Designer Living Kitchens

Built with Brighton Homes, the kitchen was a nightmare, had no clue how to install or design a wine rack. Overall service shocking. Customer communication zero.

This product stinks! – Well we did the design process for our new home in Coffs Harbour(Hopwood builder) with Marcus(now retired hmmm?); this was ok but, mind you he ignored many of the features we requested, result is the finished kitchen had approximation only of what we asked for...would have let this slide but overall installation and follow up well, was none… Read more

existent, nobody returned calls of attended for period of 6 weeks; needed to engage another trade to rectify and finish , this was dishwasher trims and plinths , and also microwave recess which had no backing!, marks and blemishes on doors not picked up in manufacture; this reflects their quality control as sloppy; Now the bin cabinet has no ventilation and continually starts to small like a compost pile; we change the bag every day, but still no improvement; I rang these guys again and request something be done , i.e. install vents or?, the response was "use a scented bin liner" and attitude just not interested and just stop bothering us. They have no customer loyalty, service, and warranty backup in any shape, as above their attention to quality assurance is totally lacking, numerous defects at installation. given the dollars spent on this by us I really hope this review takes all Coffs Harbour and surrounds business from their door.

Look elsewhere, and I so advise.

New Kitchen installed October 2023 – Wonderful service from the showroom staff Jason and Jodie and others there. We chose all of our colors and trims as soon as we decided on our design for our Galley Kitchen in Umina Beach. The whole experience has been great with Jason being extremely likeable and knowledgeable. The price was very competitive and we decided to self remove our old… Read more

kitchen at a substantial saving. We arranged our own local plumbers from Reef and Rural Plumbers and Justin Mc Dermitt electricians both where great and reasonably priced compared to others. We also arranged our own glass and acrylic Splash Backs from Ozzie Splashbacks at West Gosford. As with any large home project some minor issues happened but Jason was soon able to resolve these.

DO NOT USE DLK AT TUGGERAH – Started out ok but once installation began so did the problems, kitchen flooring was ripped when they pushed the fridge sideways also hit the walls causing damage, dropped tools causing more damage, dented fridge with bulkhead, put 2 cupboards in wrong place among other things, abuse from so called tradesman, they will not take any responsibility… Read more

whatsoever saying we should’ve protected flooring etc ourselves. Have photos for proof and in the hands of Fair Trading

Take your business elsewhere – If you live in the Coffs Harbour area or anywhere for that matter, do not use this company. They use sub-contractors to install their kitchens and if there needs to be additional parts made this is done in Port Macquarie. This causes long delays. The kitchen was installed in November 2021 and their last visit in an attempt to rectify the defects… Read more

was April 2022. In total there were five visits by a sub-contractor between November and April to rectify the defects. We requested that a company representative from their head office come and look at the product they supplied and so far they have not responded to the request. The shelving supports in the cupboards were poorly made resulting in the shelves falling when items were placed on them. The pantry cupboard door requires us to push it with our knee to close it properly. Drawers don't close properly. Panels were misaligned. Their attention to detail is very poor and when I pointed out the numerous defects at installation their representative (Marcus) offered a weak response saying 'it will look good when it is finished'. Well guess what, the poor quality still shows through. They seem happy to supply a poor quality service and product. Don't use this company.

Great value and quality, good service – I have noticed there are a few unfavorable reviews on here that don't seem to even be this firm. We had a great experience with Designer Living Kitchens. We were searching for a local business to support, that could compete with IKEA prices. We got a beautiful designer kitchen for similar cost as an off the shelf. Any small problems were fixed in… Read more

a timely manner. Eg, kick boards were missing on installing, but were fixed within a week. If I had to be brutal, and suggest something, it would be to train the installers to clean the cupboards of wood dust and fingerprints before handover. But seriously, that was a minor inconvenience. Overall, very happy. Would use them again.

I tried good livings kitchens and – I rang and had a workman come over and measure our kitchen. We loved what he offered and paid a cash deposit of 50%. When he came over to collect our deposit he didn't bring a recepit. He assured us he would send us a receipt that night. I reminded him to send us that receipt for $5750 cash deposit. He said he would. The next morning I still… Read more

didn't have a receipt, so I chased and called and got the receipt. But too late. This is a red flag so I cancelled my dealings with him as any normal person would. Very unhappy, as I had made a point of asking for that receipt and he had seemed like a nice trustworthy guy right up until then. Now he comes across as lazy and untrustworthy. Not a great start to a business relationship i think.

