What does a Sustique kitchen really cost?
The factual answer is that a complete kitchen budget is shaped by far more than cabinetry.
Appliances, sinks, taps, worktops, flooring, lighting, installation, and even the complexity of your room layout all influence the final figure.
But cabinetry is the foundation of every kitchen, and one of the biggest decisions you’ll make.
That’s why we’ve created this simple comparison of our two core cabinetry approaches, Puustelli Miinus, and Sustique Engineered.
Kitchen size
You will see that we've given investment ranges based on the number of units, not the physical size of a space. Investment is always determined by how much cabinetry a design involves. The same size space that excludes wall units will involve less investment. Same space, different number of units.
Investment cost ranges
Miinus
Small kitchen (8 units) £7,500 - £11,500 plus VAT
Medium kitchen (15 units) £10,500 - £16,500 plus VAT
Large kitchen (22 units) £15,500 - £23,500 plus VAT
Engineered
Small kitchen (8 units) £3,500 - £4,500 plus VAT
Medium kitchen (15 units) £5,000 - £6,500 plus VAT
Large kitchen (22 units) £7,500 - £9,500 plus VAT
Primary materials
Miinus
Puustelli Smartframetm
OSB
Birch Ply
Real wood veneers
Engineered
Melamine Faced Chipboard (MFC)
Learn about Smartframetm
Learn about Smartframetm
Smartframetm is a highly innovative response to how to make kitchen cabinets using less virgin material. They're made from a bio-composite material that uses fibres extracted from recycled plastic, glass, wood, cloth, and hemp. These are mixed with cellulose to produce bio-composite pellets. These are heated and the melted mix is injection moulded to create Smartframes.
Smartframe is waterproof, guaranteed for 30 years, non-toxic, and has an M1 Indoor Air Quality rating.
Learn about OSB
Learn about OSB
Oriented Strand Board (OSB) is an engineered wood panel made from compressed strands of timber. It offers structural strength and efficient material use, but specification and emissions matter.
Learn more about real wood veneers
Learn more about real wood veneers
Real wood veneer provides the appearance and warmth of natural timber while using substantially less solid wood than equivalent full timber construction.
Learn about MFC
Learn about MFC
MFC (melamine-faced chipboard) is a widely used cabinet material. Quality varies significantly depending on board specification, recycled content, emissions profile, and manufacturing standards. Sustique's Engineered range uses board manufactured in the UK by Egger. The boards contain up to 70% recycled content and are recyclable.
MDF content
MDF is common in the kitchen industry, but the emission profile, density, moisture behaviour, and repairability need to be considered carefully. MDF has little recycled content and is commercially unviable to recycle. Consequently, end-of-life means landfill or incineration.
Miinus
Not used
Engineered
Not used
Low-VOC
Indoor air quality matters more than many people realise. Modern kitchens contain cabinetry, adhesives, finishes, flooring, and other materials that can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the home. Independent standards such as M1, GREENGUARD, French A+, AgBB, and E1 help assess emissions performance, but not all standards measure the same things. Understanding these certifications can help you make healthier, more informed material choices.
Miinus
M1 Indoor Air Quality Rating
Engineered
E1 Formaldehyde Certification
More about M1 testing
More about M1 testing
M1 is a respected Finnish indoor air quality certification that tests products for low chemical emissions, including VOCs and formaldehyde. It is considered one of Europe’s stronger low-emissions standards and is designed to support healthier indoor environments. Products carrying M1 certification have been independently assessed for emissions performance, not just marketing claims.
E1 rating explained
E1 rating explained
E1 is a European formaldehyde emissions standard for wood-based panels such as chipboard, MDF, and plywood. It confirms that a material meets recognised limits for formaldehyde release, helping reduce indoor air quality concerns. However, E1 focuses specifically on formaldehyde compliance, it is not a broader low-VOC indoor air quality certification like M1.
Construction
Miinus
Puustelli Smartframetm is waterproof
Wood products have good water resilience
Refurbishment may be required, not replacement
Engineered
MFC is vulnerable to water exposure
Replacement will be required if compromised
Repair and Maintenance
Miinus
Puustelli Smartframetm is waterproof
Wood products have good water resilience
Refurbishment may be required, not replacement
Engineered
MFC is vulnerable to water exposure
Replacement will be required if compromised
More about Miinus repair and maintenance
More about Miinus repair and maintenance
Miinus is a modular, component-based system. If a component fails, only the component needs replacing. This is a design feature of the Miinus cabinetry system. Repair and maintenance is expected. It's one of the reasons Miinus has a significantly longer life expectancy than conventional kitchen cabinetry.
