Custom kitchens for new homes and extensions

Why get a custom kitchen for a new home?

Volume builders offer a standard kitchen range with upgrade options. That suits some people, but if you cook a lot, entertain or just want the kitchen to be the best room in the house, a custom kitchen designed for your plans gives you control over the layout, storage, materials and appliances.

Talk to your builder early

Some builders will leave the kitchen out of their contract so a cabinet maker can supply and install it. Others will only let you upgrade through their own trades. Ask before you sign, and get your kitchen designed before the plumbing and electrical rough-in, so the sink, cooktop, power points and lighting end up exactly where the design needs them.

Knock-down rebuilds and extensions

A knock-down rebuild or a rear extension is the best chance you'll get to put the kitchen in the right spot: facing north for winter sun, opening to the outdoor area, with room for an island and a pantry. In an extension, the new kitchen usually becomes the hub of a combined kitchen, dining and family room, so it pays to plan the joinery for the whole space at the same time.

Popular in new Adelaide kitchens

• Butler's pantries and sculleries with a second sink and bench space
• Long islands with seating, storage and a waterfall end
• Integrated fridges, dishwashers and rangehoods for a clean look
• Porcelain or sintered stone benchtops in large slabs
• A servery window or bench that links the kitchen to the alfresco

Plan the outdoor kitchen at the same time

If you'd like an outdoor kitchen, plan it alongside the indoor one. Running gas, water, drainage and power to the alfresco is much easier and cheaper before the slab and walls are finished.