Project Costings for cabinetry do not always explain how the total is calculated, so your laundry renovation cost can feel hard to assess. One figure comes from a builder, another from a showroom, and neither explains what you are actually paying for.
The price makes far more sense once you see what sits behind it. At The Kitchen Design Centre, we design and build laundry joinery in our own Melbourne factory, so what follows is a clear look at what shapes your cabinetry investment, not a one-size figure.
Budgeting for laundry cabinetry in a Melbourne home
Published laundry renovation cost ranges swing widely, and there is a reason for that. Most Melbourne providers are showrooms selling cabinetry built by someone else, so their pricing carries an extra margin and less control over what you receive.
We work differently. As one of the very few Victorian companies that designs, manufactures and installs under one roof, we can shape your budget around the joinery itself rather than a supplier’s markup.
That is why we cost every project individually. Your run length, your storage solutions and the labour costs behind installation all move the figure, so a tailored Project Costing will always tell you more than a published range.
Six things that move your laundry cabinetry price
Six variables do most of the work in a laundry cabinetry price, and knowing them upfront helps you brief us clearly and spend where it counts.
Some cost drivers surprise homeowners more than others, so it is worth seeing them laid out:
- Cabinet run and configuration – A longer run with more cabinets costs more, and tight or awkward corners add labour that a simple straight wall does not.
- Layout changes – Moving cabinetry away from the original footprint often triggers plumbing relocation, which brings a plumber back on site and lifts the figure.
- Internal fittings – Pull-out hampers, drying racks and dividers turn a basic cupboard into a working laundry, and each one adds to the build.
- Integrated appliances – Housing your washer and dryer behind cabinetry needs precise joinery and clearances, so it costs more than leaving them exposed.
- Benchtop material – Your choice of surface shifts the price noticeably, from hardwearing laminate through to porcelain.
- Finishing details – Task lighting such as LED lighting under overhead cabinets adds both function and cost to the final fit-off.
Do you need custom laundry cabinets?
Not every laundry needs custom cabinetry, but most Melbourne homes benefit from it. Laundries are rarely a neat rectangle, and a standard cabinet seldom lands where doors, windows and appliances actually sit.
That is where built-to-measure joinery earns its place. In a small laundry renovation, we can size cabinetry around a front-loader, fit a bench over a washing machine, or house washer-dryer combos precisely, using every awkward centimetre a flat-pack would leave stranded.
Should you choose flat pack or custom laundry cabinetry?
Both have their place, so the honest answer depends on your laundry. Flat-pack cabinets suit a straight wall, standard clearances and a tight budget, and modern melamine finishes look sharper than they once did.
Custom joinery earns its keep the moment your space stops cooperating, with odd angles, a run that has to match nearby cabinetry, or a fit-out you want to last a decade or more. If the room is simple, flat-pack may be plenty. If it is not, made-to-measure usually pays off.
How laundry cabinetry fits into a full laundry renovation
Cabinetry is one part of a full laundry renovation, not the whole job. It usually pairs with separate trades, so it helps to know where our work ends and theirs begins.
We design and build the joinery. The rest of the room is handled by licensed trades working around it:
- A plumber and electrician manage the plumbing and electrical work, including any plumbing relocation, new power points and the exhaust fans that keep the room dry.
- A waterproofer completes the waterproofing, and a builder handles any structural changes to the space.
- A tiler lays the porcelain tiles, ceramic tiles or a tiled splashback, while vinyl flooring goes down underneath.
- A painter finishes the walls once the wet trades are done.
One team keeps that whole sequence coordinated, with your client manager as your single point of contact from first plan to final fit-off.
Which surfaces suit your laundry cabinetry?
Your benchtop choice shapes both the look and the price of your laundry, so it is worth weighing early.
Laminate is the practical all-rounder. Modern laminate benchtops are hardwearing, easy to clean and kind to a budget, which makes them a popular laundry surface.
Natural stone sits at the premium end. Stone benchtops bring depth and durability, and warmer neutral tones sit comfortably alongside timber cabinetry, though they carry a higher price and need occasional sealing.
Porcelain and ĒCLOS suit anyone after strong heat and scratch resistance. Porcelain with warm veining is a popular choice right now, and either surface can run up the wall as a splashback for a continuous finish.
Can your kitchen and laundry be built together?
Yes, and combining them usually works in your favour. A kitchen and laundry built together becomes one project. The joinery runs through our Bayswater factory on a single schedule, with matching finishes and hardware throughout.
That also changes where you start. A laundry or mudroom on its own begins with a Discovery Call. A combined project follows our kitchen pathway, starting with a Showroom Tour and then a Project Consultation.
Working with TKDC on your laundry
The Kitchen Design Centre is privately owned by Michael Simpson and Peter Schelfhout, both registered builders with over 60 years of combined design and build experience. They have been designing and building custom cabinetry in Melbourne since 1994, and that hands-on background is why our process holds its shape from first call to final fit-off.
Here is how a laundry project runs with us:
- Discovery Call – Complete the online form or visit a showroom, where our team will guide you through the displays and arrange your call.
- Qualifying conversation – We discuss your space, your storage needs and your timing to confirm the project is a good fit.
- Project Consultation – If it is suitable, you meet a designer who works through layout, materials and your Project Costing.
- Build – Your cabinetry is manufactured in our Bayswater factory to Australian Standards, then tested for fit and function before it leaves.
- Installation – Our own cabinet makers and certified tradespeople install the joinery and complete the fit-off.
Start wherever suits you. Visit our Eltham, Essendon or Blackburn showroom for a guided Showroom Tour, where our showroom team will walk you through the displays, cabinetry and finishes while discussing your laundry. No appointment needed.
If you would rather begin from home, complete the Discovery Call form, and we will be in touch about your project. Your tour includes entry-level costing guidance, with your detailed Project Costing prepared later at your Project Consultation.
FAQs
Do laundry cabinets need to reach the ceiling?
No, though taking them to the ceiling adds useful storage and removes the dust gap above overhead cupboards. The Kitchen Design Centre builds laundry cabinetry to your ceiling height, so the run finishes cleanly whether you extend it or stop short.
How long does custom laundry cabinetry take to make?
Manufacturing time depends on the size of your laundry, your finishes and current production schedules. The Kitchen Design Centre confirms your timeline at the Project Consultation, once your design and selections are locked in.
Will a new laundry add value to your home?
A well-designed laundry adds daily function and presents well to buyers, though the return depends on your home and suburb. The Kitchen Design Centre builds laundry joinery to last, which helps protect that value over time.
Does a laundry renovation need council approval?
Permits are generally only required where work involves external walls, load-bearing walls or new window openings. The Kitchen Design Centre recommends checking with your local council, as most standard laundry renovations do not need approval.
