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Ask An Expert
Michael Kitchener
Kitchen cabinetmaker - Kitcheners Kitchens
Q. What should customers look for in a kitchen cabinet-maker?
A. It's important to assess the quality of the kitchens. Make sure the cabinetry is solid, so it will stand up in its own frame before it's attached to the wall. It should be assembled in a factory, as opposed to on site. In a factory, it'll usually be put together with screws and dowel, but a flatpack, assembled on site, will ordinarily use glue and nails.
Q. Does your work come with guarantees?
A. Absolutely - and that's something else to look for when you're choosing a cabinet-maker. Our work comes with a lifetime guarantee on the drawer runners and hinges, and a seven-year guarantee on the cabinetry.
Q. What's the first thing people should do when planning a new kitchen?
A. Look around. Flick through magazines and spend a weekend visiting centres that feature kitchen showrooms. It's the quickest, easiest way to get a feel for what's out there, what you do and don't like and what might work at your place. The next step would be to get a professional in to discuss ideas and provide you with a design and quote - most reputable companies will do this free of charge.
Q. In your opinion, what's the biggest current kitchen trend?
A. There are a lot around, but I'll say opting for a man-made stone benchtop in a flat, neutral colour, pairing it with a glass splashback and then, if you're working to a tight budget, choosing one of the new funky laminex finishes for the cabinetry.
Q. What does it take to be a kitchen cabinet-maker?
A. It usually involves an apprenticeship, but there are a number of extra qualifications you can get - everything from a licence to be an installer to accreditation with the HIA-run National Kitchen Bathroom Association.
