Inside the revamped Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studio

With building solutions all under one roof, the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studio (BSS) gives you and your clients access to a broad range of products beyond the warehouse.

Designed to support builders, architects, interior designers and those in the construction and building industry, the studios located in Castle Hill in NSW, Queensland’s Cannon Hill and the newly revamped Port Melbourne studio in Victoria offer ease of selection for building solutions and products in a variety of styles, brands and colourways.

“The Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studios are exclusive spaces showcasing an extensive range of products and services, and with the major transformation of the Building Solutions Studio in Port Melbourne, we have additional offers to make it a new, innovative and updated space,” Kate Gaylor, Port Melbourne’s Building Solutions Studio Manager, says.

“It’s setting a new standard, by both expanding our original offering and meeting the evolving and continued demand from customers.”

At a glance: What are the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studios?

• Where are the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studios located? There’s the newly upgraded Port Melbourne studio, along with Castle Hill, NSW, and Cannon Hill, Queensland.
• What are the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studios? A studio with all your building needs – from flooring to tapware, assisted living ranges, tiles, kitchen and bathroom products and more. Access an extensive range of products with expert product selection advice for residential and commercial projects.
• Who are the specialised experts at the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studio? A team of interior and design consultants and product experts to help streamline selections and save time.
• How does the selection service work? Book an appointment for a one-on-one consultation and our qualified specialists and studio managers will guide you through every step of the process, from sourcing, selection, quotation, ordering and delivery. The team documents and verifies all final product selections, ensuring fewer onsite variations for a quicker, more seamless experience.
• Does the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studio have an Assisted Living range? Yes. The studio offers products and solutions for fixture, fittings and finishes that are certified and approved for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), to support accessible design outcomes.

What is the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studio?

The Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studio is a dedicated product selection hub where builders, architects, designers and their clients can access expert advice, compare products and streamline decisions for their projects.

Designed for residential and commercial projects, each BSS brings together an extensive selection of products and expert guidance in one location beyond what’s available in the warehouse. The brands and product ranges cover all your project specifications and budgets, from entry to premium.

“Through our tailored product selection service, we help simplify the decision making, which supports a more efficient build journey,” Kate says.

Who can access the Building Solutions Studio?

Exclusive to Bunnings Trade PowerPass members, the Building Solutions Studios are available to the following and their clients:

• Builders;
• Developers;
• Architects;
• Organisations (including Visitor Economy, Education and Assisted Living); and
• Interior Designers.

The upgraded Port Melbourne BSS is encouraging PowerPass members who have not previously visited to book in for a tour.

“We want to open the doors for new customers, and anyone with a PowerPass account is eligible for a tour to explore our services and offers,” Kate says. Tours need to be booked in advance.

What ranges are available at the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studio?

A wide variety of building solutions are available at the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studios, including:

• Custom joinery
• Doors and door hardware (including digital and smart hardware)
• Plumbing
• Flooring
• Beaumont Tiles
• Staircases
• Windows
• Appliances
• Assisted living ranges to meet SDA and DDA requirements.

How has the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studio in Port Melbourne changed?

“Design continues to change and we want the studio to remain inspiring and practical to help customers visualise the latest products, finishes and building solutions available to them,” Kate says.

Port Melbourne’s BSS now has more than 1400 products across a range of new offerings and categories, which include lighting, solar, battery and EV solutions and frame and truss.

What are the trading hours of the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studios?

The Port Melbourne BSS now operates six days a week. Mondays to Fridays it’s open from 8am to 4pm and on Saturdays by appointment only.

“The upgraded BSS includes a wider selection of materials designed to reflect current trends, and while we previously were heavily residentially focused, we’re offering a broader view with the additional categories,” Kate adds. “All of this makes it an even more comprehensive, whole-of-build destination.”

The Cannon Hill and Castle Hill locations are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.

Where are the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studio locations in Australia?

• Victoria: 5 Bertie Street, Port Melbourne
• NSW: 14 Victoria Avenue, Castle Hill
• Queensland: 1881 Creek Road, Cannon Hill

What brands are at the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studios?

At each BSS, what’s on offer covers the gamut of building projects – from kitchens and bathrooms, through to flooring, tiles, windows and doors, as well as plumbing and appliance fittings.

Leading brands such as Caroma, Hume Doors, Easycraft, Beaumont Tiles, Porter’s Paints and more are featured, and customers can also access exclusive supplier ranges not always available in Bunnings Warehouses.

“That’s particularly helpful for our trade customers, who might have different product needs,” Kate says. “As all projects and client budgets are different, we have our selection consultants to help guide the choices that best align with that.”

What kind of tradies come to the BSS and how are they supported?

Kate says the main comments she often hears from trade customers is they can see, touch and compare products across categories at the BSS, and the advice is valued.

“We have a team of product specialists, along with experts in windows, joinery and plumbing, so there are always the right people on hand,” she says.

Developers also benefit from the efficiency of established processes used across repeat builds, while commercial customers utilise the tailored advice around performance requirements.

How does the BSS process work?

“Once a BSS tour is booked, the process is guided from start to finish,” Kate explains. These are the usual steps:

• Studio consultation: Customers undertake a one-on-one studio tour with a BSS specialist.
• Project brief and discovery: Project plans, style preferences and budget requirements are reviewed to establish the scope of the build.
• Product selection: Products are compared across key building and interior categories.
• Schedule and quotation: Selections are detailed in a schedule and submitted for quotation.
• Review and approval: The quotation is reviewed, selections confirmed and order approved.
• Ordering and delivery: Products are ordered, tracked and delivered directly to site.

Is there an Assisted Living range at the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studios?

The Building Solutions Studio has expanded its Assisted Living range, with compliant products from trusted brands to help builders meet SDA, DDA and Australian accessibility requirements.

The range includes AS 1428-compliant products, helping support more accessible homes for people with different abilities.

The BSS showcases accessibility solutions alongside fixtures and finishes, with ranges including items from HomeCare by Caroma and Mecca Care collaboration with Avail Design by Nero, and Novis.

“It helps create more considered, aspirational spaces rather than treating accessibility as an afterthought,” Kate says. This service assists builders by introducing new brands and reduces the need to source products from multiple suppliers.

Tip: Looking to get into building in the assisted living sector? Check out our story on how do I build an assisted living home?

Want to hear what tradies have to say about the studios?

Read our article on how the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studios have saved tradies time and money.

Frequently asked questions: How does the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studio help?

What’s available for the project build at a BSS?

All the finishes and fixtures that bring a build to life – from joinery through to flooring, plumbing and appliances – are available to explore.

What is something to consider when making product selections?

Your client might be excited by a product online, but then seeing it physically and against all other finishes can change their opinions. Being considered in selection requires keeping an open mind.

How long does project selection take at the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studio?

Typically selections are completed in around three to five hours.

What are some common design mistakes?

Selecting products without seeing them in person, which can lead to mismatched materials, poor cohesion or products that don’t work together as planned once installed.

How often do builders and designers bring their clients to the BSS?

Tradespeople frequently bring clients with them, allowing the client to ask questions and confirm aspects about a project.