A kitchen showroom visit is the fastest way to turn a vague idea into a quote you can compare — but only if you arrive with the right information and leave with the right answers. This checklist covers what to bring, what to check in person and what to ask, so one visit does the work of three.
The short answer
Before visiting a kitchen showroom in Melbourne, bring a measured floor plan, photos of your current kitchen showing plumbing and power points, your appliance sizes and a budget range. In the showroom, open the doors and drawers, compare finishes in daylight and see benchtop samples next to the doors. Before you leave, ask whether the quote will be itemised and fixed-price, and what it includes.
Key takeaways
- A measured floor plan is the single most useful thing to bring to a kitchen showroom.
- Appliance sizes decide cabinet sizes, so bring the model numbers of anything you are keeping.
- Gloss, matt and shaker doors look different under showroom lighting than in your home — take a sample or photo in daylight.
- Ask for an itemised, fixed-price quote so you can compare showrooms like for like.
- Choose the benchtop and cabinets together; the benchtop affects how the base cabinets are built.
What should you bring to a kitchen showroom?
Bring enough information for the showroom to draw your kitchen and price it: measurements, photos, appliance sizes and a budget. Without these, a showroom can only show you finishes; with them, it can show you a layout and a number.
- A measured floor plan. Wall lengths, ceiling height, and the position of windows and doors, in millimetres. Our kitchen measuring guide shows what to measure.
- Photos of your current kitchen. Include under the sink and the walls behind the appliances, so the plumbing, gas and power points are visible.
- Appliance sizes or model numbers. Fridge, oven, cooktop, rangehood and dishwasher — especially anything you are keeping.
- A budget range. A range lets the showroom suggest where to spend and where to save, rather than guessing.
- Inspiration photos. Two or three kitchens you like say more than a long description.
- A must-have list. Pantry, island, bin drawer, more drawers than doors — whatever matters to how you cook.
What should you check in person at a kitchen showroom?
Check the parts you will touch every day: doors, drawers, hinges and the finish. These are hard to judge from a website and easy to judge in thirty seconds with your hands.
| What to check | How to check it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Door finish | Look at gloss, matt and shaker doors from an angle and touch the surface | Gloss shows fingerprints more; matt hides them; shaker suits classic kitchens |
| Drawers | Open a full drawer and let it close on its own | Soft-close runners should close smoothly without slamming |
| Hinges | Close a door gently and firmly | Soft-close hinges should stop the door hitting the frame |
| Cabinet construction | Look inside a cabinet at the board edges and back panel | Edges should be sealed and the cabinet body solid; ask what board is used |
| Cabinet heights | Stand at a bench and reach into an overhead cabinet | Bench and overhead heights should suit the people who cook |
| Benchtop with doors | Hold a benchtop sample against the door you like | Colours that look right apart can clash together |
If you want to know what the boards inside are made of, our kitchen cabinet materials guide explains particleboard, MDF and plywood. For standard cabinet heights and depths, see kitchen cabinet sizes in Australia.
What questions should you ask at a kitchen showroom?
Ask questions that tell you what the final price will include and who will do the work. The answers are what make two quotes comparable.
- Will the quote be itemised and fixed-price, or an estimate? An estimate can grow; a fixed price cannot.
- What is included? Removal of the old kitchen, plumbing, electrical, benchtop, splashback and installation are often priced separately.
- Who measures and who installs? Ask whether the same company measures, supplies and installs, or whether parts are subcontracted.
- Is there a check measure before production? A check measure on site catches errors before cabinets are made.
- What is the lead time? Ask how long from approval to installation, and what can delay it.
- What warranty applies to the cabinets and the installation?
- Can I buy flat-pack and install myself? Some showrooms only sell installed kitchens.
Our guide to what kitchen renovation quotes leave out lists the items most often missing from a quote, and how long a kitchen renovation takes explains typical lead times.
Common mistakes when visiting a kitchen showroom
Most showroom mistakes come from deciding too quickly on how something looks, or too slowly on something that affects everything else.
- Choosing a colour under showroom lights only. Showroom lighting is bright and even; your kitchen may face south or get afternoon sun. Photograph the door in daylight or ask to take a sample home.
- Leaving the benchtop until later. Benchtop thickness and weight can change how the base cabinets are built, so choose it with the cabinets. Our natural stone benchtop guide helps narrow the options.
- Comparing quotes that are not like for like. A cheaper quote that leaves out installation or the benchtop is not cheaper.
- Forgetting the appliances. A new fridge or oven that is a different size from the old one changes the cabinet plan.
Buying flat-pack? What is different
If you plan to assemble the kitchen yourself, use the visit to see a cabinet fully assembled and check how the panels, legs and kickboards fit together. Ask whether you can pick up from the warehouse or need delivery, and whether the supplier will check your measurements before you order. Our page on flat-pack kitchens in Melbourne covers the range and options.
Visiting Dynasty Importers in Clayton South
Dynasty Importers runs its kitchen showroom and cabinet warehouse together at 77 Main Road, Clayton South, so you can see doors and finishes in the showroom and the cabinets themselves in stock. Bring your floor plan and appliance sizes, and the team can talk through a layout, flat-pack or fully installed, during the same visit. The showroom is a short drive from Glen Waverley, Oakleigh and Mulgrave — see our kitchen renovations in Glen Waverley page if you are nearby.
Frequently asked questions
What should I bring to a kitchen showroom?
Bring a measured floor plan in millimetres, photos of your current kitchen showing plumbing and power points, the sizes or model numbers of your appliances, a budget range and a few inspiration photos.
Do I need an appointment to visit a kitchen showroom?
Many kitchen showrooms in Melbourne take walk-ins on weekdays but ask for an appointment on weekends. Booking ahead means a designer has time to go through your plan rather than just show you finishes.
How long does a kitchen showroom visit take?
Allow about an hour if you bring a floor plan and want to discuss a layout. A quick look at finishes takes less, but will not give you enough to get an accurate quote.
Can I get a quote at the showroom?
A showroom can usually give a guide on the day if you bring measurements. A fixed-price quote normally follows once the layout, finishes and benchtop are confirmed, and a check measure on site confirms the sizes.
Should I choose the benchtop at the same time as the cabinets?
Yes. The benchtop colour should be judged next to the door finish, and benchtop thickness and weight can affect how the base cabinets are built, so it is best chosen in the same visit.
Book your showroom visit
Bring your plan and your questions to our Clayton South showroom and leave with a layout and a clear next step. If you are planning a full renovation, see how our kitchen renovations in Melbourne work from design to installation.
