Kitchens · Cabinets

Cabinets are a moisture and hardware problem

The door style is what you see. The carcass edge-tape, hinge quality, and dishwasher-side detailing are what you live with.

Melamine

Common AU carcass

Appliance SKUs

Lock before manufacture

Sink + DW

Moisture watch

Drawers > doors

Storage that earns its keep

Independent guide — not a contractor. Planning information only. Confirm licences, waterproofing, and quotes with qualified trades and the relevant state authority.

Cabinet door and carcass notes

Choice	Why people pick it	Ask the joiner
Melamine / thermally fused laminate carcass	Stable, cost-effective, common in AU kitchens	Edge-tape quality, moisture areas near dishwasher and sink
Plywood / moisture-resistant carcass	Perceived durability in wet-adjacent zones	Grade, formaldehyde rating, and actual wet-area detailing
Polyurethane painted doors	Smooth colour, contemporary	Repairability, yellowing, and sheen level in north-facing rooms
Thermolaminated / vinyl wrap	Profiled shaker look at a lower band	Heat near ovens and dishwashers; peel risk if specified poorly
Timber veneer or solid timber	Warmth and repairability	Movement, UV, and matching splashback/benchtop tones

What visitors always ask

How do I choose a kitchen cabinet material?+

Split the decision. Carcasses are about stability and moisture (melamine is common and fine when edged and detailed well; ask about the sink and dishwasher runs). Doors are about look and repair: polyurethane for a smooth colour, thermolaminated profiles for a shaker look at a lower band, timber veneer if you want warmth and a refinish path. Choose hardware (hinges, drawer runners) as a third material — it is what you touch every day.

When should I lock appliance models for cabinets?+

Before manufacture, not after the splashback is tiled. Give the joiner model numbers — width, hinge side, ventilation gaps, extra-tall dishwashers — because Australian carcasses are cut to the SKU. A late fridge swap is a redraw, not a courtesy.

Keep reading

Kitchen hub

How to brief the designer.

Layouts

Plan storage after the aisle works.

Appliances

Models lock cabinet sizes.

Australia · kitchens & bathrooms

Make a renovation day of it

Whether you have a weekend cosmetic refresh or a full wet-area rebuild, start with the checklist, then read the cost bands with their assumptions still attached.

Open the checklist →Read cost guides