Very happy with new kitchen – Kitchen Installed in June 2019. We are very happy with our kitchen and have no problems in recommending them. We wanted to do a self install and found these guys to be a much better option when compared to the quality, cost and flexibility in design of other options. We went through Panda/Designer Living Kitchens in the Warners Bay Showroom.… Read more

Everyone in there was very friendly and helpful. Jason our salesman/designer did a great job helping us design the kitchen. This was the first time we had done any major renovations before, therefore we had a lot of questions and Jason did a great job answering all my emails. Communication overall was great, within a month of the install date we got a call each week confirming we were still good to go. The cabinets seem to be high quality and look great. We choose to do a self install, the build plans were easy to follow. The stone guys they use were also great, measured on a Tuesday and then installed on the Friday. The cabinets that went over the fridge were made to the wrong size, luckily they were the last cabinets to be fitted so it didn't affect anything. Once we found out they were very quick in sorting it out, had the replacements in just over a week. Our kitchen looks great and we couldn't be happier.

Poor communication – Have just had a new kitchen Installation completed May 2019. Although we are ultimately very happy with our new kitchen we encountered many problems in dealing with Designer Living Kitchens, Tuggerah. They locked in a delivery and installation date without notifying us. There were problems after the installation: scratch on drawer, laminate strip… Read more

missing off bench top, scratches and marks left on the kitchen walls (which we had to repair) and the installer cut out the wrong size hole for the gas cooktop. We had no apology from the kitchen people, had to make numerous phone calls (calls hardly ever returned) and trips to the showroom before they would commit to finishing the job. We were given a date for delivery and installation 1 month after the initial installation, installer came 3 days earlier without notifying us until just before he arrived. If we ever need a new kitchen again we won’t be recommending Designer Living Kitchens, Tuggerah.

TOP PEOPLE TOP BUSINESS – I have used this company in Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour for my investment properties. I have found them very professional in everyway. Way above there competitors. From design to install the whole process was great.

Shoddy product and service – We have a new McDonald Jones home. We are very happy with our home - in part. Our kitchen is not upto the high standards that MJH boast. Before we had handover, the installer had complained that he had visited our site 10 times for initial installation, then fix-ups. These defects were pointed out to the company by our eagle-eyed site supervisor,… Read more

with maybe only about 2 defects actually pinpointed by us!

Towards the end of November ‘17, the laundry benchtop was about to be installed. However, it was badly damaged. It took this sloppy kitchen company, another two months to deliver a replacement. So here we were, actually phoning them direct, and virtually begging them to deliver it. Our handover was meant to be around the first week of February, at the latest (everything else was ahead of time)..but because of this shocking service, handover was pushed back another 3 weeks. I mean folks, we are just talking about a 2.4m Laminate benchtop! Very, very frustrating and considering we were living in our motorhome in 43 Degree heat!

The week before handover, a new drawer front was about to be installed. The installer himself discovered that the piece could not be refitted as it was not squarely cut. This was the above mentioned - 10th visit, around mid February 2018. We received handover 20th February. A replacement piece was delived just prior to Easter this year, and is still sitting in our shed, wrapped and awaiting installation. This is only one issue about our kitchen, we are dissatisfied with. Very, very second rate. The other stuff, we have been advised, is to fix it ourselves. That is to PAINT the inside white melamine gable ends, in order to match our chocolate brown timber laminate selection, so as not to have white strips peeking through.

The next issue is the long laminate bench in our study. After a month, it drifted away from the wall at one end. Another example of rushed “that’ll do”, shoddy workmanship. Now as I write, 9th July, we are still waiting for these issues to be rectified.

It really takes away the so called ‘brilliant’ reputation McDonald Jones Homes bleat about.

AVOID!!! If I could give ZERO stars - I would – TERRIBLE - ARROGANT - AVOID!!! Stuffed us around for 6 months with design and contracts only to jack the price up by 30% at the last minute. Find another reputable company on the coast because these guys (branded as HK Joinery on the NSW Central Coast) really don't give a damn about anything except profit. ZERO STARS.

Do not use this business - Not Quality – DO NOT USE Designer Living Kitchens - this was the exclusive kitchen/laundry/vanity supplier for Adenbrook Homes when we signed our contract. House completed Feb 2017. We have had major issues with the quality of the work and installation of our kitchen and vanities. They had to return numerous times to fix dodgy work. Additionally, we even had… Read more

one of their tradesman state to us, when another issue was pointed out, - "Don't you understand, I don't want to come back" - then make sure you do the job right the first time.

We are still trying to get an uneven stone bench top fixed which is proving to be a nightmare. DLK has not taken responsibility and no matter how many times the word QUALITY is listed on the Designer Living Kitchens website, I can assure you an uneven kitchen bench top join is certainly NOT QUALITY.

Be vigilant, be aware of your rights, be aware of the Building Standards ( recently updated Guide through Fair Trading is Jan 2018 issue) and make sure you have a good lawyer who can advise you as trying to get unbiased advice when things go wrong can be frustrating.