Resources & FAQ

The cost for a professional kitchen designer can vary. Some charge an hourly rate, typically from $100 to $300 per hour. Others might charge a flat fee for the entire design, or a percentage (around 10-15%) of the total renovation cost. Many kitchen companies also offer in-house design services, which are often included if you proceed with them for the build.

Get your free quote from us. Send us a message.

While a $5,000 budget can give your kitchen a great cosmetic refresh – think painting doors, new handles, and maybe a new laminate benchtop – it typically doesn’t cover the custom joinery and professional trades involved in a full renovation. This budget usually relies on you doing most of the work yourself.

For a project that includes designing and building a brand-new, customised kitchen, a budget of $10,000 and up is a more realistic starting point. Here at Darling Downs Joinery, this is where we specialise. A budget at this level allows us to work with you to create a unique and durable kitchen you’ll truly love, using quality materials and expert craftsmanship.

Yes, you can achieve a fantastic new kitchen with a $12,000 budget. This is a popular starting point for many small sized kitchen renovations and allows for a significant and beautiful transformation.

The key is to focus on the areas that will have the biggest impact on your space. We invite you to get in touch for a free quote—simply tell us which parts of your kitchen you’d like to renovate, and we can show you how to get the best value from your budget.

See the benefits of a kitchen renovator with 3D design.

The cost of a kitchen renovation varies widely based on the size of your space, the materials you choose, and the scope of work involved. As a general guide for 2025, it’s helpful to think about it in three tiers:

Budget Renovation: $15,000 – $25,000. This typically includes quality flat-pack cabinets, laminate benchtops, and standard appliances.

Mid-Range Renovation: $25,000 – $45,000. This is the most common range. It allows for high-quality custom-made joinery, engineered stone benchtops (like Caesarstone), better appliances, and professional installation.

High-End Renovation: $45,000+. For this, you can expect a premium, fully customised kitchen featuring high-end stone benchtops, top-of-the-range appliances, and potentially structural changes to the room.

These tiers are a great starting point, but the best results come from a kitchen that is perfectly tailored to your home and budget. Our team specialises in customising renovations to match your vision.

Let’s discuss what’s possible for your project. Talk to our team of kitchen design experts in Toowoomba today to get started.

Without a doubt, the cabinetry and joinery are almost always the biggest expense in a kitchen renovation. They can account for 30-40% of your total budget. The other major costs are benchtops, appliances, and labour from tradespeople.

A great place to start is by asking friends and family for recommendations. You can also visit local kitchen showrooms to see their work and chat with their designers. Online platforms like Houzz Australia are excellent for finding local designers, viewing their portfolios, and reading reviews from past clients.

See our gallery to have a glimpse of our completed projects.

While a simple cosmetic update might only take a week, a full renovation has a few stages. A realistic timeline is usually between 4 to 8 weeks from the start of construction to completion. This doesn’t include the initial design and planning phase, which can take an extra 2 to 6 weeks.

Understanding your ideal timeframe is a key part of our planning process. By learning more about your project and any specific deadlines you have, we can create a clear schedule that works for you.

Get in touch with our team today to start the conversation.

A typical construction timeline provides a clear week-by-week guide for what to expect:

Week 1: Demolition of the old kitchen and the initial “rough-in” for essential plumbing and electrical services.

Weeks 2-3: The exciting part begins with the installation of your new custom cabinets, followed by the benchtops and splashbacks.

Week 4: The final fit-off, where we connect all plumbing and electrical points, install your appliances, and complete any finishing touches like flooring or painting.

While this schedule is a great guide, the most important part of any project is communication. Delays can occasionally happen, perhaps due to custom material orders or unexpected issues during demolition.

That’s why at Darling Downs Joinery, we make it our priority to provide you with regular progress updates, so you are always in the loop.

We’d love to create a timeline tailored specifically to your project. Get in touch with us today to start the discussion.

Flat-pack kitchens are made in standard sizes and come ready to assemble on-site. They are a cost-effective option. Custom-made kitchens are built from scratch by a cabinet maker or joiner to fit your space perfectly. This allows for unique designs, better use of space, and a wider choice of materials and finishes, but it comes at a higher cost.

In Australia, there are several fantastic options for cabinet doors and panels. The most common choices are:

Laminate: Very durable, budget-friendly, and available in a huge range of colours and finishes.
2-Pac (Polyurethane): A premium painted finish that offers a seamless, modern look. It can be customised to any colour in a matte, satin, or gloss finish.
Vinyl Wrap: A plastic vinyl coating that is heat-shrunk over a cabinet door. It’s a popular mid-range option that can provide a similar look to 2-Pac.
Timber Veneer: A thin layer of real wood applied to a substrate. It gives the beautiful, natural warmth of timber without the price tag of solid wood cabinets.

Each of these materials has unique pros and cons, and the best choice depends on your budget, style, and how you use your kitchen.

If you’d like to learn more, our team would be happy to walk you through the options and help you find the perfect fit for your renovation. Let’s discuss your needs today!

The “best” material is always the one that best suits your budget, style, and lifestyle. Here are some of the most popular choices in Australia:

Engineered Stone (e.g., Caesarstone, Silestone): The top choice for many homeowners. It’s extremely durable, non-porous (so it resists stains), and comes in a huge variety of colours and patterns.

Laminate: The most budget-friendly option. Modern laminates have seen huge improvements in quality and can realistically mimic the look of stone or timber.

Natural Stone (e.g., Marble, Granite): A premium choice for a high-end, beautiful finish. Granite is very hard-wearing, while marble offers a timeless, luxurious look but requires more maintenance and care.

Timber: Offers a warm, natural, and rustic feel. It requires regular oiling to keep it looking its best and protect it from stains and water.
It can be tricky to decide with so many beautiful materials available! If you’re not sure which direction to go, we can help.

By discussing your plans and how you use your kitchen, we can work together to find the perfect surface for your home. Reach out to our team to get started.

Standard hinges are the basic, functional option. Soft-close hinges and drawer runners have a built-in mechanism that catches the door or drawer in the last few centimetres of closing, shutting it slowly and silently. They prevent slamming, reduce wear and tear on your cabinets, and are a fantastic quality-of-life feature.

Handleless cabinets are very popular for creating a sleek, minimalist look. They are usually opened via a recessed channel (“shark nose”) or a push-to-open mechanism. They look fantastic but can sometimes show fingerprints more easily, especially on gloss finishes. They are a stylish and practical choice for modern kitchens.