
The fully licensed and insured team is known for their impeccable craftsmanship and flair for innovation, making every project both beautiful and functional.
Leveraging more than 15 years’ experience in the industry, Instyle employs a certified project manager with the Australian Institute of Project Management. A professional interior designer is also on hand for that personal touch.
Instyle offers timely advice, recommendations and service. Clients can get started with a free in-home consultation to explore designs and planning. Reliable, detailed quotes have no hidden costs, and booking online is easy.
The expert Instyle team also offers world-class laundry and bathroom renovations to help modernise, maximise and add value to your home.
Suman wrote on Google, "High attention to detail, through planning, accurate quotes and communicates clearly to keep us informed of what to expect when. Sends photos and provides daily updates."
Are you about to start renovating your home and need some recommendations for helpful services? Check out our articles on the best renovation companies, bathroom renovation companies, best joiners, best house painters, best flooring specialists, best carpenters, best tilers and best plasterers for some useful guides to Canberra’s top services. And, to connect your new kitchen with your smart home, check out our article on the best home automation system installers in the region.
Your experience with kitchen renovation companies in Canberra
Thanks to our commenters who have provided insightful feedback. If you believe we have got it wrong, please let us know.
Have you had experience with any of the kitchen renovation companies listed above? If so, share your feedback in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I hire a kitchen renovation company?
While it is possible to make small adjustments to your kitchen yourself, these changes will be superficial. You might be able to replace the taps on your sink, but this won't have much of an effect on your kitchen's water efficiency; you could give the walls a fresh coat of paint, but unless you can adjust the ventilation in your kitchen the walls will still be affected by smoke and steam. Hiring a professional for a full renovation allows you to make fundamental changes that will improve how your kitchen works and, in the long run, make your life much easier.
Why should I remodel my kitchen?
Your kitchen might need remodelling if you are finding it a difficult space to work in. Do you have enough storage space? Do your appliances work properly? Is it a nice room to be in aesthetically? If it is causing you headaches of any kind, consider talking to a renovation company about design plans to see how you can make your kitchen an enjoyable place to be in.
How can I modernise my kitchen?
To achieve a modern-looking kitchen, keep an eye out for the current trends - such as open shelving, white-stone countertops, under-cabinet lighting, or lots of natural light.
You could also modernise your kitchen with appliances that are newer and more environmentally friendly. These changes will not only save you money but also keep your home green.
How much does the average Canberra kitchen renovation cost?
This is a difficult question to answer. First, consider the construction of your home. A brick veneer house with timber flooring will be cheaper to renovate than full brick walls with concrete on ground.
Next, ask yourself what kind of renovation you're doing. Will you be making changes to the layout, walls or doors? What level of quality (and expense) will your materials, appliances and additions be? Will your renovator professionally manage the entire project? Is there silica or asbestos in the home, and are plumbing approvals required?
While there's no truly comprehensive answer, a good starting point for your budget is $50K to $75K plus appliances for the average kitchen.
And remember - you get what you pay for!
Will renovating my kitchen add value to my home?
Many prospective buyers and renters don't want to move into a home that needs work, so a recently renovated kitchen is far more appealing to the wider market. Having an updated, functional, modern and aesthetically pleasing kitchen will allow you to market your home for a higher price than you might have been able to with an out-of-date kitchen, and eventually pay for the work you had done on it.
