YVCM’s History – Yarra Valley Cabinet Makers

The year was 1992. After 22 years in a cabinetmaking business, Fred Reid and his son David (10 years experience) decided to pursue their father and son cabinetmaking ideas together and YVCM was born. YVCM started in Kearney St Bayswater, with a tiny little saw, a few tools and an office which was a caravan. We built an actual office ourselves and we remained in Kearney Street until 1996, when we moved into our current premises in Canterbury Road, Kilsyth.

July 2009, former Yarra Valley Cabinet Makers work experience student and apprentice Alex Gardner became a partner in YVCM. Alex first started at YVCM in 1994, riding his pushbike as a schoolboy to the Kearney Street factory. He learned his trade well, becoming a competent and talented cabinetmaker, leaving us for a stint in the Armed Forces. Alex returned to YVCM to become an integral part of the YVCM family.

In 2017 Fred retired leaving David and Alex to continue expanding and evolving the YVCM brand, whilst employing over 20 people. 30 years later the business has grown into a well respected and valued company in the Yarra Ranges and the cabinetmaking industry.

Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance is a very important part of our business at YVCM. Our aim is to have consistent quality management and provide products that meet the requirements and expectations of our clients. QA covers all activities from design, development, production, installation and servicing. QA includes the regulation of the quality of raw materials, assemblies, products and components; services related to production and management; production and inspection processes.

Any issues arising, should be reported promptly to our service department, who will assess your queries efficiently and promptly. Our staff undergo specific training to complete their allocated roles and are offered continuing personal development.

All our whiteboard complies with Australian Standards and is made right here in Victoria. (This is important to check, as in our industry, a lot of imported whiteboard full of formaldehydes is used.)

The business is run by qualified Cabinet Makers, and YVCM are members of the Australian Cabinet & Furniture Association (ACFA) the Housing Industry Association (HIA) and are Registered Builders Practitioners (RBP). We recommend all labour and quotes for any type of building / renovation work be undertaken by tradesman who are Registered Building Practitioners.

Warranties and Guarantees

Yarra Valley Cabinet Makers Pty Ltd conform to all Australian Warranty Standards and Guarantees.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will a new kitchen cost me?

Without a doubt the single most asked question by nearly all clients is “how much”? As you can imagine, all jobs vary widely depending on size, style, materials, accessories, appliances and type of project being undertaken. A small kitchen with expensive finishes may cost more than a larger kitchen with more economical choices. We consider ourselves to be a mid-ranged price company who focus greatly on service and quality and will be happy to guide you through the pricing options.

What do I do with my old kitchen?

Prior to installing their new kitchen, many people attempt to sell their old version. Whilst this is not a service we offer, many clients find if their cabinetry is in reasonable condition and generally less than 20 years old, with appliances working, instead of simply throwing it they organise to sell it and buyer to remove. Not only will you get some extra money to go towards your new kitchen, you will also save the cost of having to remove the existing cabinetry and hiring a skip. Many of our clients advertise on Facebook Marketplace/Gumtree etc.

What if I think my kitchen only needs a face lift?

A kitchen is basically only made up of three components – bench tops, doors and carcasses. Virtually all face lifts will involve changing the bench tops and doors but the cheapest component, the carcasses, are not changed. For this reason, we recommend full kitchen replacements. We believe having new carcasses is integral to any kitchen renovation providing the ability to have layout changes, add drawers, overheads, improve the pantry. Face lifts generally incur high labour costs and unfortunately what you may save in one area, will be added to in others. For these reasons, we do not do facelifts, please consider that a whole new kitchen will probably be a better option in comparison to a face lift, more economical than you may think.

How do I care for my new kitchen?

Upon installation, YVCM will supply you with some general information on the care and maintenance of your new cabinetry. We also suggest if you are unsure about the care of your product the individual company ie Polytec, Caesarstone, Blum, Laminex etc will have specific care instructions suited to their individual products. We suggest you take the time to read this information to obtain the most from your new Cabinetry.