Who a makeover suits
Makeovers work best in kitchens that are between ten and twenty-five years old, with a layout the family likes. That describes a lot of homes in Kellyville, Rouse Hill, North Kellyville and Beaumont Hills, where project home kitchens were designed in an open-plan format but fitted with builder-range doors and finishes.
Signs a makeover could be enough:
- The island, sink and cooktop are in the right places.
- The cabinets are solid, with no water damage.
- The pantry is a reasonable size.
- The problem is how it looks, not how it works.
Signs you need a full renovation:
- Water damage around the sink or dishwasher.
- Not enough storage, or the pantry is in the wrong place.
- You want an island where there is none, or a butler's pantry.
- Appliances no longer fit the existing openings.
What changes
Doors and drawer fronts. Two-pack painted, textured laminate, timber veneer or thermoformed, in a new colour or profile.
Hardware. New handles, or finger pulls and push-to-open for a handleless look. Hinges and runners upgraded to soft-close.
Benchtops. A new surface such as porcelain, natural stone, solid surface, laminate or timber. See benchtops and splashbacks.
Splashback. A full-height slab, a large tile or a glass splashback.
Sink and tapware. An undermount sink, a pull-out mixer or a filtered water tap.
Lighting. LED strip lighting under wall cabinets and new pendants over the island.
Appliances. Swapped where the new models fit the existing openings.
A popular 2010s makeover
A typical Rouse Hill or Kellyville kitchen from the early 2010s has gloss white or woodgrain laminate doors, a 20mm stone-look benchtop, a glass splashback and chrome handles. A makeover might change it to:
- Two-tone doors, with a deeper colour on the island and light uppers.
- A thicker-look porcelain benchtop with a mitred edge.
- A tiled or slab splashback running to the rangehood.
- Brushed brass or black hardware and tapware.
- New pendant lights over the island.
Timing
Because the carcasses stay, the kitchen is often usable for much of the job. Demolition is limited, and the main wait is benchtop fabrication after templating. Many makeovers are finished within one to two weeks on site.
Costs
See the cost guide for makeover and renovation bands side by side.
Call 02 4404 0243 or share your kitchen plans.
Complete the kitchen
Kitchen Renovations
Complete kitchen rebuilds planned around hosting: layout, cabinetry, benchtops, appliances and lighting, delivered as one managed project.
Island & Open-Plan Kitchens
Walls opened and islands sized so guests can sit, talk and help without getting in the cook's way.
Butler's Pantries & Sculleries
A working back room for the platters, the dishes and the coffee machine, so the main kitchen stays photo-ready when people arrive.
Benchtops & Splashbacks
Porcelain, natural stone, solid surface and timber surfaces chosen for a busy entertaining kitchen, now that engineered stone is banned.
Alfresco Kitchens
Barbecue benches, sinks and servery connections under the alfresco roof, built for long summer evenings in the backyard.
Questions people ask before they commit
What is included in a kitchen makeover?
Typically new cabinet doors and drawer fronts, handles, benchtops, splashback, sink and tapware, and sometimes new appliances and lighting. The existing cabinet carcasses and layout stay in place.
How do we know if our cabinets are good enough to keep?
Carcasses should be square, dry and firmly fixed, with no swelling around the sink or dishwasher. Hinges and drawer runners can be replaced. If there is water damage or the layout does not work, a full renovation is better value.
What does a makeover cost?
As a 2026 guide, most Hills District kitchen makeovers land between $14,000 and $24,000, depending on the size of the kitchen, the door finish and the benchtop material.
Can we replace an engineered stone benchtop?
Yes, but it cannot be replaced with engineered stone, which has been banned since 1 July 2024. Removing an existing engineered stone benchtop must be done under strict safety controls, and cutting or modifying it on site is tightly restricted.