Papatoetoe, South Auckland
Kitchen and
Laundry Renovation
In South Auckland
Completed on August 2019
RENOVATION
Project Managed By
Bonnie Cao
Sales and Project Management
bonnie@superiorrenovations.co.nz
0800 199 888
Kevin Yang
Managing Director & BDM
kevin@superiorrenovations.co.nz
0800 199 888
Kitchen and Laundry Renovation in Papatoetoe, Auckland
Duration of project
August 2019, project took 5 weeks
Our clients are just like any other young family, facing the issues that come with having young children.
“We wanted to have an upgrade and the shelving was getting old and we just wanted to change things before the kids grow older and we get busy with other things” explains our client as a reason for renovating their kitchen and bathroom.
With two working adults with young children aged 5 and 7, a practical kitchen with plenty of storage and easy maintenance was high on their list.
Initially they only wanted to get a few cabinets upgraded in their kitchen but after speaking to Kevin our senior project manager they decided to get their entire kitchen, bathroom and laundry redone. This South Auckland kitchen is one of many family kitchens like this one our Auckland team has completed — from first design concept through to final finish.
BEFORE
AFTER
“We had certain things the way we wanted at the back of our mind but talking to Kevin we realized that there were a few problems with it. We just thought that he was trustworthy” says our client about his initial consultation with Kevin.
While his wife says “About interior of the cabinets he told us the new designs that were out that were more practical and more modern designs”.
In order to add more storage and convenience we added a ‘magic corner’’, custom made storage trays within shelves and a pull out drawer system for the pantry.
Kevin himself has two twin daughters which means that he is well versed with what is practical in a kitchen with young kids.
“We did have a few hiccups just like with anything but we worked through it” – client
BEFORE
AFTER
One of the hurdles that we faced during the project was with the custom drawers in the pantry. Our junior installer took longer than we had anticipated which extended the project time slightly. However Bonnie who was the main project manager ensured that it was re-done according to our clients’ satisfaction.
”Everyone was very respectful of us living in the house” – Client
Their kitchen renovation was completed in 3 weeks after which they went on to get a bathroom and toilet renovated.
”Bonnie made a schedule for 3 weeks and everything was mostly delivered on time” – Client
BEFORE
AFTER
Our Clients’ Kitchen transformation
Into a functional, Practical and Low maintenance kitchen.
Top Mount Blanco Silgranit Sink—Grey
“Like for the sink we were going to go with stainless sinks and Kevin said no no you have to have this sink (silgranit)” – Client
- Cannot be scratched making is durable with young kids. The high proportion of granite makes it dense and durable
- Dirt does not penetrate the surface so easy to clean with just one wipe.
- Comes with variety of colours and finishes
Pull out Rubbish Bins and Laundry basket
- Pull out rubbish bins are a great way to keep you kids away from the bins
- Overall having rubbish drawers is a more hygienic way of keeping bins within the house
Storage Solutions—Magic Corners and Pull Out Spice Rack
- Just open the doors and pull on the handle to make the front shelves swing right out of the unit
- The back shelves can be pulled out individually for easy loading and unloading
- The perfect solution for storing tableware, pots and pans
- Excellent access and a clear overview across the entire storage space from three sides
- Makes best use of the available space
- Integrated Softclose soft-closing mechanism
- The front shelves can easily be removed for cleaning and clipped back into place
- For hinged doors: the hinges can be on the right or the left
Acrylic UV Panel cabinetry with Blum soft close drawers/doors
“Like the acrylic cabinets we would not have gone for it but now that its done its good and it is so easy to maintain” – Client
- Acrylic cabinetry with Blum soft closed cabinets were custom made and installed in the bathroom, laundry and kitchen
- Soft close drawers and doors are a great relief in homes with young kids who can get prone to banging the doors.
- Acrylic cabinets are also easy to maintain as they are easy to clean and durable.
A kitchen and laundry renovation built around a busy Papatoetoe family
For this South Auckland family, the renovation started small. A few tired cabinets, some dated shelving, and a plan to tidy things up before two young children grew into busy teenagers. Once the conversation opened up, the scope grew to cover the whole kitchen, the laundry and the bathroom, all handled in one coordinated project in Papatoetoe.
The brief was practical, not showy. With two working parents and children aged five and seven, the kitchen had to earn its keep every day: plenty of storage, hard-wearing surfaces, and finishes that wipe clean in seconds. That single idea, low-maintenance living for a young family, shaped almost every decision on the job.
Storage that actually gets used
Most family kitchens run out of storage long before they run out of good looks. We worked the cabinetry hard here. A magic corner pulls the contents of the blind corner right out to you, custom trays and a pull-out pantry system keep everyday items in reach, and pull-out rubbish and recycling drawers keep bins off the floor and away from little hands. Small moves, but they are the ones a family notices every single day.
