Refacing & Refresh
Kitchen Makeovers & Refacing in Wellington
If you want a kitchen makeover in Wellington without the cost of a full rebuild, we replace your doors, handles and benchtop while keeping your sound cabinets, transforming the look for a fraction of the price and time.
What a makeover includes
A makeover, sometimes called refacing, gives you a new-looking kitchen by upgrading everything you see and touch while keeping the structure you cannot. It is the smart choice when your layout works and your carcasses are sound. A typical makeover includes:
- New cabinet doors and drawer fronts in your chosen finish
- New handles and soft-close hinges and runners
- A new benchtop in laminate, engineered or sintered stone
- A new splashback to complete the look
- New sink and tapware if wanted
- Minor cabinet repairs and adjustments
The result looks like a brand new kitchen, without the cost and upheaval of stripping the room back to the walls.
Is a makeover right for you?
A makeover is ideal when:
- Your layout works. You are happy with where the sink, hob and fridge sit.
- Your carcasses are sound. The cabinet boxes are solid, even if the doors are dated.
- You want value. You would rather spend 12,000 to 20,000 NZD than 30,000-plus on a full rebuild.
- You need speed. You want the kitchen back in days, not weeks.
- You are selling or renting. A fresh look lifts appeal without a major spend.
If your cabinets are water-damaged or the layout frustrates you, we will tell you honestly that a full renovation is the better long-term investment.
Our makeover process
Assess your cabinets
We check that your carcasses are sound and confirm a makeover is the right call for your kitchen.
Choose finishes
You select door finishes, handles, benchtop and splashback from physical samples.
Make to measure
New doors, drawer fronts and your benchtop are made to your exact sizes.
Swap and finish
We fit the new doors, hardware, benchtop and splashback, usually within days, and clean up.
Makeover vs full renovation
| Factor | Makeover / Refacing | Full Renovation |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | From ~12,000 NZD | 25,000–60,000 NZD |
| Timeframe | Days to ~1 week | 3–5 weeks |
| Layout changes | Kept as-is | Fully flexible |
| Best when | Carcasses sound, layout works | Damage, poor layout, big change wanted |
We will recommend the option that gives you the best result for your budget, not the biggest invoice.
What affects makeover cost
- Number of doors and drawers being replaced.
- Door finish – melamine is the value option; painted or thermoformed sit higher.
- Benchtop material – laminate keeps costs down; stone lifts the finish and the price.
- Extras – new splashback, sink and tapware add to the total.
Every makeover is quoted at a fixed price so you know the cost before we start.
A smart choice for Wellington homes
Wellington has thousands of solid 1990s and 2000s kitchens whose carcasses are perfectly sound but whose doors, handles and laminate benchtops now look dated. For these homes a makeover is the sensible, sustainable choice: it delivers a dramatic visual change at a fraction of the cost and keeps usable materials out of landfill. It is especially popular with landlords and vendors across the region who want to lift a property's appeal before renting or selling without over-capitalising. If you are staying put, a makeover can also buy you a beautiful kitchen now while you save for a full renovation later.
Why choose us for your makeover
We tell you the truth
If a makeover will not serve you well, we say so. We would rather lose a small job than sell you a refacing that fails because the carcasses underneath were never sound.
Fast, low disruption
With minimal on-site work, most makeovers are done in days. You get a transformed kitchen without weeks of living around a building site.
Serious value
By reusing sound carcasses we deliver a new-looking kitchen from around 12,000 NZD, often less than half the cost of a full rebuild, with the same attention to finish.
What customers say
"New doors and a stone benchtop and it looks like a completely new kitchen. Done in three days."Paula K.Woburn, Lower Hutt
"Refaced our rental kitchen before listing. It photographed beautifully and helped the sale."Sam W.Titahi Bay, Porirua
"Honest advice that we only needed a makeover, not a full reno. Saved us thousands."Ben H.Te Marua, Upper Hutt
Makeover FAQs
What is the difference between a makeover and a full renovation?
A makeover keeps your existing cabinet carcasses and layout, replacing doors, handles and the benchtop. A full renovation rebuilds everything. Makeovers cost less and are faster, but only work when your existing cabinets are structurally sound.
How much does a kitchen makeover cost in Wellington?
Kitchen makeovers and refacing typically start from around 12,000 NZD, well below a full rebuild, because we reuse sound carcasses. The final price depends on door finish, benchtop material and the number of units.
Is my kitchen suitable for refacing?
If your cabinet boxes are solid and the layout works for you, refacing is ideal. If the carcasses are swollen or the layout is poor, a full renovation is the better investment. We assess this honestly at the consultation.
How long does a makeover take?
Because there is far less on-site work, most makeovers are completed in a few days to just over a week, with minimal disruption to your home.
Ready to refresh your kitchen?
Get a free, fixed-price makeover quote from a local Wellington team. We respond within 2 business hours.
Get a Free Quoteor call 021 548 243