More about Engineered repair and maintenance
More about Engineered repair and maintenance
Engineered uses a traditional cabinet construction. This is typically glue and dowel, or cam and dowel. If parts of a cabinet need replacing the only practical resolution is to replace the whole cabinet. Even this can be challenging, subject to how the kitchen has been installed. Conventional fitted kitchen cabinetry is almost always fitted with total ripout expected at the end of life. Repair and maintenance is generally limited to fittings such as hinges and drawer runners, not the cabinets.
Water resilience
Miinus
Puustelli Smartframetm is waterproof
Wood products have good water resilience
Refurbishment may be required, not replacement
Engineered
MFC is vulnerable to water exposure
Replacement will be required if compromised
More about Miinus water resilience
More about Miinus water resilience
Puustelli Smartframetm is waterproof. Bracings between frames are a combination of solid birch, birch ply, or wood veneered osb. These materials have better water resilience than materials like mdf and chipboard. If any bracings are compromised by extended water exposure, only the affected bracing needs to be replaced, not the whole cabinet.
More about Engineered water resilience
More about Engineered water resilience
Engineered uses MFC board. The melamine facing provides a level of water resilience, but if the chipboard core is exposed to water/moisture it will swell. This will compromise the structural integrity of the board. In this case the whole cabinet will need to be replaced.
Modifiable/Upgradeable
Miinus
Designed to allow for modification
Designed to support upgrading
Engineered
Not designed to be modified
Upgrading parts possible
Modifying and upgrading Miinus
Modifying and upgrading Miinus
At the heart of Miinus is the Smartframetm. This is what makes Miinus highly modifiable and reconfigurable. Units can easily be uninstalled if necessary. Smartframes are reusable, so moving units and changing sizes or function is a design feature.
Modifying and upgrading Engineered
Modifying and upgrading Engineered
Engineered cabinetry is conventional construction. Cabets can be modified, but this is not a designed-in feature of their construction. Removing a cabinet for modification may be straightforward or not. It depends on how the cabinet has been installed. Resizing a cabinet, or changing its function from a cupboard to drawers, or vice versa, will involve cutting and drilling. This will expose edges and add more exposed holes in cabinetry. These should be sealed. Unscrewing and then re-using the same screw hole will require additional fittings to overcome weakened fixing points.
Circular design
Circular design is focused on using materials and products that can have a next life. Circularity is not be confused with recycling. Circularity is not merely an environmental idea. It's smart to design products that wil last longer and have another life.
Miinus
Smartframetm - designed to be reused
Engineered
Recycle or incinerate
Longevity
Miinus
19 door options
Stain, lacquer, and painted finishes
Extensive paint options
Engineered
2 door options
60+ finishes
Style options
Miinus
19 door options
Stain, lacquer, and painted finishes
Extensive paint options
Engineered
2 door options
60+ finishes
Handleless options
Miinus
Strong fit for:
long-term, sustainability-led projects
ultra-low voc projects
flood resilience projects
lowest life-time costs
Engineered
Good fit for:
budget-limited sustainability
no added formaldehyde projects
bespoke cabinetry
handleless rail function and aesthetic
Environmental considerations
Miinus
Strong fit for:
long-term, sustainability-led projects
ultra-low voc projects
flood resilience projects
lowest life-time costs
Engineered
Good fit for:
budget-limited sustainability
no added formaldehyde projects
bespoke cabinetry
handleless rail function and aesthetic
Range suitability
Miinus
Strong fit for:
long-term, sustainability-led projects
ultra-low voc projects
flood resilience projects
lowest life-time costs
Engineered
Good fit for:
budget-limited sustainability
no added formaldehyde projects
bespoke cabinetry
handleless rail function and aesthetic
Please remember, this table covers cabinetry only. Premium choices for other elements can easily double your required investment.
Visit our contact page if want to message us about anything. You can also book a short 15 minute call, or a free 1 hour design consultation.