Low-maintenance materials for real life
The finishes were chosen for durability first. The Blanco Silgranit sink resists scratches and staining and wipes clean with one pass, which matters in a house with young kids. Acrylic UV-panel cabinetry on Blum soft-close runners went into the kitchen, laundry and bathroom, so the doors close quietly and the surfaces shrug off daily wear. It is the kind of specification that still looks sharp years after the work is done. If you are gathering ideas for a compact family kitchen, our rundown of clever small-kitchen storage and design ideas is a good place to start.
Why we renovated the kitchen, laundry and bathroom together
Running the kitchen, laundry and bathroom as one project made sense here. The trades were already on site, the same cabinetry style could carry through every room, and the household only had to live around the disruption once. The kitchen was finished in around three weeks, then the team moved on to the bathroom and toilet. That is usually tidier and better value than booking three separate jobs months apart, and it is a big part of how we handle a multi-room renovation across South Auckland. If the laundry is your starting point, our laundry renovation cost guide walks through what shapes the budget.
The building basics behind a kitchen and laundry renovation
A kitchen and a laundry are both working wet areas, so two parts of the New Zealand Building Code matter more than most. Clause G4 Ventilation requires spaces to have adequate ventilation for how they are used. In a kitchen that means clearing cooking moisture and fumes, and in a laundry it means moving damp air out before it settles. A good extract fan plus an openable window or mechanical extract is the usual way to meet it (see MBIE Building Performance on G4 Ventilation).
Clause E3 Internal Moisture deals with water ending up where it should not. It calls for surfaces around fixtures to be impervious and easily cleaned, and for overflow water to drain away safely. In practice that shapes the splashback, the flooring and the way cabinetry meets the wet zones in a kitchen or laundry (see MBIE Building Performance on E3 Internal Moisture).
One thing to know if you are planning a kitchen or laundry now rather than back in 2019: from 2 May 2026, tapware and fittings supplied for drinking water must meet new lead-free rules, with a maximum 0.25% lead content, under G12/AS1 Amendment 14. Any new kitchen mixer or laundry tap specified from that date needs to comply (see MBIE Building Performance on lead in plumbing products).
Whether a specific project needs building consent depends on the work involved. Anything classed as Restricted Building Work, or any change to plumbing and drainage, should go through a Licensed Building Practitioner and, where required, Auckland Council. We manage that side for you, so the compliance is sorted before the tools come out.
➡ Book your free in-home consultation with Superior Renovations
➡ Price up your own project with our Auckland kitchen cost calculator
➡ Request a free feasibility report for your renovation
Kitchen and laundry renovation FAQs
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Auckland?
A mid-range kitchen renovation in Auckland usually runs between $28,000 and $35,000. A full mid-range kitchen with custom cabinetry and a stone benchtop typically lands between $30,000 and $50,000, and a simpler refresh can start from around $15,000. Where you sit depends on the layout, the cabinetry and the finishes you pick. These are 2026 Auckland figures and shift with material and labour costs.
How long does a kitchen and laundry renovation take?
It depends on the scope, but this Papatoetoe kitchen was finished in about three weeks, with the full kitchen, laundry and bathroom project running to roughly five weeks in total. A straightforward kitchen on its own is often two to four weeks on site once the cabinetry is made. Custom joinery, tiling and any plumbing or electrical changes are the parts that usually stretch a timeline.
Do I need building consent for a kitchen or laundry renovation?
Often a like-for-like kitchen or laundry refit does not need consent, but it depends on the work. Moving or adding plumbing and drainage, structural changes, or anything classed as Restricted Building Work will bring consent and a Licensed Building Practitioner into play. The safest step is to have your project assessed against the rules. We handle the consenting and LBP side with Auckland Council before work starts, so you are not left guessing.
Can you renovate a kitchen, laundry and bathroom at the same time?
Yes, and it is often the smart way to do it. Running the rooms as one project means the trades are already on site, the cabinetry and finishes carry through for a consistent look, and your household only lives around the mess once. It usually works out tidier and better value than booking three separate jobs months apart, which is exactly how this Papatoetoe project ran.
What storage solutions work best in a family kitchen?
The ones that get used every day. A magic corner drags the contents of a blind corner out to you, pull-out pantry trays keep everyday items in reach, and pull-out rubbish and recycling drawers keep bins off the floor and away from young children. Deep pot drawers on soft-close runners beat low cupboards for a busy family. Plan storage around how your household actually cooks and tidies, not around a showroom photo.
Is a Blanco Silgranit sink a good choice for a family kitchen?
For a busy household it is a strong pick. The high granite content makes it dense and hard-wearing, so it resists scratches and stains, and the surface does not absorb dirt, so it wipes clean in one pass. It also comes in a range of colours and finishes to suit the cabinetry. For a home with young kids and heavy daily use, that durability is the whole point.
How do you keep a new kitchen low-maintenance?
Choose finishes that forgive daily life. Acrylic UV-panel cabinetry wipes clean and shrugs off knocks, soft-close runners and hinges stop doors and drawers slamming, and hard, non-porous surfaces around the sink and bench stay hygienic with little effort. Building Code clause E3 also expects wet-area surfaces to be impervious and easy to clean, so it is good practice as much as good compliance. Fewer fussy materials means less scrubbing later.
