Welcome to Australia, land of the expensive trades. Some of that cost is in measuring up, ordering cabinetry and installing it. You can do it cheaper by ordering the cabinetry from a flatpack provider and doing the cabinet assembly and installation yourself. You will still need a plumber for the sink, get someone else to do the countertop if it has a corner in it. Otherwise you can probably do that yourself too if it's just a straight line countertop. Tiling will be best done professionally. $15k does seem excessive to install a sink, couple of taps and some flatpack furniture. Was there any floor levelling, tiling or major plumbing work (putting in new drains, new water lines) involved? How about rewiring power points or running new circuits? These are skilled trade jobs that you cannot DIY.

Bunnings Flat Packs. Write your list of wants and spend the day at Bunnings with one of their designers. Allow $500 for plumber, if water lines are close. $250 double power point. then it depends on your choice of tub, cabinets etc. If you can put together you will save.

Thanks so much, the 15k was just for the cabinetry, excluding flooring sinks taps etc, just the cabinets, in laminex basic profile,

we Have a plumber and electrician that come to the farm regularly and the plumbing from the (now) laundry is on the opposite wall so it’s just a matter of plumbing straight through, we will put in a glass slider in place of the garage door, and use the same flooring as the house, bringing the car from the farm to the house just brings in dirt as you can see from the photo!

is Bunnings good quality? As it’s just a utility and not a main part of the house I’m happy with something simple, we have two pack in the house and the kids have made plenty of chips in it already so thats why we would like to go with laminex!

yes that’s what I thought, I’m glad I’m not alone on my thinking, especially as we asked for the cheapest possible option, I might need to shop around a bit more!

Do you want a hanging rail for your kids , or a hanging rail for your kid's use ? Hahaha .

Just at a glance , it seems a strange project -- you will end up with a huge wash-house , AND a seperate mud-room . And the laundry will be relatively dark , although I assume you are going to change the door to a couple of windows and a partial wall or similar ?

I would have imagined you'd have an external door in the far wall and/or back wall , and a window on the back wall and/or far wall ? THEN you could have done a smaller laundry , and put a ranch slider in the front and had an office , or another bedroom , or higher windows and put a spa pool there .

But a 6 metre by 5 metre laundry , and a mudroom that is say 2 x 2 1 /2 , seems unusual .

I know that doesn't help your $15k quote , just an observation -- I'd spend more and get way more , or do almost nothing . I know re-sale is less of a consideration with a farmhouse , but thats the way you still think -- will it give value to me , and the next owner ?

the current laundry cupboards still look good..will they remain in the mancave or could they be recycled into the new laundry and/or could you try recycling a second hand kitchen into the new laundry with new counters?

Thank you oklouise, I think we would have to keep the current cupboards as they are, im hoping it can become hubby’s man cave (A good description) with all his bits and pieces stored and even his work clothes as there is a small shower opposite the washing machine, a second hand kitchen is a good idea, I didn’t think of that,

You could also have a look at IKEA. If you have any DIY skills I’d be looking on gumtree for a second hand kitchen. You may get one with real wood doors which will stand up to wear well.

if you are near enough to for ikea. my husband used their kitchen to make our laundry ahs it looks great and works really well. We have a timber look countertop which I think would really suit a laundry in country area.

while we all want to save money the DIY flatpac and recycled kitchens do take lots of time to assemble and halfway through all that DIY i always begin to appreciate the rejected quotes ..before assuming that a quote is overpriced why not design and price the layout you want and at least you'll have a flatpac price to compare with the custom made..I've found the on line IKEA planner easy to use and their parts selection and flatpac instructions were great, our recycled kitchen cabinets needed new counters and handles and cost about $200 and a weeks' work but nothing better than a professional cabinetmaker doing the assembly and installation and i believe that the Kaboodle flatpac cabinets available at Bunnings do offer an assembly service and saving all that work

The other point with quotes MAY be your location -- is a builder thinks it is going to be a weeks work for 2 people , and you are 40kms out of town so they have to travel each day , as well as problems quickly sourcing any materials , that may add to the quotes .

I'd be inclined to move as much of my existing laundry as I can , especially the sink and unit , get in a plumber , and utilise the existing power point , at least short term . And tile the floor myself .

You will need to custom a heavy duty stand for the washer if you want to raise it as they are very heavy when full and stand needs to take the vibration too. Better leaving it on the ground and putting basket on top.
Flat packs work well. Just stick to standard sizes and don’t try and run them wall to wall. You have a corner so just run standard skates from the corner unit and don’t try to fill the whole wall to the next corner as I fill panels are really tricky to fit.
There are also lots of great second hand kitchens. In fact sadly I expect a lot of auction houses will have ex shop fitouts soon.